Car theft network allegedly directed by the CJNG dismantled in the US

MEXICO CITY (apro).- Texas authorities dismantled a car theft ring allegedly managed by members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), according to police.

On April 4, Harris County authorities carried out an operation that culminated after six months of work, which led to the three junkyards, allegedly linked to the CJNG.

“We had a person who fled. We were able to get him into custody. But it was a pretty quiet execution. We used our SWAT team and they are pretty good at what they do and they were able to protect everyone,” said Saúl Suárez, spokesman for the sheriff’s office.

The operation resulted in: the recovery of 14 stolen vehicles – worth more than a million dollars – across the three junkyards, and five arrests; 2 men were released and 3 formally charged.

The names of the three defendants were released: Edgar Bravo, Jesús Gutiérrez Escamilla, for second-degree robbery, and Bernardo Fernández Pereyda, for evading arrest – all of Mexican nationality – according to documents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service. obtained by “The New York Post”.

Gutiérrez-Escamilla entered the United States illegally on an unknown date more than a dozen years ago. ICE documents show he was arrested in 2012 and convicted of criminal trespass. He served a 20-day jail sentence and returned to the streets. In 2016 he was arrested for a traffic violation, but was not deported, since – according to his Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) file – “he did not meet any of the law enforcement priorities,” reported the same medium.

On the other hand, Fernández Pereyda was detained by the Border Patrol in March 2023, although – according to “The New York Post” – ICE records do not show how that case was resolved.

Ray Donovan, who retired as head of DEA operations in April 2023, told the New York media that Houston was a “center for cartels” which works for the transshipment and intermediation of drugs to other points in the United States.