An international enforcement operation has led to the arrest of five Guatemalan human smugglers tied to the tragic December 9, 2021, truck crash in Chiapas, Mexico.
The semi-trailer, carrying at least 160 migrants—many Guatemalan nationals—overturned, killing more than 50 people and injuring over 100 others.
This joint effort between the U.S. Justice Department and Guatemalan authorities coincides with the third anniversary of the tragedy.
At the request of U.S. authorities, Guatemalan law enforcement executed provisional arrest warrants for:
- Tomas Quino Canil (36)
- Alberto Marcario Chitic (31), aka Alberto De Jesus
- Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino (24), aka Osvaldo ZQ
- Josefa Quino Canil De Zavala (42)
A fifth suspect, Jorge Agapito Ventura, was arrested in Cleveland, Texas.
All five have been indicted in Texas.
Details of the Scheme
According to the unsealed indictment, the defendants worked with other smugglers from October 2021 to February 2023 to transport migrants from Guatemala through Mexico to the United States. Their activities included:
- Recruiting Guatemalan migrants.
- Collecting payments.
- Arranging travel logistics.
In cases involving unaccompanied minors, the defendants provided instructions on what to say if apprehended. Some migrants they recruited tragically died or were seriously injured in the 2021 Chiapas crash