20 migrants were discovered in the back of a reefer trailer after the truck driver almost backed into the semi truck behind him during an initial inspection.
The migrants were discovered on September 25th at about 8:10 p.m. at the Freer Border Patrol Checkpoint on U.S. 59 in Texas.
According to the Beaumont Enterprise, truck driver Charles Arthur Asberry pulled up to the checkpoint for a routine inspection when a k9 agent alerted to the possible presence of contraband. When agents asked for his identification, Asberry told them that he had forgotten it. Asberry was then referred to secondary inspection and mistakenly put the tractor trailer into reverse before driving over, nearly backing into the semi truck behind him.
During the secondary inspection, “a total of (20) subjects were discovered inside the trailer, which was locked with a Master Lock, sealing everyone inside with no means of escape. All subjects exited the trailer shivering due to the temperature of the trailer being set up at 30 degrees Fahrenheit.”
Asberry was arrested on the charges of transport, attempt to transport and conspire to transport migrants.