Officials Warn of Cartel After Texas Rancher Killed in Explosion

A 74-year-old Brownsville rancher was tragically killed in what officials are speculating was a cartel-related attack.

Antonio Céspedes Saldierna was a rancher who worked regularly around Brownsville, Texas. On Friday, February 21, 2025, Saldierna was driving his Ford pickup on his ranch when he fell into a surprise attack.

AN ATTACK TOO CLOSE TO HOME

As Saldierna traveled through his ranch, he ran over an explosive device officials are speculating was placed by the Cartel. As Saldierna drove over the device, it detonated, causing a huge explosion.

Saldierna and a passenger, Horacio Lopez Pena, were both killed by the explosion. Pena's wife, Ninfa Griselda Ortega, was also in the vehicle at the time of the explosion and survived.

Saldierna's son, Army veteran, Ramiro Céspedes, had also been injured by an  improvised explosive device (IED) during his deployment.

“I consider this a terrorist attack because if I went to war to fight terrorists, and I’m seeing the same thing here to me – my personal opinion – it is a terrorist attack,” Ramiro said.

TEXAS OFFICIALS ADDRESS THE ATTACK

“A tragic and alarming incident occurred near Brownsville, Texas, where a U.S. citizen and  Texas rancher was killed by an IED)," Texas Agriculture Commissioner, Sid Miller, said in a statement.

Miller and other officials warn others about Cartel activity in the area.

"I urge all Texas farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers who travel to Mexico or operate near the border to exercise extreme caution," Miller said.

To stay safe Miller warns area workers to:

• avoid dirt roads
• avoid remote areas
• refrain from touching unfamiliar objects that could be explosive devices
• limit travel to daylight hours
• stay on main roads
• avoid cartel-controlled regions