‘Had us locked down;’ Worker describes nerve-wracking scene as Homeland Security raids Fuyao plant
A worker describes the chaos inside a local business that was raided as part of a massive Homeland Security investigation.
As reported on News Center 7 at 11, Myles Smith has worked at Fuyao as a forklift driver for two years. He said he was met by federal agents at 10:15 Friday morning.
“I seen the FBI, like Homeland Security, they said ‘go back in that building, we got a warrant to search the place,’” he said.
Shortly after speaking with agents, Smith saw more arrive.
“We couldn’t do nothing, we couldn’t go nowhere. They said, ‘You got to go to the bathroom. We got to escort you to the bathroom.’ Basically, had us locked down, shut down, sweating,” Smith said.
As News Center 7 previously reported, Homeland Security along with other federal, state, and local agents conducted federal search warrants at Fuyao Glass America and 27 other locations in the Dayton area.
They are investigating allegations of financial crimes and labor exploration.
>> RELATED: Fuyao plant, nearly 30 other area locations raided in massive Homeland Security investigation
“A couple of weeks before they came, some of Homeland, I believe, came in and got some of the immigrants that was working there,” Smith said.
Smith said once agents made their way inside workers were confined to one area.
“I seen them going through lockers, going through the equipment, checking the bathroom,” he said.
Smith said agents made everyone fill out cards identifying who they were.
“Then they had us all get in four lines, and started to take our cards and IDs and check us out,” he said.
Smith said he was close with some of the people detained.
“I called them my brothers, so I had a couple of them I was real cool with that they’re not there no more,” he said.
Smith said workers were allowed to leave at 2:30 p.m.
He said he was told by bosses that the plant has mandatory overtime beginning Saturday.
News Center 7 has reached out to Fuyao for a comment but has not heard back.
We will continue to follow this story.
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