Human smugglers and cartels are increasingly utilizing social media platforms to deceive Texas drivers, particularly younger individuals, into engaging in dangerous and potentially disastrous cat and mouse pursuits with law enforcement officials.
Texans are being enticed into lucrative yet perilous jobs by human smugglers through platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat.
In one unfortunate incident, a man from San Antonio may be facing a 10-year jail sentence due to a misguided attempt to make some money and impress a woman.
Human smuggling generates billions of dollars in revenue each year. With the help of social media and the gullibility of young Texans, smugglers have devised a method to reduce their own risks and transport their “cargo” at a relatively low cost.
Nowadays, services like Uber and Lyft have become incredibly popular. These platforms allow regular individuals to earn money by providing transportation services to other ordinary people. Interestingly, human smugglers have also adopted a similar approach. They are now engaging in a game that involves transporting individuals for profit.
They advertise or approach individuals, like in the aforementioned example, and offer generous compensation to transport someone from one side of the border to another, both within this side of the border. This could involve assisting with driving a moving truck, among other scenarios.
Easy money, but the individuals involved may not be who you perceive them to be. They could potentially be criminals or victims of human smuggling. Regardless, if they are caught, whether the driver was knowingly involved or unknowingly deceived, they will face legal consequences.
Texas’ human smuggling law has been in the books for a quarter century, but over the last decade the state Legislature has repeatedly broadened it and made the punishment more extreme. People convicted under federal human smuggling law face on average about 15 months in prison. Last year, state lawmakers imposed a mandatory 10-year minimum sentence on anyone convicted under the Texas law. – texastribune
If you or someone you know received one of these enticing offers, it is crucial to do your due diligence and reach out to the authorities. Although there may be some skepticism surrounding the law, it is important to remember that it is currently in effect and Texas is taking it seriously.
It is often said that if something appears too good to be true, it usually isn’t.
