Three people were arrested and five firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and two pickup trucks were seized Saturday during a series of security operations in Ojinaga, including a Texas-plated truck reported stolen in the United States, according to Chihuahua state authorities.
The Chihuahua Secretariat of Public Security, or SSPE, said the Sept. 26 arrests were part of a reinforced security operation following an armed attack earlier this month on an agency helicopter conducting reconnaissance and surveillance in the Ojinaga area. A police officer was wounded in that attack.
State police reported three separate operations Saturday in different parts of the municipality.
In La Estación, officers arrested Octavio O.R., 40, also known as “HH,” whom authorities described as a suspected member of a criminal organization. Police reported seizing a 9 mm Ruger handgun, a magazine, five rounds of ammunition and a Dodge Ram 1500 pickup.
A second operation in Ojinaga’s 2 de Octubre neighborhood resulted in the arrest of Arturo Geovani L.A., 31, also known as “Werito.” Authorities said officers seized an AM-15 rifle chambered in .223/5.56 mm, a Glock 19 Gen 5 9 mm handgun, four magazines and 252 rounds of ammunition.
Officers also seized a 2024 Ram TRX with Texas license plates that authorities said had been reported stolen in the United States.
The third operation took place near Melchor Ocampo and Vicente Guerrero streets in Ojinaga’s Centro neighborhood. State police, assisted by personnel from Mexico’s Secretariat of National Defense, arrested Jesús René Á.M., 35, also known as “El Gordo.”
Authorities reported seizing a 5.56×45 mm rifle, a .45-caliber handgun, two magazines and 91 rounds of ammunition during that operation.
The SSPE reported that the three operations resulted in the arrests of three people and the seizure of five firearms — three handguns and two rifles — along with five magazines, 348 rounds of ammunition and two vehicles.
The suspects and seized property were to be turned over to the appropriate prosecutorial authorities for further investigation and determination of their legal status, according to the SSPE.
Authorities said the reinforced security operation remains underway in Ojinaga and surrounding communities, with state and federal personnel coordinating surveillance, intelligence and enforcement efforts.
