Authorities say that the sites in question are tied to a violent organized cartel
April 7, 2024 at 17:52
- A Harris County Sheriff’s Office investigation led to the discovery of three cartel-linked chop shops in Houston.
- Authorities recovered $1 million worth of stolen high-end vehicles (primarily trucks) from the chop shops.
- Five arrests were made, with charges ranging from theft to evading arrest. Additional charges are expected.
A six-month investigation led to three alleged cartel-related busts and the recovery of $1 million worth of stolen vehicles in Houston. Authorities report that three individuals were arrested at these chop shop sites. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Division (SID) is now working to return the vehicles to their rightful owners as it sifts through additional evidence.
The crackdown happened in North Houston with assistance from several government agencies. Initially, authorities thought they’d recovered stolen vehicles and fraudulent titles worth roughly $200,000. After totaling up everything from all three sites, they realized it included 14 different vehicles worth more than a combined $1 million.
Read: Californian Chop Shop Busted With $600,000 In Stolen Corvettes, Camaros
That’s at least $71k per vehicle on average so we’re not talking about Ford Pintos here. Authorities say that most are high-end pickup trucks but didn’t provide specific makes or models.
Allegedly, these three sites fronted as repair shops, but in reality, stolen vehicles were set to be dismantled and sold off as parts. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office believes that these sites are tied to far worse crimes though. Major Paul Suarez said that the sites are related to Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación.
According to U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani, “The CJNG is one of the most powerful and dangerous criminal organizations in Mexico, characterized by extreme violence and trafficking of the most deadly of substances.” For the time being, these raids led to five arrests.
Two individuals are facing second-degree felony theft charges, while another is facing a charge of evading arrest. Additional charges are pending against the other individuals involved. Suarez emphasized that the HCSO SWAT team, Bomb Squad, and Special Investigations Division all worked together on the operation. “Our goal is not just to disrupt this organization but to completely dismantle it,” said Suarez.
This is the second big chop shop bust in as many weeks. In an unrelated action, the San Joaquin Auto Theft Task Force took down an operation in California. That bust saw the recovery of some $600,000 worth of vehicles including several late-model Corvettes and Camaros.