U.S. Customs and Border Protection public records or official announcements.

Border Patrol Arrests Former Wagner Mercenary Timur Praliev Near Roma, Texas, Carrying $4,000 and a Drone

Jan 10, 2025, 07:23 AM

On January 9, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested Timur Praliev, a former member of the Wagner Group, a Russian private military company, after he illegally crossed the Rio Grande near Roma, Texas. Praliev was found carrying two passports—one Russian and one from an undisclosed country—along with $4,000 in cash and a drone. The Wagner Group is often described as a terrorist organization and is linked to Russian military intelligence (GRU). The arrest raises questions about Praliev's intentions in the U.S., particularly regarding the group's history of involvement in destabilizing operations. Current U.S. government plans reportedly include deporting Praliev, a move that has drawn criticism from some sources advocating for him to face justice in the U.S. This incident is part of a broader concern regarding the presence of Russian operatives at the U.S. southern border.