Authorities have arrested five suspects allegedly responsible for more than $1.2 million in eight different cargo thefts throughout Florida.
The investigation began in September of 2014 when authorities identified a group of individuals who had formed an apparent theft organization.
Miami-Dade Police said the group typically traveled from Miami-Dade County in a rental vehicle to search for tractor trailers they could steal. After allegedly stealing both the cargo and trailers, they're accused of returning to Miami to sell the stolen property on the black market.
In January, four of the five suspects were taken into custody in Jacksonville shortly after they allegedly stole two tractor trailers with loads of sugar and tires totally $230,000.
The suspects have been identified as Cecilio Guillen, 46, Alcide Fraguela Casanova, 56, Juan Carlos Almaguer, 42, and Yanier Torres, 30. They are all Miami-Dade residents.
The fifth subject, 53-year-old Julio Vega, was arrested on Tuesday.
All of the suspects have been charged with racketeering and grand theft of cargo worth more than $50,000. There's no word on whether they have hired attorneys.
Local
The arrests are the result of an investigation by the Miami Metropolitan Major Theft Task Force which consists of the following agencies: FBI, MDPD, City of Doral Police Department, City of Medley Police Department, Florida Highway Patrol and Palm Beach Sheriff's Office.
