Three Children Rescued from Alleged Human Traffickers in California, CBP Says

In just three days, three children who were drugged before being smuggled into California were rescued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents from alleged human traffickers.

El Centro Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gregory K. Bovino took to his X account to share photos of the minors and birth certificates allegedly used by traffickers to smuggle them across the U.S. border.

Bovino reported the first rescue on Sept. 20, sharing a blurred photograph of a minor and multiple Arizona birth certificates, which he said were for "other children." According to Bovino, the minor had been "heavily dosed" to prevent him from speaking to agents."Sometimes we encounter criminal actions so horrendous they defy human decency," he wrote.

The second rescue was reported three days later and involved two drugged minors. "These criminals are not related to the children they smuggle," Bovino stated. "These traffickers go to extreme lengths—giving the children sleep aids to keep them quiet."

It is unclear whether the children were being trafficked or smuggled, as Bovino uses both terms interchangeably in his reports. The Latin Times reached out to CBP for further clarification but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), human smuggling and human trafficking are distinct crimes. Human smuggling involves individuals voluntarily seeking to cross the border, often with the aid of a "coyote." In contrast, human trafficking refers to the transportation of people, typically against their will. However, smuggling is still a crime that is investigated by ICE.

A United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime study found that many migrants use smugglers to help their children enter the U.S. Border authorities continue to warn families about the dangers of sending their children on these perilous journeys.

"Let this serve as a stark warning to parents who might consider entrusting their children to criminal organizations. Your child could be sedated or drugged... or worse," said U.S.-Mexico border U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani, referring to a similar case involving a child smuggling ring leader in Laredo who recently pleaded guilty to smuggling a toddler using sedative gummies.