Federal and state authorities in West Texas have arrested 13 people in what prosecutors allege was a ring that stole large SUVs and drove them into Mexico, where the vehicles were armored and supplied to cartels. Breitbart Texas reported the case using information provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.
The arrests, which date back to March, are part of Operation Southbound Takedown. Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, the DEA, the ATF, CBP, Texas DPS, and El Paso police carried out the investigation.
The vehicles were taken from private owners and rental companies, and authorities recovered at least 29 of them.
Eleven of those arrested are U.S. citizens. Two are Mexican nationals who held legal residency or border crossing permits.
All 13 have been federally indicted and are awaiting trial, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“These are not isolated property crimes,” said Ryan G. McRae, the HSI special agent in charge in El Paso.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons warned anyone tempted to move stolen vehicles into Mexico that prosecutors will find and charge them, noting that many cartels have been designated foreign terrorist organizations.
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