Fentanyl smuggled by Mexican Cartel seized by Federal Agents along the U.S. Southern Border.Photo byU.S. Customs & Border Protection

This week has seen a lot of activity in the never-ending battle between U.S. Cops and Mexican Cartels along the Texas Border. The biggest blow to their operations came on Thursday with the headline-making arrests of the head and co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel ("El Mayo") and the son of its other co-founder ("El Chapo") at an airstrip near El Paso.

Federal Agents await arrival of son of SInaloa Cartel co-founder in Chicago after he and the other co-founder first landed near El Paso.Photo byHomeland Security Investigations

The Sinaloa Cartel is believed to be one of the largest manufacturers and smugglers of Fentanyl in the United States.

"The fentanyl crisis in America – (is) fueled in large part by the Sinaloa cartel." U.S. Justice Department (April 4, 2023)

Texas DPS Troopers seized 12 pounds of Fentanyl being smuggled into Texas in Hardeman County on Wednesday, July 24, 2024Photo byTexas Department of Public Safety

On Wednesday Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers seized 12 pounds of Fentanyl being smuggled into the state discovered during a traffic stop in Hardeman County. The drugs were on their way to Dallas-Fort Worth from Phoenix.

48 pounds of Fentanyl hidden inside a spare tire discovered by CBP Agents at the Calexico Port of Entry.Photo byU.S. Customs & Border Protection

Elsewhere along the Southern Border, U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) Officers at the Calexico Port of Entry also made some significant Fentanyl seizures in recent days.

First, they discovered 20 packages containing 48 pounds of Fentanyl hidden inside the spare tire of a vehicle crossing into the U.S. from Mexico.

Packages containing almost 41 pounds of Fentanyly discovered hidden within the dashboard of an SUV in Calexico.Photo byU.S. Customs & Border Protection

Then, several hours later, they discovered 16 packages of Fentanyl weighing in at almost 41 pounds hidden within the dashboard of an SUV being driven into the country. The Calexico seizures are the result of "Operation Apollo", a counter-fentanyl effort that began earlier this year.

Border Patrol and Encinal, Texas Police Officers discovered 17 migrants locked in a trailer after chasing a trucker (July 23, 2024).Photo byU.S. Border Patrol

There are also busts to report on the human smuggling front. On Tuesday, July 23, 2024, U.S. Border Patrol Agents and Encinal, Texas Police Officers discovered 17 migrants locked in a trailer being towed by a smuggler who avoided stopping at a checkpoint.

A man smuggling 5 migrants crashed into a shed while attempting to outrun Texas DPS Officers & El Paso Sector Border Patrol Agents.Photo byU.S. Border Patrol

In the El Paso Sector, Border Patrol Agents and Texas DPS Officers arrested a human smuggler who crashed into a shed while trying to outrun lawmen. The five migrants he was smuggling were also apprehended.

Migrant discovered by Del Rio Sector Border Patrol Agents hidden under the floorboard of a flatbed trailer towed by a human smuggler.Photo byU.S. Border Patrol

In the Del Rio Sector, Border Patrol Agents discovered two migrants hidden underneath the floorboards of a flatbed trailer being towed by a human smuggler. With temperatures above 100 degrees - and little airflow to the crawlspace in which they were hidden - this could have resulted in their deaths had officers not found them.

Temperatures outside the space in which the migrants were hidden were well above 100 degrees.Photo byU.S. Border Patrol

Also worth noting: smugglers have been throwing large rocks at El Paso Sector Border Patrol vehicles in an attempt to avoid capture. So far there are no reports of officers being seriously injured.

Windshield of a Border Patrol vehicle in the El Paso Sector shattered by large rock thrown by migrants evading apprehension.Photo byU.S. Border Patrol

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• Mexican Cartel's Brazen "Texas Operation"

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