Former Mexican Soccer Star Arrested in Luxury Watch Smuggling Case

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A former Mexican soccer player has been arrested in the United States on charges related to the smuggling of fake luxury watches, with authorities estimating the total value of the illicit goods at up to $5.4 million. Pedro Hernandez Calderon, a 54-year-old former goalkeeper for Mexican clubs Necaxa, Atlas, and Santos Laguna, was taken into federal custody last week in Laredo, Texas.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, Hernandez Calderon operated an import-export business in Laredo, receiving shipments of counterfeit luxury watches from overseas between June 2025 and last month. These watches were then allegedly shipped to customers in Mexico for sale at high profits. The case was triggered on October 5, when postal authorities seized a shipment of fake watches intended for a warehouse in Laredo, which was linked to Hernandez’s business.

Investigators confirmed the watches were counterfeit and found documentation of multiple shipments involving Hernandez. The case remains under seal in federal court, with details about other individuals involved in the conspiracy still undisclosed. It is unclear whether additional arrests are pending or what other charges may be filed against Hernandez.

Hernandez Calderon, a well-known figure in Mexican soccer, has now found himself at the center of a federal investigation. The case highlights the growing issue of counterfeit goods trafficking, particularly across the U.S.-Mexico border. Law enforcement agencies continue to focus on dismantling such networks, which often operate through complex supply chains and international shipping routes.

Source: Breitbart

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claire.thomson