15 arrested as part of cargo theft ring

By Aaron Bracamontes / El Paso Times


Members of local law enforcement agencies that included El Paso Sheriff , El Paso Police Department, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau
Members of local law enforcement agencies that included El Paso Sheriff's, El Paso Police Department, 
   
Fifteen people, including two alleged Barrio Azteca members, were arrested Thursday as a result of a cargo theft ring investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies.

The arrests were made in various locations around El Paso, including a warehouse near the airport in the 20 block of Spur Drive. A tractor-trailer full of stolen flat screen TV's was seized at that location, said police spokesman Sgt. Chris Mears.

Aldo Jose Cano, 32; Sammy Tercero, 39; Michael Navarrette, 24; Fernando Morales, 38; Cindy Avalos Morales, 30; Roberto Adrian Carreon, 32; and Jose Sanchez, 28; were arrested on suspicion of engaging in organized criminal activity in connection with high value cargo thefts, officials said during a press conference today. Cano is an alleged member of the Barrio Azteca gang, Mears said.

Eight others, who had connections to the ring, were arrested on various warrants and smaller offenses.

Two men, Andres Brito, 32, and Jeffrie Castandeda, 21, are also wanted on suspicion of engaging in organized criminal activity.

The arrests were made by a task force comprising officers and agents from the El Paso Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, FBI, El Paso County Sheriff's Office and Department of Homeland Security. The task force had been investigating the thefts since 2013, but the ring's alleged activities had been traced back to 2009.

Original Article