Los Angeles Authorities Bust South American Crime Ring Stealing Nearly $4M In Cargo

Los Angeles authorities executed a major operation targeting cargo theft that recovered nearly $4 million in stolen goods and resulted in two arrests.

“In a major operation against cargo theft, authorities in Los Angeles recovered stolen goods valued at nearly $4 million and arrested two people, reportedly prominent members of an international criminal group originating in South America, CBS News reported”

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The operation focused on several storage units in the San Fernando Valley where investigators found the stolen items, and local reporting characterized the suspects as prominent members of an international criminal group originating in South America.

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Law enforcement described the effort as a coordinated sting addressing large-scale theft and interstate movement of stolen merchandise.

Investigators recovered high-value electronics and a broad mix of consumer goods, with bitcoin mining computers alone valued at $2.7 million.

Additional recovered merchandise — tequila, speakers, clothing, coffee, footwear, pet food, and personal hygiene items — was estimated at about $1.2 million, bringing the total haul to nearly $4 million.

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Reporting also noted that some of the stolen equipment had been located at LAX while it was about to be shipped overseas.

Law enforcement identified and arrested two suspects tied to the scheme: Oscar David Borrero-Manchola, 41, and Yonaiker Rafael Martinez-Ramos, 25.

“In a major operation against cargo theft, authorities in Los Angeles recovered stolen goods valued at nearly $4 million and arrested two people, reportedly prominent members of an international criminal group originating in South America, CBS News reported”

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Authorities alleged the pair were involved in the theft, movement, and sale of stolen merchandise across the county.

Martinez-Ramos was taken into custody on a warrant without the right to bail, while Borrero-Manchola was cited on a receiving-stolen-merchandise charge and later released, according to reporting.

The operation was led by the LAPD's Commercial Crimes Division and its Cargo Theft Unit with assistance from multiple partner agencies, reflecting the cross-jurisdictional nature of cargo theft investigations.

Agencies that supported the operation included the Port of Los Angeles Police, the Union Pacific Police Department, and the Los Angeles World Airports Police, underscoring coordination across port, rail, and airport law enforcement.

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Local reporting tied the recovered shipment to international transit, noting attempts to move stolen equipment through LAX destined for Hong Kong.