Ten people said to be in the country illegally were detained by federal authorities following a traffic stop conducted by Sheriff’s Office personnel in DeKalb County Wednesday morning.  Deputies with the DeKalb County Criminal Interdiction Team initiated a traffic stop around 10:30 near the 218-mile marker of I-59 – and the “illegal aliens” were discovered inside the stopped vehicle.  Authorities said the bust was connected to a human smuggling operation, and that the people detained were from El Salvador, Ecuador and Guatemala.

The Department of Homeland Security was called to the scene and the suspects were taken into ICE custody.  DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden says the investigation is on-going and federal charges are pending.

“This is another great job by our Interdiction Team. Even though we are far from the southern border, we can still play a role in enforcing our nation’s laws right here in DeKalb County,” said Sheriff Nick Welden. “While it may seem that they were trying to start a new life in our country, these people are exploited and taken advantage of. Some have to pay thousands of dollars to be smuggled in and are made to work for inhumane wages.”