Officials from Texas Department of Public Safety told the Houston Chronicle there has been a surge in activity in oilfield theft the past two years in Permian Basin. The increased incidents of oilfield theft attracted the attention of lawmakers in Texas and Washington who are considering whether to increase funding for law enforcement and to strengthen criminal penalties.
According to the Chronicle, there’s suspicion it’s part of an international enterprise operating on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. The Chronicle reported that inquiries by an FBI task force, which includes DPS, pointed to “the involvement of criminal organizations, including drug cartels from Mexico.”
Law enforcement officials said theft operations in Texas include using drones and other technology to surveil oil operations, track movement of workers and supply trucks, and look for expensive equipment to steal.
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