Mexico: Smuggler Ferrying 5 Migrants Shot Dead by Police Near Guatemala Border
An alleged smuggler ferrying migrants in a pickup truck was shot dead by authorities near the Mexico-Guatemala border early Monday.
Upon inspection, it was discovered that the pickup truck that the smuggler was riding was carrying five migrants.
The Daily Mail reported that authorities were flagging down the vehicle at a checkpoint in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas. However, the pickup truck refused to stop.
The truck was reportedly heading north when they encountered municipal police from San Cristobal de las Casas. Police noted that somebody inside the truck opened fire at cops manning the checkpoint, so they responded by firing back at the truck.
Migrant Smuggler Dies in Mexico
The police response managed to kill one of the smugglers, identified as Fernando. The other smuggler, the driver, was injured and identified as Marcelino.
In his interview with authorities, Marcelino admitted that they picked up the migrants in the Mexican border town of Comitán de Domínguez. They tried heading north but encountered police in the town of San Cristobal de las Casas a few minutes past midnight.
The Chiapas State Attorney General's Office released a statement regarding the incident. They said that the truck was shot at on different occasions, and Fernando, sitting in the backseat, was hit and killed.
Smuggler's Death Sparks Protests, Police Vehicle Burned in Mexico
Following the incident, Fernando's death sparked protests in San Cristobal de las Casas. Family and friends sought answers.
These protests have even turned somewhat violent, as protesters overturned a police vehicle in the town and burned it near the state prosecutor's building at around 3 a.m., according to the Associated Press.
Many migrants from Central America are bound for the United States in search of a better life. But in order to get there, they often pass through border towns such as San Cristobal de las Casas.
The sparsely-populated mountains in San Cristobal de las Casas have become popular routes among migrant smugglers.
The municipality is located nearly 270 miles from the border city of Tapachula, where thousands of United States-bound migrants wait on Mexico's government to approve special 30-day permits that will allow them to move freely through the country while waiting for their immigration process to play out.
These migrants often pay big money in order to get into Mexico before getting to the United States. They are also exploited by smugglers who offer "V.I.P. trips" to these desperate people who are more than willing to pay huge amounts of money.
A famous example is the Texas migrant truck tragedy, where 54 people, including several Guatemalans, died. Some of the passengers inside that doomed trailer were reportedly offered "V.I.P. treatment." Instead, however, many of them died due to extreme heat after their smugglers abandoned them.
READ MORE: Mexico: 94 Migrants Who Almost Died Inside Truck Managed to Escape After Driver Abandoned Them
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Rick Martin
WATCH: Why migrants are fleeing Guatemala - From ABC News
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