NEAR MISSION — Gilberto Aguilar paid the ultimate price.
The drug smuggler had just delivered 300 pounds of marijuana to a customer for his boss in early February. Aguilar went back there several hours later to steal the load back for himself.
The customer recognized him by his voice, Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño said.
That would spell the end for Aguilar.
Sheriff’s deputies arrested three people in connection with Aguilar’s killing and the possible killing of his suspected hit man. Aguilar was found beaten and shot to death Feb. 6 in a field near the intersection of Mile 11 1/2 North and Texan Road.
His boss, whose name authorities did not tell, allegedly leads an Hidalgo County-based marijuana wholesaler that would typically deliver several-hundred-pound loads to area clients, Treviño said.
When the boss learned Aguilar angered one of his customers, he sought revenge.
Investigators believe Aguilar, an illegal immigrant, was kidnapped and taken to a house on the 2600 block of Ken Street — north of the intersection of Mile 5 North and La Homa Road — and was beaten with brass knuckles before he met his fate at the end of a gun barrel in a rural field.
He was found with a gunshot to the chest and Rata — Spanish slang for thief — written on his head.
The homicide case remained open for several months until Texas Rangers and Department of Public Safety narcotics investigators working their own investigation into the smuggling group helped “fill in the missing pieces,” Treviño said. That allowed deputies to go in and make the three arrests Wednesday.
Information learned from those arrested — who have given confessions — led investigators to the body of the second suspected homicide victim, Treviño said.
The individuals arrested Wednesday told investigators the body of Aguilar’s hit man could be found in the backyard of the gang ringleader’s house. The family of the hit man, whose name was not told, has not seen him since May, the sheriff said.
Sheriff’s deputies and Texas Rangers raided the house on Ken Street under the sweltering midday sun Wednesday afternoon.
Later in the evening, county workers continued to dig in the backyard. They finally reached the remains about 8:15 p.m. — buried about 9 feet underground, beneath two layers of concrete and a chicken coop.
Investigators sifted through the earth to ensure they didn’t miss anything.
“I want to make sure there’s no body parts or possible evidence in there,” the sheriff said.
The unearthing of the remains marks the 12th homicide case the sheriff’s office has opened this year.
In another raid Wednesday connected to the smuggling group, officials seized about 300 pounds of marijuana from a house along Breyfogle Road north of Expressway 83 near Palmview. Treviño said the drug bundles were marked with the initials “CDG” — the call sign of Cartel del Golfo, or the Gulf Cartel, one of the dominant cartels based in Matamoros.
Despite that, investigators maintain the local group ordered the hits on Aguilar and his hit man, Treviño said.
“It’s common sense that 100 percent of the narcotics in Hidalgo County are coming from Mexico,” he said. “The cartel did not sanction or order this hit. It comes from the local group.”
Deputies continue to look for three or four other possible suspects with ties to the drug smugglers and the two suspected murders, the sheriff said.
The three suspects already arrested — including the group’s alleged ringleader — are set to face murder, organized crime and felony drug charges at an arraignment hearing scheduled for Friday.
Treviño said he expects officials to arrest a total of eight or nine people in connection with the case.
“I reckon we’re going to effectively dismantle this locally based smuggling ring,” he said.
http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/mission-116024-smuggling-arrests.html
:D
thanks
