Enrique Martinez III, 24, became the fifth suspect arrested in connection to a series of stolen vehicles tied to the “Kia Challenge,” a social media trend that encourages individuals to steal cars. Laredo police served Martinez with an arrest warrant on February 27, charging him with theft of property and engaging in organized criminal activity, both state jail felonies.
The investigation began on January 24 when a woman reported that her 2018 Hyundai Tucson, valued at about $24,000, was stolen from the 1800 block of San Agustin Avenue. The apartment complex owner provided photos of four suspects, though the images were too unclear to positively identify them.
Further investigation revealed that the stolen Hyundai had been driven into Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, via the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge on January 25 at 11:43 p.m. Bridge cameras captured a male driver operating the vehicle. Investigators identified the driver as Martinez, whose distinctive feature—missing two fingers on his left hand—was visible on the footage.
Martinez had been arrested previously on January 27 for attempting to cross a stolen Chevrolet Silverado through the same bridge. As the investigation progressed, it was found that four juveniles had participated in the thefts of the vehicle and others as part of a larger operation involving the “Kia Challenge.” In total, there were 16 related cases, including the theft of two Kias and three Hyundais, with 11 additional attempted thefts. Only the Hyundai Tucson was successfully transported into Mexico by Martinez, while the other vehicles were recovered in Laredo.
On February 13, the four juveniles were detained and charged with criminal attempt, engaging in organized criminal activity, and theft. Two juveniles also faced charges of unauthorized use of a vehicle.
The investigation revealed that Martinez was acting as a contact for the juveniles, intending to purchase the stolen vehicles and move them into Mexico. Authorities confirmed that a male in Mexico was requesting the stolen trucks and SUVs.
The arrests highlight the ongoing issues with the “Kia Challenge,” as authorities continue to investigate the involvement of Martinez and the juveniles in the theft of multiple vehicles across the region.
