Deputies Find 32 Suspected Migrants Hiding In Seffner Man's Truck, Boat: Sheriff

MARATHON, FL — A Seffner man faces multiple charges after authorities accused him of driving with more than 30 suspected Cuban migrants Monday morning in Marathon, a news release said.

Twenty-nine-year-old Reidel Garcia-Espino drove the truck that was pulling a go-fast boat in which the migrants were hiding, authorities said. A total of 32 migrants were counted, including three children inside the truck who did not have seat belts on and a 17-year-old hidden in the forward V-berth area of the boat, authorities said.

Law enforcement saw a truck driving slower than the posted speed limit and pulled it over. They noticed the children not wearing seat belts, according to Monroe County deputies. A stench of body odor and saltwater was detected by the officers. Authorities said the driver told law enforcement they had been fishing, but authorities didn't see any fishing gear on the boat.

Garcia-Espino faces charges of child neglect. U.S. Customs and Border Protection took custody of the migrants. If he faces federal charges, that will be decided by federal agencies.