US DOJ says Texas child‑smuggling ring gave THC‑laced candy to migrant children
Federal prosecutors say members of a cross‑border child‑smuggling operation gave THC‑infused candy to migrant children aged 5 to 13 to keep them quiet during illegal crossings from Juárez, Mexico, into El Paso, Texas. One child was taken to a hospital in El Paso after the candy caused THC poisoning. A woman linked to the scheme has been sentenced to five years in federal prison. The Department of Justice says the investigation into the smuggling network remains ongoing.
Entities: El Paso, Texas, United States · Juárez, Mexico · Texas, United States · United States Department of Justice
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] A woman connected to the conspiracy was sentenced to five years in federal prison. (Department of Justice)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The smuggling route ran from Juárez, Mexico, into El Paso, Texas. (Department of Justice)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The investigation into the smuggling network is ongoing. (Department of Justice)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The children involved were aged between 5 and 13 years. (Department of Justice)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Members of a cross‑border child smuggling operation gave THC‑infused candy to migrant children. (Federal prosecutors)
- [● 3 SOURCES] One child was hospitalized in El Paso with THC poisoning after eating the candy. (Department of Justice)