A Russian mercenary was reportedly captured by the US Border Patrol with a drone, two passports, and $4,000.
According to reports, Timur Praliev of Kazakhstan allegedly admitted to being a member of the Wagner Group during an investigation.
Earlier this month, a Russian mercenary was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol agents for unlawfully entering the U.S. near Roma, Texas, according to reports.
On January 4, 2025, Timur Praliev was arrested by agents after crossing the Rio Grande into Texas with two passports and $4,000. The incident was reported by ValleyCentral.com in Harlingen, Texas.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by the station, Praliev was questioned about his citizenship during the encounter and stated that he was a citizen of Kazakhstan.
A different court record indicates that Praliev was present in court on Tuesday with legal representation and admitted to committing the crime of illegally entering the U.S. at a location other than what immigration officials had designated.
It is reported that during the court hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda McColgan stated that Praliev had a drone in his backpack when he entered the U.S.
Praliev confessed to being a member of the Wagner Group when questioned.
The judge found Praliev guilty and sentenced him to imprisonment and a special assessment of $10.
When questioned, Praliev replied with "Nyet."
Planet Chronicle Digital's request for additional details from U.S. Customs and Border Protection was not immediately answered.
The Wagner group was designated as a significant transnational criminal organization by the U.S. Department of Treasury in 2023, leading to sanctions against the group and its supported network across multiple continents.
U.S. policymakers have faced numerous challenges due to the Wagner Group's operations in various regions, including the Middle East, Africa, and Venezuela.
The Russian state abroad has been viewed as a proxy group by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) since its inception in 2014. The group gained prominence during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
U.S. officials report that the group currently has around 50,000 personnel deployed to Ukraine, consisting of 10,000 contractors and 40,000 convicts.
Recently, Wagner has been relying more heavily on recruiting from prisons, which often contain military veterans. According to U.S. intelligence, the Russian Defense Ministry has expressed concerns about Wagner's recruitment practices, but the group will continue to source new soldiers from prisons.
Planet Chronicle' Peter Aitken contributed to this report.
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