Police investigating potential human smuggling case after more than 90 found in Houston home

Houston police are investigating a possible human smuggling case after more than 90 people were found
“huddled up” in a Texas home, the Houston Police Department (HPD) announced Friday.

Police located the house after being tipped off regarding a possible kidnapping case, HPD Assistant Chief Daryn Edwards said during a Friday press conference.

When police arrived on the scene to execute their search warrant, officers found more than 90 people, the majority of whom were male.

“It was a big surprise when we got in the house and saw what we saw,” Edwards said, adding that none of the people found were tied up.

Immediate medical care was administered to those found, but no significant injuries were detected. Multiple people reported having symptoms associated with COVID-19, however, including loss of taste and smell, and fevers.

The health department will conduct rapid testing and handle any positive cases before relocating the people.

Law enforcement provided the people found inside the home with food and water. 

According to Edwards, the person who brought them to the home is still being looked into at this time, but police are considering the case to be “definitely more of a smuggling thing, and not a trafficking thing.”

Edwards noted they hadn’t received any reports of suspicious activity from neighbors.

“We always ask the community if you see something say something … we all need to work together. This isn’t something we see often but it is disturbing,” he said.