HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — An auto theft ring was raided Thursday on the north side of Houston, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.
The special investigations division had been looking into the possibly cartel-affiliated theft ring for six months, which led to the execution of multiple warrants, according to Gonzalez.
During the raid of three locations, one on Leago Street near Yale another on Gulf Bank and the third on United Street, investigators found stolen vehicles and fake titles. The stolen goods were worth over $1 million, officials said.
One person tried to run but was captured, and no one was hurt during the bust, investigators said during a news conference. A total of five people were taken into custody and several others were detained.
"It was pretty much a smooth round-up. We did have one person that fled. We were able to get him in custody. But it was a pretty smooth execution. We did use our SWAT team and they’re pretty good at what they do and was able to secure everyone," Saul Suarez, with the Harris County Sheriff's Office, said.
The investigation revealed stolen vehicles, ties to an international drug cartel and possibly human trafficking. Authorities think that with such a large, ongoing investigation, more could be uncovered.
"This case also has ties to international drug organizations and I want to remind the community that we’re committed to public safety and will continue to proactively target these types of criminal syndicates," Suarez said. "We’re pretty confident that we’re able to increase public safety but decrease crime in our area."
As for the stolen vehicles, officials said, once the investigation is over, the owners will be contacted and will have the chance to get their property back.
Investigators think the stolen vehicles were slated to stay in the United States. They asked for patience as they continued to work.