Www.thecentersquare.com – By Bethany Blankley | The Center Square contributor – 2024-10-19 08:37:00. SUMMARY: Texas DPS troopers and National Guard soldiers are actively apprehending human smugglers and special interest aliens at the border as part of Operation Lone Star. Recently, a 17-year-old smuggler led officers on a high-speed chase in Hidalgo County, crashing into a pole before attempting to hide in a horse stall; he was charged with smuggling. In Webb County, another smuggler assaulted a Border Patrol agent during his arrest. Authorities reported over 500 illegal crossers in Maverick County, including 39 special interest individuals. Since the operation’s inception, over 523,100 illegal crossings and 551 million lethal doses of fentanyl have been seized.