Two men, including a Texas rancher, were killed, and a woman was injured after the truck they were riding in ran over an improvised explosive device, causing it to detonate.
The incident occurred in Tamaulipas, Mexico, just south of Brownsville, Texas. The rancher, identified as Antonio Céspedes Saldierna of Brownsville, owned land and worked on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.
The second man killed in the blast was identified as Horacio Lopez Peña. Peña’s wife, Ninfa Griselda Ortega, was hospitalized after the incident, according to KRGV News.
A social media post by X user Simply_Stranger shows a photo of the victim and an image of the wreckage at the scene after the explosion.
A Texas border rancher was killed near the border by a suspected cartel IED earlier this month, the Texas Department of Agriculture told The Post Tuesday — as officials issued an urgent safety warning for the Rio Grande Valley.
Rancher Antonio Céspedes Saldierna, 74, who worked… pic.twitter.com/xbJBGrfIAx
— Simply_Stranger (@AngelsBokenHalo) February 25, 2025
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller issued a statement in response to the incident, linking the deaths to cartel activity.
“A tragic and alarming incident occurred near Brownsville, Texas, where a U.S. citizen and Texas rancher was killed by an improvised explosive device (IED). This shocking act of violence highlights the growing threat posed by cartel activity along our southern border,” Miller wrote.
The incident occurred in Mexico, in an area considered part of the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV). Cattle ranches and farms in the LRGV region produce a significant portion of the state’s meat and produce, including citrus, watermelon, vegetables, and cotton.
The deadly explosion has intensified concerns about the safety of those working in the area, who are increasingly at risk due to cartel activity, according to state officials.
“I urge all Texas farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers who travel to Mexico or operate near the border to exercise extreme caution,” Miller wrote. “The Lower Rio Grande Valley is a crucial part of Texas agriculture, and the safety of our agricultural community is of utmost importance. We cannot overlook the rising violence that threatens not only lives but also the security of our farms, ranches, and rural communities.”
Miller advised those in the agricultural industry to remain vigilant, avoid dirt roads, remote areas, and cartel-controlled regions, refrain from touching unfamiliar objects that could be explosive devices, and limit travel to daylight hours.
The deadly explosion is the latest in a series of violent incidents tied to the cartel-driven violence that has plagued the southern border. Authorities are investigating the attack and have yet to release more details on the specifics of the cartel’s involvement as of the time of publication.