Ex-Wagner Mercenary Arrested Crossing U.S.-Mexico Border with Drone and Cash

Timur Praliev, a former member of Russia's Wagner Group, was detained in Texas after illegally entering the U.S. carrying suspicious items.

Timur Praliev, a former Russian mercenary affiliated with the Wagner Group, was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol near Roma, Texas, after crossing the Rio Grande illegally.
Praliev was found with two passports (from Kazakhstan and Russia), $4,000 in cash, 60,000 pesos, and a drone in his possession.
The Wagner Group, designated as a criminal organization by the U.S. Treasury, has been linked to war crimes and operates in Russia, Ukraine, and Africa.
Praliev pleaded guilty to illegal entry, a federal misdemeanor, and was sentenced to time served but will remain in federal custody due to security concerns.
Authorities are investigating Praliev's motives for entering the U.S. and his potential ties to political violence or espionage.