An international enforcement operation has led to the arrest of five Guatemalan human smugglers connected to a tragic incident that occurred on December 9, 2021, in Chiapas, Mexico. The incident involved a semi-trailer truck carrying at least 160 migrants, many of whom were Guatemalan nationals. The crash resulted in over 50 deaths and left more than 100 injured.
The arrests were made possible through coordination between the U.S. Justice Department and Guatemalan authorities. This operation coincides with the third anniversary of the mass casualty event.