(NewsNation) — Criminal cartels are offering payments of $10,000 to shooters who fire at U.S. Border Patrol agents on the southern border, federal authorities say in an internal communication.
NewsNation correspondent Ali Bradley obtained a copy of the alert Friday. It says the Border Patrol’s Rio Grande Valley Sector has received information about “a coordinated attack” in which cartels may be offering the $10,000 payments “to individuals who engage in shooting at” agents.
“Additional reporting suggests that assailants may wear Mexican military uniforms to avoid raising suspicion while carrying long arms or machine guns,” the alert says. “While this threat specifically pertains to the RGV Sector, it reflects heightened cartel frustrations that could extend across the southwest border.”
The threat is believed to have originated from northern Sonora, Mexico, according to the communication.
“Agents should remain aware of the potential threat and maintain heightened vigilance of their surroundings while conducting operations,” it said.
Sources said Border Patrol stations in Brownsville and Kingsville were the initial targets. The Rio Grande Valley Sector includes nine stations across more than 34,000 square miles of southeast Texas.
It’s not the first time that criminal cartels have allegedly offered financial incentives to do harm to U.S. federal authorities.
Earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security said Mexican cartels had offered a tiered bounty system for doxxing, assaulting and kidnapping Border Patrol agents and ICE officers. Reportedly, criminals also were offering $50,000 for the assassination of high-ranking federal officials.
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