EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – Police in Chihuahua, Mexico, have seized 17 vehicles from the criminal group blamed for the killing of three police officers last week.
Seven of those recent-model pickup trucks and SUVs seized by police were stolen in El Paso, the Dallas area and in New Mexico, Chihuahua state police Special Operations Director Ricardo Realivasquez said on Monday.
They include a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado registered in New Mexico, a black 2023 Jeep Gladiator stolen in Dallas, a 2023 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup taken from Arlington, a 2022 Cadillac SUV reported stolen in Socorro, Texas, a Ford F-250, a Lincoln Navigator and a gray Ram believed stolen in El Paso.
Mexican authorities will be contacting the Texas and New Mexico-based police departments where stolen vehicle reports were filed for them to arrange their return to the rightful owners, said Gabriela Cota, a spokeswoman for the Chihuahua Attorney General’s Office.
Some of the stolen autos had their vehicle identification number (VIN) removed or altered; some had the logo of a criminal organization painted on a side or had steel plates welded on. Police officials declined to name the group but local news media have identified it as La Linea.
Chihuahua Public Safety Director Gilberto Loya said two of the nine suspects arrested late last week in connection with the October 7 deaths of state Officers German Peralta Hernandez, Guillermo Aguirre Palma and Ana Esmeralda Arteaga Arroyo were directly involved in the shooting ambush near the town of Moris.
Rafael N., a.k.a. “El Fray,” allegedly is a second-tier leader in La Linea; Adrian N. is the reputed lead sicario, or hitman, of the group.
Loya said authorities are looking for Ever Jose G.B., a.k.a. “El Aguila” (The Eagle), the reputed leader of the criminal organization’s cell “generating violence” along the Chihuahua-Sonora border. El Aguila (Ever Jose Gonzalez Bourne) is now being sought in all of Mexico so he can answer for the attack, which also left seven state officers in the hospital.
“We will not allow impunity against those who attempt against the life of a police officer or the community in general,” Loya said. “These arrests are a major blow to criminals in the region.”