Packages containing nearly 64 pounds of cocaine seized by CBP officers at Hidalgo International Bridge. USCBP image
Texas Border Business
HIDALGO, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations officers at the Hidalgo International Bridge on Easter Sunday intercepted $850,000 in alleged cocaine concealed within a vehicle.
“Our frontline CBP officers continue to maintain strict vigilance amid heavy traffic on holidays like Easter Sunday and that dedication and effective utilization of technology and experience resulted in this significant cocaine seizure,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.
On April 20, CBP officers assigned to the Hidalgo International Bridge encountered a black GMC SUV making entry from Mexico. A CBP officer referred the vehicle for further inspection, which included utilizing nonintrusive inspection equipment and a canine team. Physical inspection led to the discovery of 24 packages of alleged cocaine with a combined weight of 63.80 pounds (29.72 kg) concealed within the vehicle.
CBP OFO seized the narcotics and vehicle. Homeland Security Investigations arrested the driver and initiated a criminal investigation.
In the first 100 days of the Trump-Vance Administration, the U.S. Department of Education has advanced President Trump’s commitment to Title IX and protecting female athletes and female-only intimate spaces. YouTube image
Texas Border Business
In the first 100 days of the Trump-Vance Administration, the U.S. Department of Education has advanced President Trump’s commitment to Title IX and protecting female athletes and female-only intimate spaces. Under the President’s leadership, the U.S. Department of Education has initiated 20 Title IX investigations, referred Maine to the Department of Justice (DOJ) after concluding its noncompliance with Title IX, and launched a Title IX Special Investigations Team alongside DOJ to streamline investigations and expedite enforcement. This Administration will follow the biological reality that there are only two sexes: male and female.
WATCH | President Trump Signs ‘No Men in Women’s Sports’ Executive Order
WATCH | Secretary McMahon Announces Title IX Special Investigations Team with DOJ
READ | The Trump Administration Fulfills Promise to Protect Women and Girls
ED Has Fought For Women and Girls Facing Discrimination By:
Notifying educational entities that we will enforce the Trump Administration’s 2020 Title IX Rule, reversing the Biden Administration’s 2024 damaging rewrite;
Launching 20 Title IX investigations – including into San Jose State University, University of Pennsylvania, the Maine Department of Education, the California Department of Education, University of Maryland, and Wagner College – amid allegations that educational entities have allowed men to compete in women’s sports and invade women-only intimate spaces;
Initiating a federal funding termination proceeding for the Maine Department of Education for their violations of Title IX, and referring the case to the Department of Justice for further enforcement action;
Urging the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) to restore to women the records, titles, awards, and recognitions that were misappropriated by males competing in female categories; and
Partnering with DOJ to create a Title IX Special Investigations Team consisting of expert attorneys and investigators from both agencies to ensure consistent investigations and expeditious enforcement for Title IX violations.
EL PASO, TEXAS – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Paso Del Norte international crossing in El Paso apprehended a man being sought on an outstanding warrant for online solicitation of minor charges. The man was recently featured as the Amarillo Crime Stoppers fugitive of the week.
“The CBP inspection process routinely identifies people who are fleeing law enforcement,” said CBP El Paso Port Director Ray Provencio. “Every time CBP stops and apprehends a wanted subject means our shared communities are a safer place.”
The apprehension was made just after midnight April 21 when a 27-year-old male U.S. citizen arrived as a pedestrian from Mexico. CBP officers performing their primary inspection received a National Crime Information Center alert that the man was wanted in Amarillo, Texas.
CBP officers took the man into custody and confirmed the warrant details. He was turned over to the El Paso Police Department to await criminal proceedings.
In addition to this arrest CBP officers working at the El Paso ports made five other NCIC fugitive arrests Saturday and Sunday. Those people were being sought on a variety of charges to include assault, smuggling and alien smuggling.
The Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice prevailed in its second monopolization case against Google. Image: The Pancake of Heaven!, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Texas Border Business
US Department of Justice
The Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice prevailed in its second monopolization case against Google. In United States et al. v. Google, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia held that Google violated antitrust law by monopolizing open-web digital advertising markets. According to the Court, Google “harmed Google’s publishing customers, the competitive process, and, ultimately, consumers of information on the open web.”
“This is a landmark victory in the ongoing fight to stop Google from monopolizing the digital public square,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This Department of Justice will continue taking bold legal action to protect the American people from encroachments on free speech and free markets by tech companies.”
“The Court’s ruling is clear: Google is a monopolist and has abused its monopoly power,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Google’s unlawful dominance allows them to censor and even deplatform American voices. And at the same time, Google destroyed and hid information that exposed its illegal conduct. Today’s opinion confirms Google’s controlling hand over online advertising and, increasingly, the internet itself. I am extraordinarily proud of the dedicated public servants whose tireless efforts led to today’s decision.”
Today’s decision follows a 15-day trial in September 2024 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. In January 2023, the Justice Department, along with Attorneys General of several states and the Commonwealth of Virginia, filed a civil antitrust lawsuitagainst Google for monopolizing key digital advertising technologies, referred to as the “ad tech stack,” that website publishers depend on to buy and sell ads that reach millions of customers. As alleged in the complaint, through a series of acquisitions and anticompetitive auction manipulation, Google subverted competition for over 15 years. As a result of Google’s anticompetitive and exclusionary conduct, its ad tech competitors were neutralized or eliminated.
A Kansas City resident, attending college in Boston, was arrested and made his initial court appearance today in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, to face federal charges related to an arson at a Tesla business in Kansas City, Missouri. Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
US Department of Justice
A Kansas City resident, attending college in Boston, was arrested and made his initial court appearance today in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, to face federal charges related to an arson at a Tesla business in Kansas City, Missouri.
According to the criminal complaint, filed in the Western District of Missouri and unsealed today, Owen McIntire, 19, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of malicious damage by fire of any property used in interstate commerce.
“Let me be extremely clear to anyone who still wants to firebomb a Tesla property: you will not evade us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “You will be arrested. You will be prosecuted. You will spend decades behind bars. It is not worth it.”
“Crimes have consequences. The people behind these violent and dangerous attacks on private property will face decades in prison — we will not make deals and we will not negotiate,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
“This is the second arrest this week of a suspect charged with targeting Tesla, more proof that the FBI will not stand for these destructive acts,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “These actions are dangerous, they are illegal, and we are going to arrest those responsible. We will work with our partners at the Department of Justice to hold accountable anyone who commits such crimes. I commend our FBI teams in Kansas City and Boston for their work.”
“ATF’s Special Agents and forensic experts recovered and analyzed key evidence—including Molotov cocktails—used in this deliberate and dangerous arson attack,” said Acting Director Dan Driscoll of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). “This wasn’t vandalism — it was a violent criminal act. Thanks to the relentless work of ATF special agents, and our close coordination with the FBI and local law enforcement, we now have a suspect in custody. I am committed to ensuring ATF continues to stand on the front lines of public safety. ATF will not tolerate those who incite political violence in our communities.”
According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, on March 17, at approximately 11:16 p.m., an officer with the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department (KCMOPD) in the vicinity of the Kansas City (KC) Tesla Center observed smoke coming from a grey Cybertruck parked in the KC Tesla Center parking lot. The officer also observed an unbroken suspected incendiary device near the burning Cybertruck. KCMOPD recovered the unbroken incendiary device, also known as a Molotov cocktail. The fire spread from the Cybertruck to a second Cybertruck in the lot. The Kansas City Fire Department responded to the scene to extinguish the fire.
The Cybertrucks had sale prices of $105,485 and $107,485. Additionally, two charging stations were damaged by the fire, each of which is valued at approximately $550.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Foley and Trey Alford for the Western District of Missouri and Trial Attorney Patrick Cashman of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
The FBI Kansas City and Boston Field Offices, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department are investigating the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Last week, the U.S. Attorneys for Arizona, Central California, Southern California, New Mexico, Southern Texas, and Western Texas charged more than 1,220 defendants with criminal violations of U.S. immigration laws. Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
U.S. Department of Justice
Since the inauguration of President Trump, the Department of Justice is playing a critical role in Operation Take back America, a nationwide initiative to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Last week, the U.S. Attorneys for Arizona, Central California, Southern California, New Mexico, Southern Texas, and Western Texas charged more than 1,220 defendants with criminal violations of U.S. immigration laws.
The Southern District of Texas filed 216 cases in immigration and security-related matters. As part of those cases, 86 face allegations of illegally reentering the country with the majority having felony convictions such as narcotics, firearms or sexual offenses, or prior immigration crimes. A total of 119 people face charges of illegally entering the country while 11 cases involve various instances of human smuggling. Some of those charged with felony reentry include Mexican national Alejandro Contreras-Zapata, who was allegedly found near Roma. The charges allege he had been previously sentenced to 20 years in prison for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon before his removal March 7.
The Western District of Texas filed 378 new immigration-related criminal cases. Among the new cases, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement Removal Operations (ICE ERO) agents in San Antonio received notification that Mexican national Netsai Moreno-Suarez was arrested for a traffic violation on April 11. Moreno-Suarez was transferred into ICE ERO custody, charged with illegal re-entry. She was previously removed from the United States in August 2023 after being convicted for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens and being sentenced to five years of probation. If convicted, Moreno-Suarez faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
The District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 329 defendants. Specifically, the United States filed 130 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 179 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 16 cases against 18 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. The United States charged one individual with assaulting, resisting, or impeding a border patrol agent (18 U.S.C. § 111). The United States also charged one individual with failing to register, as required by law.
The Southern District of California filed 135 border-related cases this week, including charges of transportation of illegal aliens, bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, deported alien found in the United States, and importation of controlled substances. A sample of border-related arrests this week: On April 15, Jesus Manuel Zuniga Huerta and Jose Alberto Flores Avalos of Mexico were arrested at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry and charged with importing deadly fentanyl into the U.S. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers discovered 148 pounds of fentanyl in the rear frame well of a tractor-trailer driven by Zuniga Huerta. On April 15, Brian Jaime Sanchez, a Mexican national, was arrested and charged with Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers found an undocumented immigrant concealed in the trunk of Sanchez’s car as he attempted to cross the border at the Tecate Port of Entry. On April 17, Sergio Villalba-Serrano, a Mexican national, was arrested and charged with Departed Alien Found in the United States. According to a complaint, Villalba-Serrano was taken into custody near the Tecate Port of Entry after his vehicle was stopped by U.S. Border Patrol agents. Villalba-Serrano had previously been deported on Oct. 26, 2019, from Laredo, Texas.
The Central District of California filed criminal charges against 34 defendants who are alleged to have been found in the United States following removal, the Justice Department announced today. Many of the defendants charged previously were convicted of felony offenses prior to their removal from the United States, including domestic violence, unlawful sex with a minor, and assault with a deadly weapon.
The District of New Mexico brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico: 68 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326), 10 individuals were charged this week with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324), and 55 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325). Many of the defendants charged pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1326 had prior criminal convictions for possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, aggravated driving under the influence and possession of a forgery writing/device.
We are grateful for the hard work of our border prosecutors in bringing these cases and helping to make our border safe again.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection today announced the seizure of nearly 72 grams of heroin mixed with fentanyl and 96 grams of THC vape oil from a U.S. citizen at the Galveston Cruise Port following a cruise to Mexico. Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
GALVESTON, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection today announced the seizure of nearly 72 grams of heroin mixed with fentanyl and 96 grams of THC vape oil from a U.S. citizen at the Galveston Cruise Port following a cruise to Mexico. The individual was arrested and referred to local authorities for prosecution.
On Sunday, April 20th, CBP Galveston performed a baggage exam and found several vape pens with marijuana THC and several prescription pill bottles of which two contained a powdery substance. Drug tests were performed and were found to be positive for both fentanyl and heroin.
“Fentanyl is a weapon of mass destruction in this country and CBP works every day to keep Americans safe from dangerous and deadly drugs,” said Acting CBP Area Port Director John Landry. “This is a significant priority for CBP and our law enforcement partners. Thanks to the vigilance of our brave and dedicated CBP officers, we continue to intercept these deadly substances at our ports of entry before they can do damage in our local communities.”
Fentanyl is one of the most deadly and destructive drugs we’ve ever seen in the United States. One kilogram of fentanyl can kill as many as 500,000 people. While used in hospitals to treat severe pain, illicit fentanyl is manufactured in clandestine foreign labs and smuggled into the United States primarily through Mexico and sold on the street illegally. Fentanyl is often mixed in with other illicit drugs to increase the potency of the drug, sold as powders and nasal sprays, and increasingly pressed into pills made to look like legitimate prescription opioids. Because there is no official oversight or quality control, these counterfeit pills often contain lethal doses of fentanyl.
It is possible for someone to take a pill without knowing it contains fentanyl. It is also possible to take a pill knowing it contains fentanyl, but with no way of knowing if it contains a lethal dose.
According to the CDC, synthetic opioids (like fentanyl) are the primary driver of overdose deaths in the United States. Unless a drug is prescribed by a licensed medical professional and dispensed by a legitimate pharmacy, you can’t know if it’s fake or legitimate. And without laboratory testing, there’s no way to know the amount of fentanyl in an individual pill or how much may have been added to another drug. This is especially dangerous because of fentanyl’s potency, which can be as little as 1-2 milligrams.
On Monday, April 21, 2025, a Celebration of Life was held for Joe Vera, who passed away on April 16 of this year. The event took place at the McAllen Performing Arts Center, where hundreds of friends and family gathered to honor and remember a beloved, kind, and talented man. Vera’s Celebration of Life included a heartfelt eulogy, a Rosary, and a touching Farewell Parade at Oval Park.
Roy Rodriguez. Photo: Roberto H. Gonzalez
Roy Rodriguez, former McAllen City Manager, shared a moving remembrance, reflecting on Joe’s spiritual life and lasting influence. Roy began, “Good afternoon, everyone. John 14 reads, Let not your hearts be troubled. Then Jesus further tells us, I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you myself that I’m there. You may also be. I want to thank Vera’s beautiful family for allowing me to say a few words. When I was first asked to speak here today, the first thing that came to mind was, God, help me get through it. But with Joe’s help, I will.”
Roy spoke of Joe’s unmatched creativity and perfectionism: “He had a knack for coming up with ideas that seemed unachievable and yet achieved them all. There was nothing Joe couldn’t do, and when there was, he’d ask me to do it. But then, just like Joe would do, he would tell me, Why are you doing it that way? That’s not gonna work. Let me do it.”
He shared personal and humorous anecdotes about Joe’s professional style and unwavering faith: “Joe was also a very spiritual man. As many of you know, he was an altar server in his young life. In part, I truly believe that was one of the things that brought us together because he knew that my life revolved around my faith, just like his.”
Reflecting on Joe’s legacy and his contributions to the city, Roy concluded with a passage Joe displayed on his desk, “The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena…who strives valiantly, who errs…who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly…”
John David Franz. Photo: Roberto H. Gonzalez
John David Franz, former mayor of Hidalgo, Texas, followed with heartfelt words. “Good afternoon. We’ve all heard some version of you never really appreciate someone until you’ve walked in their shoes, and then they are gone. And in this case, it hits home. Never imagined that I’d be here this day, this afternoon, talking to people about Joe Vera. Just never dreamed it.” He extended his condolences to Alma, Tricia, Homer, Jo Ann Vera Watts, Linda Casas, and the entire Vera family.
Franz spoke warmly about Joe’s loving devotion to his wife Alma, his children, and his grandchildren: “He deeply loved his wife Alma… It was evident to those who knew the couple that their union was special… Joe loved Alma.” He added, “He was so proud of those kids… Ryan and Reena… especially Ryan, who shared the same birthday with Joe.”
He highlighted Joe’s extensive community contributions in Hidalgo, such as founding Border Fest, helping build Sacred Heart Catholic Church, and conceiving transformative civic projects, including the Dodge Arena. “He was a visionary, and he made it his mission to put Hidalgo on the map for positive reasons.”
Franz also shared touching memories of Joe’s resilience, humility, and dedication to public service. “Joe never lived in Hidalgo, but he sure cared for every part of it and every person in it just like if he had lived there all his life.”
Isaac Tawil. Photo: Roberto H. Gonzalez
Isaac Tawil, McAllen City Manager, read a letter from the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) Asia:
“Joe Vera lived a life of integrity, dedication, and warmth. He was a role model to all of us, always putting others before himself… His contributions to the festival industry were remarkable… He played a key role in building a bridge between Korea and the great state of Texas… Though we can no longer see him, his spirit lives in our hearts.”
Monica De La Cruz. Photo: Roberto H. Gonzalez
Following this, U.S. Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz presented a U.S. flag flown over the Capitol in Joe’s honor to his family. “Today I have the privilege to give this flag… flown in Washington, D.C. in his honor and the certificate… in thanks and Thanksgiving for the time he spent with us here in McAllen, Texas.”
Mr. Tawil then offered his remarks:
“I met Joe for the first time 26 years ago… he treated me that day with the utmost professionalism and courtesy… I never dreamed I would have the honor and privilege to work for and with Joe years later.”
Tawil spoke of Joe’s vision and legacy, “Joe’s vision wasn’t about reality, it was about possibilities… Joe lived by the principle to leave it better than you found it.” Tawil honored Joe’s mantra, “We’re all in the same boat,” using it as a recurring theme to illustrate Joe’s inclusive spirit and leadership style.
He recalled Joe’s favorite sayings like, “If they pay you a nickel, give ’em a quarter,” and “Go big or go home.” He admiringly reflected, “Joe was never too bashful to elevate those who deserve recognition into the spotlight, always satisfied to relish in the joy of accomplishment in the background.”
Tawil concluded, “Joe was officially recognized on the world stage… One of Joe’s proudest moments came in 2025 as he assumed his place as the World Board Chair of the International Festivals and Events Association. His arrival there marked the accomplishments of his life’s dream for us—the greatest gift he could give us: world recognition.”
As the formal tributes concluded, attendees were asked to remain seated for the Rosary. A moment of spiritual reflection began as family and friends came together in reverent prayer to honor Joe Vera’s life and soul.
President Biden never had the authority to forgive student loans across the board, as the Supreme Court held in 2023. But for political gain, he dangled the carrot of loan forgiveness in front of young voters, among other things by keeping in place a temporary Covid-era deferment program. Image: Public Domain. Bgd for illustration purposes
President Biden never had the authority to forgive student loans across the board, as the Supreme Court held in 2023. But for political gain, he dangled the carrot of loan forgiveness in front of young voters, among other things by keeping in place a temporary Covid-era deferment program. Thus the Education Department allowed students to rack up a massive debt that is now long past due.
Between 2021 and 2024, federal student-loan debt increased by more than $60 billion a year, while the department manipulated repayment plans and forgiveness policies until only 38% of the student-loan portfolio was in repayment. This is unsustainable for both students and taxpayers.
I am announcing the end of this dishonest and irresponsible policy. We will conform the department’s repayment options to federal court decisions and end the Biden-era practice of zero-interest, zero-accountability forbearances that are pushing borrowers into loan delinquency and default. On May 5, we will begin the process of moving roughly 1.8 million borrowers into repayment plans and restart collections of loans in default. Borrowers who don’t make payments on time will see their credit scores go down, and in some cases their wages automatically garnished.
Why? Not because we want to be unkind to student borrowers. Borrowing money and failing to pay it back isn’t a victimless offense. Debt doesn’t go away; it gets transferred to others. If borrowers don’t pay their debts to the government, taxpayers do.
Student loans must always be paid back because they are unlike other types of consumer loans. If a borrower stops paying a mortgage or a car payment, he will go into foreclosure or find his car repossessed. Student loans have no collateral. It is impossible to repossess a college degree. That’s why they are very rarely discharged even in bankruptcy.
That’s the hard truth for borrowers. But I have another hard truth for the institutions that made empty promises to students while pocketing their loan dollars.
Colleges and universities call themselves nonprofits, but for years they have profited massively off the federal subsidy of loans, hiking tuition and piling up multibillion-dollar endowments while students graduate six figures in the red. A widely cited 2015 study found that for every dollar of increased federal caps on subsidized loans, colleges raised tuition by 60 cents.
Many of the degree-granting programs that qualify for student loans are worthless on the job market, but colleges continue to accept students to these programs and encourage them to borrow to pay for them. Accountability is a two-way street. As we push to hold student borrowers to account, we will also push colleges to be responsible and transparent.
If you are a student borrower with a federal loan balance and haven’t been making payments, you must restart payments now. Our Federal Student Aid office is providing every form of assistance we legally can to ensure that a monthly payment can fit into your budget. We recently extended the FSA call-center operations with weekend hours to ensure that your individual questions can be answered. We are updating the loan simulator to help calculate your easiest repayment plan. We also provide an advanced AI assistant, Aidan, to help pinpoint your best financial strategy.
As we plan for the department’s future, we won’t leave the loan portfolio in disarray. We are committed to ensuring that borrowers are paying back their loans, that they are fully supported in doing so, and that colleges can’t create such a massive liability for students and their families, jeopardizing their ability to achieve the American dream.
22-year-old Yadhira Berenice Rodriguez and 18-year-old Ruby Zapata, both of Edinburg were arrested fir the theft. Courtesy images. Bgd for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
On Sunday, April 20, 2025, at approximately 7:20 a.m., Edinburg Police responded to the 2400 block of Moonlight Lane in reference to a stolen vehicle. The victim reported that her 2024 black Jeep Gladiator had been stolen from its designated parking space. She became aware of the theft after receiving a call from her sister inquiring about the vehicle’s whereabouts. Upon checking, she realized it was missing. The victim also noted several missed calls from the Progreso Port of Entry and the Pharr Police Department. Using her vehicle’s mobile app, she was able to track the Jeep’s location to the Progreso Port of Entry.
An Edinburg Police officer made contact with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Supervisor, who advised that the Mexican military had alerted them about a Jeep Gladiator that had crossed into Mexico and was believed to be stolen. The vehicle was stopped as it re-entered the United States at approximately 4:55 a.m., and two female occupants were detained.
The suspects were identified as 22-year-old Yadhira Berenice Rodriguez and 18-year-old Ruby Zapata, both of Edinburg. The victim’s vehicle app showed the Jeep was started at 2:55 a.m. and crossed into Mexico at 4:08 a.m. before being intercepted upon its return.
Edinburg Police provided the victim with a courtesy transport to the Port of Entry, where she recovered her vehicle. Rodriguez and Zapata were placed under arrest and transported to the Edinburg Police Department. Both now face charges of Auto Theft.
This case was solved swiftly through collaboration between Edinburg Police Investigators and the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Combined Auto Theft Task Force.
“We’re incredibly thankful to our partners at the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Combined Auto Theft Task Force for their outstanding collaboration on this case,” said Edinburg Police Chief Jaime Ayala. “Because of their teamwork and quick communication with federal agencies, we were able to recover the stolen vehicle and take two suspects into custody within hours.”
