9 alleged Sinaloa Cartel associates arrested in California train theft ring 

Nine men allegedly connected to Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel have been arrested in Southern California following a yearlong investigation into an organized cargo theft operation that targeted BNSF Railway trains and resulted in millions of dollars in stolen merchandise, authorities said.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department announced Wednesday that its Rural Crime Task Force arrested the nine suspects Oct. 16 during a search of a residence in San Bernardino.

Investigators said the suspects were part of a coordinated criminal network connected to the Sinaloa Cartel that had been burglarizing BNSF Railway trains over the past 12 months.

The investigation uncovered an operation involving numerous suspects and vehicles used to steal merchandise from rail shipments, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

This story was originally published by FreightWaves. Read the full story at FreightWaves →