After two victims of an apparent human smuggling operation were discovered at a northeastern Bastrop County residence this week, a federal investigation is continuing into reports that additional victims are still being held against their will at another, unknown location.

On Wednesday at 11:20 a.m., federal and local law enforcement agencies executed a search warrant at 1358 FM 1704 near Elgin and discovered six Hispanic men, four of whom were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers as suspected human smugglers. The remaining two males were of Guatemalan descent and told authorities they had been threatened with bodily harm and were being held against their will, according to Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office reports.

Also relayed to authorities was information that an additional ten illegal immigrants had reportedly been removed from the residence on FM 1704 Tuesday and moved to a second location.

In a press conference held Thursday afternoon, Bastrop County Sheriff Terry Pickering said he had no information on the whereabouts of the location and that the investigation is now in the hands of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“I have no idea at this point,” Pickering said to questions about where the alleged victims are believed to have been taken. “Where the location is at, how they moved them; I don’t have any information at all.”

According to the sheriff, the warrant for the raid was obtained after a victim of the alleged smuggling operation escaped earlier in the week and was able to alert authorities. Pickering said the two victims found at the home reported they had been there for several days. The suspected smugglers, all of whom were from Mexico, are believed to have helped the Guatemalans sneak into the U.S., then held them captive while contacting the men’s families and demanding additional money for their release.

“Instances of human trafficking and human smuggling have evolved into a very profitable industry and are becoming a significant problem in the area,” Pickering said. “It is not uncommon for smuggled people to be subjected to physical and sexual abuse while being held hostage in exchange for additional smuggling fees.”

The sheriff did note that in this particular instance there was no evidence of any sexual abuse and that the men had been provided with air conditioning and some water.

“From what I was told it wasn’t anything real horrible,” Pickering said in regards to the conditions inside the home.

“We’re still a pretty rural community and a lot of areas are fairly well secreted off and hidden,” the sheriff continued. “It makes it really easy for people to go in and set up these operations.”

The four suspected smugglers have been charged with harboring illegal aliens. Their names and ages are unknown.