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Eleazar Mozqueda Simental, Alien Smuggling, California 2025
Eleazar Mozqueda Simental, a Mexican national, was arrested and charged on March 20, 2025, in connection with a maritime smuggling incident. Mozqueda Simental was accused of illegally transporting 14 undocumented immigrants from Mexico, Vietnam and China – all of whom were forced to wear large black trash bags over their heads and bodies during the four-hour trip. They were brought into the United States on a panga boat traveling at high speed across rough seas.
According to interviews with the undocumented immigrants on the boat, at one point, the panga caught air, broke apart and capsized, sending terrified passengers into the water. The passengers, including a deaf/mute woman, were rescued.
Mozqueda Simental’s arrest and charging marked one of the numerous border-related cases filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California this week. In total, over 90 border-related cases were filed, including charges of transportation of illegal aliens, bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, deported alien found in the United States, and importation of controlled substances.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city).
In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security.
Eleazar Mozqueda Simental was accused of transporting 14 undocumented immigrants from Mexico, Vietnam and China, forcing them to wear large black trash bags over their heads and bodies during the four-hour trip. He was brought into the United States on a panga boat traveling at high speed across rough seas.
Mozqueda Simental is currently in custody, awaiting trial. His exact sentence or outcome is not yet known.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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