Four Suspects Accused of Smuggling Children Across Mexico Border

Casal dels Infants – Four individuals have been charged for their roles in a children smuggling scheme from Mexico to the United States. The defendants allegedly used THC-laced candy to sedate the minors during transport. In one incident, medical staff rushed a child to the hospital and diagnosed the child with marijuana poisoning.

According to prosecutors, the smuggling children operation involved transporting minors between the ages of five and thirteen from Juarez, Mexico, into El Paso, Texas. The smugglers presented them at border checkpoints with false documents, claiming the children were theirs.

Strong Statements from U.S. Officials

U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized that the Department of Justice is intensifying efforts against human smuggling.

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“We will not rest until those who profit from the suffering of vulnerable people, including unaccompanied children, are brought to justice,” she said.

Other officials also voiced strong condemnation:

• Matthew R. Galeotti, Acting Assistant Attorney General, called the use of drug-laced candy on children “especially dangerous and cruel.”
• Justin Simmons, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, stressed that cartels see children only as a way to make money.
• Jason T. Stevens, Special Agent in Charge of ICE HSI El Paso, underlined that smugglers endanger the life of every child they take into their hands.

Defendants and Their Roles

The four defendants charged in this case are:

• Susana Guadian (50, Mexican national)
• Daniel Guadian (50, Mexican national)
• Dianne Guadian (32, U.S. citizen)
• Manuel Valenzuela (35, lawful permanent resident, El Paso resident)

Court documents allege that Susana and Daniel recruited drivers to transport children across the border using fraudulent documents. The smugglers paid the drivers about $900 for each child they successfully brought into the United States. Once across the border, Dianne and Manuel allegedly received the children in El Paso and provided payment to the drivers.

Role of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA)

Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), a collaboration between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, supported the case. JTFA focuses on dismantling human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Central America, and Colombia.

Since its creation, JTFA has achieved:

• Over 410 domestic and international arrests
• More than 355 convictions in the U.S.
• More than 305 significant prison sentences
• The forfeiture of substantial assets from criminal groups

Broad Law Enforcement Efforts

The investigation was led by HSI El Paso and the U.S. Border Patrol, with additional support from the Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., and the Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center.

Bethany Allen of the Justice Department’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Division and Adam Hines, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, are prosecuting the case.

Part of a National Operation

This case is also part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime. The operation integrates resources from across the Department of Justice, including the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program.

A Real Threat to Children

Authorities reiterated that child smuggling is one of the most heinous crimes. Smugglers treat children as commodities and put their lives at risk for financial gain.

This case highlights how cartels and smuggling organizations exploit children, seeing them not as human beings but as “currency.” The U.S. government remains committed to using every legal tool available to put an end to these practices.

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