Arizona rancher George Alan Kelly. (Credit: Ali Bradley)
(NewsNation) — Without dealing with cartels, it may be difficult to cross the southern border, NewsNation has learned.
At least that’s what some people in Kino Springs, Arizona, near the ranch where officials say 74-year-old George Alan Kelly shot dead a Mexican citizen said.
That comes after Border Patrol seized a large amount of drugs earlier this month in Santa Cruz County, about 15 miles from Kelly’s ranch. Agents found 90 pounds of methamphetamine and over 113,000 fentanyl tablets in an abandoned pack.
A neighbor who lives on Kelly’s road didn’t want to speak in front of the cameras, but Border Patrol said he had dealt with Kelly’s ranch at least 30 times in the last month. He said he was picked up on the road behind his house by a truck driven mostly by U.S. citizens. I say no.
Kelly won’t be put on trial until September 6th, but cartel activity along the border and the fight against them is ongoing.
Multiple sources tell NewsNation that people had to pay cartels or smuggle drugs for criminal gangs to enter the country.
“They don’t give up names or anything,” said former Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Deputy Commissioner Mario Morales. “Someone they met in Mexico and said, ‘Hey, bring me this.'”
Morales, who is running for the 2024 Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, explains why people keep trekking despite how dangerous it is.
“That’s my simplest answer,” he said.
The state alleges Kelly shot Gabriel Kuhn Buitimere in the back in January as he fled for his life. Kelly’s defense says the rancher fired into the heads of seven camouflaged men, some of whom were armed and ran through his ranch. Kelly claims he didn’t hit any of them.
Near his pouch were eight casings matching one of Kelly’s AK-47s. However, nothing was found on Kun Buitimea’s body. In fact, no bullets have been found associated with Cuen-Buitimea’s death. All that was reportedly found on him was a radio and a tactical in his boots. However, both witnesses claimed he was wearing a camouflage backpack and waist his bag when Cuen-Buitimea was with him, leaving questions as to where the bag went. rice field.
NewsNation has reached out to several of the victim’s family members, but has not received a response. However, Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was supporting the victim’s daughter and helping her participate in the court hearings.
