Lewiston, New York - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from the Lewiston Port of Entry intercepted a human smuggling attempt that resulted in the arrest of one male subject for criminal alien smuggling and an additional male subject for illegal entry into the United States.

On Monday, CBP officers encountered Jason Garcia, a 41-year-old male citizen of Canada entering through the Cargo facility with a tractor trailer shipment destined to Long Island, New York. During the initial inspection, Garcia indicated he was traveling alone and was subsequently directed to the Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) area in order to get his cargo shipment x-rayed.

CBP officers observed Garcia as he drove past the turning point for the NII area, and then witnessed an unknown individual exit the passenger side of the cab near the Cargo warehouse.  The individual was apprehended by CBP officers shortly after he entered the Cargo warehouse.  The individual was later identified as Jose Alfredo Herrera-Galvez, a 42-year-old citizen of Chili who did not possess a valid visa authorizing travel to the United States.

Further investigation revealed that Herrera-Galvez attempted to enter the U.S. without inspection or proper authorization and that Garcia was going to profit by transporting him across the border.  

“Individuals that engage in human smuggling will be processed under U.S. federal statutes,” said Acting Area Port Director Buffalo Sharon Swiatek. “Good awareness and communication between our dedicated officers was essential in the successful arrest of a human smuggler and the apprehension of an illegal alien in further securing our border.”  

The U.S. Attorney General’s office for the Western District of New York is prosecuting both subjects.  Criminal charges are merely allegations, with all subjects presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.