Three Cuban nationals have been apprehended on charges of human smuggling after authorities discovered they were involved in the transportation of over two dozen undocumented immigrants. Most of these immigrants, primarily from China, arrived by boat on Florida's shores and were subsequently found in Coral Gables, stated authorities.
Lucas Sedeno Rodríguez, aged 52, José Luis Villares, 55, and Keiner Cicilia Rodríguez, 39, face charges for allegedly transporting, moving, or attempting to move foreigners within the United States, according to a criminal complaint filed in Miami's federal court.
The incident came to light when a resident of the Snapper Creek Lakes neighborhood in Coral Gables, Miami-Dade County, witnessed what appeared to be a kidnapping at around 9:30 a.m. last Friday. The witness saw a man forcibly pushing a woman into the back of a Texas-plated Toyota Corolla, which was parked near a U-Haul moving truck.
The civilian recorded the episode on a cell phone and shared the footage with a Coral Gables police officer to raise the alarm. This information enabled law enforcement to trace both vehicles to the 6700 block of LeJeune Road, where 28 individuals, including the alleged traffickers, were apprehended.
Arrests and Conditions Inside the Vehicles
During the operation, officers discovered that the U-Haul truck, driven by Villares, was carrying 22 undocumented immigrants. The truck's windows were obscured with cardboard boxes, likely to conceal the passengers.
Meanwhile, the Toyota Corolla, operated by Sedeno Rodríguez with Cicilia Rodríguez as a passenger, had three other undocumented immigrants in the back seat, including the woman forced into the car, as per the authorities.
The immigrants, hailing from China, Ecuador, and Brazil, had recently arrived by boat from the Bahamas and disembarked near the Snapper Creek Canal, the report noted. The operation was a collaborative effort involving Coral Gables Police, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Department of Homeland Security.
An investigator noted that conditions inside the vehicles, such as the absence of seats in the U-Haul and covered windows, align with typical methods used by human traffickers to obscure immigrants. The passengers carried no luggage, except for small personal items like jewelry and cell phones.
Statements from Those Involved
Sedeno Rodríguez confessed to investigators that a man named "Miggy," known for his involvement in human trafficking from the Bahamas, contacted him in Homestead. According to the complaint, Miggy offered him $5,000 to collect and transport the migrants.
Sedeno Rodríguez also revealed that another individual, nicknamed "Pito," would provide the destination and the cash. Villares stated that Sedeno Rodríguez recruited him for the operation, offering $500 to assist in the transportation.
He also asserted that Cicilia Rodríguez rented the U-Haul, and that the plan was to drop the immigrants "near a hardware store" in Miami-Dade. Cicilia Rodríguez, meanwhile, acknowledged ownership of the Toyota Corolla and admitted to renting the U-Haul under Sedeno Rodríguez's instructions. He confirmed that the three met at Sedeno Rodríguez's home on Friday morning to coordinate the operation.
The three suspects, all Cuban citizens, were taken to the Dania Beach Border Patrol station following their arrest and subsequently booked into Broward County Jail. According to records, Villares and Sedeno Rodríguez remained detained at the Federal Detention Center in downtown Miami as of Wednesday. Cicilia Rodríguez did not appear in federal inmate records or those of the Broward Sheriff's Office.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities aim to dismantle the human trafficking network entirely.
Understanding the Human Smuggling Case in Miami
Who are the suspects involved in the Miami human smuggling case?
The suspects are Lucas Sedeno Rodríguez, José Luis Villares, and Keiner Cicilia Rodríguez, all Cuban nationals.
How did the authorities discover the smuggling operation?
A resident in Coral Gables witnessed a suspicious incident and recorded it, which led authorities to track and intercept the vehicles involved.
What were the conditions like inside the vehicles used for smuggling?
The U-Haul had its windows covered with cardboard, and there were no seats, indicating typical smuggling tactics to conceal passengers.
What are the next steps in this investigation?
The investigation continues as authorities aim to fully dismantle the human trafficking network.