Texas law enforcement has shared dramatic footage of a shootout between rival cartel groups on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande, just a stone’s throw from the Texas border.
The video, captured by a thermal drone from the Texas Department of Public Safety, depicts a fierce gun battle in Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, located less than a mile from Donna, Texas.
The incident highlights ongoing worries regarding U.S. border security, a hot-button issue as the 2024 presidential election approaches.
Chris Olivarez, a spokesperson for the DPS, noted on X (formerly Twitter), “For decades, the Gulf Cartel has held sway in this area, but infighting among its factions over control of drug and human smuggling routes has intensified.”
The footage showcases heavy weaponry and explosives, including what seems to be a bomb being hurled from one of the combatants’ vehicles.
VIDEO: INTENSE CARTEL GUN BATTLE CAPTURED ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE
10/23 @TxDPS Aircraft Operations captures thermal video of an intense gun battle across Donna, Texas #RGV in Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, less than one mile from the Rio Grande. The first video shows what appears… pic.twitter.com/DvFPqQ09RZ
— Chris Olivarez (@LtChrisOlivarez) October 24, 2024
As the November election nears, border security remains a critical concern for U.S. voters. A Gallup poll from July found that 53% of respondents supported former President Donald Trump’s border wall policy, marking a 13-point increase since 2019.
In response to cartel violence and human trafficking, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has initiated several strategies, including a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
On September 16, he officially labeled the gang as a foreign terrorist organization, prompting him to direct the DPS to form a multi-agency strike team aimed at targeting and dismantling the gang’s operations within Texas.
This initiative is part of Abbott’s broader Operation Lone Star, launched in 2021, which deploys Texas National Guard soldiers and law enforcement to enforce stricter border security measures.
The Gulf Cartel, involved in the latest violence, is one of Mexico’s oldest criminal groups, originating in the 1930s as a smuggling organization. Over the decades, it has evolved into a significant player in drug trafficking, engaging heavily in the production and distribution of drugs such as cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine, as well as human trafficking and extortion.
Recently, the Gulf Cartel has experienced internal strife and violent clashes, particularly with its former armed wing, Los Zetas, as it struggles to maintain control in northeastern Mexico.