A Texas rancher was killed by what authorities say was an improvised explosive device planted by a cartel near the U.S.-Mexico border. The man died near Brownsville, Texas, and died on the Mexican side of the border, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said in a statement Tuesday.
Funeral services were held Tuesday for a 74-year-old Brownsville man who died in Tamaulipas. Antonio Cespedes Saldierna died after stepping over an explosive device and setting it off Friday. Another man was also killed in the explosion that also injured a woman, Tamaulipas officials said.
Ramiro Cespedes, son of the late Antonio, said he wants his father to be remembered as a man who created a lasting legacy through his family and his ranch. According to Ramiro, his father was driving on his ranch in the Santa Rita area of San Fernando, Tamaulipas, when the explosive device detonated.
“This shocking act of violence highlights the growing threat posed by cartel activity along our southern border,” Miller said. “I urge all Texas farmers, ranchers and agricultural workers traveling to Mexico or operating near the border to exercise extreme caution.”
The rancher was a U.S. citizen, according to Miller, who called the incident “tragic and alarming.” Miller encouraged everyone working in the agricultural industry in the Lower Rio Grande Valley to remain vigilant about their surroundings and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.
In a separate statement, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham said such violent acts should be condemned at the highest level. She added that officials have been briefed on cartel use of improvised explosive devices for years and warned that they threaten the safety of American citizens and must be stopped.
“Unfortunately, extreme violence, including the use of improvised explosive devices, has become more common in recent years as cartels have been emboldened by weak leadership in Washington, D.C.,” Buckingham said. “I urge all Texans to remain vigilant and cautious. Rest assured that the newly elected Trump Administration and the State of Texas will use all means necessary to end cartel control over South Texas.”
Authorities in the Mexican border state of Tamaulipas have previously acknowledged the existence of IEDs and have warned communities along the border to be careful, especially in agricultural fields. They also indicated that the threats are linked to criminal organizations operating in the region.
Miller called the Lower Rio Grande Valley a “crucial part” of the state’s agricultural industry. He noted that the safety of those working in the industry is of utmost importance: “We cannot ignore the increase in violence that threatens not only lives, but also the safety of our farms, ranches and rural communities.”
Source: elfinanciero
