Cartels set Mexican trucks ablaze to stop Reynosa blockade

Several cargo trucks were set ablaze by Mexican cartel operatives Wednesday in an effort to force commercial truckers to end a traffic blockade they started earlier this week.

“State authorities believe the trailers were set on fire by cartel operatives to pressure truck drivers to end the blockade,” a source familiar with the situation said Wednesday.

The trucks that were set on fire were not on the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge or a part of the blockade, according to bridge officials.

Instead, the trucks were parked along the Mexican highway leading to the port of entry, said Fred Brouwen, director of operations for the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge.

“There were trucks on the road, on the main highway,” Brouwen said. “The trucks that caught on fire were not the trucks here parked during the strike.”

Preliminary reports indicate police have made some arrests and seized vehicles in connection to the fires, the source said.

“State police officers secured two pickup trucks and detained three people who allegedly participated in the burning of three trailers on the Pharr International Bridge,” according to a state official not authorized to speak on the matter.

Mexican state police received information from their statewide C5 video surveillance service in Reynosa, identified several trucks that had participated in the fires and initiated a pursuit, the state official said.

Authorities stopped one truck, and discovered another abandoned after the pursuit. No one was hurt in the pursuit.

The situation “was reported to be under control” as of 2:15 p.m. Wednesday.

Meanwhile, negotiations between bridge officials and the protesters proved successful as both north and southbound lanes of the Pharr bridge were reopened Wednesday afternoon, Brouwen said.

Another blockade that had shut down traffic at the Anzalduas International Bridge was quickly lifted late Tuesday night.


Monitor staff writer Valerie Gonzalez contributed to this report.