Mexico City, August 16 (RHC)-- Agents of Mexico's National Migration Institute (INM) rescued 231 migrants on Tuesday who were traveling crammed in a metal container adapted to a trailer on the Mexico-Puebla highway, near the municipality of Tlaltenango.

The rescue operation was carried out by members of the National Guard and the Puebla State Police who freed the group of migrants, most of them from Guatemala and one from El Salvador, along with several women and minors.

Mgration authorities highlighted that "the federal Migration agents verified that inside the compartment they were being transported without food or ventilation: 84 women and eight adult men, 120 accompanied minors and 18 unaccompanied adolescents."

The official statement says that while police stopped the vehicle on a traffic check, "Noises and people screaming were heard in the back of the truck.  When one of the doors was opened, a hatch was exposed and, with the help of flashlights, girls and boys could be seen being held by adults."

After being released, the family groups and unaccompanied minors were taken to the Puebla Provisional Processing and Channeling Shelter, while the driver, co-driver and trailer were handed over to the competent authorities for investigation for human trafficking.