Truck stop points to human trafficking

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A truck stop early Thursday morning now has police looking into what may be a human trafficking and drug case.

At 12:42 a.m. Department of Public Safety troopers called Austin police to help with a search in South Travis County after they pulled over a truck at Interstate 35 and State Highway 45 near the Slaughter Lane exit.

DPS spokeswoman Robbie Barrera said the Ford pickup, on its way from San Antonio, didn't use its turn signal and had no license plate light.

After pulling over, the driver and passenger got out and ran -- leaving 13 people in the truck, some hidden in the back.

The Austin Police Department sent out K-9 officers and Air One to help find the people who ran off, and they found the passenger within 10 minutes. The driver is still missing, however.

The people found in the truck have been turned over to Border Patrol agents, who are figuring out why they were in the truck. Officials said if they are in the United States illegally, Border Patrol investigators will handle the deportation -- which is a federal offense.

DPS will file charges if anything illegal happened.

Meanwhile, there were no injuries, and no weapons were used in the incident.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigation special agents are working this investigation alongside DPS, Border Patrol and Austin PD. Homeland Security Investigations will work the human smuggling investigation.
 

In-Depth: Human trafficking on Austin's radar

Just last month, a man who allegedly recruited and forced a 16-year-old girl into prostitution was arrested in Austin. The Texas Attorney General’s Office arrested Deondre Jenkins, 27, on felony human trafficking charges.

• Photos: Human trafficking -- An inside look

Last August, two men and one woman were charged with human trafficking after being accused of abducting at least four women and forcing them into prostitution by threatening to kill them and, in some cases, their children.

In July, the Cedar Park Police Department -- in a joint operation with the Round Rock Police Department and Williamson County Sheriff’s Office -- have charged Xiofeng Wo, 47, of Cedar Park, and Greg S. Sanfrantello, 47, of Elgin, with continuous trafficking of persons, a first-degree felony.

What are state lawmakers doing to prevent human trafficking?

Two state lawmakers have proposed legislation to strengthen law enforcement and also look at ways to help victims of human trafficking.

• Senate Bill 532
• House Bill 8