McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — Laredo police on Tuesday were debunking reports that two trucks carrying tequila were stolen from a company owned by celebrities Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar.
However, what happened to the 4,000 cases of agave spirits is still unknown.
Numerous media outlets reported the so-called Nov. 12 heist of the tequila from Santo Tequila, which is owned by American restaurateur Fieri and former Van Halen singer Hagar.
Despite having a frontpage story on the so-called heist in its Tuesday morning edition, by the evening, the Laredo Morning Times had reversed course and posted a story saying police told them it “never happened.”
Initial reports said the two trucks — carrying over 24,240 bottles of tequila — reportedly were hijacked Nov. 12 from the 13700 block of Unitec Drive in Laredo.
But Laredo police now tell the Laredo Morning Times that no force was used and that the trucks went elsewhere and delivered the load, adding that the cargo was worth only $385,000.
That’s a far cry from early reports in the San Francisco Chronicle, People.com, FOX News, USA TODAY, the New York Post and Forbes all putting losses at $1 million.
People.com was the first to report the story Saturday, claiming it was a “devastating incident” and quoting an “exclusive” interview with Fieri who said the trucks went missing after being hijacked in Laredo. Fieri reportedly said the tequila took 39 months to create and would have a profound affect on the alcoholic food chain in the United States.
The company’s distiller is in Mexico. The story also noted some “red flags” in trucking incident reports that People had obtained.
But the Laredo Morning Times says Laredo police say it isn’t a case of hijacked trucks, but misrouted trucks.
“At this preliminary phase of the investigation it is believed that at some point the trucks with the tequila cargo were re-routed to California due to alleged issues with the warehouse at the original listed destination, which is still being vetted,” Laredo police told the newspaper.
Los Angeles police reportedly now are probing the case.
“The Los Angeles Police Department is involved in the investigation due to the alternative location where both drivers stated the cargo was actually transported to. There are no indications that these trailers were hijacked anywhere as alleged in national media publications,” Laredo police told the newspaper.
Border Report reached out to Laredo police for information but did not receive a call back. This story will be updated if information is received.
Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.