U.S. Border Patrol, El Paso Sheriff arrest ex-convict linked to Barrio Azteca, La Línea cartels

U.S. Border Patrol agents in Clint and deputies from the El Paso County Sheriff's Office apprehended a felon last week with ties to “La Linea” and “Barrio Azteca” cartels, according to local news reports.

Authorities mentioned that the suspect, who has not yet been identified, is from Mexico and has a criminal history, and soon learned the 50-year-old did not have a legal basis to be in the country.

The extensive criminal history of the individual includes convictions for assault with a deadly weapon, drug possession, racketeering and smuggling related offenses.

According to U.S. authorities, the arrestee admitted to gang affiliations, and was subsequently transported to the El Paso County Detention Facility while awaiting criminal prosecution.

While authorities have not released the individual’s name, some Texas news outlets have suggested he is known as “Rigoberto A.M.”

Rigoberto was reportedly connected to a 2016 case, in which he was found guilty in a RICO enterprise, leading to a prison sentence of 90 months of incarceration and a $2,000 fine.

The Barrio Azteca gang originated in Texas prisons, eventually providing armed support to the Juárez Cartel. Over time, it has evolved to exert control over local drug trafficking in Juárez. With its highly organized structure, the gang has attracted members on both sides of the border, raising concerns that it may be positioned to transition into significant transnational organized crime.

“La Línea” currently stands as the primary faction of the Juárez Cartel.

As one of the cartel's enforcer units, it consists of former and active-duty police officers who are heavily armed and skilled in urban combat.