Salvadoran human smuggler arrested
Arrest part of ongoing efforts to combat human smuggling in the region
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — An ongoing anti-human smuggling effort in Central America resulted in the arrest of a Salvadoran man Sept. 30 who was allegedly involved in migrant smuggling.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents from the HSI Assistant Attaché Office in El Salvador assisted police officers from the Salvadoran National Civil Police, who arrested Neftali Acosta-Cortez following a tip from the Salvadoran Attorney General’s Office.
The Salvadoran Transnational Criminal Investigations Unit (TCIU) executed the search and arrest warrant at Acosta-Cortez’s home without incident. TCIU officers seized approximately $3,000 in U.S. currency, one vehicle and eight cell phones. The investigation into this case is ongoing and is being supported by HSI special agents.
“With every arrest made in the region, we’re impacting the transnational criminal organizations operating here,” said Alvin De la Rosa, HSI assistant attaché in El Salvador. “We commend the great work of the Salvadoran government for their relentless pursuit of criminals involved in human smuggling. Together, we will continue making an impact.”
The Salvadoran Attorney General’s office is handling the prosecution of the case.
Through ICE's Office of International Operations and the U.S. Department of State, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has 62 attaché offices in 46 countries around the world. HSI special agents work closely with foreign law enforcement agencies and through a robust network of specialized, vetted units known as Transnational Criminal Investigative Units.
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