Transnational Criminal Organization Arrested for $300,000 Nike Shoe Theft from Cargo Train in Arizona
A group of eight men has been arrested for stealing $300,000 worth of Nike shoes from a cargo train in Arizona. The theft was captured by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter crew as six individuals unloaded crates from a BNSF Railway boxcar east of Winslow, Arizona. The criminal organization responsible for the theft is believed to be based in Sinaloa, Mexico, and has been targeting trains in the area between Needles, California, and Phoenix, Arizona.
The organization's modus operandi involves individuals boarding trains to steal merchandise, including electronics, tools, and apparel. They use metal saws and bolt cutters to access the goods and transfer them to waiting vehicles. In some instances, they have even triggered emergency brakes on trains traveling at high speeds. The recent theft involved the theft of 1,800 pairs of Nike shoes, specifically the Air Jordan “Son of Mars Low” model.
Following the theft, the suspects were tracked by CBP and local law enforcement as they fled in a van and a box truck along Interstate 40. The individuals were apprehended after abandoning their vehicles and attempting to escape on foot. The stolen shoes were recovered from the vehicles and a nearby drainage pipe where they had been stashed for later retrieval.
Several of the suspects admitted to being recruited by individuals known as “Suegro” and “Angel” to participate in the theft. One individual claimed to have been offered work for $200 at a convenience store in Flagstaff, while another was paid $350 to drive the van. The suspects, including Angel Rodriguez Hurtado, face charges of possession of stolen goods from interstate shipment, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
The investigation into the theft is ongoing, with detention hearings scheduled for March 10 in a federal courtroom in Phoenix. The arrests highlight the ongoing threat posed by transnational criminal organizations targeting cargo trains in the region.