A truck driver said that the cartel in Nuevo Laredo threatened him into smuggling migrants, according to an arrest affidavit.
At approximately 3:30 p.m. Dec. 3, a red semi tractor trailer approached the Interstate 35 checkpoint. An agent noticed the driver appeared to be nervous. Agents identified the driver as German Yafet Garcia-Quintana. He stated he was traveling alone.
Garcia-Quintana allowed the agent to search the sleeper of the tractor. When the agent asked Garcia-Quintana to lift the bed in the compartment, the agent observed three migrants being concealed, according to court documents.
In a post-arrest interview, Garcia-Quintana stated he is from Mexico and arrived in Laredo on Dec. 3. He added he had been working with a trucking business for over a year and is employed by a trucking company in Laredo.
“Garcia-Quintana stated he had been followed and threatened by the cartel in Nuevo Laredo the night before crossing to do what they said. Garcia-Quintana stated his family would be hurt if he did not do what was asked of him,” states the affidavit.
Garcia-Quintana stated that after crossing the bridge, he waited for the load vehicle to drop off the migrants. Garcia-Quintana then saw two migrants get on the top bunk and gave the three in the bed compartment instructions on how to open the bed compartment in the case of an emergency, states the affidavit.
He then drove to the checkpoint. Garcia-Quintana was arrested and charged with transport, attempt to transport and conspire to transport the migrants.
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