A Texas Sheriff’s Deputy uncovered a human smuggling operation when 12 undocumented migrants were found hidden inside hollowed-out hay bales during a routine traffic stop near Flatonia.
At a Glance
- A routine traffic stop on I-10 near Flatonia, Texas, revealed 12 undocumented migrants concealed inside hollowed-out hay bales.
- The hay bales were modified with internal metal frameworks to hide people in dangerously confined compartments.
- Three individuals—Delbert Flanders, Adanaylo Lambert, and Lency Delgado Fernandez—were arrested and face federal charges.
- The migrants were safely extracted and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
- Authorities are investigating ties to broader smuggling networks operating across the southern U.S. border.
Sophisticated Concealment Method Discovered
On May 20, 2025, a routine patrol by a Fayette County Sheriff’s Deputy turned into a major smuggling bust on Interstate 10 near Flatonia. According to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, deputies stopped a white Ford F-250 hauling what appeared to be a standard hay trailer. A closer inspection revealed that the round hay bales had been hollowed out and reinforced with metal framing to create hidden compartments.
Inside, officers found 12 undocumented migrants crammed into dangerously tight spaces. Sheriff Keith Korenek described the concealment as “not only deceptive but incredibly dangerous to human life,” echoing a warning about increasingly risky smuggling tactics. KBTX News also reported that the heat and confinement presented extreme hazards to the individuals inside.
Watch a report: People found hidden in hay bales during Texas traffic stop.
Arrests and Ongoing Investigation
The driver, identified as 44-year-old Delbert Flanders from Kansas, was arrested and hospitalized for unspecified medical treatment. Two Houston residents—22-year-old Adanaylo Lambert and 25-year-old Lency Delgado Fernandez—were also apprehended and identified as coordinators of the smuggling operation. All three now face multiple state and federal human smuggling charges, as detailed by Fox 7 Austin.
The 12 individuals found in the bales were removed safely and later transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, according to a statement from KSAT News.
Multi-Agency Response and Broader Implications
The bust involved coordination between several agencies, including the Texas Department of Public Safety, Flatonia Police Department, and Fayette County EMS. Gloria Chavez, a law enforcement official familiar with the case, told CBS Austin that it demonstrated how intelligence sharing between local and federal law enforcement helps dismantle transnational criminal operations.
Sheriff Korenek added that traffickers “continue to use increasingly creative and hazardous techniques to transport individuals across Texas highways,” reinforcing growing concern about how human smugglers adapt and escalate concealment methods to evade detection.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are probing possible connections between the suspects and broader smuggling networks operating along the southern U.S. border.
