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A United States man was arrested early Monday morning after Border Patrol agents found five people illegally present in the country concealed inside two jet skis being hauled on a trailer, according to an complaint.
Fernando Cerda Jr. was charged with knowingly and with reckless disregard attempting to transport or move five people illegally present in the U.S. by means of transportation.
At about 2:15 a.m., a red Chevrolet Silverado pulling a trailer with two jet skis approached the primary inspection at the Falfurrias checkpoint where Cerda presented his U.S. Passport Card and stated he was a U.S. citizen.
As this was happening, a canine unit alerted agents to the jet skis which resulted in Cerda being referred for a secondary inspection.
It was then that agents discovered a total of five people concealed in the jet skis, according to the complaint.
Of the five, three were found inside the jet ski on the driver’s side of the vehicle and two others were found in the jet ski on the passenger’s side.
“Border Patrol agents had to dismantle the jet skis in order to rescue the five concealed subjects,” the complaint said.
Once they were safely removed, all five people admitted to being illegally present in the U.S. and were from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico.
During an interview, Cerda admitted that he knew there were people inside the jet skis and was transporting them to Houston in exchange for “good money,” though he was never told the exact amount he’d be paid.
Cerda added that he received a call around midnight from a person he met in prison going by the alias of “Cabeza,” who lives in Mexico and who Cerda has known for about six months.
He agreed to report to Love’s truck stop in Edinburg at 1 a.m. to take the Silverado with the concealed people inside north.
“Cerda stated the [people] were trapped inside the jet skis and did not have means of escape in the event of a motor vehicle accident or emergency,” the affidavit said.
A woman told authorities that she feared for her life when being placed inside the jet ski despite being able to breathe and had water.
She stated that they had no means of escape if an accident happened.
Cerda is set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Julie K. Hampton in Corpus Christi for a preliminary examination and detention hearing Friday morning.
