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Exclusive: Cartels targeting homes as smuggling profits dwindle
https://www.newsnationnow.com ^ | July 22, 2025

Posted on 07/22/2025 6:59:13 PM PDT by 11th_VA

DEL RIO, Texas (NewsNation) — Drug cartels are increasingly burglarizing American homes along the Texas border as immigration enforcement cuts into their human smuggling profits, law enforcement officials said.

Several homes along the Rio Grande have been broken into in recent weeks, with the most recent victim losing more than $60,000 worth of valuables, including guns, jewelry and important documents.

Frank Rivas discovered his waterfront home had been ransacked after Mexican nationals crossed the Rio Grande and stormed his property, according to officials. The burglars made off with a massive safe containing cash, weapons, collector’s items and his wife’s immigration documents.

“Anything of value was gone. Everything was rifled through. The whole house was flipped upside down,” Rivas told NewsNation.

The thieves dragged the safe across the border and dumped it in the river when it became too heavy. When Rivas and a sheriff tried to retrieve it by boat, they spotted two individuals guarding the waterlogged safe and had to turn back.

“I don’t want to get shot with my own rifles,” Rivas said.

Mexican officials stood guard over the safe for days, but Rivas couldn’t retrieve it because it was in Mexico. The guns remain missing.

Law enforcement believes desperate cartels are falling back on burglaries now that human smuggling has become riskier and less profitable due to increased border enforcement...

(Excerpt) Read more at newsnationnow.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: border; cartels; crime; texas
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1 posted on 07/22/2025 6:59:13 PM PDT by 11th_VA
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To: 11th_VA

Texas Rangers needed. Shoot first, questions later.


2 posted on 07/22/2025 7:11:01 PM PDT by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: all armed conservatives)
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To: tumblindice

Don’t need Texas Rangers for that. An up-gunned Neighborhood Watch with technology and very favorable Texas Law.


3 posted on 07/22/2025 7:27:56 PM PDT by Salvavida
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To: 11th_VA
“I don’t want to get shot with my own rifles.”

Is he speaking of Fast & Furious?

4 posted on 07/22/2025 7:30:44 PM PDT by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's for sure.)
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To: Salvavida

Yes, like open season.


5 posted on 07/22/2025 7:31:42 PM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus….)
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To: 11th_VA
Allow me to recommend a Mexican solution.

Have someone living in the house at all times.

And ARMED someone.

Never leave the house empty.

6 posted on 07/22/2025 7:36:31 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear ( Not my circus. Not my monkeys. But I can pick out the clowns at 100 yards.)
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To: 11th_VA

Just a snarky way of saying that Trump’s policies are working.


7 posted on 07/22/2025 7:41:37 PM PDT by DouglasKC
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To: null and void; aragorn; EnigmaticAnomaly; kalee; Kale; AZ .44 MAG; Baynative; bgill; bitt; ...

p


8 posted on 07/22/2025 8:00:22 PM PDT by bitt (<IMG SRC=' 'WIDTH=30%>)
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To: tumblindice
Shoot first, questions later.


9 posted on 07/22/2025 8:13:45 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye." (John 2:5))
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To: 11th_VA

Too bad Trump and Homan didn’t take out the cartels first... but they’ll take care of them when they’re ready.


10 posted on 07/22/2025 8:17:18 PM PDT by GOPJ (Democrats judge themselves by their 'intentions' NOT by their results. It's one reason they fail.)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; BraveMan; cardinal4; ...

11 posted on 07/22/2025 8:37:38 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (The moron troll Ted Holden believes that humans originated on Ganymede.)
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To: Dr. Sivana

We needed a good laugh.


12 posted on 07/22/2025 9:13:00 PM PDT by frank ballenger (There's a battle outside and it's raging. It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls. )
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To: Salvavida

Agreed.


13 posted on 07/22/2025 9:27:46 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as)
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear
I got a better idea: Nuke Mexico.

Honestly. What in God's name has Mexico EVER done for The United States?

Mexico has ceased to be a nation based on any semblance of the rule of law. It'd a narco state controlled by the cartels.

14 posted on 07/22/2025 10:31:57 PM PDT by jmacusa ( Liberals. Too stupid to be idiots.)
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To: jmacusa

“Mexico has ceased to be a nation based on any semblance of the rule of law.”

I saw the Tijuana police actively at work. A few National Guard and army jeeps roamed the city. The only people that I worried about were the homeless living to the east of the artisan goods sales complex (and just south of the pedestrian bridge across the Tiajuana ‘River’).

The Mexicans now secure their border well, probably against the possibility of invader repatriation by Trump.

“It’s a narco state controlled by the cartels.”

I saw no sign of cartel-level wealth in Tijuana.

Tiajuana did give the impression of being poorer than it is. Tiajuana homeowners obviously care more about security than appearance.

Except for giving drugs to invaders to smuggle, the cartels probably only have a few thousand people of their own.


15 posted on 07/22/2025 11:16:13 PM PDT by Brian Griffin
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To: jmacusa

“Honestly. What in God’s name has Mexico EVER done for The United States?”

Mexico makes motor vehicle parts. Lots of stuff is now made in Mexico.

My neighbors used to live in El Paso. Their neighbors helped run the factories south of the border in Ciudad Juarez.


16 posted on 07/22/2025 11:19:05 PM PDT by Brian Griffin
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To: jmacusa

Tequila, Chihuahuas, Jumping Beans, bandits who don’t need no stinkin’ badges, etc.


17 posted on 07/23/2025 3:42:00 AM PDT by P.O.E. (Pray for America.)
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To: Brian Griffin

Find me an honest Mexican politician.


18 posted on 07/23/2025 7:34:55 AM PDT by jmacusa ( Liberals. Too stupid to be idiots.)
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To: Brian Griffin

Find me an honest Mexican politician.


19 posted on 07/23/2025 7:35:52 AM PDT by jmacusa ( Liberals. Too stupid to be idiots.)
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To: P.O.E.

The US State Dept. has issued a travel advisory for Americans in Mexico.


20 posted on 07/23/2025 7:36:58 AM PDT by jmacusa ( Liberals. Too stupid to be idiots.)
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