An Oklahoma man was arrested in Texas and faces federal charges after being accused of transporting 42 undocumented migrants inside a tractor-trailer where temperatures exceeded 92 degrees Fahrenheit, in a case that focuses renewed attention on the deadly risks of human trafficking at the southern border of the United States.

Authorities identified the suspect as Juan Nasario-Reyes, 43, of Beaver, Oklahoma. According to court documents, the man was detained on Saturday by Border Patrol agents at the Javier Vega Jr. checkpoint, located in Sarita, Texas, south of Corpus Christi.

According to the criminal complaint, Nasario-Reyes was driving a white 2005 Volvo truck and initially assured officers that he was traveling alone and that the trailer was empty as he headed from McAllen toward Amarillo. However, officers noted inconsistencies in his answers and described the driver as nervous during questioning.

A dog trained to detect people and narcotics alerted officers to the cab of the vehicle and the front of the trailer. After the inspection, authorities located four people hiding inside the cabin and another 38 inside the closed trailer.

Migrants traveled overcrowded and in extreme heat

Court documents state that the inside of the trailer registered a temperature close to 93 degrees Fahrenheit. The space was practically empty, except for some water bottles, a cushion and a bucket used as a makeshift toilet for the journey.

The authorities indicated that the migrants came from several countries, including Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Cuba and Brazil.

One of the migrants told investigators that the group had been transferred first to Reynosa, Tamaulipas, and later to a safe house where there were hundreds of people waiting to cross into the United States. According to their testimony, they crossed the Rio Grande on a raft before being taken to different points until they reached a gas station where they boarded the truck.

The witness also identified Nasario-Reyes as the driver in charge of transporting them to the north of the country.

Federal authorities reported that at least 13 of the migrants face charges of illegal entry or re-entry into the United States, while others could be subject to expedited deportation proceedings.

They find methamphetamine inside the vehicle

In addition to the human trafficking-related charges, officers found methamphetamine in the defendant's possession. According to the investigation, almost seven grams of drugs were initially found in a backpack inside the truck.

Hours later, Homeland Security agents discovered more methamphetamine hidden inside a headphone case that belonged to the driver. In total, the authorities seized approximately 16 grams of the substance, in addition to a pipe and other objects related to the consumption and handling of narcotics.

During a later interview, Nasario-Reyes told investigators that he lived inside his car and had no fixed residence. He also admitted that he knew that another vehicle was traveling in front of him to warn of possible roadblocks or incidents on the road.

The defendant appeared before Federal Judge Jason B. Libby in federal court in Corpus Christi. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison for human trafficking-related charges and up to 40 years for drug trafficking offenses.

The case arises days after other deadly incidents linked to migrant smuggling in Texas, a problem that continues to claim lives despite the reduction in irregular border crossings recorded at the border during the last year.