Los Angeles (Thechieftainspear) – Federal authorities in Los Angeles have apprehended two suspected leaders of a vast human smuggling operation accused of illegally transporting approximately 20,000 individuals from Guatemala to the United States. The organization allegedly charged each migrant up to $18,000 for passage into the country.
The two men, identified as Eduardo Domingo Renoj-Matul, known as “Turko,” and his associate, Cristobal Mejia-Chaj, were arrested on Friday. Both have pleaded not guilty to multiple smuggling-related charges, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. A federal judge has ordered them held without bond until their trial in April.
One of the Largest Smuggling Operations in the U.S.
Prosecutors describe Renoj-Matul as the head of a well-established human smuggling ring that has been in operation for more than a decade. The organization’s network allegedly focused on moving migrants from Guatemala through Mexico and into various U.S. cities, including Los Angeles and Phoenix.
The smuggling ring has also been linked to the deaths of seven migrants, including a 4-year-old child, who died in a tragic vehicle crash in Oklahoma in November 2023. Authorities believe the accident was a result of the organization’s illicit activities.
Additional Charges and International Connections
Another suspect, Jose Paxtor-Oxlaj, who was driving during the deadly Oklahoma crash, has been charged in connection with the case. Officials have also named Helmer Obispo-Hernandez, a high-ranking member of the smuggling network, as a wanted suspect. He is believed to be in Guatemala…