Texas Stop Uncovers Hidden Truck Passengers
Texas officials say a traffic stop in Laredo turned into a major smuggling case after state troopers found 20 people hiding inside a semi-truck.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, a trooper pulled over a white Volvo truck tractor on IH-35 near mile marker 28 on Monday, May 18, 2026, just after 6:00 p.m. During the stop, the driver tried to run on foot. Troopers caught him right away.
A search of the truck revealed 20 illegal immigrants concealed in the sleeping area of the tractor. DPS said the group included four minors and that the people inside were from Mexico and Guatemala.
The driver was identified as Miguel Angel Velazquez Chavez, 25, a Mexican national. He was charged with evading arrest and smuggling of persons. He was booked into the Webb County Jail.
The 20 illegal immigrants were turned over to United States Border Patrol. Texas DPS said its Criminal Investigations Division is still looking into the case.
Cases like this are a reminder of how often smugglers use big rigs and other vehicles to move people across Texas roads. The setup can look routine from the outside. But inside, it can be a very different story.
Officials did not say where the truck had come from before the stop or where it was headed. They did say the traffic stop led to the discovery, the arrest, and a broader investigation that is still ongoing.