Eleven individuals have been indicted for stealing over $440,000 worth of Nike shoes from a BNSF train in northern Arizona. Noe Cecena-Castro, a Mexican national, and 10 others were arrested for their involvement in the train robbery. They were caught loading 1,985 pairs of unreleased Nike shoes into U-Haul and Ford Econoline trucks near the site of the theft. This incident is part of a string of train thefts in the region, with a notable uptick in the last two years.
The suspects are believed to be part of transnational theft organizations operating out of California and Arizona, with origins in Sinaloa, Mexico. These organizations typically derail trains carrying valuable cargo by cutting air hoses, then have separate crews unload the stolen goods and transport them to California for sale online.
The 11 defendants, including nine Mexican nationals, face charges of possessing stolen goods, as well as charges related to illegal re-entry or improper entry into the United States. They are currently in federal custody awaiting trial, scheduled for February 19.
Train thefts in the region have become a significant issue, with criminal organizations using dangerous methods to stop and steal from trains. Law enforcement is working to address this problem and hold those responsible for these thefts accountable.
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