FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Body-worn camera video exclusively obtained by Local 10 shows the moments police detained men accused of following two members of the Colombian national soccer team days before a big match in Fort Lauderdale against New Zealand.
The men are now linked to the notorious crime ring known as the South American Theft Group, or SATG.
The soccer team members told police they called after noticing a black SUV following them following an iPhone purchase at the Galleria mall in November.
In the video, a Fort Lauderdale police officer can be heard asking the driver a series of questions.
“Are you aware that the registration of your vehicle expired? Is this your vehicle?” she asked.
According to a police report, the men couldn’t give a straight answer about where they rented the car or provide their names or dates of birth.
“He’s actually a national security threat,” the officer can be heard saying.
An agent with U.S. Border Patrol arrived a short time later.
Stuffed in duffel bags and concealed under seats, law enforcement said they found multiple pairs of gloves and screwdrivers, suspected to be burglary tools.
According to U.S. Border Patrol, two of the three detained men — Juan Cruz Rodriguez and Edison Fonseca Montana — are in the United States illegally from Colombia.
In a statement to Local 10, a Border Patrol spokesperson wrote in part:
“Both illegal aliens have extensive criminal records in the U.S., to include grand theft, robbery and burglary. The illegal aliens were processed for removal and were detained in federal custody. After further investigation, it was determined that the two illegal aliens are suspected members of the South American Theft Group (SATG). The investigation remains ongoing.”
SATG has been linked to burglaries at high-profile sports players’ homes, including those of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
Federal authorities say members use fake IDs to rent cars and carry out their crimes.
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