Suspected drug traffickers burn trailers on border bridge over Texas checkpoints

At least four trailers stranded near the Nuevo Amanecer-Pharr international bridge in the border city of Reynosa, in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, were set on fire on Wednesday by suspected members of organized crime.

Tamaulipas State Police authorities confirmed that four units were burned near the U.S.-Mexico border. In addition, at least one other cargo truck may have been affected, according to El Sol de México.

The burning of several cargo trucks was reported on social media, showing the flames on the highway in broad daylight. Following these events, Mexican authorities deployed a heavy security presence in the border area, mainly on the international bridges, according to La Opinión.

#OJO #Reynosa #Tamaulipas

Es tarde #Reynosafollow vivió una jornada violenta integrantes del Cártel del Golfo incendiaron 3 trailers; uno de ellos quedó arriba del puente Caracol,mientras que otros dos tráileres quedaron en las inmediaciones del Parque Industrial Colonial.

📹1 pic.twitter.com/bR8HSpmgS2

— La Voz Del Pueblo ( Oficial ) (@LPueblo2) April 13, 2022

🎥 #Reynosa #Tamaulipas

⭕️Cártel Del Golfo No Puede Cruzar su Mercancía; Incendian Trailers para meter presión a traileros y terminen con la huela en el puente Internacional Reynosa-Pharr.

Hoy se vivió una jornada violenta en Reynosa, ciudad fronteriza controlada por el CDG. pic.twitter.com/eMzKwaTnpY

— CÓDIGO NEGRO MX (@CODIGO_NEGROMX) April 14, 2022

Authorities in Tamaulipas arrested three suspected members of the Gulf Cartel who allegedly participated in the incident. The subjects were arrested without weapons, and the vehicle in which they were traveling was also seized. All are being accused of possible involvement in the torching of a trailer at the top of an overpass on the Reynosa-Matamoros highway, reported Infobae.

Traffic on the Nuevo Amanecer-Pharr International Bridge was suspended due to a protest against the security measures ordered by the governor of Texas, Greg Abbott. The measures include stopping and inspecting all tractor-trailers and buses crossing from Mexico into the United States in order to prevent the illegal trafficking of migrants and drugs.

In the face of the violence, the drivers who were blocking the road decided to negotiate to withdraw and reestablish traffic on the bridge, added the newspaper.

On Wednesday, the Mexican private sector estimated losses of up to 8 million dollars a day due to the measures implemented by Texas. They also pointed out that the increase in crossing time "puts at risk the employment and quality of life of thousands of citizens who depend economically on the different activities that are affected."