San Antonio Police detained 15 individuals late Thursday night in what's believed to be a human smuggling ring on the city's West Side. The action followed an 8:30 p.m. raid at a residence in the 2700 block of Buena Vista Street, close to South Zarzamora Street and West Commerce Street, local authorities confirmed.
The group, consisting of people ranging from 20 to 30 years old from Mexico, was caught up in a dramatic scene as police, assisted by Homeland Security Investigations, used flash-bang grenades to coax out the reluctant. One person, amid the chaos, was taken to the hospital for a stress-related condition, according to KENS5.
Officials are currently separating the detained individuals into groups of suspects and victims, handling a situation that digs deep into the heart of an ongoing national struggle with human trafficking. In a statement obtained by KSAT12, the victims have been transported to a Homeland Security Investigations facility for further care and assessment.
Further details remain scarce as the investigation unfolds.
