TAXAS: The son of one of the biggest Mexican drug lords ever to see a United States courtroom is charged in Texas with trying to smuggle hundreds of rounds of military-style ammunition south of the border.
Osiel Cardenas Jr, son of the man who formerly was the chief leader of the Gulf Cartel, appeared in federal court in Brownsville for his initial appearance in the case.
The son, who is listed in court papers as a U.S. citizen, was arrested by Customs and Border Protection officers after they searched his Escalade, which was about to cross a bridge spanning the Rio Grande and connecting South Texas to Mexico.
Officers allegedly found nearly 500 rounds of ammunition as well as “tactical weapons gear” hidden within the dashboard and other parts of the luxury sport-utility vehicle according to an affidavit filed in federal court in Brownsville.
Cardenas admitted that the ammunition was his and that he hid it because he knew it was illegal to export rifle ammunition and rifle magazines into Mexico, according to the affidavit.
His father, Osiel Cardenas was convicted in Houston after he admitted to his role in running the drug cartel and related crimes.
He is locked up at the so-called Supermax prison in Colorado. The facility, considered one of the most secure in the United States, is also home to Theodore “Ted” Kaczynski the “Unabomber” and Terry Nichols, of the Oklahoma City bombing.
The Gulf Cartel is based across the border from South Texas, and considers Matamoros, located across the river from Brownsville, to be its main turf.
