In a shocking heist, two trucks carrying $1 million worth of celebrity-owned tequila vanished after crossing the U.S. border, leaving investigators and the public stunned.
At a Glance
- Nearly $1 million worth of Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar’s Santo tequila stolen in Texas
- 24,240 bottles of various tequila types taken in sophisticated hijacking operation
- GPS trackers likely spoofed, indicating a well-planned heist
- Theft discovered on November 14, severely impacting brand’s holiday season supply
- $10,000 reward offered for information leading to recovery
Celebrity Tequila Targeted in Audacious Border Heist
In a brazen act that reads like a Hollywood script, two trucks carrying approximately $1 million worth of Santo tequila, a brand co-owned by celebrity chef Guy Fieri and rock legend Sammy Hagar, were hijacked shortly after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. The theft, which occurred in Laredo, Texas, has left law enforcement scrambling and the spirits industry in shock.
The heist, involving 24,240 bottles of Santo tequila, including blanco, reposado, and añejo varieties, was discovered on November 14. Discrepancies in the shipment were noticed between November 9 and 10, suggesting a carefully orchestrated plan. The sophistication of the operation is evident in the likely spoofing of GPS trackers, which misled the company about the trucks’ locations.
Guy Fieri, Sammy Hagar's trucks carrying $1 million of tequila hijacked in double heist after crossing border https://t.co/u9I1RROsYS
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 17, 2024
Unprecedented Scale and Sophistication
The audacity and scale of the theft sent shockwaves through the spirits industry. Dan Butkus, president of Santo, expressed his astonishment at the unusual nature of the crime.
“This is the strangest thing I’ve ever seen in the spirits industry over 25 years. I’ve never seen anything like this. Two of our trucks, four days apart, to be stolen. It’s so out of the ordinary, out of the norm, that we’re wondering why our trucks may have been targeted,” Mr. Butkus said.
The theft appears to be the work of an organized crime network, involving illegal double brokering of the trucks to different carriers. This level of planning and execution points to a potentially larger criminal network operating in the region, raising concerns about border security and the vulnerability of high-value shipments.
Severe Impact on Business and Livelihoods
The timing of the heist couldn’t be worse for Santo Spirits. Occurring during their strongest year to date and just before the holiday season, the theft has dealt a significant blow to the company’s operations and financial outlook. Sammy Hagar noted the setback to his developing business.
“For a growing company like Santo, it’s really a shame for something like this to happen in the middle of our strongest year to date and right before the holidays!” he said.
The impact extends beyond the celebrity owners to the workers at their Mexican distillery, who are now working around the clock to replace the stolen tequila. However, full replenishment before the holidays seems unlikely.
Investigation and Recovery Efforts
Law enforcement agencies are actively investigating the theft, but the chances of recovering the stolen goods or apprehending the perpetrators are slim. The sophisticated nature of the crime, including disconnected phone lines and the possibility of internal bad actors, complicates the investigation.
Guy Fieri has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of the trucks, particularly the Extra Añejo tequila. “It’s like a movie, I never in a million years thought this was coming down the pike like this, But it’s real,” Fieri said.
