Documents obtained by Big Bend Times reveal that the Brewster County Sheriff’s Office has repeatedly cited specific cartel activity and border-related threats in its applications for state funding through the Operation Lone Star grant program.
According to the paperwork, the sheriff’s office identifies La Línea, the enforcement arm of the Juárez Cartel, as a major player in the region’s narcotics and human smuggling operations. The grant application describes how the cartel traffics marijuana, methamphetamine, and cocaine across the U.S.-Mexico border while also transporting weapons and money south into Mexico. The sheriff’s office claims smugglers use a combination of body carriers, human couriers, horse-packing routes, and concealed compartments in vehicles to move illicit cargo through Brewster County.
The sheriff’s office describes two major highways—U.S. Highway 385 and Texas Highway 118—as key routes used by smuggling organizations attempting to bypass border checkpoints. The application states that these groups have established surveillance networks, use encrypted communications, and leverage GPS and night vision technology to avoid detection.
Beyond cartel activity, the grant paperwork references increased law enforcement demands due to undocumented migration and a reported rise in criminal activity affecting local residents, ranchers, and tourists in the Big Bend region. The documents argue that the sheriff’s office lacks the personnel to respond adequately, with a single deputy often responsible for patrolling up to 2,000 square miles per shift.
The funding, which the sheriff’s office has received for years, supports the hiring of additional deputies, the purchase of patrol vehicles, and improvements in records and evidence management. The paperwork also acknowledges challenges in retaining officers, citing fatigue and unpredictable work schedules as key factors.
While the Operation Lone Star grant has provided financial relief, the sheriff’s office states in the documents that Brewster County’s law enforcement operations remain dependent on state and federal funding due to the county’s limited tax base.
