Five Guatemalan nationals have been charged in the United States in connection with a 2021 truck crash in Chiapas, Mexico, where 56 migrants were killed and over 100 others were injured. The arrests were made in a joint operation involving U.S. and Guatemalan authorities on the third anniversary of the tragedy.
Those accused are part of a human smuggling network called "Los Quinos" that allegedly facilitated the transit of migrants through Central America and Mexico. The network is accused of profiting from smuggling migrants, earning significant sums by exploiting vulnerable individuals.
Investigators found that the accused recruited migrants, arranged payments, and coordinated their transport. In some cases, minors were given specific instructions on how to respond if apprehended.
The suspects, identified as Tomás Quino Canil, Josefa Quino Canil De Zavala, Alberto Marcario Chitic, Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino, and Jorge Agapito Ventura, face charges in the Southern District of Texas. Four of the accused were apprehended in Guatemala, while Ventura was arrested in Texas.
"The Justice Department is holding accountable the individuals who we allege preyed on vulnerable migrants and are responsible for this heinous crime that resulted in the deaths over 50 people and injured over 100 more," said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland through a statement. "Human smugglers should heed these charges and arrests as a warning: you will be held accountable for your deadly crimes."
The crash took place on December 9, 2021, when a modified trailer carrying 169 migrants, mostly from Guatemala, overturned on a highway in Chiapas. According to investigators, the driver, José Luis "C," lost control of the vehicle while attempting to evade a migration checkpoint. The migrants were reportedly crammed into the vehicle, which lacked proper safety measures.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, through a statement from Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, described the crash as a stark example of the dangers of human smuggling operations:
"The tragedy that occurred three years ago today in Chiapas is further proof that human smugglers are ruthless, callous, and dangerous — intending migrants should not believe their lies. DHS will continue to disrupt and dismantle illegal human smuggling operations and help bring those who perpetrate such horror to justice"
Guatemalan authorities noted that the group had been active for years, generating millions of quetzales, the local currency, through illicit activities. Through a statement on the government's website, the minister of Interior Affairs stated that "human trafficking is a global threat that requires joint efforts and firm resolve" to combat. He also added that "discussing this case means talking about people (...) who, hoping to achieve a dream for a better family, for a better community, lost their lives along the way."
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