Note: mostly of interest to locals.
Note: interesting column on visit to AZ.
http://townhall.com/columnists/katiepavlich/2011/12/07/
riding_in_the_desert_child_sexual_exploitation_drug_running_human_smuggl
ing_and_violence/page/full/
Arizona farmer outfitted with Glock, bullet-proof vest for safety
by Crystal Cruz
azfamily.com
Posted on December 6, 2011 at 7:00 AM
Updated yesterday at 7:02 AM
http://www.azfamily.com/news/Check-out-how-AZ-farmer-protects-himself-
from-drug-smugglers-135074023.html
SAN TAN VALLEY, Ariz. -- There was a time when farmers were just
concerned with protecting their animals. That's no longer the case.
"Now I'm worried about am I going to come home at night after work,"
said Scott Blevins. The farmer and father has every reason to worry.
What Blevins witnessed out here last summer was a game changer.
"The Maxima came around here and drove into our farm and knocked out
some borders at a high rate of speed," Blevins recalled.
The farmer said Border Patrol stopped the car and insider were drug
smugglers carrying a hefty load.
"To have it actually occur on my property, it's getting way to close
to home," Blevins said.
That's why this farmer isn't playing around. For safety he wears a
bullet proof vest and pack a handgun and rifle to work.
"I'm convinced somebody's going to see something they shouldn't see
and somebody's going to die," Blevins said.
Steve Henry, the chief deputy in the Pinal County Sheriff's Office,
agreed.
"It's not a stretch of the imagination," he said. "I think Mr.Blevins
is onto something."
Henry said it's no secret drug smugglers use farms to evade deputies.
"It happens all the time, matter of fact three times yesterday,"
Henry said.
Despite the danger he believes is imminent, Blevins refuses to leave.
"I want my daughter to have the same opportunities I had and if I
have to stand up to be a voice I think that would make my daughter
proud," Blevins said.
Henry said his office is doing their best to combat the problem, but
the office is understaffed by 100 deputies.
Border Patrol agent shoots, kills man near border
CREATED 11:48 AM
Web Producer: Ina Ronquillo
SELLS, Ariz. (AP) - A U.S. Border Patrol agent has shot and killed a
man near Sells on the Tohono O'odham Nation in southern Arizona. The
shooting occurred Tuesday night.
The agency had few details about the shooting Wednesday morning other
than the man who was killed was allegedly threatening the agent.
Border Patrol supervisory agent Steven Passement says they will fully
cooperate with the investigation. Passement would not release the
agents' name and did not have any information on the agents' background.
It's unclear whether the man who was shot was attempting to cross the
border illegally, though the remote desert area is a popular crossing
location.
The Tohono O'odham Nation police and the FBI are investigating the
shooting.
Man deported 14 times arrested in Maricopa County
by Associated Press (December 6th, 2011 @ 3:56pm) Policy >>
http://www.ktar.com/6/1476073/Man-deported-14-times-arrested-in-
Maricopa-County
PHOENIX - Authorities in Arizona have arrested a suspected human
smuggler who has been deported from the country 14 times, the most
recent being last week from Colorado.
Maricopa County Sheriff's officials say Juan Ramos-Alegria was taken
into custody Monday night. Authorities say Ramos-Alegria allegedly
was driving a vehicle that contained four illegal immigrants.
The four were interviewed and told sheriff's investigators that they
paid up to $2,000 apiece to be smuggled into the United States. They
were headed to Arkansas and Georgia.
The names, ages and nationalities of the four plus Ramos-Alegria
weren't immediately available Wednesday.
Note: More F&F weapons? ATF's map would indicate a lot of them went
to the home boys.
Agents seize AK-47s, arrest 7 in connection with El Paso marijuana-
trafficking group
By Daniel Borunda / El Paso Times
Posted: 12/06/2011 08:42:18 PM MST
http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_19483348?source=rss_viewed
Federal agents seized 10 AK-47 rifles and pistols and arrested seven
men as part of an investigation into an El Paso marijuana-trafficking
group.
The U.S. Attorney's Office announced the arrests on Tuesday following
an investigation by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration and
the Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security
Investigations.
Officials said agents seized seven GP/WASR rifles and three Draco
model pistols, about 7,500 rounds of ammunition, and 150 pounds of
marijuana.
A DEA spokeswoman declined to disclose whether the seized firearms
were headed to Mexico and whether the weapons were linked to any
particular drug cartel, which have craved such weaponry.
An indictment, unsealed Nov. 30, stated
that one of the men arrested, Hector Arturo Salcido Elias, 41,
allegedly managed or controlled a place used to store and distribute
marijuana in the 100 block of North Cotton Street in Central El Paso.
"HSI (Homeland Security Investigations) and DEA partnered to strike a
hard blow to criminal network," said Dennis Ulrich, the acting agent
in charge for ICE-HSI in El Paso, in a statement.
"Our agencies' joint efforts combat all facets of transnational
crimes, including the smuggling of weapons into Mexico that
potentially could be used by drug cartels to support their ongoing
criminal enterprises," Ulrich said.
The men were indicted on drug conspiracy charges. Those arrested were
Feliciano Oaxaca Alcala, 33; Ramon Roberto Flores, 30; Jose Manuel
Campa, 19; Billy Omar Ruvalcaba Madrid, 21; Eddie Escarzaga, 33;
Armando Cereceres, 28; and Salcido.
All the men are from El Paso except for Salcido, who is from San
Elizario.
The indictment accuses Oaxaca, Cereceres and a man identified as
Ernesto Lopez of weapon possession and obliterating serial numbers
charges. Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com;
546-6102.
Amnesty criticizes US arms shipments to Egypt
The Associated Press
Posted: 12/07/2011 08:47:37 AM MST
CAIRO—Amnesty International is criticizing the U.S. government for
allowing arms shipments to Egypt despite its security forces' record
of harsh crackdowns on protesters.
Amnesty says Washington permitted three shipments to Egypt from U.S.
weapons producers between April and October. The group says shipping
records show that the shipments included bullets, cartridges and
"ammunition smoke," probably meaning tear gas.
Security forces have repeatedly cracked down on protesters since the
ouster of Hosni Mubarak in February in a popular uprising. Some 40
protesters were killed in a week of clashes last month.
Amnesty said Wednesday the weapons are not illegal, but said Egyptian
forces often use them incorrectly.
U.S. officials have acknowledged munitions shipments to Egypt, and
have condemned the excessive use of force.
Senate seeks report on US workers in Mexico
The Universal | December 6, 2011 | 11:07 pm
http://eldiariodechihuahua.mx/notas.php?
f=2011/12/06&id=5b545ea3d6c944d64a91da673ee0db8e
Mexico City .- The members of the Bicameral Commission on National
Security of the Senate requesting the Secretary of the Interior, the
National Security Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the
Attorney General's Office, the Ministry of Public Security Research
Center and National Security, report on the work carried out by
agents of the Federal Drug Administration (DEA), United States of
America in our country.
The PAN, Felipe González presents a point of agreement for the
session on Tuesday where he asks Alejandro Poire, Secretary of the
Interior, the Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa, the prosecutor,
Marisela Morales and Genaro Garcia Luna to report the program start
date and the agreement or treaty in which operations are supported by
American agents.
In addition it also requests the number of Mexican agents who have
worked in the program, and the effectiveness of the actions
undertaken, ie the results obtained in terms of arrests, securing
money and reducing crime.
It also requests the Secretary of the Interior to strengthen
checkpoints throughout the country and establish a special monitoring
north-south and border areas.
Published: 12/07/2011 3:34 By: Jose F. Ponce jponce@elimparcial.com
Police deployed in conflict zones
Armored ground vehicles, helicopters and stealth aircraft complement
the work of the elements of Creditable State.
http://www.elimparcial.com/EdicionEnLinea/Notas/Policiaca/
07122011/559348.aspx
Hermosillo, Sonora (PH) In the early days of operations, Creditable
State Police (ASP) maintains a deployment of officers armored land
vehicles, helicopters and stealth aircraft to enhance safety in the
most troubled municipalities of the entity.
The CEO of PEA mentioned that Tubutama, a municipality that does not
have a local police were sent 60 soldiers with a armored car and
ballistic protection. ( just south of AZ )
Atil, Oquitoa, Altar, Sonoita, Nogales and Puerto Peñasco,
municipalities of northern Sonora where Creditable State Police
maintains coordinated operations with the municipalities, the State
Police Investigator (PEI) and the Army.
"We are working in coordination with the municipalities, it is to
create synergy, optimize our forces because we have the same mission,
to protect and serve the Sonora. We have to align in a common goal,
"explained Manuel Ulises Mendez-Gomez Manuell.
After the start of operations of the EAP on 1 December, settled in
Navojoa seals joint task forces with the International PEI on Highway
15, Station up to Don.
Manuell Mendez-Gomez also said the border with Sinaloa has an
effective deployment of military forces in coordination with the gaps
and to monitor roads in that area.
THE CAPITAL
Hermosillo, is another state where the EAP beefed up security
presence in the six inputs and outputs, in addition to the deployment
of troops in the commercial sector carrying out intelligence work.
The control of the corporation said that to prevent theft from
occurring in the commercial sector Hermosillo Center and in the
banking sector, were plainclothes officers assigned to the routes.
"The idea is that nothing happens, we focus on prevention, are
actions that are not seen, that perhaps can not be measured, that is
what you bet, not to occur and have to react," he said.
Creditable State Police in Sonora began operations on 1 December with
434 troops trained in Mexico and abroad.
We are working in coordination with the municipalities, it is to
create synergy, optimize our forces because we have the same mission,
to protect and serve the Sonora. We have to align in the same goal. "
Ulises Mendez Manuel-Gomez Manuell
Director General of the PEA
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