Coral Gables police intercepted a U-Haul van carrying 31 immigrants, mostly Chinese, after receiving a report of a possible abduction.
According to reports, the incident occurred around 9:35 a.m. when security personnel at a local homeowners association witnessed what appeared to be a kidnapping involving a Toyota and a U-Haul truck. New York Post.
The trooper immediately alerted patrol officers and issued a “BOLO” alert for the vehicle.
Officers located both vehicles and were able to stop them on South Le Jeune Street near Aurelia Street.
An inspection revealed that 16 Chinese women, 15 Chinese men, one Cuban man, and one Ecuadorian woman were in the U-Haul truck.
The migrants are believed to have been smuggled into the United States by boat near the Snapper Creek Bridge, then loaded into a truck and a small Toyota.
Authorities suspect the woman who was allegedly kidnapped was trying to escape from smugglers.
The migrants were arrested and are being investigated as suspected smugglers.
“We believe these people were brought here by water,” said Coral Gables Police Chief Edward James Hadduck, Jr. “They were probably dropped off and found near the south end of Coral Gables. We believe they approached the van where they were being loaded on foot.”
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