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In El Paso Human Smuggling Bust, Troopers Seize Weapons, Body Armor Tied To Cartels

By Bethany Blankley (The Heart Sq.)

In a latest El Paso human smuggling bust, Texas Division of Public Security troopers working by Gov. Greg Abbott’s border safety mission Operation Lone Star seized weapons, physique armor, and ammunition after arresting alleged human smugglers related to Mexican cartels.

DPS Legal Investigations Division (CID) particular brokers working by OLS final month recognized a human smuggling ring tied to the Nuevo Cartel De Juarez and La Linea Cartel. The cartels function out of El Paso County and in Sunland Park, New Mexico, DPS says.

The FBI has warned that the Texas border metropolis is a serious human smuggling and kidnapping vacation spot. El Paso, situated throughout the Rio Grande River from Ciudad Juárez, is simply miles from the place rival gangs and cartels are combating for management of a multi-billion-dollar human and drug smuggling enterprise.

One yr in the past, DPS officers rescued an 18-month-old child who’d been kidnapped and held for ransom in El Paso.

Final month, DPS particular brokers and Freeway Patrol troopers labored with the U.S. Border Patrol brokers to determine cartel members concerned in an El Paso human smuggling ring. They apprehended one alleged cartel member after a visitors cease, the place they found a brief barrel firearm in his possession. He was believed to be offering safety for the human smuggling operation.

In addition they recognized alleged cartel members by the photographs they posted of themselves on social media closely armed, sporting cartel apparel, and paying tribute to the La Linea Cartel. DPS particular brokers then executed a search warrant in El Paso and seized a cache of weapons and ammunition.

Associated: Texas Sheriff: Mexican Cartels Preparing For Massive Human Smuggling Operation

In New Mexico, State Police, Homeland Safety Investigations and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives brokers additionally executed search warrants resulting in the seizure of 10 firearms, physique armor and 1000’s of rounds of ammunition. In addition they arrested two Mexican nationals: Lorena Anyla Enrique Acosta, 28, and Edmundo Rodriguez Padilla, 24.

Acosta had no authorized documentation to be within the U.S. and was a beforehand employed as a Mexican state police officer, DPS mentioned.

Authorities additionally arrested two New Mexicans as a part of the operation: Adam Isaiah Ramirez, 27, and Gustavo Alexis Enriquez Acosta, 23.

All 4 males have been charged with quite a few state and federal costs, together with possession of a prohibited weapon, human smuggling, alien in possession of a firearm, and conspiracy to move and harbor. A multi-agency investigation is ongoing.




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