Human Smuggling Charges Filed Against TX Man In FL: FHP

Fort Myers FL

16 February, 2022

5:28 PM

Description

PUNTA GORDA, FL — A Texas man faces human smuggling charges after a Tuesday traffic stop at mile marker 145 on Interstate 75 near the Tuckers Grade exit in Punta Gorda. In addition to four counts of human smuggling, Abel Fernando Navas Salazar, 19, has also been charged with not having a valid driver's license, operating an unregistered vehicle and attaching a license tag not assigned to his SUV, the Florida Highway Patrol said in a news release. A fraudulent temporary license tag from Texas was attached to his Lincoln Navigator. Navas Salazar had four passengers in the SUV at the time of the traffic stop. Troopers determined they were undocumented immigrants that he was driving to Miami "for financial profit," FHP said. The four passengers were turned over to federal agents with Homeland Security for immigration processing. FHP impounded the SUV driven by Navas Salazar.