The Franklin County Sheriff’s office made back-to-back traffic stops last Wednesday and Thursday that led to involvement from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the deportation of more than a dozen illegal aliens.

According to the police log from the Sheriff’s Office, Franklin County officers stopped a van carrying eight occupants who could not speak English in Kingfield on Wednesday.

The next day, a deputy stopped a “large van” in New Vineyard carrying six occupants who were determined to be illegal aliens who had entered the U.S. illegally from Ecuador.

On both occasions, federal immigration authorities were called in to assist.

It’s not clear what the vanloads of illegal aliens were doing in Franklin County or whether they were in the area for work.

Here’s the police blotter:

10/16/2024 1814hrs, Det. Davol conducted a traffic stop on Main Street in Kingfield with a van which had 8 occupants who could not speak English.  Border Patrol responded to the scene.

10/17/2024 0717hrs, Deputy Morgan stopped a large van for speeding 61/35 on Route 27 in New Vineyard. During the investigation it was determined that of the six occupants in the van, all had entered the US illegally from Ecuador but had pending court dates; none had a driver’s license.  One occupant was identified as someone who had not been processed. and when it was discovered, he fled into the woods.  Border Patrol assisted at the scene.

Franklin County Jail records show that, following the Oct. 16 and Oct. 17 arrests, Juan Manuel Castro-Loja, 19, and Jose Gonzales, 52, were scheduled for release to immigration authorities.

CBP did not respond to an email seeking comment.