Authorities say a stolen big rig running quiet smuggling trips between the border and San Antonio has landed one local man behind bars.
Webb County investigators allege that a stolen commercial truck tractor was used on multiple runs to move undocumented immigrants to San Antonio. The driver was identified as 44-year-old Hilario C. Ruelas, who remains in Webb County custody on several outstanding warrants tied to the case. Deputies say the truck involved was a 2022 International truck tractor that investigators later determined had been stolen from Webb County.
According to Laredo Morning Times, deputies first responded on May 25 to the 400 block of El Pico Road after reports of unauthorized use of a vehicle and criminal mischief. The case was turned over to the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, and investigators ultimately concluded the truck had been used on two separate occasions to transport undocumented people to San Antonio, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The Webb County District Attorney’s Office reviewed the findings and approved one criminal mischief warrant and three warrants for unauthorized use of a vehicle, each carrying a $25,000 bond, as reported by KGNS. Authorities say Ruelas was arrested in San Antonio on Monday and transported to the Webb County Jail on Thursday, where jail records show he was booked on the four warrants for a total of $100,000 in bonds.
Stolen Rigs And Smuggling Risks
Using stolen or "cloned" trucks to move people is a tactic that has drawn heightened scrutiny after a series of deadly smuggling incidents. By mimicking legitimate commercial vehicles, traffickers can make the rigs harder to flag at checkpoints. The 2022 tractor-trailer deaths in San Antonio, which shocked the state and the country, helped spur Texas to crack down on so-called truck "clones," according to reporting by The Texas Tribune.
What Investigators Say And Next Steps
Webb County deputies say their investigation is still active and that they are continuing to work the case with prosecutors. No federal charges have been announced so far. The Sheriff’s Office has not released details on how the truck was taken or whether more arrests could follow, Laredo Morning Times reported.
Legal Implications
Ruelas faces state charges of three counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle and one count of criminal mischief, charges that were approved by the Webb County District Attorney’s Office, KGNS noted. Jail records show he was booked into the Webb County Jail on Thursday and remains in custody on bonds totaling $100,000 as of the latest reports.
