Human Smuggling Operation

Authorities involved in scheme

HIDALGO - A human smuggling operation so elaborate it's almost impossible to believe.

Thousands of illegal immigrants brought into the US by a window washer.

He goes simply by "Fantasma" or ghost. He poses as a window washer at the Hidalgo Bridge, but his real job is human smuggling.

"Fantasma" gave us a run through of his smuggling operation. He tells it is all perfectly timed out.

US Customs officers are studied. Their routes are learned, and at just the right time they make their move.

A commercial bus pulls up on the bridge and blocks the view, others posing as illegals distract border patrol agents, and those really trying to get across make a run for it.

He tells us illegals find him using a referral service. Bridge vendors tell people how to find him, and he in return gives the vendors twenty dollars. The operation is so well planned out even some Mexican authorities are in on it, paid off to look the other way.

If they are caught "Fantasma" poses as an illegal himself, and those he smuggles are instructed to identify him as such. He does to avoid going to prison; if he is identified as a smuggler he could face up to five years in jail. He tells us he is one of the good guys. He simply helps those trying to get across, and even advises people to be careful.