Nine men allegedly connected to Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel have been arrested in Southern California following a yearlong investigation into an organized cargo theft operation that targeted BNSF Railway trains and resulted in millions of dollars in stolen merchandise, authorities said.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department announced Wednesday that its Rural Crime Task Force arrested the nine suspects Oct. 16 during a search of a residence in San Bernardino.
Investigators said the suspects were part of a coordinated criminal network connected to the Sinaloa Cartel that had been burglarizing BNSF Railway trains over the past 12 months.
The investigation uncovered an operation involving numerous suspects and vehicles used to steal merchandise from rail shipments, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
Authorities have not disclosed the total number of train burglaries connected to the investigation or the precise value of the cargo stolen during the yearlong operation.
On Oct. 16, investigators with the Rural Crime Task Force, assisted by the Sheriff’s Specialized Enforcement Division, executed a search warrant at a residence in the 1200 block of East 35th Street in San Bernardino.
During the search, deputies recovered more than $333,000 in stolen retail merchandise, including JBL speakers, Logitech computer hardware, Victoria’s Secret merchandise, Nike and New Balance shoes, and Husky tools.
Investigators also seized four semiautomatic handguns, a drone allegedly used for surveillance, a large amount of cash, tools used to access train cargo containers and four vehicles connected to recent rail cargo burglaries.
Authorities also reported recovering suspected fentanyl believed to have been possessed for sale.
The Sheriff’s Department identified the suspects as:
- Jose Navarrete, 24
- Brian Iran Fontes-Carrillo, 27
- Mauro Ruiz-Medina, 30
- Pastor Pena-Lerma, 43
- Alfredo Covarrubias-Navarrete, 24
- Jose Alfredo Castillo-Baca, 24
- Jose Ismael Palafox-Bernal, 18
- Cesar Daniel Navarrete-Martinez, 31
- Cristian Erubiel Navarrete-Zapien, 23
All nine suspects were identified as residents of Mexico and were booked into the Central Detention Center in San Bernardino County.
Authorities said the suspects face charges including conspiracy, theft of railroad property and possession of a controlled substance while armed.
The Sheriff’s Department did not specify the alleged role of each suspect in the cargo theft operation or provide details about how investigators established the suspected connections to the Sinaloa Cartel.
The arrests come as freight railroads and other transportation providers confront the threat of organized cargo theft, which can disrupt shipments and generate substantial losses for shippers and retailers.
In this case, investigators said the criminal network used multiple vehicles and coordinated activities to target trains carrying retail merchandise.
Authorities did not disclose whether the targeted trains were moving through San Bernardino County at the time of the burglaries, whether the thefts occurred at rail yards or along active rail corridors, or whether the recovered merchandise represented all of the stolen cargo connected to the investigation.
Why it matters: The investigation highlights how organized criminal networks are targeting rail shipments, exposing freight operators, retailers and supply chains to millions of dollars in losses.
