Russian mercenary arrested at US-Mexico border with drone

Saturday, January 11, 2025

Border Patrol arrested a former Russian mercenary on Saturday, when he illegally crossed the Rio Grande near Roma. Timur Praliev waded across the Rio Grande carrying two passports and $4,000. "The defendant was also in possession of a drone in his backpack when he crossed into the United States," Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda McColgan said on Tuesday morning, when Praliev appeared before a judge at the federal courthouse in McAllen. "And he admitted, when interviewed, to being a member of the Wagner Group."

Posted by LampLighter at 01:19 AM | 2 COMMENTS | permalink

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... When agents questioned him, Praliev said "he was a citizen and national of Kazakhstan," according to a criminal complaint against him.

Praliev was carrying a Russian passport, a passport from Kazakhstan, $4,000 and 60,000 pesos.

In his backpack, agents discovered a drone.

Praliev said he'd worked for the Wagner Group, a paramilitary organization affiliated with the Russian government.

"Wagner has played a key role in Russia's war in Ukraine and operates in multiple countries, particularly across Africa," according to a report published by the Congressional Research Service.

The U.S. Treasury Department considers the Wagner Group a criminal organization. ...

#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-01-11 01:21 AM