Although a published report quoting official police and government officials refutes what became a viral story Saturday, an unusual lack of television coverage of the alleged takeover of ranches near Laredo, Texas, by Zeta gunmen raises questions.

The head of the Texas Nationalist Movement said Sunday that whether the reports are true or not, the very fact that so much credence was given to them would never have been an issue if the U.S.-Mexico border were secure.

Several organizations reported Saturday that two ranches near Laredo had been overrun by members of the Mexican drug gang Los, either following or during a night-long gunbattle with the Mexican Army in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, took over two ranches in the Las Minas Industrial Park area northwest of Laredo, near Mines Rd. and Minerales Annex Rd about 10 miles NW of I-35.

That story was refuted later in the day by reporter Nick Georgiou in the Laredo Morning Times newspaper. Georgiou's piece quoted sources within the Laredo Police Department, Border Patrol and FBI as saying they "knew nothing" about any such takeover. To date, however, no photos or video footage has emerged refuting the original report published by the blogger Digger's Realm.

Another enterprising independent news source, reporter Jim Kelley of the Tucson (Ariz.) Citizen.com, said he had heard from Laredo City Councilman Hector Garcia flatly denying the report and indicating that it appeared to stem from a disagreement between two ranchers. Kelley reports he has also been unable to get a direct connection with anyone in law enforcement, however.