Guadalupe County deputies reeled in a seriously pricey catch after stopping a vehicle on Interstate 10 and uncovering a stolen shipment of frozen snow crab worth more than $250,000, authorities said. The seafood was recovered and two people were taken into custody.
According to MyTexasDaily, deputies located and stopped the vehicle in the 8800 block of IH-10 West and found a load of frozen snow crab inside. The outlet reported that Rafael Velez and Leonardo Lara were arrested and booked on a first degree felony charge alleging theft of cargo valued at $200,000 or more.
In a press release, the county’s Criminal Investigations Bureau said it met with the shipment’s owners to arrange the crab’s return and urged anyone with information to call the non emergency number at 830-379-1224 or submit an anonymous tip to Guadalupe County Crime Stoppers at 1-877-403-8477, as outlined by the Guadalupe County Sheriff's Office.
Why This Snow Crab Bust Is A Big Deal
Cargo theft has been climbing nationwide, with thieves targeting high value loads that can be flipped quickly. According to NICB, cargo theft losses rose 27% in 2024 and are expected to increase again in 2025, with average incident values often topping $200,000, right in the range of this snow crab shipment.
Felony Heat For Alleged Cargo Thieves
Under Texas law, theft of property worth $200,000 or more is treated as a first degree felony, per the Texas Penal Code §31.03. That level of offense carries a potential prison sentence of five to 99 years or life and a fine of up to $10,000, according to the Texas Penal Code §12.32.
Investigators say the case remains active and the seized snow crab is being returned to its owners. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office non emergency line or send an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers, as detailed by the Guadalupe County Sheriff's Office.
