Texas Rangers Special Operations Group seizes control of "Cartel Island" - Fronton, TX - October 2, 2023Photo byOffice of Texas Governor Greg Abbott

The recent photo of members of a Mexican Cartel - in this case, the Northeast Cartel (CDN) - wearing vests sporting its logo followed by the words "Operativa Texas" (Spanish for "Texas Operation") is evidence of an intensifying battle between the cartel and Texas law enforcement on the north side of the Rio Grande.

CDN (Northeast Cartel) member wearing a vest sporting the cartel's logo & identifying him as a member of their "Texas Operation."Photo byx.com

The seeds of what has now sprouted into an open fight for control of the border were planted three years ago when Texas Governor Greg Abbott initiated "Operation Lone Star" and began flooding the border with Texas Military Forces and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers, Special Agents and Texas Rangers.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott briefs media on plans for "Operation Lone Star" border security mission.Photo byOffice of Texas Governor Greg Abbott

The operation generated publicity - including photos of Texas military members and police officers conducting "joint tactical drills" on the Rio Grande - (which some dismissed as "security theater").

That assessment would later prove to be mistaken.

Texas Military Forces & Texas State Police joint "tactical drill" on the Rio Grande as part of "Operation Lone Star" (May, 2022)Photo byTexas Military Forces

Although Governor Abbott focused on illegal immigration in his remarks announcing the operation, his initial news release also stated it was intended "to deny Mexican Cartels and other smugglers the ability to move drugs and people into Texas."

The CDN soon became the first cartel to have its "Texas Operations" directly targeted by the state.

Texas DPS Surveillance Camera image of armed CDN gunrunners on the Rio Grande's Fronton Island (August, 2022).Photo byTexas Department of Public Safety

On August 5, 2022, DPS Surveillance Cameras recorded armed men - some wearing tactical vests - at a known smuggling hot-spot: "Fronton Island" - on the Rio Grande just offshore of Fronton, Texas.

Discoveries of weapons, ammo, and even explosives by Border Patrol Agents around Fronton Island followed in the months after that.

Five suspected CDN gunrunners apprehended on Fronton Island (June, 2023)Photo byTexas Dept. of Public Safety

Finally, in June of 2023, a combined operation by the Texas DPS, Texas National Guard, and the U.S. Border Patrol led to the arrests of five suspected CDN gunrunners on the island.

At that point, Texas decided to deny the CDN what had long been a safe haven on its border with Mexico.

Satellite view of Fronton Island.Photo byGoogle Earth via Texas General Land Office

Although the ownership of Fronton Island has always been somewhat murky (it has been claimed at various times by both the U.S. and Mexico) Texas declared it to be state land in September, 2023.

The Governor then ordered its seizure by Texas troops and Texas Rangers.

They did that AND - quickly stripped all 170 acres of the Carizzo Cane that had provided cover to the CDN on the island.

What "Fronton Island" looked like after "Operation Flat Top" stripped it of vegetation that provided CDN cartel members cover.Photo byOffice of Texas Land Commissioner Dr. Dawn Buckingham

That's not all.

Governor Abbott ordered his troops to literally plant the Texas flag on the island to leave no doubt - on either side of the border - who was now in control:

"This is OUR land. We've taken control of it away from transnational criminal organizations that were using it to facilitate illegal immigration & drug smuggling. Thanks to @TxDPS & @TexasGuard. Plant the Texas flag!" - Texas Governor Greg Abbott on x.com (Twitter) Sept 29, 2023

Texas Rangers Special Operations Group & Texas Military Forces follow state orders to plant Texas flag on Fronton Island (October 2, 2023)Photo byOffice of Texas Governor Greg Abbott

For the CDN, this clear challenge to its "authority" on the Texas-Mexico border may have been a bridge too far.

In Mexico, the CDN marks its territory by spraying its initials on buildings (see photo above) and operates vehicles displaying its logo (see photo below):

Marked CDN vehicle involved in a gun battle with a rival cartel in Reynosa, Mexico (July, 2022)Photo by@HuasoBB (via x.com)

All this likely explains why the cartel took the unusual step of "poking the bear" of Texas law enforcement by releasing the photo this month showing armed men wearing its logo and identifying them as members of its "Texas Operation."

Northeast Cartel (CDN) gunmen wearing vests sporting its logo and identifying them as members of its "Texas Operation."Photo byx.com

This is the CDN's way of publically staking its claim to "La Plaza" (its turf).

It's also a warning to rival cartels to avoid the real estate it controls - and a reminder to Texas law enforcement that the CDN doesn't plan to give up its criminal operations on this stretch of the Texas - Mexico border anytime soon.

Do you believe enough is being done to battle the cartels for control of the Texas Border?

Share your opinion in the comments on this article!

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• Texas to Mexico Travel? Urgent U.S. Warnings!
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• Texas Border: Stupid Smuggling Tricks Exposed!

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