Texas Border Patrol agents are on high alert for potential retaliatory attacks following the recent capture of a high-ranking member of the Cartel del Noreste, identified by Mexican media as Carlos Munsivais Trevio, also known as "El Bola."
The arrest, which took place on Tuesday, September 3, in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, has sparked fears that the violence could cross the Rio Grande border into the Texas city of Laredo and possibly further.
According to Newsweek, a memo from the Laredo Sector Intelligence Unit has warned of a potential increase in "cross-border violence in the form of retaliatory attacks" following the apprehension of the cartel leader. While the memo does not explicitly name Trevio, reports from Mexican media outlets have identified him as the captured Cartel del Noreste boss, known by his aliases El Bola or La Bola.
The memo further advises agents to exercise caution when dealing with "military-aged undocumented noncitizens along the border," suggesting that Cartel del Noreste combatants may attempt to flee into the U.S. in the wake of Trevio's arrest. The situation is reportedly being closely monitored by U.S.-Mexico border agents, who will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Trevio, considered the second-most important figure in the Cartel del Noreste, was apprehended in Nuevo Laredo by members of the National Guard and the Mexican Army and subsequently transferred to Mexico City to face charges. He hails from a lineage of drug lords, with the Cartel del Noreste being a splinter group from the infamous Los Zetas cartel, led by his uncles Miguel Angel and Omar Trevio Morales.
Reports suggest that El Bola was responsible for organizing kidnappings, extortion, and drug and migrant trafficking. He is also accused of planning armed attacks against members of Mexico's military. The Cartel del Noreste, formed in 2014, has its main base in Nuevo Laredo but operates beyond Mexico, with a presence in the U.S., Honduras, Guatemala, and Colombia.
Nuevo Laredo is a critical battleground in the ongoing turf war between drug cartels, primarily due to its strategic location as a major drug trafficking corridor into the U.S. A large number of trucks pass through the area and there are multiple exploitable ports of entry, making it an ideal location for controlling the flow of drugs across the border. This competition for dominance among cartels fuels persistent violence in the region.
The arrest of Trevio and the subsequent high alert issued to Border Patrol agents underscore the complex and volatile nature of the ongoing drug war along the U.S.-Mexico border. As agents remain vigilant for potential retaliatory attacks, the situation serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced in maintaining border security and combating the illicit drug trade.
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