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Florida sheriffs thought they were chasing fuel thieves across the state.
But what they discovered left them absolutely stunned.
And ‘Operation Van Diesel’ just exposed one disgusting truth about Biden’s border crisis that has Florida sheriffs fuming.
Border chaos creates criminal goldmine for fuel thieves
Look, here’s what nobody in Washington, D.C. wants to talk about – Biden’s open border policies just created a criminal playground, and Florida taxpayers are getting robbed blind.¹
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister announced Thursday that his six-month investigation called “Operation Van Diesel” busted a sophisticated fuel theft ring that stole 185,000 gallons of diesel worth $650,000.²
But here’s the kicker that should make every American furious – seven of the ten arrested criminals aren’t even supposed to be in this country.³
The suspects used modified Dodge and Chrysler minivans equipped with 500-gallon tanks, pumps, and hidden compartments to siphon diesel directly from underground storage tanks at gas stations.⁴
These weren’t amateur thieves grabbing a few gallons for their pickup trucks.
This was a coordinated criminal enterprise that hit 350 locations across 70 gas stations in 13 Florida counties.⁵
The stolen fuel was then resold at discounted rates to trucking yards, creating an underground black market that undercuts legitimate businesses.
Attorney General connects the dots on border failures
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier didn’t mince words when he laid out exactly what’s happening here.⁶
“This wasn’t an effort to go find a bunch of illegals,” Uthmeier explained. “This was an effort to take down a sophisticated organized crime ring, and then, lo and behold, all these guys are not U.S. citizens.”⁷
Of the seven non-citizens arrested, six entered the country under Biden’s parole program – that’s the same program the administration uses to wave thousands of unvetted migrants into American communities every month.⁸
The seventh criminal crossed the border completely undetected, which tells you everything you need to know about Biden’s “secure” border.⁹
Uthmeier called this crime ring a “direct result of the open border crisis,” and he’s absolutely right.¹⁰
When you flood the country with unvetted foreign nationals and provide zero meaningful enforcement, criminal organizations see opportunity everywhere.
Law enforcement shows how to fight back against organized crime
Here’s what real law enforcement looks like when politicians get out of the way.¹¹
Sheriff Chronister’s team spent months tracking these criminals, securing 103 search warrants, 41 subpoenas, and 11 arrest warrants.¹²
On August 5, deputies executed simultaneous operations across multiple jurisdictions, arresting nine suspects and seizing 19 vehicles.¹³
They recovered more than 30,000 gallons of stolen diesel fuel worth over $100,000 – fuel that was about to be sold on the black market.¹⁴
Companies like 7-Eleven and RaceTrac worked directly with law enforcement to identify the criminal patterns.¹⁵
Art Lazo, Vice President of Asset Protection for 7-Eleven, said his company linked 136 separate incidents across 46 stores, totaling more than $200,000 in losses.¹⁶
This is exactly the kind of old-fashioned police work that makes communities safer – when sheriff’s departments are allowed to do their jobs without political interference.
Sheriff Chronister called it “good old fashioned police work” and “one of the largest statewide cases of its kind.”¹⁷
The real cost of Biden’s border disaster
Here’s what this story really shows you about Biden’s immigration disaster.
When you have an open border policy, you’re not just letting in people looking for work – you’re creating opportunities for sophisticated criminal enterprises to operate with impunity.
These weren’t desperate people stealing food to feed their families.
This was an organized criminal operation that cost Florida businesses $650,000 and put drivers at risk by creating fuel shortages and supply chain disruptions.¹⁸
The criminals used their illegal status as a shield, knowing that even if they got caught, the consequences would be minimal in Biden’s catch-and-release system.
Six of them exploited Biden’s parole program – the same program that has released hundreds of thousands of unvetted migrants into American communities.
And you want to know what’s really infuriating? This is just one criminal ring in one state.
How many other organized crime operations are operating across the country right now, taking advantage of Biden’s open border policies?
Sheriff Chronister put it perfectly: “To those who think organized crime can go undetected, let this case be a reminder: we are watching, we are working together, and we will hold you accountable.”¹⁹
That’s the kind of leadership Americans deserve – sheriffs who actually fight crime instead of making excuses for it.
But until we get serious about border security again, Florida sheriffs are going to keep uncovering criminal operations that should never have been possible in the first place.
¹ Florida Attorney General Press Release, “Operation Van Diesel Busts Fuel Theft Ring,” September 4, 2025.
² Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Press Release, September 4, 2025.
³ Ibid.
⁴ Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, “Operation Van Diesel Investigation Details,” September 4, 2025.
⁵ Ibid.
⁶ Florida Attorney General Press Release, “Operation Van Diesel Busts Fuel Theft Ring,” September 4, 2025.
⁷ – ¹⁰ Ibid.
¹¹ Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Press Release, September 4, 2025.
¹² – ¹⁴ Ibid.
¹⁵ Florida Attorney General Press Release, “Operation Van Diesel Busts Fuel Theft Ring,” September 4, 2025.
¹⁶ Ibid.
¹⁷ Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Press Release, September 4, 2025.
¹⁸ Ibid.
¹⁹ Ibid.