Coral Gables police intercepted a U-Haul van containing 31 migrants, predominantly Chinese nationals, following reports of a possible abduction.
The incident unfolded around 9:35 a.m. when a security guard for a local homeowners association observed what appeared to be an abduction involving a Toyota vehicle and a U-Haul truck, according to New York Post.
The guard promptly alerted a patrol officer, leading to a “be on the lookout” (BOLO) alert for the vehicles.
Officers successfully located and stopped both vehicles on South Le Jeune Road near Aurelia Avenue.
Upon inspection, the U-Haul truck was found to contain 16 Chinese females, 15 Chinese males, one male from Cuba, and one female from Ecuador.
The migrants were believed to have been smuggled into the U.S. by boat near the Snapper Creek Bridge before being loaded into the truck and a small Toyota.
Authorities suspect that the woman who was allegedly abducted was attempting to escape her smugglers.
The migrants were apprehended, and the suspected smugglers are under investigation.
Coral Gables Police Chief Edward James Hudak Jr. said, “We do believe these individuals were brought here by the water. They were probably dropped off, we’re assuming somewhere around the southern end of Coral Gables and approached on foot to the van where they were loaded into.”
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