Two leaders of a human smuggling organization have been arrested in Los Angeles for allegedly smuggling approximately 20,000 migrants from Guatemala to the US. Eduardo Domingo Renoj-Matul, known as Turko, and his lieutenant, Cristobal Mejia-Chaj, face multiple charges and have pleaded not guilty. They are accused of running a network that operated for over a decade, contributing to tragic incidents such as a vehicle crash that killed seven immigrants. Prosecutors highlight the brutal nature of these organizations and the substantial fees charged to migrants seeking illegal entry.
"These smuggling organizations have no regard for human life and their conduct kills," said acting US attorney Joseph T McNally, highlighting the dangerous nature of human smuggling.
"Renoj-Matul was assisted by associates in Guatemala who solicited people who each paid between $15,000 and $18,000 to be smuggled to the US through Mexico," illustrating the high costs involved.
The criminal network is tied to the tragic deaths of seven immigrants, including a four-year-old child, due to a vehicle crash in Oklahoma, underscoring the lethal consequences of smuggling.
Federal prosecutors report that the organization operated for at least a dozen years, indicating the long-standing issue of human smuggling from Guatemala to the US.
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