US authorities charge 13 in vehicle theft ring for Mexican cartels

Federal authorities in El Paso, Texas, have indicted 13 individuals as part of 'Operation Southbound Takedown,' an investigation into a network accused of transporting stolen vehicles from the United States to criminal organizations in Mexico.

The group, which includes two Mexican citizens and 11 U.S. citizens, allegedly stole private vehicles and rental cars across the American Southwest. These vehicles were then driven to El Paso to be smuggled across the border, where they were reportedly intended for use by criminal groups involved in narcotics trafficking, human smuggling, extortion, and murder.

Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), have recovered 29 vehicles valued at approximately $1,137,000. The recovered fleet includes SUVs, pickup trucks, and some armored vehicles. Federal prosecutors emphasized that these are not isolated property crimes but are linked to the operational activities of organized crime groups.