Three Cubans are accused of human trafficking after it was discovered that they were transporting more than two dozen undocumented immigrants, mostly Chinese, who arrived by boat on the shores of Florida and were found in Coral Gables, according to authorities.
Lucas Sedeno Rodríguez (52 years old), José Luis Villares (55), and Keiner Cicilia Rodríguez (39) are facing charges for transporting, moving, or attempting to transport or move foreigners within the United States, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court in Miami.
The case was triggered when a resident in the Snapper Creek Lakes neighborhood of Coral Gables, Miami-Dade County, observed what appeared to be a kidnapping around 9:30 a.m. last Friday.
According to the criminal complaint, the witness saw a man forcefully push a woman towards the back of a Toyota Corolla with Texas plates, parked near a U-Haul moving truck.
The citizen recorded a video of the incident with his cell phone and showed it to a Coral Gables police officer to alert him.
Thanks to that information, authorities tracked both vehicles to the 6700 block of LeJeune Road, where they arrested 28 people, including the alleged traffickers.
Detentions and conditions in vehicles
In the operation, the agents found that the U-Haul truck, driven by Villares, was transporting 22 undocumented immigrants.
The vehicle had its windows covered with cardboard boxes in an apparent attempt to hide the passengers.
In the Toyota Corolla, driven by Sedeno Rodríguez with Cicilia Rodríguez as a passenger, there were three other undocumented immigrants in the back seat, including the woman who was pushed into the car, according to authorities.
The immigrants, coming from China, Ecuador, and Brazil, had recently arrived by boat from the Bahamas and disembarked near the Snapper Creek Canal, according to the report.
The operation was the result of collaboration between the Coral Gables Police, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Department of Homeland Security.
According to a researcher, the condition of the vehicles, such as the lack of seats in the U-Haul and the covered windows, is consistent with the tactics used by human traffickers to conceal immigrants.
The passengers were not carrying luggage, except for small personal items such as jewelry and cell phones.
Statements from those involved
Sedeno Rodríguez admitted to investigators that a man named "Miggy," known for his involvement in human trafficking from the Bahamas, contacted him in Homestead.
According to the report, Miggy offered $5,000 to pick up the migrants and transport them.
Sedeno Rodríguez also mentioned that a second individual, nicknamed "Pito," would provide the destination and the cash.
Villares stated that Sedeno Rodríguez recruited him for the operation, offering him 500 dollars to assist with the transportation.
He also stated that Cicilia Rodríguez rented the U-Haul truck and that the plan was to drop off the immigrants "near a hardware store" in Miami-Dade.
Cicilia Rodríguez, for her part, acknowledged that she was the owner of the Toyota Corolla and admitted that she rented the U-Haul following instructions from Sedeno Rodríguez.
He also confirmed that the three of them met at Sedeno Rodríguez's house on Friday morning to coordinate the operation.
The three suspects, all Cuban citizens, were transferred to the Dania Beach Border Patrol station after their arrest and then booked into the Broward County jail.
According to records, Villares and Sedeno Rodríguez were held at the Federal Detention Center in downtown Miami until this Wednesday.
Cicilia Rodríguez was not listed in the federal inmate records nor in those of the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
The case remains under investigation as authorities work to completely dismantle the human trafficking network.
Frequently Asked Questions about Human Trafficking in Miami
Who were the Cubans arrested in Miami for human trafficking?
Three Cubans, Lucas Sedeno Rodríguez, José Luis Villares, and Keiner Cicilia Rodríguez, were arrested in Miami on charges of human trafficking after transporting more than two dozen undocumented immigrants, primarily from China, Ecuador, and Brazil.
How did the arrest take place in Coral Gables?
The arrest occurred thanks to a report from a citizen who observed a possible kidnapping in the Snapper Creek Lakes neighborhood. This citizen alerted the police after recording the incident, which allowed for the tracking and apprehension of the suspects and 28 undocumented immigrants in two vehicles.
What conditions did immigrants face in the vehicles used?
Immigrants were transported under precarious conditions. In the U-Haul truck, driven by José Luis Villares, 22 immigrants traveled without seats and with the windows covered to hide them, while three other immigrants were in the Toyota Corolla.
What was the role of the authorities in this operation against human trafficking?
The operation was coordinated among several agencies, including the Coral Gables Police, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Department of Homeland Security. These authorities worked together to track down and apprehend the suspects and the immigrants involved, demonstrating the importance of joint action in human trafficking cases.
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