- Organized gangs with ties to Mexican cartels are targeting freight trains in the Mojave Desert, stealing high-value Nike sneakers and other goods worth millions.
- Railroad thefts have surged by 40% in 2024, costing over $100 million, with thieves using methods like cutting air hoses to halt trains.
- Many perpetrators are illegal aliens, with ringleaders like Felipe Arturo Avalos-Mejia orchestrating thefts and reselling stolen goods.
- Critics blame weak border enforcement under the Biden administration for enabling cartel-linked criminal activity.
- President Trump and Border Czar Tom Homan propose military deployment to secure the border and combat cartel operations.
In the remote stretches of the Mojave Desert, a brazen crime wave is unfolding as organized criminal gangs, many with ties to Mexican drug cartels, are targeting freight trains carrying high-value Nike sneakers and other goods.
Since March 2023, at least 10 heists have been reported along the California-Arizona corridor, resulting in the theft of millions of dollars worth of merchandise. The latest figures from the Association of American Railroads reveal a staggering 40% increase in railroad thefts, costing major railroads over $100 million in 2024 alone.
The thieves, often illegal aliens from Mexico, have perfected a sophisticated operation. They board slow-moving trains, cut air brake hoses to bring them to a halt, and loot containers filled with unreleased Nike sneakers, including highly sought-after Air Jordans. These stolen goods, sometimes worth up to $2,500 per pair on the resale market, are then loaded into waiting vehicles and transported to California for distribution.
How the heists unfold
According to Keith Lewis, vice president of operations at Verisk's CargoNet and a deputy sheriff in Arizona, the thieves often scout high-value merchandise by boarding trains as they change tracks. They are sometimes tipped off by confederates working in warehouses or trucking companies. Once the desired loot is identified, the thieves alert "follow vehicles" that track the train. After the train is stopped—either by cutting air hoses or sabotaging signal boxes—the stolen goods are tossed off and loaded into box trucks or hidden in nearby brush.
Brynna Cooke, a Homeland Security Investigations special agent, noted that these tactics are frequently employed by transnational criminal groups, primarily composed of Mexican citizens from Sinaloa, a region notorious for its drug cartels.
Illegal aliens and cartel connections
Federal court documents reveal that many of the perpetrators are illegal aliens. In one case, 11 individuals were arrested following a January 13 heist in Perrin, Arizona, where 1,985 pairs of unreleased Nikes worth over $440,000 were stolen. Ten of the 11 suspects were Mexican nationals in the U.S. illegally, while another was in asylum proceedings.
Felipe Arturo Avalos-Mejia, known as "Pollo," is described as a ringleader of these burglary crews. Arrested in June 2023, Avalos-Mejia allegedly directed thefts, supplied vehicles, and facilitated the sale of stolen merchandise. When apprehended, he was found with $120,000 in cash and a ledger detailing stolen goods.
The surge in train heists has reignited criticism of the Biden administration's border policies, which critics argue have allowed criminal organizations to exploit weak enforcement. The open border has enabled cartels to operate with impunity, jeopardizing national security and costing American businesses millions.
President Trump and Border Czar Tom Homan have vowed to restore law and order by deploying military forces to secure the border and crack down on cartel activity. Their approach offers a sharp contrast to the current administration's handling of the crisis.
A growing problem
The thefts are not isolated incidents but part of a broader trend of organized crime targeting railroads. The Association of American Railroads estimates that only 1 in 10 theft attempts results in an arrest, and many offenders are repeat criminals. Despite millions invested in security measures, the vast network of rail lines—spanning over 140,000 miles—remains vulnerable.
The train heists in the Mojave Desert are more than just high-stakes thefts; they are a symptom of a larger crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. As cartel-linked gangs continue to exploit weak enforcement, the need for decisive action has never been more urgent. With President Trump's promise to secure the border and dismantle criminal networks, there is hope that this growing problem can be brought under control. Until then, American businesses and consumers will continue to pay the price for failed policies.
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