CDN Member Tries To Escape Law By Swimming The Rio Grande

“HEARST” for Borderland Beat

A member of Cartel Del Noreste was arrested as he tried to flee into Nuevo Laredo, Mexico by swimming the Rio Grande river, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

In the early morning hours of November 9, 2021, the US law enforcement received information of an alleged sighting of a wanted man named José Francisco Paz Ruiz, a 23 year old Mexican national. 

Paz Ruiz had multiple warrants for his arrest from Webb County and the Texas Department of Public Safety. He was also suspected of being a member of the Northeast Cartel (Cartel Del Noreste, CDN). The sighting occurred within Laredo, Texas, which falls within the jurisdiction for US law enforcement to pursue the tip in order to seek an arrest. 

Paz Ruiz was presumably put under surveillance that same day. He was seen outside a residence within Laredo and later he was observed getting inside a black Chevrolet pickup truck, along with one other person. The black pickup truck then began driving away, headed in the direction of the Rio Grande river. 

The Rio Grande is notably the boundary between Mexico and the United States, from the twin cities of El Paso and Juárez all the way east to the Gulf of Mexico. 

Presumably because US law enforcement feared that Paz Ruiz was headed back to Mexico, beyond their jurisdiction, Webb County deputies initiated a vehicle stop of the black pickup truck between Madison and Santa Maria streets, near downtown Laredo but the vehicle did not comply and vehicle pursuit southbound began.

A CBP aircraft maintained visual surveillance of the vehicle as the chase continued. The driver then stopped the vehicle abruptly once they reached the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge. 

The two occupants then abandoned their vehicle and tried to make a break for Mexico on foot. Both jumped into the Rio Grande River and attempted to swim across.

Authorities got in the river and chased after him, managing to catch up to Paz-Ruiz before he was able to cross into Mexico. In a statement about the arrest, it was clarified that “The driver swam to Mexico but Paz Ruiz was arrested.”

Paz-Ruiz was turned over to the Webb County Sheriff’s Office to be served with the warrants charging him with accident involving injury and evading arrest with a vehicle.

Multiple intelligence units from Laredo Sector, Laredo South Station agents, Border Tactical Unit (BORTAC) operators, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Unit, Webb County Attorney’s Office investigators and the Precinct 2 Constable’s Office worked on the case.

José Francisco Paz-Ruiz had previously been arrested by US authorities due to his involvement with migrant smuggling. He was incarcerated in a Webb County prison in Texas on charges related to migrant smuggling.

Paz Ruiz also got into two car accidents between 2017 – 2018. In both instances, he chose to flee the scene and abandon his vehicles rather than wait for US law enforcement to arrive on scene, presumably as he feared being recognized and arrested.

Following the car accidents, CBP interviewed Paz Ruiz’s wife who told agents about his previous time in prison, which was unknown at the time. 

Sources: CBP Official Statement , El Imparcial, Laredo Morning Times, CBS Dallas Fort Worth, El Siglo de Torreon, SDP Noticias