Texas Traffic Stop Reveals Human Smuggling Operation Hidden as Farm Cargo [WATCH]

A Texas deputy discovered 12 illegal immigrants hidden inside hollowed-out hay bales during a routine traffic stop on Tuesday afternoon, exposing a dangerous smuggling method in Fayette County, as reported by The New York Post.

According to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, the incident took place just before 1 p.m. along Interstate 10 near Flatonia.

A deputy stopped a white Ford F-250 pickup truck towing large round bales of hay. Upon closer inspection, the deputy observed signs that the bales had been tampered with.

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Sheriff Keith Korenek stated that the smugglers had “meticulously altered and hollowed out” the bales, inserting a concealed metal framework inside. The structure included small compartments designed to hide people during transport.

12 immigrants found hidden in hay bales during I-10 traffic stop in Fayette County https://t.co/gHFDwcHjG9 @spencer_heath6 pic.twitter.com/AnQ9yU3nfF

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“Inside those compartments, deputies discovered multiple undocumented individuals being smuggled in dangerously confined spaces,” a sheriff’s office statement read.

“This method of concealment is not only deceptive but incredibly dangerous to human life.”

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The driver of the vehicle was identified as Delbert Flanders, 44, of Kansas. He was arrested on state and federal charges related to human smuggling.

Authorities said he was taken to a nearby hospital for medical evaluation, but the sheriff’s office declined to provide details on the treatment.

Two additional individuals believed to be the operation’s coordinators were also taken into custody. Authorities identified them as Adanaylo Lambert, 22, and Lency Delgado Fernandez, 25, both from Houston. Both are facing similar state and federal smuggling charges.

Hay bales used to hide human smuggling attempt in Texas https://t.co/K88ADlkhfH pic.twitter.com/E2VjYORymC

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The sheriff noted that law enforcement agencies in Texas are encountering increasingly elaborate and hazardous smuggling tactics.

“Smugglers continue to use increasingly creative and hazardous techniques to transport individuals across Texas highways,” Korenek said.

The 12 individuals found in the bales were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for further processing.

NEW: Border Patrol traffic stop in Texas led to the discovery of 13 illegal aliens concealed inside altered hay bales.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as Delbert Flanders. Adanaylo Lambert and Lency Delgado Fernandez were also taken into custody and are facing federal… pic.twitter.com/VSLB5PeBUJ

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The arrest was the result of a multi-agency effort involving the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Flatonia Police Department, and deputies from the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office.

Officials have not released further information about the origin or intended destination of the migrants.

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