Border Patrol catches Oklahoma trucker with meth, 38 people in ‘hot, locked trailer’

An Oklahoma-based truck driver faces federal charges after he was caught at a Border Patrol checkpoint in Texas with dozens of people inside of his trailer while he was in possession of illegal drugs and paraphernalia.

Juan Nasario-Reyes, 43, is facing human trafficking charges as well as a charge of possession with intent to distribute meth, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.

On May 16, 2026, Nasario-Reyes approached the Border Patrol checkpoint in Sarita, Texas, while operating a white Volvo tractor-trailer.

Officials said that Nasario-Reyes told officers that he was alone in the truck, but a canine unit alerted to the sleeper berth area.

A subsequent inspection of the vehicle uncovered four undocumented immigrants inside the sleeper berth and an additional 38 people inside the trailer.

“The charges further allege the trailer had been latched shut from the outside with no means for the individuals inside to open the doors or escape. A subsequent search allegedly revealed water bottles, trash, a cushion and a bucket for urination inside the trailer. According to the complaint, the temperature inside the trailer was approximately 92.5 degrees. The illegal aliens are from the countries of Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru, Columbia, Cuba and Brazil, according to the charges,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Thirteen people found concealed on the truck will faces charges of illegal entry or reentry. The rest are expected to be removed from the U.S.

Officers also found 16 grams of meth, a glass pipe, and glass funnel inside a headphone box in the cab of the Volvo.

The human smuggling charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 maximum fine. The maximum penalty on the drug charges is 40 years in prison.

This case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol.