Stolen Texas rental cars are fueling cartel crime across the border

FOX San Antonio, By Yami Virgin & Photojournalist Paul Sanchez, April 29, 2025

AUSTIN, Texas — For years, a troubling trend has been unfolding across major Texas cities. Stolen vehicles, once a localized problem, are increasingly heading south, fueling criminal enterprises across the border. This isn't just about petty theft; it's a sophisticated operation that exploits vulnerabilities in the rental car industry, ultimately impacting everyday Texans.

As far back as five years ago, the situation was already stark. Images of cars riddled with bullet holes and tagged with cartel graffiti painted a grim picture. These weren't just abandoned vehicles; they were tools of war. As Sheriff Martin Cuellar of Webb County stated in a 2019 archive: "There's been some real bad gun battles in Nuevo Laredo, and we're doing our jobs by keeping this vehicle from going south and being utilized by the cartels."

But the methods have evolved. Now, criminals are using social media to recruit younger drivers. The deceptive scheme: rent a car, purchase the Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) – a contract designed to protect the renter from liability – and then simply leave the keys behind in the car. By morning, the vehicle is "gone," vanished into a network that funnels these cars south.

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