American woman arrested at Arizona border town accused of running ammo for Sinaloa Cartel
Mexican forces seize 5,445 rounds near Arizona border
Authorities intercepted a suspect accused of running munitions for the Sinaloa Cartel just across the Arizona border in San Luis Río Colorado. FOX 10's Steve Nielsen reports.
SAN LUIS, Ariz. - An American woman suspected of acting as a key logistics operator for the Sinaloa Cartel was arrested by Mexican federal forces just across the Arizona border in San Luis Río Colorado after authorities uncovered more than 5,000 rounds of live ammunition hidden in her vehicle.
Mexican federal security forces stand with Yanet "N," a U.S. citizen arrested in San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora, on suspicion of acting as a logistics operator for the Sinaloa Cartel. (Gabinete de Seguridad de México)
What we know:
The suspect, identified by Mexican federal officials as Yanet "N," is accused of running weapons and munitions across the border to supply factional elements of the notorious drug syndicate operating along the Southwest border corridor.
Authorities discovered 5,445 rounds of live ammunition stored inside a vehicle driven by an American woman intercepted near the border bridge across from San Luis, Arizona. (Gabinete de Seguridad de México)
The high-profile bust occurred during routine crime prevention patrols near the international border bridge connecting San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora, directly to San Luis, Arizona. Elements of the Mexican Navy, working in coordination with the Secretariat of National Defense, National Guard, Mexican Customs and federal prosecutors, intercepted the woman's vehicle just yards from the port of entry.
What they're saying:
A search of the vehicle revealed 5,445 live rounds of ammunition. Mexican security officials described the operation as a major blow to the Sinaloa Cartel’s supply chain in northern Mexico, estimating the total economic and operational impact of the seizure at roughly 1.65 million Mexican pesos.
Mexican military personnel display a banner next to the black SUV seized during the inter-agency operation near the Arizona border. (Gabinete de Seguridad de México)
The joint operation is part of an ongoing strategy to target and "arrest logistical and financial operators, thereby weakening criminal cells" operating along the Arizona border corridor, Mexican authorities said.
‘You are harming your people’
"At the end of the day, both countries are affected in a very bad way," Jorge Mendoza Yescas, consul general of Mexico in Phoenix, said.
He said it's about guns and ammunition getting smuggled into Mexico, while drugs are smuggled back across the border. He noted that the problem is the cartels pay a lot of money, but he has a message for anyone who takes the deal:
"You are harming your people at the end of the day because if you buy some gun for someone else, and it crosses the border, you are making the cartels more powerful and increasing the capacity to produce drugs and send drugs to U.S. citizens," Yescas said.
Recently, the consul general said intelligence sharing has increased on both sides of the border, and he expects that to mean bad news for those trying to smuggle weapons or ammo into Mexico.
What's next:
Yanet "N" was informed of her legal rights and transferred to federal custody under the Public Ministry in Mexico, where prosecutors will determine her legal status and open a formal investigation into her ties to the cartel.
Map of the bust location:
The Source: Information in this report was gathered from the Gobierno de México, Jorge Mendoza Yescas, consul general of Mexico, and the Gabinete de Seguridad de México.