Official debunks claim spices used to cover odor of bodies in migrant-smuggling horror
Texas authorities haven’t found find any steak seasoning on the bodies of the 53 migrants who died in a sweltering tractor-trailer — despite claims that the pungent spices were used in an apparent attempt to cover the smell while smuggling the victims into the US.
A spokesman for the Bexar County Manager’s Office debunked the widely repeated assertion in an email to The Post on Thursday.
“So far, the Medical Examiner has found no evidence of such substances during their examination,” spokesman Tom Peine said.
Both the San Antonio Express-News and the Texas Tribune cited a single, unidentified law enforcement official who reportedly made the claim following Monday’s horrific incident in San Antonio.
The Express-News also quoted a former Homeland Security Investigations official in Texas who said smugglers often use seasonings and other substances to prevent trained dogs from detecting migrants.
“They will put seasoning on them to cover their scent so they can get through the Border Patrol checkpoint,” ex-HSI Lardeo deputy special agent in charge Timothy Tubbs said.
