Three arrested, 14 in INS custody after Houston police bust alleged human smuggling operation

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Fourteen people were sent to an INS center after police uncover an immigrant smuggling operation in Houston.

Officers arrived on Gillman St., near Sterlingshire in northeast Houston late Thursday after receiving a disturbance call.

Houston police quickly realized it was much more than that. Several people took off running, and altogether police took three people into custody and federal authorities took 14 men and women to an area immigration center. Authorities believe all of them were being held for ransom.

Jacob Justice says police recovered his stolen truck at the house and gave him a call.

"It was an immigrant house or something. They were gonna do smuggling and stuff and they were gonna use my truck for it, so, I guess they caught them before they could start using it for that kind of stuff," said Justice.

That truck had been stolen earlier this week from the man's job site.