A Border Patrol drone was watching from the sky. Below, 11 people were in the river on the U.S. side. Then a silver Chevy Silverado drove toward them. Soon all 11 were inside the truck.

That is what a trooper wrote in a sworn affidavit. The man he says was driving is Serafin Erasmo Chapa. Chapa now faces a smuggling charge in Starr County.

The affidavit was signed by Trooper Saul Leal. It is dated Sept. 3, 2026. That is the same day as the arrest. These are claims by the trooper. They have not been proved in court.

It happened on Thursday, Sept. 3, at about 5:20 p.m. Leal was working Operation Lone Star with a Brush Team. Operation Lone Star is the state's border mission.

Border Patrol agents were working with him that day. The affidavit says they were part of "Operation Exit Intercept" in Starr County.

Leal was listening to the radio. A Border Patrol drone called out a group. The affidavit says there were "eleven undocumented immigrants in the river on the U.S. river bank."

As the drone watched the group, a silver Chevy Silverado drove toward them. After some time, the drone crew said all 11 people were getting into the truck.

Then the Silverado drove away. The affidavit says it went north through an empty lot. It parked at a property with a mobile home.

The drone agent saw the driver step out. He wore a black shirt and shorts. The driver was later named as Serafin Chapa.

The Brush Team and Border Patrol went to the spot. They made contact with the driver. Leal wrote that all 11 people were inside the Silverado.

Leal arrested Chapa for smuggling of persons. The affidavit says Chapa was taken to the Starr County Jail "without incident." That means there was no trouble during the arrest.

Smuggling of persons is a crime under Texas law. The affidavit lists it as a third-degree felony. That is a serious charge that can mean time in prison.

The affidavit leaves a lot out. It does not say where the 11 people came from. It does not say what happened to them after the stop. It does not give their ages.

It also does not say if Chapa told the trooper anything. It does not say if he knew the people. The affidavit is silent on those points.

Starr County sits right on the river. In this case, the first eyes on the group were in the sky, the affidavit shows.

The affidavit does not list a bond. It does not list a court date. The part of the form where a judge signs is blank on this copy.

Everyone is presumed innocent until proved otherwise.