14 charged in human smuggling case that left 7 migrants dead

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Fourteen people are now charged in a human smuggling case that left seven migrants dead, including six found in a shipping container at a Laredo rail yard, the Justice Department announced this week.

Eleven people had already been charged in the case.

Migrants locked in container

Prosecutors say the migrants, including a 14-year-old from Honduras, were locked inside the container on a train in Del Rio in May. The container had no ventilation or cooling, prosecutors say.

Train traveled to San Antonio

The train traveled to San Antonio, where prosecutors say smugglers found the migrants in distress and ran away.

Six people were later found dead inside the container in Laredo. A seventh victim was found near the tracks in San Antonio.

Court appearances

Court records show two of the defendants made their first court appearances. Their detention hearings are set for Friday.

For more headlines, click here.