Alleged Cartel Member Arrested Along Texas Border Accused of Drug and Human Smuggling

According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a man with ties to the cartel was arrested near Brownsville, TX by the Rio Grande Valley Sector Anti-Smuggling Unit.

Who Was Texas Border Patrol's Recent Arrest?

The man was believed to be operating inside the country, going by the name of Comandante Pony when police conducted a traffic stop. His real name, Fabian Silva-Aguirre, was identified as being a national of Mexico and not legally allowed inside the U.S.

Rio Grande Valley Sector Chief Gloria I. Chavez voiced the unit's success with arrests such as these:

This arrest demonstrates our commitment to dismantling criminal organizations like the Gulf Cartel.

Chavez also mentioned that safeguarding the Texas border sends clear messages to those seeking to exploit our nation's security.

After being arrested, Silva-Aguirre will be criminally prosecuted for illegally re-entering the country as well as being suspected of narcotics and illegal alien smuggling.

What is the Gulf Cartel?

Silva-Aguirre is believed to have ties with one of Mexico's oldest criminal groups, the Gulf Cartel.

The organization has lost some influence in recent years due to arrests and loss of territory, but it still controls large portions of the U.S.-Mexico border near the Gulf.

Notable smuggling missions for this group include cocaine, meth, high-powered weapons, cash, and immigrants, according to InSight Crime.

The Gulf Cartel, although fractured into numerous factions, traditionally operated out of the Mexican state of Tamaulipas.

Control over this and nearby states in Mexico gave the criminal group distinct advantage over the flow of weapons, drugs and people passing through the border into Texas.