The Presidio County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations recovered a stolen 2025 Toyota RAV4 believed to have been destined for Mexico during a joint operation in Presidio, according to information published by El Sol de Ojinaga.
The vehicle, reportedly stolen in New York City, was discovered at a residential property in Presidio following an investigation into vehicles being transported through the border region.
Authorities said the SUV had been cloned, a practice in which identifying information from a legally registered vehicle is used to disguise a stolen vehicle’s identity. Vehicle cloning can involve fraudulent registration documents, altered vehicle identification numbers or license plates associated with another automobile.
Investigators believe the RAV4 was being prepared for export to Mexico.
The recovery followed information previously obtained by law enforcement agencies investigating stolen vehicles moving through the Presidio area. Authorities in multiple states have reportedly been sharing intelligence related to suspected vehicle theft and trafficking operations.
The individuals involved remain under investigation, and criminal charges have not been announced.
Potential charges identified in the report include unauthorized use of a motor vehicle under Section 31.07 of the Texas Penal Code and tampering with a governmental record under Section 37.10.
Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle is generally a state jail felony in Texas. Penalties for tampering with a governmental record vary depending on the circumstances and the type of record involved.
The Presidio County Sheriff’s Office said it would continue working with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to investigate vehicle theft and other criminal activity in the region.
Joel Nuñez Jr., identified as a chief deputy with the Presidio County Sheriff’s Office, was credited in the report with providing information about the recovery.
Photographs accompanying the announcement show the silver Toyota RAV4 being loaded into an enclosed tractor-trailer using heavy equipment.
Authorities have not disclosed whether the recovery is connected to a larger vehicle theft organization, how long the SUV had been in Presidio or whether additional stolen vehicles have been identified.
The investigation remains ongoing.
