Alleged Guatemalan human smuggling operation in Los Angeles

Federal agents arrested on Friday two Guatemalan men accused of operating one of the largest human smuggling operations in the United States.

The two were collected near the center of Los Angeles and are accused of moving 20,000 illegal immigrants In the United States from Guatemala since 2019.

Eduardo Domingo Renoj-Matul and Cristóbal Mejia-Chaj each appeared in a federal court hours after their arrests, and a judge ordered each one of each without bail. If it is convicted, each one could face the death penalty.

“These smuggling organizations do not take into account human life and their behavior kills,” said the interim prosecutor of the United States, Joseph McNally. “The accusation and arrests here have dismantled one of the largest and most dangerous contraband organizations in the country. This work saves lives, and the members of the organization will now face significant consequences.”

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Helmer Bishop Hernández, described as a “lieutenant” in the smuggling operation, remains in general and allegedly threatened to cut the head of a federal agent last week. (Office of the United States prosecutor – Los Angeles)

Two other men are also accused in the case; José Paxtor-Oxlaj, who is behind the bars in Oklahoma for his role in a 2023 car accident that killed seven migrants, including five of the same family, and Helmer Bishop-Hernández, which is described as a “lieutenant” in the Smuggling operation.

“Every day, similar human smuggling organizations put profits ahead of security in these reckless and illegal efforts,” said the Special Agent of National Security Research (HSI) of Los Angeles by John Pasciucco. “HSI Los Angeles and our partners are committed to continue identifying and dismantling these organizations, so no more lives are lost and our The borders are safe. “

National Security Investigations of Los Angeles Special Agent by John Pasciucco said that the federals are working to identify and dismantle “reckless and illegal” smuggling organizations. (Immigration and Customs Control)

Prosecutors claim that Renoj-Matul, who is called Turko, was the leader of the operation. I was working with homologists in Guatemala that would charge migrants $ 15,000 to $ 18,000 for safe approval to the United States.

Once here, migrants were charged again for additional transport throughout the country. The accusation of Renoj-Matul alleges that migrants under their direction were transferred to at least 20 states and Washington, DC

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It is believed that the migrants who did not pay were retained as hostages in a stash house. Los Angeles neighborhood Where Renoj-Matul and Mejia-Caj were goods.

The leader of the operation, Eduardo Domingo Renoj-Matul, who goes through “Turko”, supposedly worked with homologists in Guatemala that would charge migrants between $ 15,000 and $ 18,000 for a safe step to the United States. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, Archive)

In an incident last year, prosecutors alleged that Renoj-Matul called the mother of a migrant who was hostage and threatened that “he would return home in a box” if the smuggling rates were not paid.

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Bishop-Hernández remains in general and faces additional charges for threatening to cut the head of a National Security Research Official who served a search warrant at his home on Friday.