Sammy Hagar and Guy Fieri are reeling after two trucks carrying over $1 million worth of tequila for their Santo brand were hijacked in Texas.
The trucks, loaded with 4,040 cases of Santo tequila – including the high-end extra añejo – were stolen shortly after crossing the Mexican border into Texas.
“This appears to be an organised crime operation,” a representative for Hagar said.
“The trucks were illegally double-brokered to different carriers, who then transferred the product to their own vehicles.”
Sammy Hagar at the Country Music Television Awards in 2024.
Former Van Halen singer Hagar and celebrity chef Fieri launched Santo Tequila in 2019, building on Hagar’s previous success a brand he sold in 2007. Santo has seen unprecedented growth this year, making the robbery an especially bitter blow.
In an interview with People, Fieri recounted the shock of learning about the theft just a few days ago on November 14. “We’ve worked so hard,” he said. “This has been Santo’s best year yet, and now, whatever’s on the shelf is all there is.”
He also speculated that the heist could be a deliberate attempt to derail the company’s momentum. Despite slim hopes of recovering the stolen tequila, Fieri is offering a $10,000 reward for the return of the extra añejo, which takes four years to produce.
“This feels like a movie,” Fieri said. “I never imagined something like this happening, but it’s real.”
