Mexican national arrested for human smuggling on I-75

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Adan Lopez Hernandez, 28, was arrested yesterday and charged with human smuggling after Gainesville Police Department’s Highway Interdiction Unit pulled his vehicle over on I-75.

At about 9:20 a.m. yesterday, a GPD officer pulled over a Chevy Tahoe at the 373 mile marker of I-75 for speeding, failure to maintain a lane, and a window tint violation. Hernandez was reportedly the owner and driver of the Tahoe.

The officer reported that when he made contact with the vehicle, he could see multiple people inside who appeared to be trying to hide. He saw two adult men lying down in the rear cargo area, although there was a seat available; he wrote that it was clear that they were trying to conceal themselves. The officer also reported that the interior of the vehicle smelled like “foul human odor,” and the occupants didn’t have personal items that people normally bring on a trip. The officer concluded that the driver was probably smuggling the passengers from Mexico.

Hernandez reportedly gave the officer a Mexican identification card with the name Axel Lopez Roblero and said he didn’t have any other identification. The officer wrote that Hernandez does not have a driver’s license in any state and could not produce a passport.

After a Spanish-speaking officer arrived, two of the occupants reportedly said they paid $5,000 to be taken across the border to Florida. One of the occupants was reportedly a juvenile.

Post Miranda, Hernandez reportedly said he had been approached at work about making extra money by smuggling people. He said he knew it was illegal, but he needed the money, so it was worth the risk. He said the organization instructed him to buy the Tahoe and then leave it with them. Once it was loaded with people and ready to go, the organization called him. He said this was his second trip; he smuggled 14 people on his first trip and also started this trip with 14 people. He said he had already dropped off the rest of the people and was nearly done with his second trip when he was pulled over. He said he was given gas money for the trip, and the organization sends his payment to his father in Mexico after everyone is dropped off.

Hernandez has been charged with five counts of human smuggling, giving false identification to law enforcement, and driving without a valid license. He has no U.S. criminal history, and Judge Thomas Jaworski set bail at $503,000.

Alachua Chronicle recently asked an FHP spokesman about what happens to the illegal aliens when the driver is arrested; his answer was that they are typically taken to a safe place off the interstate where they can call their families.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.