A group of more than 30 immigrants, most of them Chinese citizensHe was found inside a U-Haul truck on Friday after a report of an alleged kidnapping, Florida authorities said.
The discovery began when a security guard for a homeowners association in the Miami suburb of Coral Gables reported seeing a kidnapping around 9:35 a.m., Coral Gables Police Chief Edward James Hudak Jr. told reporters.
The ranger reported that he saw a Toyota and a U-Haul truck involved in the accident and immediately notified A.J Patrol officerThe president said. The officer then issued a BOLO, a lookout alert, to the vehicles.
Man arrested near Los Angeles fires with possible stove is illegal immigrant: Ice Sources
Coral Gables Police Chief Edward James Hudak Jr. speaks with reporters about a group of migrants found in a U-Haul on Friday. (WSVN-TV)
Officers stopped the vehicles, and the woman who was allegedly kidnapped from the Toyota was taken away. Officers then began investigating the U-Haul truck, which was carrying 16 Chinese women, 15 Chinese men, one Cuban male and one Ecuadorian female, according to police.
“The officers opened the back of the truck, revealing 21 citizens, most of them Chinese,” Hudak said.
Police said that in addition to the migrants in the car, there was a Cuban man, a Brazilian woman and an Ecuadorian man.
“We believe these individuals were brought here by water,” the president said. “They were likely dropped off, we assume, somewhere around the south end of Coral Gables and approached on foot the truck into which they were loaded.”
Top border lawmaker pushes to declare bloodthirsty gang a terrorist organization: 'Gloves off'
U-Haul truck. Authorities in Florida found 21 migrants inside a U-Haul vehicle on Friday. (Texas Department of Public Safety)
Investigators are looking into whether the woman who was possibly kidnapped was trying to escape from her alleged traffickers. The Coral Gables Fire Department responded to provide medical care to the migrants who were “tired” but in good condition, police said.
“Today’s event is a prime example of why FDLE supports the Governor’s proposed special session to immediately address illegal immigration,” Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass said. “Law enforcement actions are integral to preventing these smuggling ventures that frequently occur at our southern border.”
The immigrants were handed over to US Border PatrolFour others were detained by police in connection with the incident.
“It started out as a crime,” Hudak said. “The police department responded to that alleged crime committed by a very vigilant citizen. And by that I mean we saved some lives.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The authorities said that the authorities patrolling the waters near the city stopped several ships, but did not identify the boat in which the migrants were transported.
Fox News Digital has reached out to police and US Border Patrol.
