AZMEX UPDATE 30-4-11

AZMEX UPDATE 30 APR 2011

Note: large bust sending photos in AZMEX UDATE 2 30-4-11

PF seizes large arsenal after raid at an address in Fracc. University
BY: LAREDO | 30-ABR-2011 10:10
http://www.elfronterizo.com.mx/noticias/decomisa-pf-cuantioso-arsenal-
tras-cateo-en-un-domicilio-de-fracc-universidad/

Dozens of handguns and rifles, grenades, magazines and cartridges,
caused complete closure of the Universidad neighborhood while the
search was carried out by members of the Federal Police.

A home located in the streets Quimica and Ingeniería of the
Universidad neighborhood kept inside a large arsenal consisting of
handguns and rifles and tens of explosives.
All that was seized by agents of the Federal Police had to close all
access to the area mentioned last night at approximately 22:30 hours,
while searching a home.

Apparently there was not anyone arrested in this action, although the
surprising number of weapons of various calibers, hand grenades,
magazines, cartridges and other objects, many of them new and still
wrapped in their packaging.

Such was the deployment of security around the place, including media
representatives were kept outside and then to achieve the security
only allowed to enter two by two to take pictures and data about the
operation.

This subdivision is located behind the Nissan agency on Paseo Triunfo
de la República and calle Filosofía.

All the confiscated was referred to the Federal Public Ministry to
carry out the formalities leading, while research continues to trace
the owners of the home and this huge amount of material seized.

Note: same action, this one has the photos
PF raids Arsenal of grenades and rifles, in Universidad housing
subdivision
http://www.arrobajuarez.com/

■ The site operated as a fitness center
Smoke grenades and fragmentation and long guns, including several 50-
caliber Barrett, of the so-called "cop killer", were seized on Friday
night by members of the Federal Police within a gym in the
Universidad neighborhood.
In a place, a special compartment with door hidden behind a wall of
mirrors, were also found goat horns (AK), thousands of bullets of
different calibres, different magazines and military-style uniforms.
Dozens of items that federales took a clean sweep on the gym located
near the corner of calle Leyes and Filosofía, behind the Nissan
Agency on avenida Triunfo de la República- from minutes before 21:00
hours after, they told of an anonymous call .
No immediate arrests were known.

Kill the thief in defense
Tired of insecurity
Captured another offender and alerted the police
El Heraldo de Chihuahua
April 30, 2011
José Hernández Berrios
http://www.oem.com.mx/elheraldodechihuahua/notas/n2059743.htm

Chihuahua, Chihuahua .- Tired of insecurity, a man of 36 years
confronted yesterday morning two burglars who entered hisbusiness of
the colony Nombre de Dios "arresting" one of them and wounding the
other, who hours later died.

This was achieved arrest of Omar Nava Franco who finished tied to a
pillar of the business, while his companion identified as Raul Perez
Gihon ended with a bullet in the head.

Both had entered the premises to steal when the owner took courage
and faced them with a .380 caliber pistol. (380 is allowed)

The incident occurred during the early hours of yesterday at the bar
"Magus" in the streets Juan de la Barrera and Cuarta of the colony,
after city officials received a call informing the owner that his
business had undergone a thief and another with a gunshot wound.

There were two people caught by the owner of this business, whose
identity has been kept at his request, because they live in an
apartment attached to shop.

The report was registered at 05:24, led to the arrest of Omar Nava
Franco, 22, who is made available to the Attorney General's Office on
charges of attempted robbery and for whatever suits the case.
Guigon Raúl Pérez also 23, was taken to a hospital for medical care,
formalizing his death hours later.

In the scene secured a .380 caliber weapon with 5 shots mark Walter
useful, used as a defense by the owner of the business.

In this regard the Attorney General's Office reported that the owner
of the business was brought before prosecutors to give his statement,
in a case that all factors be taken as a clear example of defense
assets.

338 criminals killed in Operation Northeast: Sedena
http://www.proceso.com.mx/rv/modHome/detalleExclusiva/90766

MONTERREY, NL, April 29 (adopted) .- A total of 338 offenders have
died during Operation Northeast headed by the Mexican Army to fight
organized crime in the states of Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas and San Luis
Potosi, the Secretariat informed National Defense (SEDENA).
These three entities comprise the Military Region IV.
In activities from 1 January to 27 April, five soldiers have died and
1,234 people have been arrested, of which 25 were from law
enforcement agencies of the three states said the Department of
Defense in an informative release .
A total of 104 people have been liberated from the hands of
criminals, he said.
During that time, the Army also made the seizure of 2,015 vehicles,
33 trailers, 21 tankers, and two boats. Apart from an airstrip and 13
buildings used as safe houses, warehouses and other illegal activities.
In this campaign were also seized $ 495,000 and 4 million 594
thousand pesos, and 208 tons of contraband.

It has also seized 2,076 rifles, 517 handguns, 453 thousand rounds,
15,000 mags, 21 grenade launchers, two rocket launchers and 545
fireworks. (? grenades?)

In addition, 51 tons 556 kg of marijuana were seized that had
produced 25 million doses and 778,389 doses and would have earned
the criminals 773 million 351 thousand pesos.

The Department of Defense also reported the destruction of 270 plants
of the drug above.
Moreover, a total of 238 kilograms of cocaine and its derivatives
were removed from circulation.

This amount would have made 716,084 doses and paid 122 million,
450,000 pesos.

The soldiers claimed 38 kilos 832 grams of heroin, which would
produce 776,460 doses, with a unit price on the black market of 242
pesos. The blow to the finances of drug trafficking, for this item
was 187 million 903 thousand pesos.

Besides, 1,580 psychotropic pills were seized, with unit price of
30 pesos and that would yield a profit on the illegal market of 47
thousand 400 pesos.

Other items were secured 1,024 pieces of military-style uniforms and
162 police-type, 157 flak vests, 57 armor plates, 206 trimmings, 41
helmets, 309 radios, 13 antennas, 505 cell phones and 192 devices
Nextel phones.

The Department of Defense said the soldiers supported the State
Transportation Agency of Nuevo Leon to the seizure of 184 pirate taxis.
The detainees and the seized materials were made available to the
Federal Public Ministry, which opened inquiries.

AZMEX UPDATE 2 30-4-11 Arms bust Cd. Juarez

Note:  translations in AZMEX UPDATE 30-4-11

 

Arsenal de granadas y armas largas, encuentra la PF en cateo a vivienda de fraccionamiento Universidad

 

■ El lugar operaba como un supuesto gimnasio

 

 

 

Granadas de humo y de fragmentación y armas largas, incluidos varios Barret calibre 50, de los conocidos como "mata policías", fueron aseguradas la noche de este viernes por elementos de la Policía Federal en el interior de un supuesto gimnasio del fraccionamiento Universidad.

En el lugar, un compartimiento especial con puerta oculta detrás de una pared cubierta de espejos, también fueron encontrados cuernos de chivo, miles de balas de distintos calibres, cargadores de diferentes tipos y uniformes tipo militar.
Decenas de elementos de esa corporación coparon la finca ubicada sobre calle Leyes casi esquina con Filosofía,  -atrás de la Agencia Nisan de avenida Triunfo de la República-, desde minutos antes de las 21:00 horas luego de -se dijo- una llamada anónima.
No se conocieron arrestos inmediatos.

AZMEX new School of Transborder Studies

Note: anyone able to attend? Parking as always an issue
http://www.tempe.gov/tca/About/map.htm

ASU to celebrate new School of Transborder Studies
April 27, 2011
Official launch ceremony at 11 a.m. May 11
Tempe Center for the Arts
http://asunews.asu.edu/20110421_transborder_studies

The community is invited to a ceremony and conference May 11 to
officially launch Arizona State University's new School of
Transborder Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

"The launch represents the beginning of a strong educational
determination to bring the best minds to the development of
intellectual and technical innovation to the long standing issues and
problems of the transborder region," said Carlos Vélez-Ibáñez,
founding director of the school.

ASU President Michael Crow will be among the speakers at a launch
ceremony that is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. in the Tempe Center
for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway. Other speakers include
Elizabeth D. Capaldi, ASU executive vice president and provost;
Quentin Wheeler, university vice president and dean of the College of
Liberal Arts and Sciences; Linda Lederman, dean of social sciences;
and Vélez-Ibáñez.

A keynote address by Jorge Durand, professor of anthropology at the
University of Guadalajara, Mexico, is planned for noon.

Also scheduled is a conference from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. titled "A
Public Conversation' Beyond the Present, Thinking the Futures of
Economy, Migration and Citizenship into the 21st Century." It is co-
sponsored by Azteca America and builds on Azteca America television
network's multi-media public service campaign "I too am America."
Armando Guzmán, Azteca America correspondent, will serve as master of
ceremonies for the conference.

School of Transborder Studies faculty members participating in the
conference include associate professor Eileen Diaz McConnell,
associate professor Lisa Magaña, professor Paul Espinosa, assistant
professor Francisco Lara Valencia and professor Vélez-Ibáñez. ASU
Senior Vice President and General Counsel José A. Cárdenas will
moderate.

The School of Transborder Studies was established Sept. 1, 2010. Its
mission is to develop cutting edge transborder knowledge for and with
the populations of the U.S. Southwest-northern Mexico region, and
beyond, through socially embedded scholarship, applied research and
rigorous instruction.

Within the school are 17 faculty members and several more affiliated
faculty who represent a wide range of disciplines and are organized
into three specializations:

* Transborder Migration, Health and Applied Social Policy.

* Transborder Media and Expressive Culture.

* Transborder Culture, Language and Learning.

The launch ceremony and conference are free and open to the public,
through registration is requested since seating is limited.
Registration and additional information are online at http://
sts.asu.edu or at 480-965-9051.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Irma Arboleda, arboleda@asu.edu
480-965-0071
Carol Hughes, carol.hughes@asu.edu

AZMEX EXTRA 2 29-4-11

AZMEX EXTRA 2 29 APR 2011

Note: interesting report from the Wilson center.
Some of it questionable, some of the conclusions pretty dubious, but
the numbers of the most interest. May also want to check bio of
author.

http://wilsoncenter.org/news/docs/Goodman%20Update%20on%20US%
20Firearms%20to%20Mexico.pdf

Some notes:

ATF officials stationed in Mexico or along the U.S.
southwest border have sought to physically inspect firearms at crime
scenes or at Mexican military
storage facilities, but have had limited success, mostly because
Mexican officials or the Mexican
Attorney General's office prevented such access, due in part to
national sensitivities and lack of trust. 43 (see next paragraph,
maybe too many from U.S. programs?)

In addition, the U.S. government reports that a very small number of
U.S. origin firearms found with Mexican OGC's were transferred
through official U.S. government programs such as the Foreign
Military Sales or Direct Commercial Sales programs.
(maybe why they won't allow access? despite assertions to contrary,
there a lot of "leakage" both of U.S. supplied and German, and soon
Italian.)

ATF officials have also said Mexico has submitted thousands of trace
requests on firearms likely imported into the United States without
import numbers, at least in part
because it is not Mexican practice to include such information for
Mexican judicial proceedings. 39
( or maybe there were no import numbers? Our friends in former east
bloc and china very good at producing clean weapons & munitions)

U.S. military officials also report that more than 50 percent of the
military‐type arms such as mortars, hand grenades, and grenade
launchers discovered in OCGs caches have crossed into Mexico most
recently from Central America. 21
(and then where does the other 40% or so come from? A whole lot of
hand grenades, 40mm grenades and launcher in circulation in Mexico
these days)

According to the U.S. DOJ's Inspector General report in November
2010, one of the top reasons U.S. Attorneys have reportedly rejected
or failed to act on more than 300 ATF's Project Gunrunner referred
cases is the low penalties associated with the crimes ATF officials
most often use. 47
(very light sentences questioned numerous times in AZMEX UPDATES)

Lastly, although ATF could increase the penalties firearms
traffickers face by engaging in joint
investigations with ICE on criminal cases related to smuggling and
arms export controls, it has
continued to largely avoid working with ICE, which has the most
experience on these types of
violations. 58
(again very light sentences noted, as having been in the industry,
well aware of export controls and penalties. Not to mention
extensive paper trails. )

ATF may also want to consider providing information to Mexican
Customs officials in some cases in which CBP/ICE officials may not
catch individuals traveling with suspected illegal firearms in
vehicles attempting to cross the border as it may be easier for
Mexican officials to stop the vehicle.
(have to wonder if there another Mexico they writing about? Why are
all the southbound CBP checks done? Maybe because they know Mexican
customs doesn't do the job?)

end

AZMEX UPDATE 29-4-11

AZMEX UPDATE 29 APR 2011

Note: mostly of interest to locals, interesting details on shootout
at Gusave, also be interesting to find out what going on there.
Higher level people involved. Also interesting mix of weapons of
army & police. Why several up armored vehicles abandoned? A .50 in
the mix?

ORGANIZED CRIME
7 killed in clashes
Base attack of Guamúchil DSPyTM and then 'crash' armed groups
Northwest / Editorial
29-04-2011
Two of the victims were killed by the Mexico 15, near El Burrion,
next to a truck.
Photo: Northwest.
http://www.noroeste.com.mx/publicaciones.php?id=682600

GUASAVE .- The central upstate shook yesterday morning after opposing
groups of organized crime faced death in the municipalities of
Salvador Alvarado and Guasave, killing seven suspected gunmen were
killed and one arrested.

The first skirmish occurred at about 2:30 pm when Guamúchil
preventive agents clashed with an armed group on the street Dr. de la
Torre and Zaragoza.
Subsequently, the city moved to DSPyTM facilities for shelter, but
came moments after the criminals on board at least five trucks,
armored apparently, and shot 12 patrol vehicles and corporate
facilities as well as some nearby houses.

Minutes later, the street railway and Miguel Hidalgo located the
bodies of four people shot to death after apparently opposing armed
groups clashed after the attack on the police.
The deceased were later identified as Andrés Sepúlveda Oswaldo
Mendoza, 20, Jesus Berrelleza David Terrazas, 22, Luis Angel Felix
Rubio, 22, and Edgardo Marquez Ortega, 32, originating in the
trusteeship of El Burrion.

Another young man named Jesus Ramon Rodriguez, also with the same
address, who traveled along with the dead in a Tsuru, Red, was with a
bullet in his right hand and was detained by soldiers in the curve of
the Serrano, after a rollover.
Nearby found abandoned a Dodge, double cab, 2010, and an armored
Chevrolet Colorado type, around 2008.
According to reports from corporations, then the gunmen held a series
of clashes on International Mexico Highway 15, from Las Brisas to El
Burrion.
It was established that the gas station in front of the latter town,
south to north side and on the federal highway near a armored
Chevrolet station wagon, green, 1998 model, were the bodies of two men.
The dead were named Gil Marcos Ayala, 38, resident of the ejido May
1, Ahome, and Guillermo Leyva Castro, 26, resident of El Huitussi.
While in the community of Cuatro Caminos, under Mexico 15, found the
body of another young man who until press time had not been
identified and who was killed with a grenade in hand and wearing
overalls.
It was near the toll booth and recorded El Burrion where the heaviest
fighting between members of organized crime, because in these areas
were abandoned six late-model armored vehicles, in one of which were
located long and short arms , mags and alleged marijuana and secured
over 300 caliber shell casings from AK-47 7.62x39mm.
At dawn, dozens of military, federal and city surrounded the area
where the violence occurred.
People who transited the Mexico 15 revealed that as 5:00 am there was
still a large armed group installing a roadblock.

THE SEIZED
VEHICLES
Chevrolet-Wagon, 1998 model, armored
Chevrolet Pick-up, double cabin 2010 model
"Jeep Cherokee type, white, 2008 model, armored
-Pick up, Dodge Ram, Model 2008, armored
-Pick up, Dodge Ram Heavy Duty, Crew Cab, 2010 model, armored
-Pick up, Dodge Ram Crew Cab 2010 model, armored
-Dodge, double cab 2010 model
-Chevrolet, Colorado type, model 2008
-Nissan Tsuru type
WEAPONS
4 AK-47 rifles
46 magazines for AK-47 rifle "goat horn"
5 9 mm caliber pistols
5 hand grenades
Tactical equipment
A bag with suspected marijuana
2 military-style uniforms

Living moments of tension
Now it was the people of the community of Cuatro Caminos whom they
lived firsthand the war in that place by organized crime.
"I think it was about five o'clock when they heard the first shot and
the only thing we did was dive to the ground, as we have seen in
movies, but they were minutes of intense gunfire," a neighbor told
from this locality.
Another neighbor said even with the fear among the veins as one of
the wounded gunmen came and knocked on the door of his house, but
then withdrew.
"I do not talk anymore", he was recommended by an elder.

Note: Altar
Published April 29, 2011, 7:46 a.m.
Disclaimer police chief in Altar
http://www.nuevodia.com.mx/estado/renuncia-jefe-policiaco-en-altar/

The Chief of Police of Altar, Sergio Bustamante Hernandez, submitted
his resignation for personal reasons.
Sergio Bustamante Hernandez stepped down to work for PGR.
Alfonso Campos-RUBIO
Altar, Sonora - New Day

For personal reasons the lawyer Sergio Bustamante Hernandez submitted
his resignation as general director of the Preventive Police and
Municipal Transit, which last held since September 2009, confirmed
the mayor Rafael Rivera Glass.
The mayor indicated that altarense foregoing vacated one of the most
important jobs for the city administration.
It also expressed "that the date will be administrative adjustments
and readjustments, in addition to select either the profile of who
directs altarenses safety because it is one of the most important
positions for the administration," he stressed.
While Hernandez told Bustamante that sought his resignation to take
another position of interest for

note: Ciudad Obregon
FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2011 9:21 WRITTEN BY MARTIN ALBERTO MENDOZA
http://www.diariodelyaqui.mx/portal/index.php/component/content/
article/104-principal/11807-levantan-a-doctora
A gang intercepted last night outside her office
A young doctor, a specialist in children's dentistry, was deprived of
liberty, by three young guys who had their faces covered and carrying
high-powered weapons, while leaving his office in Tamaulipas and
Morelos streets, last night at 20:30.

The victim in this violent chapter Sayda Vivian Elias Villegas, 26,
residing in Hidalgo # 801 between California and Quintana Roo,
Colonia del Valle. Data from the scene indicate that the young
professional was approached by three young guys who covered their
faces with ski masks dark.

Those outlined, carrying guns, assault rifles, apparently of the
popularly known "goat horns."

To make contact with her, held her arms and violently opposed but
stubborn resistance, the force went to a Chevrolet, Captiva line,
golden color, then fled to the west Morelos.

Witnesses said one of the subjects wore a shorts, type shorts, khaki
color. All three are young looking.

It was also said that the young professional, was working in a doctor
of Dentistry for Children, accompanied by her father.

note: Ciudad Obregon
Deprive of freedom cajemense
FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2011 9:57 WRITTEN BY MARTIN ALBERTO MENDOZA
http://www.diariodelyaqui.mx/portal/index.php/policiaca/105-poliaca/
11825-privan-de-la-libertad-a-cajemense

Police arrest 3 involved and seize tactical weapons and equipment
A obregonense was deprived of his liberty by several armed men to be
intercepted in front of the Recreation Park La Sauceda, Hermosillo,
and rapid mobilization by elements of the Municipal Police detained
three individuals, but the whereabouts of the victim is unknown.

These events took place last Wednesday afternoon and is affected
Egurrola Flavio Arturo Sánchez, 31, who was traveling with his wife
Claudia Gómez Guerra, 30, and a minor.

Hermosillo police authorities, said the family Egurrola Gomez, moved
from Phoenix, Arizona to this town, when they were stopped by heavily
armed individuals.

The detainees are now Piñuelas Carlos Lopez, Giovanni Martin Cota and
Luis Zúñiga Flores Raúl Mendoza. His arrest was carried out on the
road to Sahuaripa while riding in a gray pick-up truck with Sonora
plates.
This vehicle carried three rifles, two handguns, several magazines,
body armor and several rounds of ammunition.

Authorities have not found the father and or his car a late model
sedan and have not found the other sedan used in the kidnapping of
obregonense.

Transit to train 140 armed officers
The director of the agency explained that the Highways officers have
a job risk
Orlando Chavez
Friday, April 29, 2011 | 12:58:39 PM
E1vez http://www.eldiariodechihuahua.com/notas.php?
IDNOTA=239714&IDSECCION=Portada&IDREPORTERO=Orlando% 20Ch%

Chihuahua, Chih .- The Director of Highways, Raymundo Romero, said
the agency will arrange to have ready the 140 agents will be able to
be armed. The official explained that the Highways officers have a
job risk.
"What we are doing is to flesh out the words of the governor, who had
said they were going to arm agents Road, to the hostile environment
that is ... is a recurring theme, we are bringing the Prosecutor
determines "he said.
He added that the vocation of the Roads Corporation is originally
from prevention, because in 64 municipalities is an area that is
within the Municipal Police.
He said attacks on agents that have occurred Transportation in Ciudad
Juarez and Chihuahua are forced to open the debate, but especially to
get ready.
ochavez@diarioch.com.mx

AZMEX EXTRA 29-4-11

AZMEX EXTRA 29 APR 2011

Note: The local version of the "nini" problem "What's gotten back
to the parents is that the kid was kidnapped here in Santa Cruz
County and taken into Mexico and executed." No, ain't no spillover
here, just keep moving.

Busts of U.S. teens at ports illustrate lure of drug money
By Jonathan Clark
Published Friday, April 29, 2011 10:04 AM CDT
http://www.nogalesinternational.com/articles/2011/04/29/news/
doc4dba17cf11cd8406719513.txt

In four distinct incidents on the same day last week, federal
authorities caught four U.S. teenagers they accuse of participating
in the cross-border drug trade.

The arrests on April 20 included an 18-year-old woman and a 19-year-
old man, both U.S. citizens, who were detained at the Morley gate
when they allegedly tried to enter the United States with
methamphetamines strapped to their bodies.

That same day, two blocks away at the DeConcini port of entry, U.S.
Customs and Border Protection officers nabbed an 18-year-old woman,
also a U.S. citizen, as she tried to walk into Mexico with more than
$28,000 in undeclared cash in her purse. Meanwhile, 25 miles north at
the Interstate 19 checkpoint, Border Patrol agents were pulling 88
pounds of marijuana out of a car driven by a 17-year-old boy, another
U.S. citizen.

Investigators say they've seen an increasing number of local
teenagers involved in cross-border smuggling in the Nogales area
during the past year. Teenagers are susceptible to the lure of quick
money, they say, and U.S. citizens from the local area can make for
good drug carriers if they are familiar and trusted faces at the
local ports.

Kevin Kelly, assistant special agent in charge for Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in
Nogales, said clusters of busts like those last Wednesday indicate
that smugglers have clued in on a modus operandi that they think will
work.
"These drug trafficking organizations, they have some pretty
intelligent people choreographing and running these loads," he said.
"They're analyzing how they can get it through. If it works, they're
going to use it."

A similar phenomenon occurred last month, when three U.S. teenagers
were arrested at Nogales ports of entry in two days.

In the first incident, a 14-year-old local youth was detained at the
Morley gate on March 17 after CBP officers found two packages of
methamphetamines concealed on his body. The next day, a 17-year-old
boy tried to enter the U.S. at the Morley pedestrian crossing with
nearly two pounds of methamphetamines and more than $28,000 taped to
his body. Over at the DeConcini port, CBP officers discovered 13
packages of cocaine and methamphetamines worth more than $230,000
hidden in the radiator of a car driven by an 18-year-old U.S. man.

County Attorney George Silva said that in addition to criminal
penalties, kids like these also suffer retribution from the drug
traffickers whose load they lost.
"I tell the kids, 'Look, if you get involved, you better hope that we
get you, because if we don't, somebody else will,'" he said.

Silva pointed to one example in which an 18-year-old local teen was
busted with a 200-pound drug load. He was convicted and sentenced,
but his punishment didn't end with his prison term.
"When he got out, that same week, his parents reported him missing.
They haven't found him since," Silva said. "What's gotten back to the
parents is that the kid was kidnapped here in Santa Cruz County and
taken into Mexico and executed."

Reaching out

The U.S. Border Patrol, through its "Operation Detour" program, has
given presentations on the perils of drug smuggling to thousands of
high school students in Nogales and Rio Rico. Last fall, former
Arizona Attorney general Terry Goddard delivered $50,000 to the Boys
and Girls Club of Santa Cruz County for the club's gang prevention
program, with the specific purpose of steering kids away from
smuggling. And the Sheriff's Office, county attorney and Nogales
Police Department all conduct regular outreach efforts.

Silva said his presentations stress zero tolerance. If local law
enforcement catches you with drugs, Silva tells the kids, he will
pursue a felony conviction, regardless of the amount involved. And he
reminds juveniles that there are provisions that allow him to
prosecute them as adults for drug offenses.

Still, despite the potential consequences from law enforcement and/or
drug traffickers, Silva said, the lure of easy money can be too much
to resist.
"If somebody flashes $1,000 in their face and says, 'This is yours if
you drive a car from point A to point B,' it can be too much for
these kids to resist," he said.

American teenagers face intense peer pressure to wear the right brand
of clothing or sneakers, he said. Or they're desperate to have their
own car, or the coolest rims for that car. Others just want cash to
escape poverty. Drug trafficking organizations know these weaknesses
and are adept at exploiting them, Silva said.

"When some of these kids are arrested and we ask them why they did
it, they say, 'Because I wanted to help my mom, I wanted to help my
dad," Silva said. "These are good kids with a good heart, but they
lose themselves in that easy money. Instead of going down to
McDonald's and getting a job and making minimum wage, they're going
to do something that gets them $1,000 in half an hour or an hour."

AZMEX SPECIAL 29-4-11

AZMEX SPEC IAL 29 APR 2011

Note: Finding some of the ones with pot, but cocaine, heroin, meth?
Much less weight & volume, and much higher value.

As US land borders tighten, drug smugglers fly
Associated Press | Posted: Friday, April 29, 2011 5:49 am |
http://azstarnet.com/news/state-and-regional/
article_b3e1b7bd-8153-5c4d-82a0-04dfc3e75775.html

The visiting British pilots were training near a naval air station
one night this month when their helicopter came within about 150 feet
of an ultralight plane flying without lights. The ultralight darted
away toward Mexico without a trace.
The near-disaster over the Southern California desert was an example
of drug smugglers using low-flying aircraft that look like motorized
hang gliders to circumvent new fences along the U.S. border with
Mexico. The planes, which began appearing in Arizona three years ago,
are now turning up in remote parts of California and New Mexico.
And in a new twist, the planes rarely touch the ground. Pilots simply
pull levers that drop aluminum bins filled with about 200 pounds of
marijuana for drivers who are waiting on the ground with blinking
lights or glow-sticks. Within a few minutes, the pilots are back in
Mexico.
"It's like dropping a bomb from an aircraft," said Jeffrey Calhoon,
chief of the Border Patrol's El Centro sector, which stretches
through alfalfa farms, desert scrub and sand dunes in southeast
California.
The Border Patrol has erected hundreds of miles of fences and vehicle
barriers along the border and added thousands of new agents, so drug
smugglers are going over, under and around.
As U.S. authorities tighten their noose on land, ultralights are
another tack to smuggle marijuana. The Customs and Border Protection
agency counted 228 incursions along the Mexican border in fiscal
2010, up from 118 a year earlier, when it began keeping track. There
have been 71 since the start of fiscal 2011 on Oct 1.
The agency counts an incursion when authorities seize an aircraft or
nearby drugs, when a trained source spots an aircraft that is
correlated by radar, or when enough people see an aircraft to
establish a cross-border flight pattern.
Tunnels are another means to circumvent tightened border security.
Lined with rail tracks, lighting and ventilation, two were discovered
in San Diego in November that netted a combined 50 tons of marijuana
on both sides of the border. U.S. authorities found 71 clandestine
tunnels since October 2008, more than during the previous six years.
Smugglers also use single-engine wooden boats to ferry bales of
marijuana up the Pacific Coast. U.S. authorities seized 47 tons of
narcotics off of Southern California shores since October 2008,
including 740 pounds this month in an abandoned craft at Dana Point,
about 75 miles north of the border.
Under Federal Aviation Administration regulations, ultralights weigh
less than 254 pounds, carry just five gallons of fuel and fly at a
top speed of 63 mph. They are not designed to carry anything other
than a pilot. No pilot's license or certificate is needed, though
regulations advise that the aircraft should not be flown over
populated areas or in the dark.
But drug pilots often zip along at night just above power lines.
Kevin Kelly of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was with
about a dozen agents looking for ultralights under a full November
moon in the desert east of Nogales, Ariz., when he heard what sounded
like lawnmower in the sky. The aircraft appeared from the south.
"It's got this big, long wingspan _ it's almost like Batman," said
Kelly, ICE's assistant special agent in charge of investigations in
Nogales. "It's almost like a glider with a little guy underneath it
piloting it."
Kelly watched the ultralight throttle back, get close to the ground
and dump bundles packed in duct tape. The pilot picked up speed and
wheeled back toward Mexico.
The agents waited for someone to pick up the load _ 286 pounds of
marijuana _ but no one came.
Ultralights initially flew as far north as the Phoenix area but they
now generally stay within 30 miles of the border, said Matt Allen,
special agent in charge of investigations for ICE in Arizona. Their
small fuel tanks require pilots who fly far north to either refuel or
take apart the aircraft and truck it back to Mexico.
Pilot Jesus Iriarte was arrested in October 2008 after landing an
ultralight with 222 pounds of marijuana strapped to the frame in
Marana, Ariz. _ nearly 100 miles north of the border _ and was
sentenced to prison.
"Gone are the days when they could come deep into the U.S.
undetected," Allen said. "They really don't want to be on the ground
anymore. They're dropping it and flying away ... It makes them less
vulnerable."
Authorities are having more success capturing drivers who pick up the
drugs.
Last month, Border Patrol agents arrested Sergio Favela near Douglas,
Ariz., as he was allegedly loading 220 pounds of pot into his pickup
truck around 3 a.m. A complaint filed in federal court in Arizona
says Favela, a U.S. citizen who was captured after a short foot
chase, told authorities he was to be paid $1,500.
Heightened enforcement in Arizona appears to be pushing smugglers to
California and New Mexico, some authorities say. In California,
authorities have confirmed 30 ultralight incursions since December in
Imperial County, a remote farming region with easy access to
highways, and another six in the San Diego area. The flights were
previously almost unknown in California.
The Border Patrol recently began encouraging agents in Imperial
County to spend more time outside their vehicles because it is
difficult to hear the aircraft over the hum of engines and air
conditioners. The planes fly over farms and desert scrub near
Calexico, a border town of about 40,000 residents. One pilot who
recently eluded capture dropped a load of pot in a warehouse lot in
city limits.
Until fences and vehicle barriers were erected, drug smugglers
blended in with off-road vehicle enthusiasts in the Imperial Sand
Dunes, used as a film location for "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi."
Drug-laden Suburbans and Tahoes barreled through the desert scrub.
Drive-through smuggling attempts nearly stopped after fencing went up
in 2008 and 2009. The number of drive-thrus in the Border Patrol's El
Centro sector fell to six in fiscal 2010 from 340 in 2008.
That means smugglers are turning to tunnels and ultralights, Imperial
County Sheriff Ray Loera told Congress this month.
"The problem now is that, as Clint Eastwood said, they adapt and
overcome," he told lawmakers.
Still, the amount of pot being ferried on the ultralights pales
compared to the multi-ton shipments through tunnels or the volume of
seizures from secret vehicle compartments at border crossings every
day, causing some authorities to wonder why drug traffickers would go
to the trouble. In Imperial County, 10 seizures from ultralights
drops since December have netted a relatively modest 3,090 pounds of
marijuana.
"It makes you wonder how much they're really making off of this
venture," said William Mataya, a group supervisor for ICE who belongs
to an informal group of law enforcement officials in Imperial County
that began meeting recently to swap intelligence on ultralights.
"They're really not bringing a lot each time."
The risks can be fatal. A pilot died in November 2008 when his
ultralight strapped with more than 140 pounds of marijuana crashed in
a lettuce field in San Luis, Ariz. Another pilot who crashed in
Arizona was paralyzed from the waist down.
Ultralights flying low are difficult to see on radars at March Air
Force Base in Riverside, where CBP monitors air traffic along the
entire border. That means relying on Border Patrol agents and sheriff
deputies to be alert for the sound of unusual motors. They almost
always get there too late to find the pilot of the planes, which cost
$5,000 to $20,000.
"Either we get there and it's headed back, or it could already be
back there," said Tim Jennings, who heads the Drug Enforcement
Administration's Imperial County office.
___
Myers reported from Phoenix.

AZMEX SPECIAL 2 29-4-11

AZMEX SPECIAL 2 29 APR 2011

Clinton commended the joint work with Mexico to begin meeting in the
U.S.
Secretary of State highlighted the work in "regional and global issues."
Notimex
Posted: 04/29/2011 12:44
http://www.jornada.unam.mx/ultimas/2011/04/29/inicia-tercera-reunion-
de-grupo-de-alto-nivel-entre-mexico-eu

Washington. Mexico and the United States today concluded its third
meeting of the High Level Group on the Merida Initiative with a
commitment to intensify the fight anti-crime, including more efforts
to share intelligence, combat illicit finance arms trafficking.

They also agreed to develop jointly a program led by Mexico to
strengthen state-level police officers, support and accelerate the
reforms of state administration of justice.

Also agreed to work with the two Congress to have an adequate legal
framework to dismantle criminal groups and to continue collaboration
on extradition agreement with the U.S. as extradition of Benjamin
Arellano Felix.

The conclusions were reached during the meeting this Friday at the
State Department, headed by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and
Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa with a score of ministers and
other officials.

At the end of the meeting, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, described
the meeting as excellent, while the Homeland Security secretary,
Janet Napolitano, the attorney general Eric Holder, and the head of
the Joint Chiefs, Mike Mullen, were expressions similar.

Prior to the meeting, U.S. Secretary of State appreciated the
cooperation and leadership of Mexico in bilateral and global issues.

"I thank the Mexican government on the very important work we do
together and the leadership of Mexico in many regional and global
issues," said Clinton, accompanied by Mexican Foreign Minister
Patricia Espinosa.

In a brief appearance before the cameras, turn Espinosa stressed
cooperation on security and the directive of President Felipe
Calderón to work with U.S. on common challenges.

In front of the square table, Clinton sat beside Secretary of Defense
Robert Gates. On the Mexican side were Foreign Minister Espinosa,
followed by Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan and Secretary of the Interior,
José Francisco Blake Mora.

The Mexican delegation also included the Secretaries of Defense,
General Guillermo Galván Galván, the Navy, Admiral Mariano Francisco
Saynez Mendoza, Public Security, Genaro García Luna and Attorney
General Marisela Morales Ibáñez.

Also involved the director of the Center for Investigation and
National Security (CISEN), Guillermo Valdés Castellanos, and the
director of Tax Administration (SAT), Alfredo Gutiérrez Ortiz Mena.

United States also attended the Homeland Security secretary, Janet
Napolitano, the attorney Eric Holder, the chief of the Joint Chiefs,
Admiral Mike Mullen, the presidential adviser Counterterrorism, John
Brennan, and the director of national intelligence, James Clapper.

The U.S. delegation also included Deputy Secretary of Treasury for
Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, David Cohen, and the outgoing
U.S. ambassador in Mexico, Carlos Pascual.

The officials discussed issues such as building strong communities,
action to dismantle criminal organizations, strengthening the rule of
law and strengthening of the border.

The State Department said before the meeting that the aim was to
renew the "shared commitment" to achieve long-term solutions to the
challenge of criminal organizations.

"Mexico and the United States confront these challenges through
enhanced cooperation and shared responsibility," he said.

Obama last February asked Congress for U.S. support for Mexico $ 334
million, including about 282 million under the Merida Initiative, as
well as 9.3 million extra resources directed against the major
Mexican cartels on the border.

Although the resources requested by Obama for Mexico in the budget
for fiscal year 2012 were lower than those proposed in 2010 and 2011,
the new request occurs in a context of budget cuts in the U.S.
government.

Under the original plan of three years duration of the Merida
Initiative, Congress passed a billion 351 million dollars between
2008 and 2010. More than an additional $ 300 million were approved in
2011.

Encomia Clinton trabajo conjunto con México al iniciar encuentro en EU
La secretaria de Estado destacó la labor en los "asuntos regionales y
globales".
Notimex
Publicado: 29/04/2011 12:44
http://www.jornada.unam.mx/ultimas/2011/04/29/inicia-tercera-reunion-
de-grupo-de-alto-nivel-entre-mexico-eu

Washington. México y Estados Unidos concluyeron hoy aquí su tercera
reunión del grupo de alto nivel sobre la Iniciativa Mérida con el
compromiso de intensificar la lucha anticrimen, incluidos más
esfuerzos para compartir inteligencia, combatir finanzas ilícitas y
trafico de armas.

Asimismo, acordaron desarrollar de manea conjunta un programa
encabezado por México para fortalecer a las policías a nivel estatal,
y acelerar el apoyo a las reformas de la administración de justicia
estatal.

También acordaron trabajar con sus Congresos para tener un marco
legal adecuado para desarticular a grupos criminales, así como
continuar la colaboración en extradiciones, en coincidencia con la
extradición a Estados Unidos de Benjamín Arellano Félix.

Las conclusiones fueron alcanzadas durante la reunión celebrada este
viernes en el Departamento de Estado, encabezada por la secretaria de
Estado Hillary Clinton y la canciller Patricia Espinosa Cantellano
junto a una veintena de secretarios y otros funcionarios.

Al término de la reunión el secretario de Defensa, Robert Gates,
calificó el encuentro de excelente, en tanto que la secretaria de
Seguridad Interna, Janet Napolitano; el procurador general Eric
Holder, y el jefe del Estado Mayor Conjunto, Mike Mullen, tuvieron
expresiones similares.

Previo a la reunión, la secretaria de Estado estadunidense agradeció
la cooperación y liderazgo de México en temas bilaterales y globales.

"Quiero agradecer al gobierno mexicano por el muy importante trabajo
que estamos haciendo juntos y por el liderazgo de México en tantos
asuntos regionales y globales", dijo Clinton acompañada por la
canciller mexicana Patricia Espinosa.

En una breve aparición ante las cámaras, Espinosa destacó a su vez la
cooperación en materia de seguridad y la directriz del presidente
Felipe Calderón de trabajar con Estados Unidos en los retos comunes.

Al frente de la mesa cuadrada, Clinton se sentó al lado del
secretario de Defensa, Robert Gates. Por la parte mexicana estaban la
canciller Espinosa, seguida del embajador Arturo Sarukhan y del
secretario de Gobernación, José Francisco Blake Mora.

La delegación mexicana incluía también a los secretarios de Defensa,
general Guillermo Galván Galván; de Marina, almirante Mariano
Francisco Saynez Mendoza; de Seguridad Pública, Genaro García Luna, y
la procuradora general, Marisela Morales Ibáñez.

También participan el director del Centro de Investigación y
Seguridad Nacional (Cisen), Guillermo Valdés Castellanos, y el
director del Sistema de Administración Tributaria (SAT), Alfredo
Gutiérrez Ortiz Mena.

Por Estados Unidos acudieron además los secretario de Seguridad
Nacional, Janet Napolitano; el procurador Eric Holder; el jefe del
Estado Mayor Conjunto, almirante Mike Mullen; el asesor presidencial
Antiterrorismo, John Brennan, y el director de Inteligencia Nacional,
James Clapper.

La delegación estadunidense incluyó además al subsecretario del
Tesoro sobre Terrorismo e Inteligencia Financiera, David Cohen, y al
saliente embajador de Estados Unidos en México, Carlos Pascual.

Los funcionarios discutieron temas como la construcción de
comunidades fuertes, acciones para desmantelar las organizaciones
criminales, refuerzo del estado de derecho y el fortalecimiento de la
frontera.

El Departamento de Estado sostuvo antes del encuentro que el objetivo
fue renovar el "compromiso compartido" para lograr soluciones de
largo plazo al reto de las organizaciones criminales.

"Estados Unidos y México confrontarán estos desafíos a través de una
cooperación fortalecida y una responsabilidad compartida", enfatizó.

En febrero pasado Obama pidió al Congreso estadunidense para México
apoyos por 334 millones de dólares, incluidos unos 282 millones bajo
la Iniciativa Mérida, además de 9.3 millones extras en recursos
dirigidos contra los mayores cárteles mexicanos en la frontera.

Aunque los recursos solicitados por Obama para México en el
presupuesto del año fiscal 2012 fueron menores a los propuestos en
2010 y 2011, la nueva petición ocurre en un contexto de recortes
presupuestales en el gobierno estadunidense.

Bajo el plan original de los tres años de duración de la Iniciativa
Mérida, el Congreso aprobó mil 351 millones de dólares entre 2008 y
2010. Más de 300 millones de dólares adicionales fueron aprobados en
2011.

AZMEX EXTRA 28-4-11

AZMEX EXTRA 28 APR 2011

Note: Just what we have been telling people: "We are helpless, we
do not have bulletproof vests, weapons are now discontinued, the
AR-15 rifles that we bring not worth anything because we bring only 6
rounds in the magazine" Municipal Police Angostura

EU seeks further comments on guns sales in border plan
Seeking to reduce the flow of weapons coming into Mexico. Photo: AP
Organizacion Editorial Mexicana
April 28, 2011
REUTERS
http://www.oem.com.mx/elsoldemexico/notas/n2058035.htm

WASHINGTON .- The U.S. government will seek another round of comments
on its controversial proposal to require gun dealers in four states
on the border between Mexico and the United States to report the sale
of multiple rifles.

Seeking to reduce the flow of weapons coming into Mexico, where drug
cartels have taken lethal wars to protect their businesses, the
Bureau of Alcohol, Snuff, Firearms and Explosives (ATF, for its
acronym in English) has sought to strengthen requirements reports in
Arizona, Texas, New Mexico and California.

Under the proposal, traders would have to report sales of two or more
rifles to the same person at once or for five business days if they
are semi-automatic, with a caliber greater than .22 and detachable
magazine.

The proposed requirement has led to intense criticism of the powerful
lobbying group on arms, National Rifle Association, which has accused
the government of Barack Obama to use violence in Mexico as a pretext
to try to reduce arms sales.

The ATF has denied making such an effort, and said the records would
be kept for two years and then be deleted if not used by researchers.

The proposal will be published in the Federal Register government on
Friday seeking comment for 30 days, according to a copy obtained by
Reuters on Thursday.

It was first published in December and had a comment period of 60
days he collected almost 13,000 responses. About 30 percent opposed
the reporting requirement and 70 percent were in favor, the ATF said.

The second round of comments are property of new regulations,
according to the ATF, and no substantial changes were made. After
reviewing further comments submitted, the proposal could be
implemented or altered.

Gun ownership is prohibited in Mexico as drug cartels trying to get
all possible weapons from the United States.

U.S. officials have shown more concern about the flow of arms that
cross the border after an immigration officer was shot and killed
U.S. and another injured by suspected members of a drug cartel on a
highway in Mexico in February.

Note: very interesting numbers

In last 11 years
Seize more than 500 thousand bullets in two presidential administrations
Since 2008 he has secured 92.5 percent, numbers that contrast with
the ammunition of police
IONS
28-04-2011
http://www.noroeste.com.mx/publicaciones.php?id=682350

CULIACÁN .- While some police officers of corporations complain they
had not received enough bullets to perform their duties in a state of
increasingly violent attacks by organized crime, drug trafficking
groups in addition to carrying the best black market weapons and are
stocked with thousands of bullets of all calibers.
Only in the 3 years that the drug war in Sinaloa, the Mexican Army
elements secured to organized crime groups more than half a million
rounds of ammunition, ranging from powerful 50 mm caliber Barrett
rifle, to 7.62 for AK-47 and 5.7 for guns that pass through shields,
and others could get to shoot down aircraft, among many other calibers.
According to information obtained under the Federal Law of
Transparency and Access to Public Government Information, in the last
two presidential administrations, members of the Army have seized
628,808 bullets in the various campaigns and joint operations against
drug and arms trafficking in Sinaloa.
Not to mention the thousands of bullets that were used to commit
3,137 murders in the six years of Juan Sigfrido Millán and 6,629
intentional homicides committed during the administration of Jesus
Aguilar Padilla. In addition to the thousands who are still
circulating in the streets of Sinaloa in the arms of criminals.
In the six years of Juan Sigfrido Millan, the army seized only 29,024
bullets, while in the six years of Aguilar Padilla the military
seized 599,784 bullets.
The large quantity of munitions seized by the army during the two
presidential terms, notes that 581,946 bullets, ie 92.5 percent of
the total, were secured from 2008 to 2010.
The information reveals that it is from January 2007, a month after
the federal government headed by Felipe Calderon declared war on the
drug cartels, when the seizure of hundreds of weapons and thousands
of bullets from the narcos is increased by 100 percent . In that year
the Army seizes 11,697 bullets.
But from 2008, the year that the Sinaloa cartel is split and pitted
against other drug cartels, the seizure is triggered by more than a
thousand percent and soldiers seized 148,972 bullets, for the 2009
seizure materiel that reaches 246,396 bullets, and in 2010 down to
186,578.

The caliber of the bullets seized from the narcos about everything
from small arms 22 and 25, to 50 mm caliber Barrett rifle, past the 9
mm, 45, 38 super for all types of shotgun, but mainly 7.62 caliber
and famous for the deadly AK-47, one of the weapons of choice for
drug traffickers.
The type of bullets is also very varied, ranging from the simple to
the armored, shock, tracers, incendiary, explosive, and even to the
bullets used by anti-aircraft guns.
The seizure not only of the hundreds of weapons from the narcos, but
also the thousands of bullets that have shows clearly the great
disadvantage that most municipal and state police state to combat
organized crime in the state.
As recently as April 19, Angostura police after an attack on their
base by a group of gunmen protesting the great disadvantage that they
tried to repel the aggression.
"We are helpless, we do not have bulletproof vests, weapons are now
discontinued," said a preventive agent that day the reporter, "AR-15
rifles that we bring not worth anything because we bring only 6
cartridges into the magazine."
The day of the attack in which two civilians were killed and three
wounded, the group of gunmen fired more than 700 bullets at the
police base, patrols and agents, even with 50 mm caliber Barrett rifles.

"We are helpless, we do not have bulletproof vests, weapons are now
discontinued, the AR-15 rifles that we bring not worth anything
because we bring only 6 rounds in the magazine"
Municipal Police Angostura

Seizure of bullets
1999 8 156
2000 4 035
2001 1 485
2002 3 657
2003 6 514
2004 5 177
2005 2 080
2006 4 061
2007 11 697
2008 148 972
2009 246 396
2010 186 578

TOTAL: 628,808

GUAMUCHIL WAR ZONE TO THE BURRION: SEVEN REPORTED DEAD
Thursday April 28, 2011
http://www.riodoce.com.mx/content/view/9381/1/

The Burrion. Everyday war scenario Sinaloa

At least seven dead, shot vehicles, weapons and drugs seized and shot
up houses after a series of clashes between armed groups during the
early hours of Thursday, from the city of Guamuchil, until the
Burrion, Guasave.

The first report was Guamúchil Center at 03:00 hours, when a commando
attacked the base of the Municipal Police of this municipality.

Shot up the facilities as well as at least 12 municipal patrol
vehicles, then followed with the City Hall located behind the first
building, causing damage to the facade.

In the escape of the caravan of death, four men killed were thrownout
on Railroad Street and then took the Mexico 15.

The army established that once were on the road from Las Brisas to
the Burrion, in the municipality of Guasave, the assassins are pitted
against another commando, leaving a toll of six trucks and three men
abandoned, shot to death.

The first body was found at the height of the town Cuatro Caminos,
close to the tollbooth, and the other two were at the station of El
Burrion, whose area was cordoned off by the military.

Once the fighting ended, to at 05:00 hours the Army and the various
corporations began to arrive at the scenes of war.

The military arrested a man named Jesus Ramon Rodriguez, who had a
bullet wound in one hand and a rollover.

The units found are a Chevrolet Silverado, Pick Up a color, green
double cab, a silver Ram, and a gray color plates, Sonora. At the
toll booth Ram Cuatro Caminos was a brown double cab, where he had
military-style uniforms. In addition to a Colorado and a Nissan Tsuru
red color.

In the latter carrying the now detained with others who are missing.

All had bullet wounds on the body and crystals. Some of them found 46
AK-47 magazines, four hand grenades, tactical gear, radios, guns,
armies, a bag of marijuana, including clothing.
None of the deceased has been identified by authorities.

Select Poll:
The governor says that criminals are no longer freely walk the
streets, what do you think?
I do not know 591 60.6%
It is not true 363 37.2%
That is true 16 1.6%
I'm not interested 6 0.6%

AZMEX UPDATE 28-4-11

AZMEX UPDATE 28 APR 2011

Note: "Both victims were unable to fight back since they didn't have
their weapons anymore. "

Note: Fox news on govt. weapons in Mexico
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/04/28/americas-war-arming-mexican-
cartels/

Note: we keep hearing how secure the Yuma sector is. Really?

Civilian MCAS employees saluted for preventing drug smuggling
April 26, 2011 4:25 PM
BY JAMES GILBERT - SUN STAFF WRITER
Three civilian employees at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma were
honored by the Yuma Sector Border Patrol on Tuesday for their role in
preventing a drug smuggling.

The honors stem from a smuggling attempt earlier this month on the
Barry M. Goldwater Range involving about 1,000 pounds of marijuana.

Cesar Escajeda, special operations supervisor with the Yuma Station,
recognized alarm monitors Christopher Carbajal, Staci Mitchell and
Luey Rocque during a brief ceremony held at the air station's Provost
Marshal's Office.

Escajeda presented each with a certificate of appreciation and an
agency coin for their efforts and praised them for their dedication
to duty.

"The assistance you rendered to the Yuma Border Patrol is to be
applauded and did not go without notice," Escajeda said as he read
from one of the certificates. "Your dedication to your duties has
reflected well on both yourself and the Marine Corps Air Station and
has allowed both entities to continue to enjoy a partnership."

Escajeda went on to say the Border Patrol simply doesn't have as many
agents patrolling that part of the border as it would like. He
stressed that without the air station's assistance in monitoring the
range, agents wouldn't have as much control of area as they do.
"It really does make a difference in what we do out there. We thank
you."

On April 7, Carbajal, Mitchell and Rocque were on duty at the air
station's alarm control center at about 4:30 a.m. when they detected
a vehicle out on the Goldwater range traveling north from the
international border.
"It was unusual because of the area where we detected it," Mitchell
said. "We knew it was a vehicle, but we didn't know what type."
Carbajal added, "We don't see a lot of activity out there."

Thinking it may be a Border Patrol vehicle, they contacted the Yuma
Sector, which then sent agents to area to intercept the vehicle.
However, the vehicle turned around before agents got there, driving
back toward the border.

Once at the border, the vehicle's two occupants fled back to Mexico.
Agents seized the vehicle, which contained 1,000 pounds of marijuana
with an estimated street value of $800,000.

Rocque said they knew before their shift was over that they had
helped prevent a drug-smuggling attempt, but it wasn't until the
following day that they found out how much marijuana was in the vehicle.
"It was awesome. We were kind of excited about it," Rocque said. "We
knew Border Patrol had apprehended the vehicle, but we didn't know
how much was in it."

Mitchell has been an alarm monitor at the air station for 10 months,
Carbajal for seven months and Rocque for four months.

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.

Note: Good, now what about Mexican citizens safety? Ref: AZMEX
UPDATE 27-4-11

Juárez traffic officers get weapons back for their safety
By Marisela Ortega / EL PASO TIMES
Posted: 04/28/2011 12:07:29 PM MDT

Officers from the Department of Traffic of Juárez will be able to
carry weapons for their safety as a result of deadly attacks carried
out by gunmen against two officers Tuesday afternoon, Juárez
officials said.
"In light of those events, we are making changes in Traffic Unit
policies in the matter," Juárez Mayor Héctor Murguía said in a
statement. "It was a cowardly and sneaky action committed against
both officers."
Murguía added that local police officers will escort traffic officers
in order to prevent another deadly attack.
Two Juárez traffic officers were shot to death Tuesday afternoon
while patrolling the streets. Both were unarmed.
"They (the killers) are trying to scare us away," Murguía said. "But
we are not going to give in."
Javier García Herrera, 28, was gunned down Tuesday while riding his
motorcycle on Panamerican Highway, officials said.
An hour later, another officer, Héctor Rodríguez Trevizo, 38, was
shot to death while driving in his police unit on Juan Gabriel Avenue
and Barranco Azul Street.
Juárez authorities took away the weapons carried out by traffic
officers during the tenure of then-Juárez Mayor José Reyes Ferriz, a
local official said who doesn't want to be named because he is not
authorized to comment in the matter.
"Back then, they decided to remove those weapons from the officers,"
the official said. "The gunmen used to attack the traffic officers to
steal their weapons."
Both victims were unable to fight back since they didn't have their
weapons anymore.
For safety reasons, Murguía declined to disclose when the officers
will be armed again nor would comment about the safety steps
implemented to protect law enforcement officers.
Both killed officers were buried with honors, Murguía said.
Marisela Ortega may be reached at mortega@elpasotimes.com; 542-6077.

AZMEX DOJ - DHS - BATFE links?

Note:  links to DHS Secy Napolitano include his time in AZ Atty Gen office 

A very long relationship, they had to be talking

thx

Dennis K. Burke

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

On Wednesday, September 16, 2009, Dennis K. Burke was sworn in as the United States Attorney for the District of Arizona. He was recently appointed to serve on the Attorney General's Advisory Committee (AGAC) which advises the Attorney General on policy, management, and operational issues at the Department of Justice. He was also selected to be the Chair of the AGAC Subcommittee on Border and Immigration Law Enforcement and a member of two other AGAC Subcommittees on Native American Issues and Civil Rights.

Burke has over 20 years of public service at both the Federal and State levels. Burke was most recently a Senior Advisor to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. He served as Chief of Staff to Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano from 2003 to 2008. Prior to that position, he worked in the Arizona Attorney General's Office as the Chief Deputy Attorney General. He is a former Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Arizona prosecuting drug trafficking cases, was the Assistant Attorney General for Legislative Affairs at the United States Department of Justice, a Senior Policy Analyst for the White House Domestic Policy Council during the Clinton Administration and a Majority Counsel for the United States Senate Judiciary Committee, where he worked on three Supreme Court nominations, intellectual property as well as crime and law enforcement legislation.

He graduated from Georgetown University in 1985 and received a law degree in 1988 from University of Arizona, College of Law in Tucson, where he served as Executive Editor of the Arizona Law Review. After law school, Burke was a clerk for the Honorable James Moeller on the Arizona Supreme Court. He was also an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. Burke has received numerous awards and commendations for his years in public service, including the Public Advocate Award from Chicanos Por La Causa in Phoenix, Arizona and the Minuteman Award from the Arizona National Guard.

Burke was nominated by President Obama in July 2009 and confirmed by unanimous consent by the U.S. Senate on September 15, 2009.

 

AZMEX I3 27-4-11

AZMEX I3 27 APR 2011

Published April 27, 2011, 7:54 a.m.
Cae "skirt" with migrants and documents
http://www.nuevodia.com.mx/estado/cae-pollera-con-migrantes-y-
documentos/

Curiel Lilia Peralta was arrested for smuggling people, plus it was
in possession of many documents to enter the United States.
He held a score of visas to enter United States
Alfonso Campos Rubio
Hermosillo, Sonora - New Day

As the alleged charge of violation of the Population Act of the
Federal Public Ministry criminal action against Curiel Lilia Peralta,
internándosele Cereso immediately thereafter in San Luis Rio Colorado
where he was captured on Wednesday April 20 after executing the
search warrant residing in housing Bougambilias streets, between 22
and 23 of this border town, was reported in the state delegation of
the PGR.
It was noted that the above was based on the criminal investigation
that was integrated AP/PGR/SON/SLRC-AEN/227/2011 against that after
the ministerial diligence in accordance with the warrant 169/2011,
gift from the Third Court Federal Specializing in searches, rooting
and interception of communications with jurisdiction throughout the
Republic and based in the Federal District, was surprised with José
Ruiz Carvajal Rosario Carvajal Ruiz, Rosendo Lozano Mario Alberto
Rodriguez Zeledon and Cervantes, those charged in 2000-4000 dollars
for illegally transferring to the United States of America.
Also in the house were found and recovered passports of the American
Union on behalf of Alicia González, Ramón Arcila Briceño, Rafael
Gonzalez, Alex Humberto Acosta, Guillermo Mora Flores, Fernando
Miguel Estrada, Veronica Lopez, Ramona Sandoval, Lourdes Heywood,
Zepeda Rivers Arturo, Yolanda bacanería, Bribiseca Rigoberto
Rodriguez, Maria G. Quintero Zepeda, Martinez Correa Quihuis Maclovio
and Rafael Rivera.
Just as Jesus Arvizu Arcila, Edna Michelle Espinoza Mendoza, Anahí
Pérez Cortez, Meinda Valtierra Jose Rivera Carrera Maria de los
Angeles, Maria Esther Chairez, Liliana Lopez Cervantes, Carlos
Samaniego Campos, Alejandro Saavedra, Andrés G. Morales, Salvador
Fonseca Armando Diaz T.
In addition, two color photographs as well as identification on
behalf of Patrick Mycael German, Christian Mauricio Guzman, Joseph
Arthur Leyva, Robert Padilla.
Driver's licenses issued in the northern neighbor for Abraham Mario
Angulo, Julio Fierro Murillo, Pablo Cuén Valencia and driving
licenses in the name of Juan Carlos Lara Zavala, licensed in the name
of it, Alejandro Miranda Saavedra, Francisco Guadalupe Quintana
Yolanda H. Bacanería.
At home also seized a Lap Top computer, printed e-mail conversations,
yellow pad where questions and answers regarding what's your name?,
How old are you, where do you live?, Where are you going?, How Where
next?, what do you do? ", including notes and 16 in the name of
Isabel Macías Núñez.

Seized "Piracy" in SRC
In the same way, but in other action undertaken in the commercial
sector of the same population, the elements of the Federal
Investigation Agency, in coordination with the MPF seized eleven
thousand pieces of apocrypha products, including five thousand 600
pieces audio and video as well as five thousand 690 title page,
joining for this reason AP/PGR/SON/SLRC-I/238/2011 preliminary
investigation for violation of Federal Copyright.

Pills sold in "Hookah"
the four-lane
On the other hand, the Federal Police officers acted in the "hookah"
located at kilometer 218 of the four lanes, south of Baghdad, the
arrest of Salvador Rivas Sandoval, Esperanza Rascon Monk and Maria de
Lourdes Sánchez Zepeda, after seizing 484 psychotropic pills,
including 200 Asenlix, 87 Obelex, 16 Benturex, 92 and 89 Super
Theanine non-denominational, all as a result of the execution of
search warrants in that dwelling house, charges prosecution criminal
investigation by AP / PGR/SON/HER-111/524/2011 for the crime against
public health, was added.

Publicado abril 27, 2011, 7:54 AM
Cae "pollera" con migrantes y documentos
http://www.nuevodia.com.mx/estado/cae-pollera-con-migrantes-y-
documentos/

Lilia Curiel Peralta fue detenida por contrabando de personas, además
de que estaba en posesión de múltiples documentos para ingresar a la
Unión Americana.
Estaba en posesión de una veintena de visas para ingresar a Estados
Unidos
Alfonso Campos Rubio
Hermosillo, Sonora - Nuevo Día

Como la presunta responsable de violación a la Ley General de
Población el Ministerio Público de la Federación ejercitó acción
penal contra Lilia Curiel Peralta, internándosele inmediatamente
después en el Cereso de San Luis Río Colorado donde fue capturada el
pasado miércoles 20 de abril tras ejecutar el cateo domicilio en la
vivienda de las calles Bougambilias, entre 22 y 23, de aquella
fronteriza población, se informó en la delegación estatal de la PGR.
Asimismo, se indicó que lo anterior fue en base a la indagatoria
criminal AP/PGR/SON/SLRC-AEN/227/2011 que se integró contra la
mencionada tras de que en la diligencia ministerial conforme a la
orden de cateo 169/2011, obsequiada por el Juzgado Tercero Federal
Especializado en Cateos, Arraigos e intervención de comunicaciones
con competencia en toda la República y con sede en el Distrito
Federal, fuera sorprendida junto con José Ruiz Carvajal, Rosario Ruiz
Carvajal, Rosendo Lozano Zeledón y Mario Alberto Rodríguez Cervantes,
a quienes cobraría de dos mil a cuatro mil dólares para trasladarlos
ilegalmente a los Estados Unidos de América.
Asimismo, en el inmueble fueron encontrados y recuperados pasaportes
de la Unión Americana a nombre de Alicia González, Ramón Arcila
Briceño, Rafael González, Alex Humberto Acosta, Guillermo Mora
Flores, Fernando Miguel Estrada, Verónica López, Ramona Sandoval,
Lourdes Heywood, Zepeda Ríos Arturo, Yolanda Bacaneri, Rigoberto
Bribiseca Rodríguez, Quintero de Zepeda María G., Correa Martínez
Maclovio y Rivera Quihuis Rafael.
Así como de Arcila Arvizu Jesús, Mendoza Espinoza Edna Michelle,
Pérez Cortez Anahí, Meinda Valtierra José, Rivera Carrera María de
los Angeles, Cháirez María Esther, López Cervantes Liliana, Carlos
Samaniego Campos, Saavedra Alejandro, Morales Andrés G., Fonseca
Salvador y Díaz Armando T.
Además dos fotografías de color, así como identificaciones a nombre
de Mycael Patrick Alemán, Christian Mauricio Guzmán, José Arthur
Leyva, Robert Padilla.
Licencias de conducir expedidas en el vecino país del norte a favor
de Mario Abraham Angulo, Julio Fierro Murillo, Pablo Cuén Valencia y
permisos de conducir a nombre de Juan Carlos Lara Zavala, licencia a
nombre del mismo, Alejandro Miranda Saavedra, Francisco Guadalupe
Quintana y Yolanda H. Bacaneri.
En el domicilio aseguraron también una computadora Lap Top,
conversaciones impresas de correo electrónico, cuaderno amarillo
donde están preguntas y respuestas referentes a ¿cómo te llamas?,
¿cuántos años tienes?, ¿dónde vives?, ¿a dónde vas?, ¿de dónde
viene?, ¿a qué te dedicas?", entre otras y 16 pagarés a nombre de
Isabel Núñez Macías.

Decomisan "Piratería" en SRC
De la misma forma, pero en otra acción llevada a cabo en el sector
comercial de la misma población, los elementos de la Agencia Federal
de Investigación, en coordinación con el MPF decomisaron once mil
piezas de productos apócrifos, entre ellos cinco mil 600 piezas de
audio y video, así como de cinco mil 690 portadillas, integrándose
por dicho motivo averiguación previa AP/PGR/SON/SLRC-I/238/2011 por
violación a la Ley Federal de Derechos de Autor.

Vendían pastillas en "Cachimba"
de la cuatro carriles
Por otro lado, los oficiales de la Policía Federal Ministerial
ejecutaron en la "cachimba" ubicada a la altura del kilómetro 218 de
la Cuatro Carriles, al sur de esta capital, la detención de Salvador
Rivas Sandoval, Esperanza Rascón Monje y María de Lourdes Sánchez
Zepeda, tras decomisárseles 484 pastillas sicotrópicas, entre ellas
200 Asenlix, 87 Obelex, 16 Benturex, 92 Super Tianina y 89 sin
denominación, todo ello como resultado de la ejecución del cateo
domiciliario en dicho morada, ejercitándoseles acción penal mediante
la indagatoria criminal AP/PGR/SON/HER-111/524/2011 por el delito
contra la salud, se añadió.

AZMEX UPDATE 27-4-11

AZMEX UPDATE 27 APR 2011 More guns to Mex

Trial set for 11 from Columbus accused of smuggling guns to Mexican
cartels
Ashley Meeks / Las Cruces Sun-News
Posted: 04/27/2011 10:51:55 AM MDT
http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_17939497

LAS CRUCES - A trial date has been set for the 11 men and women -
including the Columbus, N.M. mayor and police chief - accused of
smuggling high-powered firearms to Mexican cartel members.
Trial has been scheduled for Oct. 3 before U.S. District Court Judge
Robert Brack in Las Cruces.
An 84-count federal indictment accuses Mayor Eddie Espinoza, Columbus
Village Trustee Blas "Woody" Gutierrez and former Columbus Police
Chief Angelo Vega of running firearms into Mexico between 2010 and
this year, purchasing them from Ian Garland, of Chaparral Guns in
Chaparral, N.M.
The defendants were arrested during a massive morning raid March 10
by federal agents.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys had previously agreed to vacate
previous trial deadlines because the case was so complex - including
a one-month wiretap of five phone lines and months-long video
surveillance of an alleged stash house in El Paso and the gun store
where the weapons were purchased.
Weapons purchased by the defendants were allegedly found at the
scenes of a murder, a kidnapping and a drug bust in Mexican border
towns.
Gutierrez was allegedly taking some of his orders from Jesus
"Mantequilla" Molinas, an inmate at Cereso federal prison in Juárez,
according to court documents.
Only two of the defendants - Gutierrez's wife and his sister - are
free on bond. One, Ignacio "Nacho" Villalobos remains at large.
The Columbus Board of Trustees last week approved a motion requesting
Espinoza and Gutierrez
resign from office.
Ashley Meeks can be reached at (575) 541-5462

Note: rifles and shotguns not identified, possibly more Beretta
ACX160 ?

Published: 04/27/2011 10:36 By: Jose F. Ponce jponce@elimparcial.com
Police receive weapons Hermosillo
The mayor of Hermosillo, Javier Gandara Magaña symbolically delivered
weapons to the traffic department chief, Commander José Luis Rocha.
Photo: David Arvizu.
http://www.elimparcial.com/EdicionEnLinea/Notas/Policiaca/
27042011/511993.aspx

HERMOSILLO, Sonora (PH)
A donation of over 600 guns, 68 rifles, 4 shotguns and more than
200,000 rounds of different calibers received by the body of Public
Safety of the City Council Hermosillo.

The deputy director of the corporation, René Zárate Barranco, said
the investment for the acquisition of such weapons was more than 7
million pesos.

607 are 9-mm Beretta pistols, 68 caliber rifles 5.56x45 mm and 4 12-
gauge shotguns, which the mayor Javier Gandara Magaña gave the
Department of Public Safety.

The mayor asked the police and make good use of the weapons
responsibly in community service.

Juárez mayor orders return of weapons to transit police
Hector Murguia said that they patrol with local police
El Diario de Juárez
http://www.eldiariodechihuahua.com/notas.php?
IDNOTA=239456&IDSECCION=Portada&IDREPORTERO=El% 20Diario% 20of% 20Ju%
E1rez

Wednesday, April 27, 2011 | 2:58:29 PM
.- In Ciudad Juárez attacks yesterday were two elements of Traffic
who died, Mayor Hector Murguia Lardizabal reported that it will
provide weapons to the agents of that corporation.
"We're going to start arming the officers, we find it abhorrent and
cowardly act of murdering a sneaky way the two officers who died, "
he said.
As an additional measure, the mayor ordered transit officials to
patrol the streets together with local police, "so as to strengthen
the integrity of their life, "he added.
Murguia Lardizabal said that thanks to the intelligence with which it
has in city government, could discover that there were more threats
of attacks against elements of Transportation, but acted in time and
prevented further attacks.

AZMEX UPDATE 2 26-4-11

AZMEX UPDATE 2 26 APR 2011

UPDATE: Congressional 'Gunrunner' investigators in Arizona

April 26th, 2011 5:05 pm PT
Dave Workman
Seattle Gun Rights Examiner
http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-seattle/update-congressional-
gunrunner-investigators-arizona

Congressional investigators are in Arizona tracking down
information in the on-going "Project Gunrunner" investigation, and
according to CBS News, one of the key figures involved in the Phoenix-
based "Fast and Furious" segment of the gun running sting may provide
a link to Homeland Security Chief Janet Napolitano.

CBS News is reporting this afternoon that the prosecutor in the
U.S. Attorney's office in Phoenix who advised the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on "Fast and Furious was Emory
Hurley. He answers to U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke, who formerly served
as chief of staff for then-Gov. Napolitano. Independent blogger Mike
Vanderboegh, who dug up the Gunrunner story with National Gun Rights
Examiner David Codrea almost five months ago, is also commenting on
this new development here.

Sources and documents indicate the prosecutor who advised the "Fast
and Furious" case in Phoenix was Asst. U.S. Attorney Emory Hurley.
His boss, Arizona's US Attorney Dennis Burke, was a longtime chief of
staff for Homeland Security Chief Janet Napolitano when she served as
Arizona governor. In brief questioning from Congress in March,
Napolitano said it was "premature" to comment on details of the Fast
and Furious controversies. She also said she was "not aware" that an
agent under Homeland Security was on the ATF Fast and Furious task
force in Phoenix. Speaking of herself in the third person, Napolitano
stated that "no concerns were expressed to the Secretary."—CBS News

The case has taken on all the signs of a cover-up, with Congressman
Darrell Issa and Sen. Charles Grassley both complaining about
stonewalling by the Justice Department and the ATF. Issa subpoenaed
documents from ATF Acting Director Kenneth Melson on March 31, and
Melson did not respond by the mid-April deadline. Within 48 hours,
Issa threatened to begin contempt proceedings against Melson and the
ATF, which this column reported here.

Whistleblower agents in the ATF have been cooperating with the
Grassley investigation, and a major breakthrough came about two weeks
ago when the senator disclosed that Phoenix Assistant Special Agent
In Charge George Gillett was cooperating, through his attorney.

Thousands of guns were allegedly allowed to be "walked" into Mexico
by the ATF, even against the protests of field agents and gun dealers
in Arizona, who had voiced concerns that the firearms could fall into
the wrong hands and result in harm to innocent citizens or law
enforcement officers. Those fears were realized with the deaths of
Customs and Border Protection Agent Brian Terry in December and the
slaying of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agent Jaime Zapata in
February. At both crime scenes, guns were recovered that were
subsequently traced back to Project Gunrunner suspects.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: UPDATE: Congressional 'Gunrunner'
investigators in Arizona - Seattle gun rights | Examiner.com http://
www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-seattle/update-congressional-gunrunner-
investigators-arizona#ixzz1Kg7HLyuL

AZMEX UPDATE 26-4-11

AZMEX UPDATE 26 APR 2011

Note: the coverup continues Ref: AZMEX EXTRA 25-4-11

Case sealed for man arrested after border agent's death
The Associated Press | Posted: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 7:03 am
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/border/
article_3efb766c-700e-11e0-85e7-001cc4c03286.html

A federal court has sealed all filings in an immigration case against
a Mexican man who was wounded in a shooting in which a Border Patrol
agent was killed near the Mexican border.
Manuel Osorio-Arellanes is charged with re-entering the country after
his June 2010 deportation.
But a search of publicly available records shows that he hasn't been
charged in the Dec. 14 shooting death of Agent Brian Terry.
Authorities say Terry was waiting with other agents in a canyon north
of Nogales when a shootout with border bandits erupted.
Osorio-Arellanes told the FBI that he raised a weapon at agents, but
didn't fire after he realized who they were.
Osorio-Arellanes was shot during the incident.
His trial on the immigration charge is set for May 10

Note: From F&F, Phx gun shows?? Or they don't need our help?

Federal police arrest Reynosa cops one week after weapons seized for
inspection
Comments 6
April 26, 2011 12:20 AM
Martha L. Hernández
The Monitor
http://www.themonitor.com/articles/police-49563-federal-arrest.html

Nearly 100 federal police surrounded the municipal police
headquarters Monday in Reynosa to arrest five local cops and two
traffic officers, the city's police chief said.

Col. Juan Adolfo Gonzalez Valentín said he could not name the
officers or say why they were detained because the investigation is
ongoing.
The chief didn't know whether the officers would be suspended, but he
is "not going to cover up for anybody," he said in Spanish during a
news conference after the arrests.

The Reynosa officers were taken into custody by the federal officers,
whose presence outside the police headquarters Monday included an
armored vehicle.

The arrests of the Reynosa officers come one week after the Mexican
Army seized weapons from all the municipal police departments
throughout the state of Tamaulipas for inspection, according to a
state news release.

The Mexican Army wouldn't say when or if the weapons would be
returned after the inspections.

This is the first time local police have been arrested since the
beginning of the current Reynosa mayor's term.

In April 2008, when then-Mayor Oscar Luebbert Gutierrez was beginning
his term, his newly appointed police chief was arrested by federal
agents — allegedly for protecting members of the Gulf Cartel,
according to the Monitor archives.

The arrest of former Reynosa police Chief Juan José Muñiz came
shortly after the army inspected the local force's weapons for the
second time that year.

Authorities did not confirm whether Monday's arrests were related to
last week's weapons inspections.

The federal Secretary of Public Safety — known as the PFP — neither
confirmed nor denied details of Monday's federal operation in Reynosa.
"We have no information so far," said Juan Buenrostro, deputy public
information officer for the PFP in Mexico City. "But we usually know
about after it happens."

Martha L. Hernández covers health, business and general assignments
for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4846.

Note: TEXMEX Same here in AZ except for a few jurisdictions.

Small-city cops take on flow of drugs, people falling through the
cracks of the border fence
April 26, 2011 7:52 AM
Naxiely Lopez
The Monitor
http://www.themonitor.com/articles/dangled-49574-black-small.html

A black bra dangled from a wooden fencepost along a desolate portion
of Military Road in Peñitas.
The undergarment might have seemed out of place, gathering dust there.
But for illegal immigrants trekking through the outskirts of the
city, it shined as a beacon, letting them know they were on the right
path.

Peñitas police officers are accustomed to spotting clues left behind
by smugglers as they fight their everyday battle: to stop the flow of
illegal immigrants, weapons and drugs from going and coming across
the Rio Grande, which borders the southern side of their 2.5-sqaure-
mile town.
"Each city has to tackle their own monster," Officer Andres Martinez
said during a ride-along with a Monitor reporter last week. "Ours is
the border wall."

The border fence was built with gaps between its segments to grant
ranchers access to their land and allow law enforcement ins and outs
to patrol the area. The cost of building one long wall was also a
factor in the inclusion of gaps.

In Peñitas, the fence ends and does not begin again until a few miles
west in Starr County, leaving a gap — reportedly about 12 miles long
— without a physical barrier.

That opening — which extends from La Joya to Sullivan City and a
three-mile section under the jurisdiction of the Hidalgo County
Sheriff's Office near Havana — has reportedly funneled much of the
criminal activity along the border to that area, police chiefs from
the respective cities said.

That is not to say, however, that criminal activity wasn't present in
the area before the wall in the surrounding cities was built. The
criminal element was already present, but officials believe smugglers
that used other areas before were left with no other option but to go
through their cities because they have no border wall.

BORDER ENFORCEMENT

Officers from La Joya, Peñitas and Sullivan City study their
residents and their histories, as several families have been known to
take part in smuggling rings, police said. Officers keep a mental
list of all the stash houses they have dismantled, while keeping
watch on potential ones.

Since the start of the year, La Joya police officers have detained
more than 200 illegal immigrants, while Sullivan City's officers have
seized nearly 9,000 pounds of marijuana, and police in Peñitas have
engaged in more than 33 pursuits.

Each day, police officers are tasked with border enforcement, which
accounts for most of their workload, said Sgt. David Rocha of
Sullivan City police. Arturo Hernandez, an investigator who is no
longer employed with the department as of last week, said it is
estimated that about 1 ton of marijuana leaves Sullivan City each day.
"Sullivan City is the gateway to drug trafficking," Hernandez said.

Martinez said the Gulf Cartel operates on Peñitas' portion of the
U.S.-Mexico border, with several of its cells — such as the Falcones
and Angeles — trying each day to get another load across.

Officers there assist U.S. Border Patrol in securing trails
throughout the city that were once major corridors for immigrants,
Martinez said. Most of the ones that run from Military Road near the
river to Highway 83, located a few miles north, have been dismantled
by law enforcement officials, but small signs of life left behind by
immigrants, such as toothbrushes and razors, reveal some are still
being used.
"It's like chess — sometimes we have to let them make a move, so we
can make a move," Martinez said.

If anyone understands the concept, it's Sgt. Raymond Gonzalez from La
Joya.

Gonzalez patrols the city like a hunter, so much so that his
coworkers jokingly refer to him as the "human canine."
"You have to fight the urge to stop every car you see," Gonzalez told
a Monitor reporter during a recent ride-along. "Just wait for the
right one."

Gonzalez parks his patrol unit in his favorite spot along Highway 83
every morning and quietly waits for any signs of criminal activity
before flashing his lights on. He studies the traffic and monitors
the drivers and their vehicles for clues and discrepancies.

A while back, he noticed several trucks carrying washing machines and
dryers through the area.
"I thought to myself, either there's a really good mechanic over
there or something's up," he said.

The next time he spotted a washer strapped to a vehicle, Gonzalez
stopped it, and sure enough, several bundles of pot were found inside
the hollowed, white shells.
"You have to think like a criminal," he said.

'RADIANDO'
But while police are forced to think that way, criminals are training
to think like police officers.
"They know our 10 codes; they know our language," Martinez said.
"They profile us like we do them."

Just like police have informants that tip them off when there's
something going on, scouts are hired by smuggling rings to keep an
eye on law enforcement, the Peñitas officer said.

Officers in that city battled with what they referred to as radiando
— a Spanish word denoting the use of a radio. Police would often see
people standing along the streets communicating through radios, which
prompted them to take action.
"It's not illegal, yet," Martinez said. "So we couldn't arrest them."

Police instead began to question and document each person who was
caught and soon enough their once-brazen technique began fading into
the shadows.
"You see that guy in the car?" Martinez asked about a vehicle parked
outside a home near the police department. "He's radiando right now."

Naxiely Lopez covers law enforcement and general assignments for The
Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4434.

Plane in N.M. lake may have departed from Arizona

Apr. 26, 2011 04:28 PM
Associated Press
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/04/26/20110426new-mexico-
plane-crash-cocaine-arizona.html

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The Federal Aviation Administration believes a
small plane that plunged into a northern New Mexico lake, scattering
debris and bundles of cocaine, departed from Arizona, authorities
said Tuesday.

Investigators have isolated what they believe was the aircraft on
radar and traced the blip back to Prescott, about 100 miles north of
Phoenix, FAA spokesman Lynn Lunsford said.

Debris recovered from Heron Lake after Sunday's crash identified the
plane as a twin-engine Cessna 310, he said. The identification is
considered preliminary because "it's obviously hard to say anything
definitive as long as the plane is at the bottom of the lake,"
Lunsford said.
It's also too early in the investigation to say how fast the plane
may have been going when it hit the water, he said.

State police divers have found only small pieces of the plane - the
largest about the size of a piece of paper - and only pieces of
bodies unidentifiable to anyone but a medical investigator, state
police spokesman Lt. Eric Garcia said.

They also recovered 23 bundles of cocaine from the cold, murky water,
he said. No more cocaine was found Tuesday, he said.

Garcia wouldn't speculate on the purpose of the aircraft's flight,
saying authorities would assume only "that a plane crashed and that
there was narcotics aboard it." State police have "strong leads"
about who was on the plane, but aren't releasing details, he said.
"We have been able to retrieve a significant amount of information
from the debris we've recovered," he said. That debris included
membership cards, but Garcia wouldn't release the names on those cards.

Lunsford said no flight plan was filed, and authorities don't know
who was on board and whether there were passengers, as well as a pilot.

The human remains have been turned over to the state Office of the
Medical Investigator.

Witnesses reported the plane crashed into the lake, about 100 miles
north of Santa Fe, at about 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Lake patrol officers
subsequently found several packages of cocaine floating on the water.

The state police dive team members have been working 100 to 200 feet
below the surface in extremely cold water. In addition, 30 mph winds
created choppy waters Tuesday, making conditions hazardous for the
divers as waves hit hard against their flat-bottom boat, Garcia said.

State police officials decided to pull the divers at the end of the
day Tuesday, but Garcia said officers in both uniform and
plainclothes will remain on the site "to see if anything shows up."

The FAA investigation into the cause of the crash has to wait on
getting the plane to the surface, Lunsford said. And given the nature
of the debris - the cocaine - law enforcement also will be
investigating, he said.

Air trafficking historically has been a significant issue along the
Southwest border, state police Chief Robert Shilling said Monday.

In April 2010, state police called about the hard landing of a small
plane outside Tucumcari in eastern New Mexico found a stash of more
than 400 pounds of marijuana inside the plane and hidden in nearby
bushes.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/
2011/04/26/20110426new-mexico-plane-crash-cocaine-
arizona.html#ixzz1Kg1ptdAJ