At least two robberies have occurred since April 30 on the sprawling reservoir, which is on the Rio Grande River and straddles the U.S.-Mexico border. Both incidents involved U.S. citizens who had ventured to the Mexican side of the lake.
This prompted the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and Zapata County Sheriff's Office to urge boaters to remain on the U.S. side of the 25-mile-long waterway.
Further, the warning stated, "Fishermen are advised to stay as far away as possible from any of the Argos-type fishing boats typically used as fishing vessels by Mexican fishermen."
The robbers, which also have been referred to as pirates, are believed to be affiliated with a drug-trafficking gang, and armed with AK-47 or AR-15 weapons. They've employed Mexican commercial fishermen to deliver them to their American victims.
In both known incidents boats were boarded by two or more men and the anglers were robbed of cash at gunpoint. There have been reports of a third incident but authorities were unable to contact the boaters to determine if a theft occurred.
The lake will be heavily patrolled during the busy three-day weekend.
-- Pete Thomas
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