Three Guatemalan nationals appeared in federal court in Laredo, Texas, after being extradited from Guatemala to face charges related to a 2021 tractor-trailer crash in Chiapas, Mexico. The incident resulted in the deaths of more than 50 people and injured over 100 others. Many of the victims were Guatemalan nationals, including unaccompanied children.
The extraditions followed coordinated efforts between the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Guatemalan authorities as part of an international enforcement operation conducted on December 9, 2024, which marked the third anniversary of the tragedy. This action is described by officials as a significant step toward holding those responsible accountable.
“This DOJ is investigating and prosecuting human smuggling more aggressively than ever before, and Joint Task Force Alpha is the tip of the spear,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We will not rest until those who profit from the suffering of vulnerable people — including many unaccompanied children — face severe, comprehensive justice.”
U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei for the Southern District of Texas commented: “Human smugglers do not care if the people they transport live or die. They do not care if unaccompanied children have food, water, or even air to breathe. They respect neither the law nor basic principles of decency. They care for only one thing—the blood money they make from the suffering of others. But these extraditions show that the United States will never tire in pursuing them. There is no border, no refuge that can shield these criminals from justice.”
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti stated: “Five Guatemalan smugglers charged in the Chiapas mass casualty incident are now in U.S. custody,” adding that this case demonstrates how Joint Task Force Alpha and its partners can dismantle lethal human smuggling networks.
The three individuals—Tomas Quino Canil (37), Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino aka Osvaldo ZQ (25), and Josefa Quino Canil De Zavala (43)—were arrested on December 9, 2024, in Boquerón, Guatemala pursuant to U.S. extradition requests and were surrendered to U.S authorities on September 3 before appearing before Magistrate Judge Diana Song Quiroga.
A fourth suspect remains pending extradition after being arrested earlier in August; two other defendants were also apprehended during operations last December—one has already been extradited while another was taken into custody in Texas.
All six defendants face charges including conspiracy to bring illegal aliens into the United States under conditions placing life at risk and resulting in death or serious injury.
According to court documents cited by authorities, between October 2021 and February 2023 all six allegedly worked with other smugglers recruiting migrants—including unaccompanied minors—and arranging their travel through Guatemala and Mexico using various means such as foot travel or trucks. The indictment claims some victims died or suffered injuries during these attempts.
If convicted on all counts each defendant could receive up to life imprisonment plus a possible $250,000 fine.
Multiple agencies participated in investigating this case including ICE – HSI’s Counter Proliferation Investigations Group based out of Washington D.C., HSI offices abroad and within Texas cities like Houston and San Antonio; Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center; Operation Sentinel; Border Patrol; Liberty County Constable Precinct 6; ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston office; U.S Attorney’s Office for Eastern District of Texas; DOJ’s Office of International Affairs as well as counterparts from Guatemala’s prosecution service and Mexico’s Fiscalía General de la República.
Assistant U.S Attorneys Jennifer Day and Mary Lou Castillo along with Senior Trial Attorney Danielle Hickman are leading prosecution efforts for this case.
This indictment results from work by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), which coordinates resources across several federal agencies targeting transnational criminal organizations involved with human smuggling throughout Central America that impact border security between those regions https://www.justice.gov/news/joint-task-force-alpha-announces-arrests-charges-and-international-actions-targeting-human-smuggling . JTFA reports having achieved over 410 arrests globally related to smuggling leadership roles since its inception https://www.justice.gov/news/joint-task-force-alpha-announces-arrests-charges-and-international-actions-targeting-human-smuggling .
Additionally this case falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aiming at eliminating cartels involved with violent crime affecting communities https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/operation-take-back-america-justice-department-launches-new-nationwide-effort-fight-violent-crime .
Officials remind that an indictment does not equate guilt; all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise through due process.
