Federal agents have arrested two men accused of running one of the largest human smuggling operations in the U.S. The network, which reportedly moved thousands of illegal immigrants into the country, has been tied to multiple deaths and threats against law enforcement.
Investigators say Eduardo Domingo Renoj-Matul and Cristobal Mejia-Chaj oversaw a criminal organization that charged migrants from Guatemala between $15,000 and $18,000 for passage into the U.S. Smugglers in Mexico helped them cross the border, and upon arrival, some were detained in stash houses until their families paid additional fees.
The operation has been linked to a deadly 2023 crash in Oklahoma, which killed seven illegal immigrants, including a four-year-old child. The driver involved, Jose Paxtor-Oxlaj, has been in custody since the incident and is now facing charges related to the smuggling ring.
Court records reveal that Renoj-Matul used threats to pressure families into paying smuggling fees. One mother was reportedly warned that her daughter “would come home in a box” if the full amount was not received.
Law enforcement is still searching for another key figure, Helmer Obispo-Hernandez, believed to be in Guatemala. Prosecutors say he managed drivers responsible for transporting migrants once they entered the U.S. and also made threats against a Homeland Security agent working on the case.
Renoj-Matul and Mejia-Chaj remain in federal custody with no option for bail. Their trial is scheduled for April, and they face the possibility of life in prison or the death penalty.
