A Texas border rancher was killed close to the border by a suspected cartel IED earlier this month, the Texas Division of Agriculture advised The Submit Tuesday — as officers issued an pressing security warning for the Rio Grande Valley.
Rancher Antonio Céspedes Saldierna, 74, who labored on each side of the border, together with Horacio Lopez Peña, had been killed within the blast in Tamaulipas, Mexico, simply south of Brownsville, Texas. Lopez’s spouse, Ninfa Griselda Ortega, was hospitalized with accidents.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller stated the assault is a part of a “growing threat posed by cartel activity along our southern border” and encourages ranchers “to exercise extreme caution” within the space.
“I encourage everyone in the agricultural industry to stay vigilant, remain aware of their surroundings, and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement. Additionally, you can avoid dirt roads and remote areas, refrain from touching unfamiliar objects that could be explosive devices, limit travel to daylight hours, stay on main roads, and avoid cartel-controlled regions,” stated Miller.
