EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 Rideshare drivers in the El Paso area are being asked to be on the lookout for suspicious rides tied to human smuggling.<\/p>\n
According to the U.S. Border Patrol El Paso office, rideshare drivers are being urged to stay vigilant and not accept suspicious pick-ups, adding that if they are caught driving, they could face felony charges for human smuggling and harboring migrants. <\/p>\n
The Border Patrol said in a press release that transnational criminal organizations are using rideshare apps to arrange smuggling pickups.<\/p>\n
“Cartel criminal smugglers recklessly endanger the lives of rideshare drivers and passengers alike, treating legitimate drivers as disposable tools for their smuggling operations,” said El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Jesse D. Munoz. “When these trips are intercepted, drivers face immediate detention and asset forfeiture while federal agents investigate their level of involvement in the smuggling network.”<\/p>\n
RECOMMENDED: Mexican man sentenced for drugging children smuggled into El Paso<\/a><\/p>\n What should rideshare drivers be on the lookout for?<\/p>\n Passengers wearing “heavily soiled” clothes and looking stressed or confused about where they are. Groups that want to exceed the vehicle’s occupancy limits.Third-party bookings where the account holder is not present.Pickup locations near the desert, border wall, remote highways or commercial staging lots. <\/p>\n The U.S. Border Patrol said drivers who encounter suspicious pickup requests should cancel the ride, drive to a safe place and report the ride to the platform and Border Patrol through their number 1-800-635-2509. <\/p>\n Of course, for emergencies, drivers should always call 911. <\/p>\n