A Texas rancher, Antonio Céspedes Saldierna, 74, was tragically killed near the border by a suspected cartel explosive device earlier this month, according to information released by the Texas Department of Agriculture. The incident has prompted officials to issue a safety warning for the Rio Grande Valley region.
Saldierna, who worked on both sides of the border, was killed in the explosion in Tamaulipas, Mexico, just south of Brownsville, Texas. Another individual, Horacio Lopez Peña, also lost his life in the blast. Lopez’s wife, Ninfa Griselda Ortega, was injured and is currently receiving medical treatment.
The fatal incident occurred when Saldierna was driving on his ranch and inadvertently triggered the explosive device, leading to its detonation. The Texas Agriculture Commissioner, Sid Miller, has described the deadly explosion as part of a “growing threat posed by cartel activity along our southern border.” He has urged ranchers to exercise extreme caution in the area.
Miller further advised those in the agricultural industry to stay vigilant, be aware of their surroundings, and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement. He also suggested avoiding dirt roads and remote areas, refraining from touching unfamiliar objects that could be explosive devices, limiting travel to daylight hours, staying on main roads, and avoiding regions controlled by cartels.
Saldierna’s son, Ramiro Céspedes, a US Army veteran who was injured by an IED during a deployment, expressed his shock at his father’s killing. He equated the incident to a terrorist attack, stating, “I consider this a terrorist attack because if I went to war to fight terrorists, and I’m seeing the same thing here to me – my personal opinion – it is a terrorist attack.”
The incident has raised concerns among border agents who have received warnings about increased threats from cartels. In response, the Trump administration has taken steps to designate some of these cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.