Eleven accused in US of stealing cars from airports for sale in Mexico

A network of eleven people has been accused in Colorado of stealing vehicles and trailers from airports, with the intention of transporting them to Mexico for sale. State prosecutors revealed on Monday that the group faces 52 charges, including criminal conspiracy, vehicle theft, forgery, and possession of burglary tools. The organization allegedly operated between July 2024 and January 2025 across at least seven counties, stealing 41 vehicles valued at over $900,000. The accused reportedly targeted parking lots at regional airports, including Denver International Airport, as well as nearby hotels and rural areas. They allegedly exploited the owners' extended absences to delay the discovery of the thefts. This delay allowed the vehicles to be used in other crimes, stored in rural depots, or driven to Mexico before theft reports were fully integrated into alert systems. Authorities suspect that many of the vehicles ended up in the hands of drug cartels, though this transnational connection remains under investigation. The accused allegedly altered vehicle appearances, swapped license plates, modified vehicle identification numbers, and used fake temporary Colorado plates to hinder tracking.