AZMEX UPDATE 31 MAY 2013
Note: Found Tues.
Remains of 5 people found hidden in Arizona desert
By Associated Press
Originally published: May 31, 2013 - 1:56 pm
http://www.ktar.com/22/1638556/Remains-of-5-people-found-hidden-in-
Arizona-desert
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Authorities in southern Arizona are investigating
the deaths of five people whose remains were found concealed in the
desert west of Tucson.
Border Patrol agents found the remains Tuesday near Sells, on the
Tohono O'odham Reservation.
The remains won't be examined until next week, but the remains are
skeletal and were found covered partially with rocks and possibly a
tarp or bag, said Dr. Greg Hess, the chief deputy medical examiner
for Pima County.
The area is often used by smugglers and there are frequent
discoveries of remains of immigrants who die while crossing the
desert. But, Hess said, ``It's not the typical scenario of deaths
that we would see in the desert.''
Tribal police did not immediately return a call for comment, and FBI
spokesman Manuel Johnson in Phoenix declined to comment. He cited the
bureau's role in assisting the investigation being led by tribal police.
Until the remains are examined, there's no immediate indication of
possible foul play other than the manner in which the bodies were
concealed, Hess said. ``That's a little suspicious,'' he said.
The people's ages and genders weren't immediately known.
end
Yuma Border Patrol arrests seven, seizes 269 pounds of marijuana
May 30, 2013 10:26 PM
ShareThis| Print Story | E-Mail Story
BY JAMES GILBERT @YSJamesGilbert
According to Kyle Estes of the Yuma Sector Communications Division,
agents assigned to the area discovered footprints crossing the Camino
Del Diablo road about two miles east of Papago Well.
Agents then began tracking the group, and with the assistance of an
Air Interdiction agent aboard a Customs and Border Protection
helicopter, they were able to apprehend seven Mexican nationals who
were carrying backpacks filled with marijuana.
"(The Mexican nationals) were apprehended about three miles north of
the Camino Del Diablo," Estes said. "They didn't get much further
past that."
Estes explained that the group was following a known smuggling route
through the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge. He said it is the
same general area portrayed in Luis Alberto Urrea's 2004 book "The
Devil's Highway."
The case will be submitted to the U.S. Attorney's Office for
prosecution. The drugs were seized for destruction.
Yuma County residents can help the Border Patrol and U.S. Customs and
Border Protection by calling 1-866-999-8727 toll-free to report
suspicious activity. Callers can remain anonymous.
Read more: http://www.yumasun.com/articles/border-87806-estes-
yuma.html#ixzz2UuiwVKqC
Note: Took the bus?
Report of armed men leads to drug seizure
Police found a small bundle of marijuana in this car Monday at Robert
Damon Park.
Posted: Friday, May 31, 2013 8:55 am
Nogales International
http://www.nogalesinternational.com/news/report-of-armed-men-leads-to-
drug-seizure/article_8089d5da-ca0a-11e2-b247-001a4bcf887a.html
A report of two armed men in the parking lot of Robert Damon Park in
Rio Rico led authorities to the discovery of a bundle of marijuana in
a parked car.
According to a sheriff's dispatch report, an anonymous 911 caller
reported seeing two men in black shirts standing by a white Dodge
Intrepid at the park shortly after 3 p.m. Monday. One man was holding
an assault rifle and the other had a handgun, the caller said.
Five sheriff's deputies and two Border Patrol agents responded to the
scene, but did not encounter any suspects. However, the Intrepid was
still there, and officers found 9 pounds of marijuana behind the
driver's seat, according to Lt. Raoul Rodriguez of the Santa Cruz
County Sheriff's Office.
The drugs were seized and the car, which was registered to a woman
from Nogales, was impounded. The case is under investigation by the
Santa Cruz County HIDTA Task Force.
end
Note: Growing instability in Sonora
Published May 31, 2013, 1:54 a.m.
Dan coup de grace to three
With these added 78 crimes committed in 2013 and 23 in May.
They were found on the edge of the canal in Ciudad Obregon, Sonora
Martin Alberto Mendoza
Ciudad Obregon, Sonora - New Day
http://www.nuevodia.com.mx/estado/dan-tiro-de-gracia-a-tres/
Another violent dawn in Yaqui Valley after three men, whose ages
ranged between 17 and 23 years old, were executed with the coup de
grace in the neck by one or more unknown, on the south-side sewage
drain that runs parallel to the street 1500, about 200 meters east of
Fresno.
The finding was reported to the Control Center, Command and
Computation, C-4, shortly before 7:00 yesterday morning, specifying
that the bodies were on one side of the area at the northern end of
the ditch .
Although primarily were reported as "encobijados" elements of the
Municipal Police of the Police of the Colony Marte R. Gomez, rejected
that version, indicating that they were discovered.
Appreciated that only one of them had their hands tied behind their
backs with masking tape and the other two with the laces on his
sneakers.
A glance showed blows to various parts of the body, as evidence that
they were tortured, being lowered, apparently, of a vehicle, Pick up,
as tire ruts, which were noted on the site.
Discard who have been forced to kneel and thus, one of the executors
was responsible for killing them with a bullet in the neck of each.
IDENTIFIED
Although initially were unknown as, at the edge of 13:00 hours, one
of them was identified as Enrique Dominguez Moroyoqui Raymundo, 17,
residing in the town of Benito Juarez.
More front was reported that the other deceased are: Isaac Ayala
Ricardo Molina, also of Benito Juarez and the third Adrian Aguilera
Reyes, 23, who lived in the community of Agua Blanca, belonging to
the same municipal.
TORTURED
In implementing the triple point is found five shell, 223 mm caliber,
AR 15 rifle fired, although initially it was mentioned that they were
killed with "goat horn", but a study of ballistics caliber determined
by the recovered cases.
It was reported that the first of the now deceased was swarthy, 1.70
tall, short hair. He was wearing a red sweatshirt and jeans. He had
tied his hands to the back with masking tape. The other physical
features were similar to the first, except that the second was
wearing blue shirt, polo and wore white tennis. The third brought
white shirt, jeans and shoes, court type, suede.
In the last two tied their hands with the laces of his shoes.
According to the rigidity of the bodies, it was determined that they
were killed between five six on Thursday.
Police rushed to the site local, state, federal and Mexican Army
personnel and the Attorney General of the State, whose officers were
in charge of the investigation.
END
Publicado mayo 31, 2013, 1:54 AM
Dan tiro de gracia a tres
Con estos suman 78 los crímenes cometidos en el 2013 y 23 en el mes
de mayo.
Fueron hallados en el borde del canal en Ciudad Obregón, Sonora
Martín Alberto Mendoza
Ciudad Obregón, Sonora - Nuevo Día
http://www.nuevodia.com.mx/estado/dan-tiro-de-gracia-a-tres/
Otro violento amanecer vivió el Valle del Yaqui luego que tres
hombres, cuyas edades oscilaban entre los 17 y 23 años de edad,
fueron ejecutados con el tiro de gracia en la nuca por uno o varios
desconocidos, sobre el bordo sur del dren de aguas residuales que
corre paralelo a la calle 1500, a unos 200 metros al oriente de la
Fresno.
El hallazgo fue reportado al Centro de Control, Comando y Cómputo,
C-4, poco antes de las 7:00 de la mañana de ayer, precisándose que
los cadáveres estaban a un lado de la zona de rodamiento al extremo
norte del bordo del dren.
Aunque primeramente fueron reportados como "encobijados", elementos
de la Policía Municipal de la Comisaría de la colonia Marte R. Gómez,
desecharon esa versión, indicando que se hallaban descubiertos.
Sólo se apreciaba que uno de ellos tenía las manos atadas hacia atrás
con cinta canela y los otros dos con las agujetas de los tenis que
calzaban.
A simple vista presentaban golpes en distintas partes del cuerpo,
como evidencia que fueron torturados, siendo bajados, al parecer, de
un vehículo, tipo pick up, según las rodadas de los neumáticos, que
se advirtieron en el sitio.
Se descarta que hayan sido obligados a hincarse y de esta forma, uno
de los ejecutores se encargó de darles muerte con un balazo en la
nuca a cada uno de ellos.
IDENTIFICADOS
Aunque de primer momento estaban en calidad de desconocidos, al filo
de las 13:00 horas, uno de ellos fue identificado como Raymundo
Enrique Domínguez Moroyoqui, de 17 años, con domicilio en la
población de Benito Juárez.
Más delante se informó que los otros fallecidos son: Isaac Ricardo
Molina Ayala, también de Benito Juárez y el tercero Adrián Aguilera
Reyes, de 23 años, que vivía en la comunidad de Agua Blanca,
perteneciente a esa misma cabecera municipal.
TORTURADOS
En el punto de la triple ejecución se encontraron cinco casquillos,
calibre .223 milímetros, disparados con rifle AR 15, pese a que
inicialmente se había mencionado que les dieron muerte con "cuerno de
chivo", pero un estudio de balística determinó el calibre de los
casquillos asegurados.
Se informó que el primero de los ahora occisos era tez morena, 1.70
de estatura, pelo corto. Vestía sudadera roja y pantalón de
mezclilla. Tenía amarradas las manos hacia la espalda con cinta
canela. Los otros eran de rasgos físicos similares al primero, sólo
que el segundo vestía camiseta azul cielo, tipo polo y calzaba tenis
de color blanco. El tercero traía camiseta blanca, pantalón de
mezclilla y zapatos, tipo tenis, de gamuza.
A los dos últimos les ataron las manos con las agujetas de su
calzado. De acuerdo a la rigidez de los cuerpos, se determinó que
estos fueron asesinados entre las cinco y seis de la mañana de este
jueves.
Hasta el sitio acudieron policías municipales, estatales, federales y
personal del Ejército Mexicano, así como de la Procuraduría General
de Justicia del Estado, cuyos agentes quedaron a cargo de las pesquisas.
FIN
Friday, May 31, 2013
AZMEX EXTRA 31-5-13
AZMEX EXTRA 31 MAY 2013
Note: Two caught in Hermosillo, Son with .22 Star pistol s/n
B95545, Probably a Mexican import from '60's
http://www.elimparcial.com/EdicionEnLinea/Notas/Policiaca/
31052013/709855-Captura-PESP-a-2-personas-con-arma-de-fuego.html
Note: M60 is U.S. and allied forces military issue. Same for grenades.
Police: Arms Seized in Honduras Were Destined for Mexico's Los Zetas
By Talita Verastegui
24/05/2013
http://www.dialogo-americas.com/en_GB/articles/rmisa/features/
regional_news/2013/05/24/zetas-honduras
Arms Trafficking Suspect: Honduran police arrested Claudia María
Zepeda Lardy after allegedly finding high-powered military weapons in
her home. The weapons were destined for Los Zetas, authorities said.
[Photo: Zetinva]
Mexico's Los Zetas drug cartel was receiving high-powered weapons
from a woman in San Pedro Sula, Honduran police said following an
April 10 raid on the woman's home.
The raid yielded two M-60 machine guns, 15 grenades, two vehicles and
a kilo of cocaine. Authorities said the weapons were probably going
to be sent to Los Zetas, a transnational criminal organization that
is now active in Honduras.
Honduran police and agents with the District Attorney's Office
Against Organized Crime arrested 41-year-old Claudia Maria Zepeda Lardy.
"The Office Against Organized Crime presumes these weapons were
destined for the group known as Los Zetas, which we believe operates
in Honduras too," said Elvis Guzmán, a spokesman for the Public
Ministry. "They were going to be handed over by the detainee."
Weeks of vigilance
Honduran police investigated Zepeda Lardy for weeks before obtaining
a judicial search warrant, said Guzmán, the Public Ministry spokesman.
Undercover police had been conducting surveillance on Zepeda Lardy
for more than a month before detaining her, authorities said. Police
had received a tip that illicit activities were occurring at her
home, officials said.
When she was arrested, she told police that she didn't know weapons
were being stored in her house. She then asked for an attorney and
stopped talking to investigators, said police spokesman Oscar Aguilar.
Police are investigating where the weapons came from, Aguilar said,
adding that the Honduran military took custody of the firearms and
grenades.
Zepeda Lardy is charged with illegal possession of weapons of war,
said Guzmán. If convicted, she could face up to 20 years in prison.
Mexican drug cartels operate in Central America
Los Zetas and other transnational criminal organizations have
operated in Central America for years, using drug trafficking routes
in the region.
In July 2012, Guatemala's Court of Constitutionality granted a
request by Mexican authorities to extradite Daniel Perez Rojas, one
of the original founding members of Los Zetas.
Perez Rojas, known as "Cachetes," was serving a 47-year prison
sentence in Guatemala for killing 11 suspected rival drug traffickers
in March 2008. El Cachetes was a trusted lieutenant to Heriberto
Lazcano Lazcano, who was the Los Zetas kingpin at the time. In
October 2012, Marines in Progreso, Coahuila killed Lazcano, who was
known as "The Executioner," "El Lazca" and "Z-3," during a gun battle
in Progreso, Coahuila.
Miguel Angel Trevino Morales, known as "Commander 40" and "40,"
replaced The Executioner as the leader of Los Zetas. Los Zetas moved
into Guatemala in 2007, forming an alliance with Guatemalan drug
kingpin Horst Walther Overdick, who is known as "El Tigre." Los Zetas
and El Tigre used violence to attain control of drug traffikcing
routes in Guatemala. In April 2012, Guatemalan security forces
captured El Tigre.
In January 2013, Honduran security forces seized an arsenal of
weapons worth an estimated $2 million at a ranch in Choloma, near San
Pedro Sula. Among the arms confiscated was a gold-plated, AK-47
military assault rifle encrusted with diamonds and emeralds worth
about $50,000. Honduran authorities suspect the weapons were destined
for Los Zetas.
END
Note: more gun buybacks in Sinaloa. Along with 227 grenades.
Donate more guns in the north
Ahome and Guasave head donation of firearms in upstate
IONSA
31-05-2013
Some of the donated grenade in Campaign Donation and Volunteer
Registration Firearms 2013.
Photography: IONSA.
The municipalities of Ahome and Icesave are located as municipalities
where more handguns, long guns and grenades have been donated within
the Permanent Campaign Donation and Volunteer Registration Firearms
2013, sponsored by the State Ministry of Public Security.
The statistics provided by the SSPE indicates that of the 622
firearms between short and long, among which 227 have grenades that
have been received so far in six municipalities in the state until
May 29, about 60 percent of them have been donated in Ahome and Guasave.
The municipalities that took place at different times in the period
from April 1 to May 29 this year, are Ahome, Guasave, Salvador
Alvarado, Choix, El Fuerte, and Sinaloa.
In the municipality of Ahome have been donated by citizens a total of
256 weapons, including short and long, so there have been 67
registered of them.
While in Guasave 117 weapons have been taken over and there have been
registered 41.
In Ahome have been received 52 grenades and in Guasave a total of 46
such explosive devices.
The municipality of Salvador Alvarado is located the third site with
94 guns donated, including long, short and grenades;
and there has been a single weapon registered.
Municipalities with fewer donated weapons are El Fuerte, with 65 and
29 registered entries, Choix with 61 donated and 16 registered with
the Secretariat of National Defense, and finally the town of Sinaloa
with 29 donated, nine registered.
From the April 1 that initiated the Permanent Campaign Donation and
Volunteer Registration Firearms and until May 29, to deliver a total
of 92 computers minilaptop.
The report said that the campaign will continue permanently and
rotatably carried in all the municipalities of the state during the
coming months.
END
Note: Two caught in Hermosillo, Son with .22 Star pistol s/n
B95545, Probably a Mexican import from '60's
http://www.elimparcial.com/EdicionEnLinea/Notas/Policiaca/
31052013/709855-Captura-PESP-a-2-personas-con-arma-de-fuego.html
Note: M60 is U.S. and allied forces military issue. Same for grenades.
Police: Arms Seized in Honduras Were Destined for Mexico's Los Zetas
By Talita Verastegui
24/05/2013
http://www.dialogo-americas.com/en_GB/articles/rmisa/features/
regional_news/2013/05/24/zetas-honduras
Arms Trafficking Suspect: Honduran police arrested Claudia María
Zepeda Lardy after allegedly finding high-powered military weapons in
her home. The weapons were destined for Los Zetas, authorities said.
[Photo: Zetinva]
Mexico's Los Zetas drug cartel was receiving high-powered weapons
from a woman in San Pedro Sula, Honduran police said following an
April 10 raid on the woman's home.
The raid yielded two M-60 machine guns, 15 grenades, two vehicles and
a kilo of cocaine. Authorities said the weapons were probably going
to be sent to Los Zetas, a transnational criminal organization that
is now active in Honduras.
Honduran police and agents with the District Attorney's Office
Against Organized Crime arrested 41-year-old Claudia Maria Zepeda Lardy.
"The Office Against Organized Crime presumes these weapons were
destined for the group known as Los Zetas, which we believe operates
in Honduras too," said Elvis Guzmán, a spokesman for the Public
Ministry. "They were going to be handed over by the detainee."
Weeks of vigilance
Honduran police investigated Zepeda Lardy for weeks before obtaining
a judicial search warrant, said Guzmán, the Public Ministry spokesman.
Undercover police had been conducting surveillance on Zepeda Lardy
for more than a month before detaining her, authorities said. Police
had received a tip that illicit activities were occurring at her
home, officials said.
When she was arrested, she told police that she didn't know weapons
were being stored in her house. She then asked for an attorney and
stopped talking to investigators, said police spokesman Oscar Aguilar.
Police are investigating where the weapons came from, Aguilar said,
adding that the Honduran military took custody of the firearms and
grenades.
Zepeda Lardy is charged with illegal possession of weapons of war,
said Guzmán. If convicted, she could face up to 20 years in prison.
Mexican drug cartels operate in Central America
Los Zetas and other transnational criminal organizations have
operated in Central America for years, using drug trafficking routes
in the region.
In July 2012, Guatemala's Court of Constitutionality granted a
request by Mexican authorities to extradite Daniel Perez Rojas, one
of the original founding members of Los Zetas.
Perez Rojas, known as "Cachetes," was serving a 47-year prison
sentence in Guatemala for killing 11 suspected rival drug traffickers
in March 2008. El Cachetes was a trusted lieutenant to Heriberto
Lazcano Lazcano, who was the Los Zetas kingpin at the time. In
October 2012, Marines in Progreso, Coahuila killed Lazcano, who was
known as "The Executioner," "El Lazca" and "Z-3," during a gun battle
in Progreso, Coahuila.
Miguel Angel Trevino Morales, known as "Commander 40" and "40,"
replaced The Executioner as the leader of Los Zetas. Los Zetas moved
into Guatemala in 2007, forming an alliance with Guatemalan drug
kingpin Horst Walther Overdick, who is known as "El Tigre." Los Zetas
and El Tigre used violence to attain control of drug traffikcing
routes in Guatemala. In April 2012, Guatemalan security forces
captured El Tigre.
In January 2013, Honduran security forces seized an arsenal of
weapons worth an estimated $2 million at a ranch in Choloma, near San
Pedro Sula. Among the arms confiscated was a gold-plated, AK-47
military assault rifle encrusted with diamonds and emeralds worth
about $50,000. Honduran authorities suspect the weapons were destined
for Los Zetas.
END
Note: more gun buybacks in Sinaloa. Along with 227 grenades.
Donate more guns in the north
Ahome and Guasave head donation of firearms in upstate
IONSA
31-05-2013
Some of the donated grenade in Campaign Donation and Volunteer
Registration Firearms 2013.
Photography: IONSA.
The municipalities of Ahome and Icesave are located as municipalities
where more handguns, long guns and grenades have been donated within
the Permanent Campaign Donation and Volunteer Registration Firearms
2013, sponsored by the State Ministry of Public Security.
The statistics provided by the SSPE indicates that of the 622
firearms between short and long, among which 227 have grenades that
have been received so far in six municipalities in the state until
May 29, about 60 percent of them have been donated in Ahome and Guasave.
The municipalities that took place at different times in the period
from April 1 to May 29 this year, are Ahome, Guasave, Salvador
Alvarado, Choix, El Fuerte, and Sinaloa.
In the municipality of Ahome have been donated by citizens a total of
256 weapons, including short and long, so there have been 67
registered of them.
While in Guasave 117 weapons have been taken over and there have been
registered 41.
In Ahome have been received 52 grenades and in Guasave a total of 46
such explosive devices.
The municipality of Salvador Alvarado is located the third site with
94 guns donated, including long, short and grenades;
and there has been a single weapon registered.
Municipalities with fewer donated weapons are El Fuerte, with 65 and
29 registered entries, Choix with 61 donated and 16 registered with
the Secretariat of National Defense, and finally the town of Sinaloa
with 29 donated, nine registered.
From the April 1 that initiated the Permanent Campaign Donation and
Volunteer Registration Firearms and until May 29, to deliver a total
of 92 computers minilaptop.
The report said that the campaign will continue permanently and
rotatably carried in all the municipalities of the state during the
coming months.
END
AZMEX I3 31-5-13
AZMEX I3 31 MAY 2013
Note: Not to even forget the inseparable links between corruption
and gun control which the state typifies.
Connecticut!!! Vamos!!!
http://www.local2544.org/connecticut-vamos/
"Bienvenidos a todos los extranjeros!"
While the illegal aliens who get by us wait for their Ganga de Ocho
amnesty program to be implemented we suggest they may want to head
for Connecticut. Connecticut values illegal aliens and wants to offer
them driver licenses. This will be a good place to settle in, get a
driver license, sign up for social service programs (using your new
driver license as identification), enroll your kids in school and
become established. But the state of Connecticut is in for a rude
awakening if they really think that illegal aliens are going to
purchase auto insurance and be responsible though. The first clue
that illegal aliens have no interest in being responsible and law-
abiding may be that they ignore our laws and sneak into our country
without permission. They have no interest in purchasing anything but
the food necessary to sustain themselves and enough gas to get
around. They will rent a single home or apartment for multiple
families to live in at the same time. Connecticut state officials
will soon learn some valuable lessons…after it's too late.
One more slap in the face for Border Patrol agents. Risk your life,
swim against the tide to do a job the Obama Administration largely
wants us to fail at, and then see all the millions who have succeeded
in getting by us rewarded again with amnesty and other benefits
normally reserved for law-abiding citizens.
Let's see if we can get this straight. While many American citizens
in Connecticut can't get a driver license because they have violated
some non-criminal traffic law or failed to purchase insurance,
illegal aliens who have committed a criminal act in coming here (8
USC 1325) and aren't even legally allowed to be here can jump right
in line and get a license. Makes perfect sense. When 30 or 40 illegal
aliens use the same residential address on their driver license this
will be the first clue for Connecticut state officials that their
naive attempt to enroll more future Democrat voters is not going well.
We have included a map to show our illegal alien customers the best
way to get to Connecticut. Read more here.
This entry was posted on Thursday, May 30th, 2013 at 6:53 am and is
filed under News. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Note: Not to even forget the inseparable links between corruption
and gun control which the state typifies.
Connecticut!!! Vamos!!!
http://www.local2544.org/connecticut-vamos/
"Bienvenidos a todos los extranjeros!"
While the illegal aliens who get by us wait for their Ganga de Ocho
amnesty program to be implemented we suggest they may want to head
for Connecticut. Connecticut values illegal aliens and wants to offer
them driver licenses. This will be a good place to settle in, get a
driver license, sign up for social service programs (using your new
driver license as identification), enroll your kids in school and
become established. But the state of Connecticut is in for a rude
awakening if they really think that illegal aliens are going to
purchase auto insurance and be responsible though. The first clue
that illegal aliens have no interest in being responsible and law-
abiding may be that they ignore our laws and sneak into our country
without permission. They have no interest in purchasing anything but
the food necessary to sustain themselves and enough gas to get
around. They will rent a single home or apartment for multiple
families to live in at the same time. Connecticut state officials
will soon learn some valuable lessons…after it's too late.
One more slap in the face for Border Patrol agents. Risk your life,
swim against the tide to do a job the Obama Administration largely
wants us to fail at, and then see all the millions who have succeeded
in getting by us rewarded again with amnesty and other benefits
normally reserved for law-abiding citizens.
Let's see if we can get this straight. While many American citizens
in Connecticut can't get a driver license because they have violated
some non-criminal traffic law or failed to purchase insurance,
illegal aliens who have committed a criminal act in coming here (8
USC 1325) and aren't even legally allowed to be here can jump right
in line and get a license. Makes perfect sense. When 30 or 40 illegal
aliens use the same residential address on their driver license this
will be the first clue for Connecticut state officials that their
naive attempt to enroll more future Democrat voters is not going well.
We have included a map to show our illegal alien customers the best
way to get to Connecticut. Read more here.
This entry was posted on Thursday, May 30th, 2013 at 6:53 am and is
filed under News. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
AZMEX UPDATE 29-5-13
AZMEX UPDATE 29 MAY 2013
Police find pot stash house at Phoenix apartment
Posted: May 29, 2013 10:23 AM MST
Updated: May 29, 2013 10:29 AM MST
By Jose Miguel - bio | email
Posted by Steve Stout - email
http://www.kpho.com/story/22448342/police-find-pot-stash-house-at-
phoenix-apartment
Phoenix police lead one of the men who claimed he was tied up during
a home invasion Wednesday to a waiting patrol car. (Source: CBS 5 News)
Police found about 200 pounds of marijuana at the Phoenix apartment
complex. They said the intruders stole three vans full of pot.
(Source: CBS 5 News)
PHOENIX (CBS5) -
Police responding to a domestic disturbance call Wednesday morning
found what they believed was a stash house for marijuana.
A police spokesman said that officers were initially responding to a
call for a fight at a unit within an apartment complex about 3 a.m.
near 20th Street and Beardsley Road.
Five men were found tied up inside the unit. They told police that
six to 10 men broke into their home and tied them up. At least one of
the men in the house was physically attacked.
While searching the apartment unit, police found approximately 200
pounds of marijuana. When they questioned the residents, they
learned that the intruders not only tied up the men in the house, but
also stole three vans full of marijuana.
The residents also told police they were in the Valley illegally and
had only been here about a week, the spokesman said.
Police said they don't know how much marijuana was stolen by the
intruders.
All five residents were taken into custody and were being questioned
by police. They face possible charges of possession of marijuana for
sale, as well as federal charges for entering the United States
illegally.
Stay with cbs5az.com and CBS 5 News as this story develops.
END
5 lawmen plead guilty to drug charges in Panama Unit probe
Posted: Wednesday, May 29, 2013 11:00 am
Ildefonso Ortiz | The Monitor
http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/article_a7371d94-c86d-11e2-
b778-0019bb30f31a.html
McALLEN — Five former law enforcement officials Wednesday pleaded
guilty to their role in ripping off drug loads from drug dealers and
selling them to an alleged drug trafficker.
Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño — whose son, former Mission
police Detective Jonathan Treviño, was among the five ex-lawmen
entering guilty pleas Wednesday — said that no one is above the law.
"There are consequences for all the actions that you take," the
sheriff said Wednesday after the hearing at federal court in McAllen.
"This morning, everybody accepted responsibility for their actions
and we will see what punishment the court system decides."
Jonathan Treviño and former sheriff's deputies Salvador Arguello,
Claudio Mata and Eric Alcantar each pleaded guilty to one count of
conspiracy to possess more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, more than
1,000 pounds of marijuana and more than 500 grams of methamphetamine.
Those four lawmen were part of a narcotics group called the Panama
Unit, which comprised sheriff's deputies and Mission police
detectives and — according to court records — was stealing drugs from
drug runners and selling them to a separate drug dealer for a profit.
Former deputy Gerardo Duran, who was not part of the Panama Unit,
pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the possession of
narcotics for his role in the escorting of drug loads at least four
times in exchange for $4,000 per trip. The charges to which the five
lawmen pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal are punishable by a term
of 10 years to life in prison.
After the pleas were heard by U.S. District Judge Randy Crane on
Wednesday, the former lawmen were supposed to be remanded to the
custody of the U.S. Marshals Service because of the severity of the
charges. However, Crane allowed them to remain out on bond after
speaking with them in a private conference.
The five are set to be sentenced Sept. 2 by Crane, who warned them
that he didn't have to abide by the agreement they had made with
prosecutors and he could issue a stiffer sentence.
Four other former lawmen are still awaiting trial in the case: former
Mission police Detective Alexis Espinoza, as well as former deputies
Fabian Rodriguez, Jorge Garza and James Phil Flores, who was the head
of the sheriff's Crime Stoppers tip line. Espinoza is the son of
Hidalgo police Chief Rudy Espinoza.
Alleged drug traffickers Fernando Guerra, Fernando Guerra Jr. and
Alvaro Gilberto de Hoyos have also been charged with various drug
conspiracy charges.
During the Wednesday morning hearing, both Guerras told Crane that
they were going to plead to one of the drug conspiracy charges,
however they were working out the details of the plea agreement with
prosecutors. Crane pushed back their hearing to a later date.
According to court records, the scheme worked like this: The elder
Guerra would be contacted by drug smugglers who needed his help to
get drug shipments past the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoints north of
Hidalgo County. He would agree to meet the dealers at a certain
location — only to then call Flores, who would notify the Panama Unit
about the loaded vehicle or home where the drugs would be stashed.
The lawmen then would raid the home or intercept the vehicle, making
it seem as if it were a legitimate police action, and then would turn
around and sell the drugs to the elder Guerra.
One of the witnesses for the prosecution, Juan Vasquez Vega, provided
the FBI with an affidavit stating that he had been arrested by the
Panama Unit, whose members had seized 2 kilograms of cocaine as well
as $20,000 but had only reported the seizure of a small quantity of
cocaine.
LAWSUIT
Miguel Flores, a current deputy who used to work narcotics and has
been moved to patrol, claims to have been the whistleblower who
worked with FBI investigators by wearing a wire while infiltrating
the Panama Unit. While Flores is not mentioned in any court document
in the criminal case, he filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Hidalgo
County and Lupe Treviño as sheriff of the county, alleging that his
undercover work has led to retaliation and demotion.
Flores claims that he was asked by two members of the Panama Unit to
participate in drug trafficking activities while he worked with the FBI.
Asked about the lawsuit Tuesday, the sheriff deferred comment to
county officials who said they could not comment on pending litigation.
--
end
Man, woman allegedly had drugs, weapons at NM Border Patrol checkpoint
Daniel Borunda / El Paso Times
Posted: 05/29/2013 04:01:08 PM MDT
http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_23346121/man-woman-allegedly-
had-drugs-weapons-at-nm
U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a man and a woman from Ohio who
allegedly had three pipe bombs, marijuana and firearms in a sport
utility vehicle on Monday at the Highway 70 checkpoint west of
Alamogordo, officials said Wednesday.
Border Patrol officials said Lloyd Jonathan Fry and his passenger
Ronna Ma Rey Milan Antipatia were arrested on charges of possession
of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a
destructive device.
Antipatia is a citizen of the Phillipines and Fry is a U.S. citizen.
Officials said that a drug-sniffing dog alerted agents to a Mercedes
SUV and a trailer it was pulling.
Agents allegedly found 20 pounds of marijuana in mason jars, three
pipe bombs, a .40-caliber handgun, an AK-47 rifle and equipment
allegedly used to grow marijuana. New Mexico State Police partially
closed the highway until a Doña Ana County explosives team safely
detonated the bombs.
end
Police find pot stash house at Phoenix apartment
Posted: May 29, 2013 10:23 AM MST
Updated: May 29, 2013 10:29 AM MST
By Jose Miguel - bio | email
Posted by Steve Stout - email
http://www.kpho.com/story/22448342/police-find-pot-stash-house-at-
phoenix-apartment
Phoenix police lead one of the men who claimed he was tied up during
a home invasion Wednesday to a waiting patrol car. (Source: CBS 5 News)
Police found about 200 pounds of marijuana at the Phoenix apartment
complex. They said the intruders stole three vans full of pot.
(Source: CBS 5 News)
PHOENIX (CBS5) -
Police responding to a domestic disturbance call Wednesday morning
found what they believed was a stash house for marijuana.
A police spokesman said that officers were initially responding to a
call for a fight at a unit within an apartment complex about 3 a.m.
near 20th Street and Beardsley Road.
Five men were found tied up inside the unit. They told police that
six to 10 men broke into their home and tied them up. At least one of
the men in the house was physically attacked.
While searching the apartment unit, police found approximately 200
pounds of marijuana. When they questioned the residents, they
learned that the intruders not only tied up the men in the house, but
also stole three vans full of marijuana.
The residents also told police they were in the Valley illegally and
had only been here about a week, the spokesman said.
Police said they don't know how much marijuana was stolen by the
intruders.
All five residents were taken into custody and were being questioned
by police. They face possible charges of possession of marijuana for
sale, as well as federal charges for entering the United States
illegally.
Stay with cbs5az.com and CBS 5 News as this story develops.
END
5 lawmen plead guilty to drug charges in Panama Unit probe
Posted: Wednesday, May 29, 2013 11:00 am
Ildefonso Ortiz | The Monitor
http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/article_a7371d94-c86d-11e2-
b778-0019bb30f31a.html
McALLEN — Five former law enforcement officials Wednesday pleaded
guilty to their role in ripping off drug loads from drug dealers and
selling them to an alleged drug trafficker.
Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño — whose son, former Mission
police Detective Jonathan Treviño, was among the five ex-lawmen
entering guilty pleas Wednesday — said that no one is above the law.
"There are consequences for all the actions that you take," the
sheriff said Wednesday after the hearing at federal court in McAllen.
"This morning, everybody accepted responsibility for their actions
and we will see what punishment the court system decides."
Jonathan Treviño and former sheriff's deputies Salvador Arguello,
Claudio Mata and Eric Alcantar each pleaded guilty to one count of
conspiracy to possess more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, more than
1,000 pounds of marijuana and more than 500 grams of methamphetamine.
Those four lawmen were part of a narcotics group called the Panama
Unit, which comprised sheriff's deputies and Mission police
detectives and — according to court records — was stealing drugs from
drug runners and selling them to a separate drug dealer for a profit.
Former deputy Gerardo Duran, who was not part of the Panama Unit,
pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the possession of
narcotics for his role in the escorting of drug loads at least four
times in exchange for $4,000 per trip. The charges to which the five
lawmen pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal are punishable by a term
of 10 years to life in prison.
After the pleas were heard by U.S. District Judge Randy Crane on
Wednesday, the former lawmen were supposed to be remanded to the
custody of the U.S. Marshals Service because of the severity of the
charges. However, Crane allowed them to remain out on bond after
speaking with them in a private conference.
The five are set to be sentenced Sept. 2 by Crane, who warned them
that he didn't have to abide by the agreement they had made with
prosecutors and he could issue a stiffer sentence.
Four other former lawmen are still awaiting trial in the case: former
Mission police Detective Alexis Espinoza, as well as former deputies
Fabian Rodriguez, Jorge Garza and James Phil Flores, who was the head
of the sheriff's Crime Stoppers tip line. Espinoza is the son of
Hidalgo police Chief Rudy Espinoza.
Alleged drug traffickers Fernando Guerra, Fernando Guerra Jr. and
Alvaro Gilberto de Hoyos have also been charged with various drug
conspiracy charges.
During the Wednesday morning hearing, both Guerras told Crane that
they were going to plead to one of the drug conspiracy charges,
however they were working out the details of the plea agreement with
prosecutors. Crane pushed back their hearing to a later date.
According to court records, the scheme worked like this: The elder
Guerra would be contacted by drug smugglers who needed his help to
get drug shipments past the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoints north of
Hidalgo County. He would agree to meet the dealers at a certain
location — only to then call Flores, who would notify the Panama Unit
about the loaded vehicle or home where the drugs would be stashed.
The lawmen then would raid the home or intercept the vehicle, making
it seem as if it were a legitimate police action, and then would turn
around and sell the drugs to the elder Guerra.
One of the witnesses for the prosecution, Juan Vasquez Vega, provided
the FBI with an affidavit stating that he had been arrested by the
Panama Unit, whose members had seized 2 kilograms of cocaine as well
as $20,000 but had only reported the seizure of a small quantity of
cocaine.
LAWSUIT
Miguel Flores, a current deputy who used to work narcotics and has
been moved to patrol, claims to have been the whistleblower who
worked with FBI investigators by wearing a wire while infiltrating
the Panama Unit. While Flores is not mentioned in any court document
in the criminal case, he filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Hidalgo
County and Lupe Treviño as sheriff of the county, alleging that his
undercover work has led to retaliation and demotion.
Flores claims that he was asked by two members of the Panama Unit to
participate in drug trafficking activities while he worked with the FBI.
Asked about the lawsuit Tuesday, the sheriff deferred comment to
county officials who said they could not comment on pending litigation.
--
end
Man, woman allegedly had drugs, weapons at NM Border Patrol checkpoint
Daniel Borunda / El Paso Times
Posted: 05/29/2013 04:01:08 PM MDT
http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_23346121/man-woman-allegedly-
had-drugs-weapons-at-nm
U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a man and a woman from Ohio who
allegedly had three pipe bombs, marijuana and firearms in a sport
utility vehicle on Monday at the Highway 70 checkpoint west of
Alamogordo, officials said Wednesday.
Border Patrol officials said Lloyd Jonathan Fry and his passenger
Ronna Ma Rey Milan Antipatia were arrested on charges of possession
of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a
destructive device.
Antipatia is a citizen of the Phillipines and Fry is a U.S. citizen.
Officials said that a drug-sniffing dog alerted agents to a Mercedes
SUV and a trailer it was pulling.
Agents allegedly found 20 pounds of marijuana in mason jars, three
pipe bombs, a .40-caliber handgun, an AK-47 rifle and equipment
allegedly used to grow marijuana. New Mexico State Police partially
closed the highway until a Doña Ana County explosives team safely
detonated the bombs.
end
AZMEX EXTRA 29-5-13
AZMEX EXTRA 29 MAY 2013
Note: buybacks scheduled in several towns. Note also numbers of
grenades recovered, real ones. It should also be noted that unless
one is a cartel associate, harsh penalties for possession of illegal
gun. Once again, destroying evidence? Peso currently at about 12
- 13 to the USD.
Published May 29, 2013, 1:56 a.m.
Announce despistolización campaign
Permanent campaign Despistolización Announce 2013.
The program starts from June 17 next, in 54 colonies of Hermosillo,
Cajeme, Agua Prieta and Nogales.
Hermosillo, Sonora - Nuevo Dia
http://www.nuevodia.com.mx/estado/anuncian-campana-de-
despistolizacion-3/
Starting next June 17 and until 30 October, with iti-nerantes modules
in 54 colonies of Agua Prieta, Nogales and Hermosillo Cajeme, the
State Government, in coordination with the Ministry of National
Defense (SEDENA) start permanently Despistolización Campaign 2013.
The announcement was made Encinas Sergio Melendrez State Bonding
Coordinator of the Executive Secretariat of Public Security (SESP),
at a press conference, where he explained that the goal is to exceed
1,247 weapons were recovered and destroyed in 2012 and join National
Campaign for the Prevention of Crime.
"Many women have told us they are removed a load off when they
deliver a weapon, that weapon that was a concern, there I was, that
one day I would fall into the hands of a child or young person to
misuse then that's not going to hurt because it will be destroyed,
"he said.
The state official noted that having guns in private homes endangers
who live there, therefore, invited people to surrender their weapons
in exchange for food vouchers that can be utilized in different malls.
"Having guns in a home is a culture that comes from Revolutionary
Mexico at that time was justified by all that is living in the
country, but right now a weapon is still a great danger to the
family, a gun in the house makes possible that if a person attempts
suicide more efficient and effective in achieving its purpose, "he said.
As a novelty of this approach is that the weapons will be destroyed
right in the place where the surrender, before the eyes of the donor,
likewise, the modules are installed in the colonies identified as
most vulnerable and would suffer that colecten during the 4 and a
half months last campaign, will serve to make a monument.
Melendrez Encinas added that this program will intensify from
November 22 to December 10, when you start Despistolización State
Campaign in 28 municipalities of Sonora, in which they can deliver
any type of firearm.
People can go to the modules and deliver firearms, whether long or
short, explosive devices, chargers, cartridges and even weapons that
are similar to real as gas, pellets and rubber bullets.
Francisco Javier Garcia were present, Chief of Staff of the 4th
Military Zone; Perla Aguilar ZuZuki Lugo, Deputy Chair of the Public
Safety Commission of the State Congress, and representatives of the
municipal police of the four municipalities and industry
representatives Sonora commercial.
Year Weapons Chargers Cartridges Grenades
2010 1 106 1 076 41 849 28
2011 1 243 1 320 33 476 40
2012 1 247 1 169 44 604 41
Long guns exclusive use of the Army (R 15 and AK 47)
Useful: 2,500 pesos
Not useful: 1,000 pesos
Long and short arms of nonexclusive of Army
Useful: 1,000 pesos •
Not useful: 300 pesos
Explosive devices (grenades)
Useful: 500 pesos • Not: 100 pesos
Magazines (long and short arms) 100 pesos
Cartridges (all kinds of caliber) 1 peso
Similar to real weapons but gas, pellet or pellets: 100 pesos
end
Publicado mayo 29, 2013, 1:56 AM
Anuncian campaña de despistolización
Anuncian campaña permanente de Despistolización 2013. El programa
iniciará a partir del 17 de junio próximo, en 54 colonias de
Hermosillo, Cajeme, Agua Prieta y Nogales.
Hermosillo, Sonora - Nuevo Día
http://www.nuevodia.com.mx/estado/anuncian-campana-de-
despistolizacion-3/
A partir del próximo 17 de junio y hasta el 30 de octubre, con
módulos iti-nerantes en 54 colonias de Agua Prieta, Nogales, Cajeme y
Hermosillo, el Gobierno del Estado, en coordinación con la Secretaría
de la Defensa Nacional (Sedena), iniciará de manera permanente la
Campaña de Despistolización 2013.
El anuncio lo realizó Sergio Encinas Meléndrez, Coordinador Estatal
de Vinculación de la Secretaría Ejecutiva de Seguridad Pública
(SESP), en rueda de prensa, donde explicó que la meta es superar las
mil 247 armas que se recuperaron y destruyeron durante el 2012 y
sumarse a la campaña Nacional de Prevención del Delito.
"Muchas señoras nos han comentado que se quitan un peso de encima
cuando entregan un arma, esa arma que daba una preocupación, que ahí
estaba, que algún día iba a caer en manos de un niño o de un joven
para hacer un uso indebido entonces eso ya no va a hacer daño porque
será destruida", comentó.
El funcionario estatal resaltó que tener armas en los domicilios
particulares pone en riesgo a quienes ahí habitan, por ello, invitó a
las personas para que aprovechen y entregan sus armas, a cambio, de
vales de despensa que podrán hacerlos efectivos en diferentes centros
comerciales.
"El tener armas en una casa es una cultura que viene del México
Revolucionario, en aquel tiempos se justificaba por todo lo que se
vivía en el país, pero ahorita un arma viene siendo un gran peligro
para la familia, un arma en la casa hace posible que si una persona
intenta suicidarse sea más eficaz y efectiva en lograr su propósito",
subrayó.
Como algo novedoso de esta estrategia, es que las armas se destruirán
justo en el lugar donde las entreguen; frente a los ojos del donador,
así mismo, los módulos se instalarán en las colonias detectadas como
más vulnerables y la padecería que colecten durante los 4 meses y
medio que durará la campaña, servirá para hacer un monumento.
Encinas Meléndrez, agregó que este programa se intensificará del 22
de noviembre al 10 de diciembre, cuando inicie la Campaña Estatal de
Despistolización en 28 municipios de Sonora, en los cuales se podrán
entregar cualquier tipo de arma de fuego.
Las personas podrán acudir a los módulos y entregar las armas de
fuego; ya sean largas o cortas, artefactos explosivos, cargadores,
cartuchos e incluso, armas que sean similares a las reales como de
gas, diábolos y balines.
Estuvieron presentes Francisco Javier García, Jefe de Estado Mayor de
la 4ta Zona Militar; Perla ZuZuki Aguilar Lugo, Diputada Presidenta
de la Comisión de Seguridad Pública en el Congreso del Estado; así
como representantes de las policías municipales de los cuatro
municipios y representantes de sector comercial de Sonora.
Año Armas Cargadores Cartuchos Granadas
2010 1 106 1 076 41 849 28
2011 1 243 1 320 33 476 40
2012 1 247 1 169 44 604 41
Armas largas de uso exclusivo del Ejército (R 15 y AK 47)
Útil: 2 mil 500 pesos
No útil: mil pesos
Armas largas y cortas de uno no exclusivo del Ejército
Útil: Mil pesos • No útil: 300 pesos
Artefactos Explosivos (granadas)
Útil: 500 pesos • No útil: 100 pesos
Cargadores (armas largos y cortas) 100 pesos
Cartuchos (todo tipo de calibre)
1 peso
Armas similares a las reales como de gas, diábolos o balines
100 pesos
fin
Note: buybacks scheduled in several towns. Note also numbers of
grenades recovered, real ones. It should also be noted that unless
one is a cartel associate, harsh penalties for possession of illegal
gun. Once again, destroying evidence? Peso currently at about 12
- 13 to the USD.
Published May 29, 2013, 1:56 a.m.
Announce despistolización campaign
Permanent campaign Despistolización Announce 2013.
The program starts from June 17 next, in 54 colonies of Hermosillo,
Cajeme, Agua Prieta and Nogales.
Hermosillo, Sonora - Nuevo Dia
http://www.nuevodia.com.mx/estado/anuncian-campana-de-
despistolizacion-3/
Starting next June 17 and until 30 October, with iti-nerantes modules
in 54 colonies of Agua Prieta, Nogales and Hermosillo Cajeme, the
State Government, in coordination with the Ministry of National
Defense (SEDENA) start permanently Despistolización Campaign 2013.
The announcement was made Encinas Sergio Melendrez State Bonding
Coordinator of the Executive Secretariat of Public Security (SESP),
at a press conference, where he explained that the goal is to exceed
1,247 weapons were recovered and destroyed in 2012 and join National
Campaign for the Prevention of Crime.
"Many women have told us they are removed a load off when they
deliver a weapon, that weapon that was a concern, there I was, that
one day I would fall into the hands of a child or young person to
misuse then that's not going to hurt because it will be destroyed,
"he said.
The state official noted that having guns in private homes endangers
who live there, therefore, invited people to surrender their weapons
in exchange for food vouchers that can be utilized in different malls.
"Having guns in a home is a culture that comes from Revolutionary
Mexico at that time was justified by all that is living in the
country, but right now a weapon is still a great danger to the
family, a gun in the house makes possible that if a person attempts
suicide more efficient and effective in achieving its purpose, "he said.
As a novelty of this approach is that the weapons will be destroyed
right in the place where the surrender, before the eyes of the donor,
likewise, the modules are installed in the colonies identified as
most vulnerable and would suffer that colecten during the 4 and a
half months last campaign, will serve to make a monument.
Melendrez Encinas added that this program will intensify from
November 22 to December 10, when you start Despistolización State
Campaign in 28 municipalities of Sonora, in which they can deliver
any type of firearm.
People can go to the modules and deliver firearms, whether long or
short, explosive devices, chargers, cartridges and even weapons that
are similar to real as gas, pellets and rubber bullets.
Francisco Javier Garcia were present, Chief of Staff of the 4th
Military Zone; Perla Aguilar ZuZuki Lugo, Deputy Chair of the Public
Safety Commission of the State Congress, and representatives of the
municipal police of the four municipalities and industry
representatives Sonora commercial.
Year Weapons Chargers Cartridges Grenades
2010 1 106 1 076 41 849 28
2011 1 243 1 320 33 476 40
2012 1 247 1 169 44 604 41
Long guns exclusive use of the Army (R 15 and AK 47)
Useful: 2,500 pesos
Not useful: 1,000 pesos
Long and short arms of nonexclusive of Army
Useful: 1,000 pesos •
Not useful: 300 pesos
Explosive devices (grenades)
Useful: 500 pesos • Not: 100 pesos
Magazines (long and short arms) 100 pesos
Cartridges (all kinds of caliber) 1 peso
Similar to real weapons but gas, pellet or pellets: 100 pesos
end
Publicado mayo 29, 2013, 1:56 AM
Anuncian campaña de despistolización
Anuncian campaña permanente de Despistolización 2013. El programa
iniciará a partir del 17 de junio próximo, en 54 colonias de
Hermosillo, Cajeme, Agua Prieta y Nogales.
Hermosillo, Sonora - Nuevo Día
http://www.nuevodia.com.mx/estado/anuncian-campana-de-
despistolizacion-3/
A partir del próximo 17 de junio y hasta el 30 de octubre, con
módulos iti-nerantes en 54 colonias de Agua Prieta, Nogales, Cajeme y
Hermosillo, el Gobierno del Estado, en coordinación con la Secretaría
de la Defensa Nacional (Sedena), iniciará de manera permanente la
Campaña de Despistolización 2013.
El anuncio lo realizó Sergio Encinas Meléndrez, Coordinador Estatal
de Vinculación de la Secretaría Ejecutiva de Seguridad Pública
(SESP), en rueda de prensa, donde explicó que la meta es superar las
mil 247 armas que se recuperaron y destruyeron durante el 2012 y
sumarse a la campaña Nacional de Prevención del Delito.
"Muchas señoras nos han comentado que se quitan un peso de encima
cuando entregan un arma, esa arma que daba una preocupación, que ahí
estaba, que algún día iba a caer en manos de un niño o de un joven
para hacer un uso indebido entonces eso ya no va a hacer daño porque
será destruida", comentó.
El funcionario estatal resaltó que tener armas en los domicilios
particulares pone en riesgo a quienes ahí habitan, por ello, invitó a
las personas para que aprovechen y entregan sus armas, a cambio, de
vales de despensa que podrán hacerlos efectivos en diferentes centros
comerciales.
"El tener armas en una casa es una cultura que viene del México
Revolucionario, en aquel tiempos se justificaba por todo lo que se
vivía en el país, pero ahorita un arma viene siendo un gran peligro
para la familia, un arma en la casa hace posible que si una persona
intenta suicidarse sea más eficaz y efectiva en lograr su propósito",
subrayó.
Como algo novedoso de esta estrategia, es que las armas se destruirán
justo en el lugar donde las entreguen; frente a los ojos del donador,
así mismo, los módulos se instalarán en las colonias detectadas como
más vulnerables y la padecería que colecten durante los 4 meses y
medio que durará la campaña, servirá para hacer un monumento.
Encinas Meléndrez, agregó que este programa se intensificará del 22
de noviembre al 10 de diciembre, cuando inicie la Campaña Estatal de
Despistolización en 28 municipios de Sonora, en los cuales se podrán
entregar cualquier tipo de arma de fuego.
Las personas podrán acudir a los módulos y entregar las armas de
fuego; ya sean largas o cortas, artefactos explosivos, cargadores,
cartuchos e incluso, armas que sean similares a las reales como de
gas, diábolos y balines.
Estuvieron presentes Francisco Javier García, Jefe de Estado Mayor de
la 4ta Zona Militar; Perla ZuZuki Aguilar Lugo, Diputada Presidenta
de la Comisión de Seguridad Pública en el Congreso del Estado; así
como representantes de las policías municipales de los cuatro
municipios y representantes de sector comercial de Sonora.
Año Armas Cargadores Cartuchos Granadas
2010 1 106 1 076 41 849 28
2011 1 243 1 320 33 476 40
2012 1 247 1 169 44 604 41
Armas largas de uso exclusivo del Ejército (R 15 y AK 47)
Útil: 2 mil 500 pesos
No útil: mil pesos
Armas largas y cortas de uno no exclusivo del Ejército
Útil: Mil pesos • No útil: 300 pesos
Artefactos Explosivos (granadas)
Útil: 500 pesos • No útil: 100 pesos
Cargadores (armas largos y cortas) 100 pesos
Cartuchos (todo tipo de calibre)
1 peso
Armas similares a las reales como de gas, diábolos o balines
100 pesos
fin
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
AZMEX SPECIAL 28-5-13
AZMEX SPECIAL 28 MAY 2013
Note: This type of drug interdiction on the Mexican side is very
unusual to say the least. Especially when most drugs are smuggled by
the hundreds or thousands of pounds. Some speculation of a inside
job by employees to get the stuff up to Nogales, Son. As little to
no chance of the pot making it through the POE.
UPDATE: No decision from Mex. court today.
AZ husband, daughter work to free mom from Mexico jail
Posted: May 25, 2013 10:53 PM MST
Updated: May 28, 2013 6:21 AM MST
By Rebecca Thomas - email
By Lindsey Reiser - bio | email
http://www.kpho.com/story/22424879/az-husband-daughter-work-to-free-
mom-from-mexico-jail
But the return trip to Arizona turned into a nightmare - and it's not
over yet for Gary and Yanira Maldonado.
Yanira Maldonado is in a Mexican jail, accused of smuggling marijuana.
CBS 5 News spoke with the Gary Maldonado's brother-in-law, Brandon
Klippel.
Klippel said the Maldonados were the only U.S. citizens on the bus -
and if pot was truly found on board, it was already there when the
couple sat down.
"You hear all of these horror stories about Mexico and you think it's
just something in the movies, right?" said Klippel. "You don't
believe it's something that could happen to someone you know. But,
when it happens to your brother and your sister - it's hard, it's
tough to take."
He said the bus the Maldonados were on was stopped at a military
checkpoint near Hermosillo on Wednesday.
The couple, with seven children and two grandchildren between them,
were on their way back to Arizona after attending a funeral for
Yanira Maldonado's aunt.
"They interviewed several of the other passengers and after about 2
1/2 hours they came to him (Gary) and said, 'Unfortunately some of
these drugs were found under your seat and you're under arrest,'"
Klippel said.
After arresting Gary Maldonado, Mexican officials said they'd made a
mistake - that marijuana was actually found underneath Yanira
Maldonado's seat and an empty seat next to her.
Gary Maldonado was released and they arrested his wife - something
that has terrified their 21-year-old daughter, Anna Soto, who spoke
with CBS 5 News on Sunday.
"I know there's people out there saying or asking, 'Did she really do
it?'" she said. "'Are you sure?' And, you know, it hurts to see that.
If you would've known my mom, if you would've met her - you would
know she had nothing to do with it."
And then there's the concern of who to trust in a foreign country.
"His attorney had talked to the prosecuting attorney there and came
back to him and said, 'You know how it works in Mexico, right?"
Klippel told CBS 5 News. "He said, 'No I don't.' He [attorney] said,
'Well, if we bribe the judge - then he'll let you go.'"
Klippel said Gary Maldonado frantically scraped together $5,000 to
free his wife Thursday, but he was told it was too late.
Yanira Maldonado had been transferred to a holding facility in Nogales.
"When he [Gary] got there they said, 'We don't have any record of her
at all,'" Klippel said. "He panicked. He told me terror struck him.
And he thought, for that period of time, that he'd never see his wife
again."
That was Friday morning.
By Friday night, officials confirmed Yanira Maldonado was, in fact,
in Nogales - and her husband was able to visit her Saturday morning
on the one-year anniversary of their wedding.
"Yanira saw me from a distance and she just started like jumping up
and down and gave me a big hug and we just cried," said Gary
Maldonado, who spoke with CBS 5 News via Skype on Sunday.
Klippel said the reunion was a major relief for the couple -
especially after what Yanira had been through in the past 24 hours.
"She had a rough night," he said. "Their interrogation included
putting her in a non-air-conditioned room and waking her up several
times in the middle of night - trying to get her to sign documents
that she said she couldn't read."
He said Yanira Maldonado maintains her innocence and believes those
documents were probably admission of guilt statements.
"In Mexico, I guess you're guilty until proven innocent," said
Klippel. "So, it's just been a real nightmare for them."
Klippel said the Mexican Consulate is working this case and that
Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake is in contact with the family, in an effort
to bring Yanira Maldonado home.
A family friend tells CBS 5 News a judge has granted her an extension
so she can present witnesses to her case. That is said to take place
on Friday.
Gary Maldonado said they have a woman and her son who can testify
they saw they couple enter the bus without any packages - and he's
hoping the charter bus company Tufesa will have surveillance video
they can also use as evidence.
CBS 5 News is waiting to hear back from the Mexican Consulate and the
U.S. Embassy's Office.
Flake's office sent us the following statement: "Senator Flake is
personally monitoring the situation and he has had multiple
conversations with the deputy Mexican ambassador."
A Facebook page has been set up in support of Yanira: https://
www.facebook.com/groups/381326221977709/.
Stay with cbs5az.com and CBS 5 News as this story develops.
end
Note: This type of drug interdiction on the Mexican side is very
unusual to say the least. Especially when most drugs are smuggled by
the hundreds or thousands of pounds. Some speculation of a inside
job by employees to get the stuff up to Nogales, Son. As little to
no chance of the pot making it through the POE.
UPDATE: No decision from Mex. court today.
AZ husband, daughter work to free mom from Mexico jail
Posted: May 25, 2013 10:53 PM MST
Updated: May 28, 2013 6:21 AM MST
By Rebecca Thomas - email
By Lindsey Reiser - bio | email
http://www.kpho.com/story/22424879/az-husband-daughter-work-to-free-
mom-from-mexico-jail
But the return trip to Arizona turned into a nightmare - and it's not
over yet for Gary and Yanira Maldonado.
Yanira Maldonado is in a Mexican jail, accused of smuggling marijuana.
CBS 5 News spoke with the Gary Maldonado's brother-in-law, Brandon
Klippel.
Klippel said the Maldonados were the only U.S. citizens on the bus -
and if pot was truly found on board, it was already there when the
couple sat down.
"You hear all of these horror stories about Mexico and you think it's
just something in the movies, right?" said Klippel. "You don't
believe it's something that could happen to someone you know. But,
when it happens to your brother and your sister - it's hard, it's
tough to take."
He said the bus the Maldonados were on was stopped at a military
checkpoint near Hermosillo on Wednesday.
The couple, with seven children and two grandchildren between them,
were on their way back to Arizona after attending a funeral for
Yanira Maldonado's aunt.
"They interviewed several of the other passengers and after about 2
1/2 hours they came to him (Gary) and said, 'Unfortunately some of
these drugs were found under your seat and you're under arrest,'"
Klippel said.
After arresting Gary Maldonado, Mexican officials said they'd made a
mistake - that marijuana was actually found underneath Yanira
Maldonado's seat and an empty seat next to her.
Gary Maldonado was released and they arrested his wife - something
that has terrified their 21-year-old daughter, Anna Soto, who spoke
with CBS 5 News on Sunday.
"I know there's people out there saying or asking, 'Did she really do
it?'" she said. "'Are you sure?' And, you know, it hurts to see that.
If you would've known my mom, if you would've met her - you would
know she had nothing to do with it."
And then there's the concern of who to trust in a foreign country.
"His attorney had talked to the prosecuting attorney there and came
back to him and said, 'You know how it works in Mexico, right?"
Klippel told CBS 5 News. "He said, 'No I don't.' He [attorney] said,
'Well, if we bribe the judge - then he'll let you go.'"
Klippel said Gary Maldonado frantically scraped together $5,000 to
free his wife Thursday, but he was told it was too late.
Yanira Maldonado had been transferred to a holding facility in Nogales.
"When he [Gary] got there they said, 'We don't have any record of her
at all,'" Klippel said. "He panicked. He told me terror struck him.
And he thought, for that period of time, that he'd never see his wife
again."
That was Friday morning.
By Friday night, officials confirmed Yanira Maldonado was, in fact,
in Nogales - and her husband was able to visit her Saturday morning
on the one-year anniversary of their wedding.
"Yanira saw me from a distance and she just started like jumping up
and down and gave me a big hug and we just cried," said Gary
Maldonado, who spoke with CBS 5 News via Skype on Sunday.
Klippel said the reunion was a major relief for the couple -
especially after what Yanira had been through in the past 24 hours.
"She had a rough night," he said. "Their interrogation included
putting her in a non-air-conditioned room and waking her up several
times in the middle of night - trying to get her to sign documents
that she said she couldn't read."
He said Yanira Maldonado maintains her innocence and believes those
documents were probably admission of guilt statements.
"In Mexico, I guess you're guilty until proven innocent," said
Klippel. "So, it's just been a real nightmare for them."
Klippel said the Mexican Consulate is working this case and that
Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake is in contact with the family, in an effort
to bring Yanira Maldonado home.
A family friend tells CBS 5 News a judge has granted her an extension
so she can present witnesses to her case. That is said to take place
on Friday.
Gary Maldonado said they have a woman and her son who can testify
they saw they couple enter the bus without any packages - and he's
hoping the charter bus company Tufesa will have surveillance video
they can also use as evidence.
CBS 5 News is waiting to hear back from the Mexican Consulate and the
U.S. Embassy's Office.
Flake's office sent us the following statement: "Senator Flake is
personally monitoring the situation and he has had multiple
conversations with the deputy Mexican ambassador."
A Facebook page has been set up in support of Yanira: https://
www.facebook.com/groups/381326221977709/.
Stay with cbs5az.com and CBS 5 News as this story develops.
end
AZMEX NAFBPO Border Presentation 28-5-13
AZMEX NAFBPO Border Presentation 28 MAY 2013
Note: 38 minutes. Take the time.
NAFBPO 
VERY IMPORTANT ACTION ALERT: See this video and send this out to your legislators and everyone else. -- Here is also proof that illegals have willfully set fire to areas of the United States! See this NAFBPO video responding to the misinformation about the border... with facts!
Saturday, May 25, 2013
AZMEX I3 22-5-13
AZMEX I3 22 MAY 2013
Border officials: Guatemalan sisters held captive in Douglas trailer
2 hours ago • Perla Trevizo Arizona Daily Star
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/border/border-officials-guatemalan-
sisters-held-captive-in-douglas-trailer/article_48cdc146-
c31c-11e2-9207-0019bb2963f4.html
Two Guatemalan sisters were rescued Sunday from a residence north
Douglas where they were held hostage for more than a week, law
enforcement officials say.
The Douglas Police Department received a call late Sunday afternoon
from a person reporting that two adult undocumented Guatemalan
sisters were being held against their will, according to the criminal
complaint.
While conducting surveillance in the area near the intersection of
North Washington and 34th Street, authorities observed the door of a
travel trailer open slightly, a woman's hand emerged, and then the
door shut. When authorities knocked on the door to the trailer, the
door opened and they discovered the two Guatemalan sisters inside.
Alejandro Beltran, 34 and a U.S. citizen, faces federal charges for
harboring illegal immigrants for the purpose of private financial
gain, according to the release from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The women claimed they were held captive for nine days and that
Beltran forced them to contact their family in Boston to demand
$10,000 for their release. Both women said they were physically
assaulted by Beltran, who they said had just left the trailer in a
taxi when the authorities arrived. Douglas police later found Beltran
at a bar and he was taken into custody.
The case is being investigated by ICE's Homeland Security
Investigations, with help from the Cochise County Sheriff's Office,
Douglas Police Department and U.S. Border Patrol. Additional charges
may be filed.
END
Note: from El Diario de Sonora. Nogales
BP informs migrants of risk areas
Details Published on Wednesday May 22, 2013,
Written by Cesar Barragan / The Journal
http://www.eldiariodesonora.com.mx/nota.php?nota=13530
Nogales
In order to inform immigrants about the dangers they face when
crossing illegally to the United States, the Border Safety Initiative
(BSI in English) conducted a tour of one of the risk areas Desert of
Arizona, attended by local and international media .
During the tour, the Border Patrol spokesmen explained the most
common fatal risks faced by immigrants from all over the world,
across the desert, as the most dangerous pointing to the same
"coyotes" or human traffickers.
The prevention campaign was conducted in the mountainous west of
Nogales Arizona, near White Rock Leisure Park, where authorities also
staged a mock rescue, within an area often used by traffickers and
drugs.
Media United States, Mexico, Central and South America, made the
journey through the mountains where they could see remnants of
footwear, backpacks and supplies that are left in the desert routes,
by immigrants and smugglers.
Andy Adame, spokesman for the Border Patrol in Arizona, reported that
in the current fiscal year there have been 64 deaths in the Arizona
desert and most Mexicans have also been rescued more than 200 people,
also mostly nationals .
"In this area, immigrants have to walk about six or seven days, until
the mountain Arivaca area where other traffickers commonly expect to
take them to safe houses in different parts of the country," he said.
He mentioned that to withstand the 45 degree heat, who come to
register in the desert, each person should consume at least four
liters of water per hour, making it impossible to load, so that
traffickers to deceive people mention that the walk is only for a few
hours and sometimes extend up to seven days.
"It is important to emphasize that there are many dangers to be
passing through on their way, it will be a pain, ranging from
poisonous animals, injuries walk on these grounds, to the sexual
assault of women by the same" coyotes " or traffickers "who most
often end up leaving their fate to their victims," he said.
The officer and Border Patrol spokesman said that in fiscal 2013,
which runs from 1 October to 1 April in Arizona have been found dead
64 people and during this period a total of 203 have been rescued and
more than 82 000 people have been arrested, of which 80% are of
Mexican origin.
Different Border Patrol spokesman, agreed that the biggest risk faced
people who decide to cross into the country illegally, are the same
human traffickers, then will face the Arizona desert climate and
venomous animals.
"Temperatures ranging from 40-50 degrees ( 104 - 122 F ) is
impossible to determine how much water a person needs to survive in
the desert, the lack of water and food, cause dehydration, heart
failure, kidney and other complications that cause death ".
The team of Border Patrol Search, Trauma and Rescue (Borstar by its
acronym in English), are trained to provide emergency first aid and
search and rescue techniques and its main goal is to find those at
risk and provide care.
In an effort to combat smuggling organizations, the Joint Command-
Arizona, continues to allocate resources and currently has 330
emergency technicians, deployed Rescue 49 towers in the Arizona
desert, airplanes, helicopters and all-terrain vehicles.
END
Recorre BP zonas de riesgo Para migrantes
Detalles Publicado el Miercoles 22 de Mayo de 2013,
Escrito por Cesar Barragan / El Diario
http://www.eldiariodesonora.com.mx/nota.php?nota=13530
Nogales
Con el fin de dar a conocer a los inmigrantes sobre los peligros que
enfrentan al cruzar de forma ilegal a los Estados Unidos, la
Iniciativa de Seguridad Fronteriza (BSI por sus siglas en ingles)
llevó a cabo un recorrido por una de las zonas de riesgo en el
Desierto de Arizona, en la que participaron medios de comunicación
locales e internacionales.
Durante el recorrido, los voceros de la Patrulla Fronteriza
explicaron los riesgos mortales más frecuentes que enfrentan los
inmigrantes de cualquier parte del mundo, al cruzar por el desierto,
señalando como la más peligrosa a los mismos "polleros" o
traficantes de humanos.
La campaña preventiva se realizó en la zona montañosa del oeste de
Nogales Arizona, cerca del parque recreativo Peña Blanca, donde
además las autoridades escenificaron un simulacro de rescate, dentro
de una zona utilizada frecuentemente por traficantes de personas y
drogas.
Medios de comunicación de Estados Unidos, México, Centro y
Suramérica, efectuaron el recorrido por la sierra donde se pudieron
apreciar restos de calzado, mochilas y víveres que son dejados en las
rutas desérticas, por los inmigrantes o contrabandistas.
Andrés Adame, vocero de la Patrulla Fronteriza del estado de Arizona,
informó que en el presente año fiscal se han registrado 64 muertes
en el desierto de Arizona en su mayoría mexicanos y que además han
sido rescatadas más de 200 personas, también en su mayoría
connacionales.
"En esta área los inmigrantes tienen que caminar alrededor de seis
o siete días, por zonas montañosas hasta llegar al área de Arivaca,
donde comúnmente los esperan otros traficantes para llevarlos a casas
de seguridad en diferentes partes del país", explicó.
Mencionó que para soportar los 45 grados de temperatura, que se
llegan a registrar en la zona desértica, cada persona deberá
consumir al menos 4 litros de agua por hora, lo que es imposible de
cargar, por lo que los traficantes engañan a las personas al
mencionarles que la caminata solo será por unas horas y en ocasiones
se extienden hasta por siete días.
"Es importante recalcar que son muchos los peligros que deben pasan
durante su trayecto, que será un sufrimiento, que van desde los
animales venenosos, las lesiones por caminar sobre estos terrenos,
hasta las agresiones sexuales de mujeres por parte de los mismos
"coyotes" o traficantes" quienes la mayoría de las veces
terminan abandonando a su suerte a sus víctimas", señaló.
El oficial y vocero de la Patrulla Fronteriza dijo que en el año
fiscal 2013, que comprende del 1 de octubre al 1 de abril, en Arizona
se han localizado muertas a 64 personas y durante este periodo un
total de 203 han sido rescatadas y más de 82 mil personas, han sido
arrestadas, de los cuales el 80% son de origen mexicano.
Los diferentes voceros de la Patrulla Fronteriza, coincidieron en
señalar que el mayor riesgo que enfrentaran las personas que deciden
cruzar a su país de forma ilegal, son los mismos traficantes de
humanos, después deberán enfrentar el clima del desierto de Arizona
y los animales venenosos.
"Bajo temperaturas que van desde los 40 a 50 grados es imposible
determinar la cantidad de agua que necesita una persona para
sobrevivir en el desierto, la falta de agua y alimentos, provocan
deshidratación, fallas en el corazón, riñones y otras
complicaciones que causan la muerte".
El equipo de la Patrulla Fronteriza de Búsqueda, Trauma y Rescate
(Borstar por sus siglas en ingles), están capacitados en brindar
primeros auxilios de emergencia y técnicas de búsqueda y rescate y
su principal objetivo es encontrar personas en peligro y
proporcionarles atención médica.
En su esfuerzo por combatir las organizaciones de contrabando, el
Comando Conjunto-Arizona, sigue asignando recursos y actualmente
cuenta con 330 técnicos en emergencias, 49 torres de rescate
desplegadas en el desierto de Arizona, aviones, helicópteros y
vehículos todo terreno.
FIN
Border officials: Guatemalan sisters held captive in Douglas trailer
2 hours ago • Perla Trevizo Arizona Daily Star
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/border/border-officials-guatemalan-
sisters-held-captive-in-douglas-trailer/article_48cdc146-
c31c-11e2-9207-0019bb2963f4.html
Two Guatemalan sisters were rescued Sunday from a residence north
Douglas where they were held hostage for more than a week, law
enforcement officials say.
The Douglas Police Department received a call late Sunday afternoon
from a person reporting that two adult undocumented Guatemalan
sisters were being held against their will, according to the criminal
complaint.
While conducting surveillance in the area near the intersection of
North Washington and 34th Street, authorities observed the door of a
travel trailer open slightly, a woman's hand emerged, and then the
door shut. When authorities knocked on the door to the trailer, the
door opened and they discovered the two Guatemalan sisters inside.
Alejandro Beltran, 34 and a U.S. citizen, faces federal charges for
harboring illegal immigrants for the purpose of private financial
gain, according to the release from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The women claimed they were held captive for nine days and that
Beltran forced them to contact their family in Boston to demand
$10,000 for their release. Both women said they were physically
assaulted by Beltran, who they said had just left the trailer in a
taxi when the authorities arrived. Douglas police later found Beltran
at a bar and he was taken into custody.
The case is being investigated by ICE's Homeland Security
Investigations, with help from the Cochise County Sheriff's Office,
Douglas Police Department and U.S. Border Patrol. Additional charges
may be filed.
END
Note: from El Diario de Sonora. Nogales
BP informs migrants of risk areas
Details Published on Wednesday May 22, 2013,
Written by Cesar Barragan / The Journal
http://www.eldiariodesonora.com.mx/nota.php?nota=13530
Nogales
In order to inform immigrants about the dangers they face when
crossing illegally to the United States, the Border Safety Initiative
(BSI in English) conducted a tour of one of the risk areas Desert of
Arizona, attended by local and international media .
During the tour, the Border Patrol spokesmen explained the most
common fatal risks faced by immigrants from all over the world,
across the desert, as the most dangerous pointing to the same
"coyotes" or human traffickers.
The prevention campaign was conducted in the mountainous west of
Nogales Arizona, near White Rock Leisure Park, where authorities also
staged a mock rescue, within an area often used by traffickers and
drugs.
Media United States, Mexico, Central and South America, made the
journey through the mountains where they could see remnants of
footwear, backpacks and supplies that are left in the desert routes,
by immigrants and smugglers.
Andy Adame, spokesman for the Border Patrol in Arizona, reported that
in the current fiscal year there have been 64 deaths in the Arizona
desert and most Mexicans have also been rescued more than 200 people,
also mostly nationals .
"In this area, immigrants have to walk about six or seven days, until
the mountain Arivaca area where other traffickers commonly expect to
take them to safe houses in different parts of the country," he said.
He mentioned that to withstand the 45 degree heat, who come to
register in the desert, each person should consume at least four
liters of water per hour, making it impossible to load, so that
traffickers to deceive people mention that the walk is only for a few
hours and sometimes extend up to seven days.
"It is important to emphasize that there are many dangers to be
passing through on their way, it will be a pain, ranging from
poisonous animals, injuries walk on these grounds, to the sexual
assault of women by the same" coyotes " or traffickers "who most
often end up leaving their fate to their victims," he said.
The officer and Border Patrol spokesman said that in fiscal 2013,
which runs from 1 October to 1 April in Arizona have been found dead
64 people and during this period a total of 203 have been rescued and
more than 82 000 people have been arrested, of which 80% are of
Mexican origin.
Different Border Patrol spokesman, agreed that the biggest risk faced
people who decide to cross into the country illegally, are the same
human traffickers, then will face the Arizona desert climate and
venomous animals.
"Temperatures ranging from 40-50 degrees ( 104 - 122 F ) is
impossible to determine how much water a person needs to survive in
the desert, the lack of water and food, cause dehydration, heart
failure, kidney and other complications that cause death ".
The team of Border Patrol Search, Trauma and Rescue (Borstar by its
acronym in English), are trained to provide emergency first aid and
search and rescue techniques and its main goal is to find those at
risk and provide care.
In an effort to combat smuggling organizations, the Joint Command-
Arizona, continues to allocate resources and currently has 330
emergency technicians, deployed Rescue 49 towers in the Arizona
desert, airplanes, helicopters and all-terrain vehicles.
END
Recorre BP zonas de riesgo Para migrantes
Detalles Publicado el Miercoles 22 de Mayo de 2013,
Escrito por Cesar Barragan / El Diario
http://www.eldiariodesonora.com.mx/nota.php?nota=13530
Nogales
Con el fin de dar a conocer a los inmigrantes sobre los peligros que
enfrentan al cruzar de forma ilegal a los Estados Unidos, la
Iniciativa de Seguridad Fronteriza (BSI por sus siglas en ingles)
llevó a cabo un recorrido por una de las zonas de riesgo en el
Desierto de Arizona, en la que participaron medios de comunicación
locales e internacionales.
Durante el recorrido, los voceros de la Patrulla Fronteriza
explicaron los riesgos mortales más frecuentes que enfrentan los
inmigrantes de cualquier parte del mundo, al cruzar por el desierto,
señalando como la más peligrosa a los mismos "polleros" o
traficantes de humanos.
La campaña preventiva se realizó en la zona montañosa del oeste de
Nogales Arizona, cerca del parque recreativo Peña Blanca, donde
además las autoridades escenificaron un simulacro de rescate, dentro
de una zona utilizada frecuentemente por traficantes de personas y
drogas.
Medios de comunicación de Estados Unidos, México, Centro y
Suramérica, efectuaron el recorrido por la sierra donde se pudieron
apreciar restos de calzado, mochilas y víveres que son dejados en las
rutas desérticas, por los inmigrantes o contrabandistas.
Andrés Adame, vocero de la Patrulla Fronteriza del estado de Arizona,
informó que en el presente año fiscal se han registrado 64 muertes
en el desierto de Arizona en su mayoría mexicanos y que además han
sido rescatadas más de 200 personas, también en su mayoría
connacionales.
"En esta área los inmigrantes tienen que caminar alrededor de seis
o siete días, por zonas montañosas hasta llegar al área de Arivaca,
donde comúnmente los esperan otros traficantes para llevarlos a casas
de seguridad en diferentes partes del país", explicó.
Mencionó que para soportar los 45 grados de temperatura, que se
llegan a registrar en la zona desértica, cada persona deberá
consumir al menos 4 litros de agua por hora, lo que es imposible de
cargar, por lo que los traficantes engañan a las personas al
mencionarles que la caminata solo será por unas horas y en ocasiones
se extienden hasta por siete días.
"Es importante recalcar que son muchos los peligros que deben pasan
durante su trayecto, que será un sufrimiento, que van desde los
animales venenosos, las lesiones por caminar sobre estos terrenos,
hasta las agresiones sexuales de mujeres por parte de los mismos
"coyotes" o traficantes" quienes la mayoría de las veces
terminan abandonando a su suerte a sus víctimas", señaló.
El oficial y vocero de la Patrulla Fronteriza dijo que en el año
fiscal 2013, que comprende del 1 de octubre al 1 de abril, en Arizona
se han localizado muertas a 64 personas y durante este periodo un
total de 203 han sido rescatadas y más de 82 mil personas, han sido
arrestadas, de los cuales el 80% son de origen mexicano.
Los diferentes voceros de la Patrulla Fronteriza, coincidieron en
señalar que el mayor riesgo que enfrentaran las personas que deciden
cruzar a su país de forma ilegal, son los mismos traficantes de
humanos, después deberán enfrentar el clima del desierto de Arizona
y los animales venenosos.
"Bajo temperaturas que van desde los 40 a 50 grados es imposible
determinar la cantidad de agua que necesita una persona para
sobrevivir en el desierto, la falta de agua y alimentos, provocan
deshidratación, fallas en el corazón, riñones y otras
complicaciones que causan la muerte".
El equipo de la Patrulla Fronteriza de Búsqueda, Trauma y Rescate
(Borstar por sus siglas en ingles), están capacitados en brindar
primeros auxilios de emergencia y técnicas de búsqueda y rescate y
su principal objetivo es encontrar personas en peligro y
proporcionarles atención médica.
En su esfuerzo por combatir las organizaciones de contrabando, el
Comando Conjunto-Arizona, sigue asignando recursos y actualmente
cuenta con 330 técnicos en emergencias, 49 torres de rescate
desplegadas en el desierto de Arizona, aviones, helicópteros y
vehículos todo terreno.
FIN
AZMEX I3-2 25-5-13
AZMEX I3-2 25 MAY 2013
Arpaio's office guilty of profiling, judge rules
7 hours ago • Howard Fischer Capitol Media Services
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/crime/arpaio-s-office-guilty-of-
profiling-judge-rules/article_20f78423-d3be-5848-aca8-11c4142097e6.html
PHOENIX - Self-professed "toughest sheriff in America" Joe Arpaio and
the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office were guilty of racial profiling,
a federal judge found Friday, before ordering a permanent halt to the
practice.
In a 140-page ruling, Judge Murray Snow said Arpaio's department,
under his direction, was detaining individuals believed to be in this
country illegally without some other reason to arrest them for
violating any state laws.
Snow said that continued to occur even after the Department of
Homeland Security revoked the department's authority to identify and
detain those not in the country legally.
The judge also said department policy and practice allow officers to
consider the ethnicity of a vehicle's occupants in determining
whether they have reasonable suspicion to investigate them for
violation of state immigration laws.
"In some instances these policies result in prolonging the traffic
stop beyond the time necessary to resolve the issue that initially
justified the stop," Snow wrote. Absent some reasonable suspicion of
criminal activity, holding people longer than necessary violates
their constitutional rights against unreasonable search and seizure,
he said.
Snow said that entitled Hispanic individuals who sued to an
injunction permanently barring the Arpaio's department from using
Hispanic ancestry or race to determine whether to stop a vehicle. It
also prohibits deputies from detaining or arresting Latino occupants
of a vehicle on a belief that they are in this country illegally if
race is the only factor they have.
The order also bars the agency from detaining Latino occupants of
vehicles stopped for traffic violations any longer than necessary to
process the citation unless officers have "reasonable suspicion" that
any are committing a federal or state crime.
Arpaio said he does not believe his agency engages in racial
profiling. "That's why we're going to appeal it," he said.
But Dan Pochoda, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union
of Arizona, said the ruling confirms allegations Latinos have been
"terrorized" by Arpaio's deputies and "forced to endure years of
racial harassment and abuse." In a prepared statement, Pochoda said
all that can be laid at the feet of "Arpaio's proven willingness to
seek political gain at the expense of public safety and
constitutional guarantees."
Friday's ruling has no financial implications, as the plaintiffs in
the civil case did not seek damages, but only an injunction to
require the agency to changes its practices.
At least on paper, the instructions to deputies were that vehicles
were not to be stopped based on the race of those in a vehicle, Snow
said. But he said evidence painted a different picture.
"While officers were prohibited from using race as the only basis to
undertake a law enforcement investigation, they were allowed as a
matter of policy and instruction to consider race as one factor among
others in making law enforcement decisions in the context of
immigration enforcement," the judge wrote.
Snow reached his ruling after reviewing years of crime prevention
"saturation patrols" by the department. He said these were far from
neutral.
The department "almost always scheduled its day-labor and small-scale
saturation patrols where Latino day laborers congregated," he said.
"The same is true for a considerable number of its large-scale
saturation patrols."
And Snow said it is clear the purpose of these patrols was to enforce
immigration laws, citing the news releases issued by the agency's
public relations officers.
"These news releases either emphasized that the patrols' purpose was
immigration enforcement, or prominently featured the number of
unauthorized aliens arrested during such operations," Snow said.
"Most of the time, the reports ignored any other arrests that took
place."
Snow also said the saturation operations were just a pretext to stop
vehicles with people who may be in this country illegally.
"During saturation patrols, participating deputies conducted many
stops for minor violations of the traffic code, including minor
equipment violations," the judge said.
And Snow said that, generally speaking, deputies "had no difficulty
in finding a basis to stop any vehicle they wished for a traffic
infraction."
END
Arpaio's office guilty of profiling, judge rules
7 hours ago • Howard Fischer Capitol Media Services
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/crime/arpaio-s-office-guilty-of-
profiling-judge-rules/article_20f78423-d3be-5848-aca8-11c4142097e6.html
PHOENIX - Self-professed "toughest sheriff in America" Joe Arpaio and
the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office were guilty of racial profiling,
a federal judge found Friday, before ordering a permanent halt to the
practice.
In a 140-page ruling, Judge Murray Snow said Arpaio's department,
under his direction, was detaining individuals believed to be in this
country illegally without some other reason to arrest them for
violating any state laws.
Snow said that continued to occur even after the Department of
Homeland Security revoked the department's authority to identify and
detain those not in the country legally.
The judge also said department policy and practice allow officers to
consider the ethnicity of a vehicle's occupants in determining
whether they have reasonable suspicion to investigate them for
violation of state immigration laws.
"In some instances these policies result in prolonging the traffic
stop beyond the time necessary to resolve the issue that initially
justified the stop," Snow wrote. Absent some reasonable suspicion of
criminal activity, holding people longer than necessary violates
their constitutional rights against unreasonable search and seizure,
he said.
Snow said that entitled Hispanic individuals who sued to an
injunction permanently barring the Arpaio's department from using
Hispanic ancestry or race to determine whether to stop a vehicle. It
also prohibits deputies from detaining or arresting Latino occupants
of a vehicle on a belief that they are in this country illegally if
race is the only factor they have.
The order also bars the agency from detaining Latino occupants of
vehicles stopped for traffic violations any longer than necessary to
process the citation unless officers have "reasonable suspicion" that
any are committing a federal or state crime.
Arpaio said he does not believe his agency engages in racial
profiling. "That's why we're going to appeal it," he said.
But Dan Pochoda, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union
of Arizona, said the ruling confirms allegations Latinos have been
"terrorized" by Arpaio's deputies and "forced to endure years of
racial harassment and abuse." In a prepared statement, Pochoda said
all that can be laid at the feet of "Arpaio's proven willingness to
seek political gain at the expense of public safety and
constitutional guarantees."
Friday's ruling has no financial implications, as the plaintiffs in
the civil case did not seek damages, but only an injunction to
require the agency to changes its practices.
At least on paper, the instructions to deputies were that vehicles
were not to be stopped based on the race of those in a vehicle, Snow
said. But he said evidence painted a different picture.
"While officers were prohibited from using race as the only basis to
undertake a law enforcement investigation, they were allowed as a
matter of policy and instruction to consider race as one factor among
others in making law enforcement decisions in the context of
immigration enforcement," the judge wrote.
Snow reached his ruling after reviewing years of crime prevention
"saturation patrols" by the department. He said these were far from
neutral.
The department "almost always scheduled its day-labor and small-scale
saturation patrols where Latino day laborers congregated," he said.
"The same is true for a considerable number of its large-scale
saturation patrols."
And Snow said it is clear the purpose of these patrols was to enforce
immigration laws, citing the news releases issued by the agency's
public relations officers.
"These news releases either emphasized that the patrols' purpose was
immigration enforcement, or prominently featured the number of
unauthorized aliens arrested during such operations," Snow said.
"Most of the time, the reports ignored any other arrests that took
place."
Snow also said the saturation operations were just a pretext to stop
vehicles with people who may be in this country illegally.
"During saturation patrols, participating deputies conducted many
stops for minor violations of the traffic code, including minor
equipment violations," the judge said.
And Snow said that, generally speaking, deputies "had no difficulty
in finding a basis to stop any vehicle they wished for a traffic
infraction."
END
AZMEX I3 25-5-13
AZMEX I3 25 MAY 2013
Note: Don't need no stinking walks in the desert.
Pilot accused of ferrying illegal immigrants to Chandler
7 hours ago • Perla Trevizo Arizona Daily Star
Related Documents
PDF: Criminal complaint against James Bissell
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/border/pilot-accused-of-ferrying-
illegal-immigrants-to-chandler/article_5b66dc74-ed2c-57a1-9d6c-
c6566db2bdf0.html
A pilot is accused of using the Bisbee-Douglas International Airport
to smuggle illegal immigrants to the Phoenix area.
Border Patrol agents arrested James Bissell and three other U.S.
citizens, who haven't been identified, when Bissell was getting ready
to load into a single-engine plane three people from Mexico who had
crossed the border illegally, according to a criminal complaint filed
in federal court.
Bissell told authorities two women were paying him to fly late in the
evening the one-way trips to Chandler, the complaint said.
He had been flying three times a week with about three to four
passengers per flight for a year.
He said the women had paid him $900 for Monday's trip, in addition to
another $900 for a prior flight, court documents show.
That would be transporting in one year about 500 people in 156
flights for more than $140,000.
The illegal immigrants told authorities they crossed the border fence
and were taken by smugglers to a residence where they were picked up
and driven to the airport.
Bissell is charged with alien smuggling and had his first appearance
Wednesday in the Tucson federal court before Magistrate Judge Bruce
Macdonald.
Customs officials said it's unusual to find smugglers using planes to
transport illegal immigrants.
END
Florence busiest initial stop for ICE detainees
7 hours ago • Perla Trevizo Arizona Daily Star
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/border/florence-busiest-initial-stop-
for-ice-detainees/article_1423e2e8-6cc7-51bb-af64-795a79c3ac4c.html
Arizona is home to the facility where the largest number of
immigration detainees are initially held in the nation, new data show.
More than 7,600 people were initially detained at the Florence
Staging Facility between November and December 2012, according to a
new report from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, a
research group. That's followed by two locations in Texas: Brooks
County jail in Falfurrias where 4,615 people were initially held, and
the Rio Grande Valley Staging Facility, with 4,556 detainees.
The Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, or TRAC, is a
nonpartisan research organization associated with Syracuse University.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials wouldn't comment on the
report this week citing a need to review it.
Individuals were first processed at these locations and then
deported, released or transferred to more permanent detention
facilities. The Florence Staging Facility is also used as a regional
transportation hub to fly individuals who are from countries other
than Mexico to their places of origin.
The number of people picked up by Customs and Border Protection and
transferred into ICE's custody may be a contributing factor to the
high number at the Florence facility, said Maurice Goldman, a local
immigration attorney.
Seven out of every 10 individuals were originally detained in states
along the Southwest border.
The biggest share comes from Texas, where 24,811 people were detained
between November and December last year - more than twice as many as
in Arizona or California.
Still, Goldman says his law firm has seen an increase in the number
of people being picked up and detained by immigration officials in
the last several months.
"It seems like not a day goes by that we don't get a least one phone
call from a family member of someone who has been picked up by Border
Patrol or ICE," he said. "We are still seeing a good amount of people
who get turned over to (ICE) based on traffic violations."
TRAC based the state location on the place where ICE recorded the
person as entering its custody since the agency hasn't released
information on where the person was initially apprehended, the report
says.
Nearly 8,500 individuals were picked up across the country and
detained by ICE during a typical week, TRAC reported, "If activity
levels continue at this pace, ICE will detain around 400,000
individuals during the current fiscal year."
And what happens to detainees in immigration custody also varies
widely by state.
Arizona has the second-highest state removal rate at 84 percent, only
after New Mexico, with 88 percent, TRAC reported Wednesday.
On StarNet: Find extensive coverage of immigration issues at
azstarnet.com/border
ICE Custody
66,278
Total number of individuals detained by ICE in November and December
2012
TOP 5 STATES
Texas 24,811
Arizona 11,373
California 10,230
Florida 1,931
Georgia 1,590
TOP 5 FACILITIES
Where people were initially detained
• Florence Staging Facility (Arizona): 7,650
• Brooks County Jail in Falfurrias (Texas): 4,615
• Rio Grande Valley Staging Facility (Texas): 4,556
• The Laredo Contract Detention Facility (Texas): 2,022
• San Diego District Staging Facility (California): 1,857
Source: Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse
end
Note: Don't need no stinking walks in the desert.
Pilot accused of ferrying illegal immigrants to Chandler
7 hours ago • Perla Trevizo Arizona Daily Star
Related Documents
PDF: Criminal complaint against James Bissell
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/border/pilot-accused-of-ferrying-
illegal-immigrants-to-chandler/article_5b66dc74-ed2c-57a1-9d6c-
c6566db2bdf0.html
A pilot is accused of using the Bisbee-Douglas International Airport
to smuggle illegal immigrants to the Phoenix area.
Border Patrol agents arrested James Bissell and three other U.S.
citizens, who haven't been identified, when Bissell was getting ready
to load into a single-engine plane three people from Mexico who had
crossed the border illegally, according to a criminal complaint filed
in federal court.
Bissell told authorities two women were paying him to fly late in the
evening the one-way trips to Chandler, the complaint said.
He had been flying three times a week with about three to four
passengers per flight for a year.
He said the women had paid him $900 for Monday's trip, in addition to
another $900 for a prior flight, court documents show.
That would be transporting in one year about 500 people in 156
flights for more than $140,000.
The illegal immigrants told authorities they crossed the border fence
and were taken by smugglers to a residence where they were picked up
and driven to the airport.
Bissell is charged with alien smuggling and had his first appearance
Wednesday in the Tucson federal court before Magistrate Judge Bruce
Macdonald.
Customs officials said it's unusual to find smugglers using planes to
transport illegal immigrants.
END
Florence busiest initial stop for ICE detainees
7 hours ago • Perla Trevizo Arizona Daily Star
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/border/florence-busiest-initial-stop-
for-ice-detainees/article_1423e2e8-6cc7-51bb-af64-795a79c3ac4c.html
Arizona is home to the facility where the largest number of
immigration detainees are initially held in the nation, new data show.
More than 7,600 people were initially detained at the Florence
Staging Facility between November and December 2012, according to a
new report from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, a
research group. That's followed by two locations in Texas: Brooks
County jail in Falfurrias where 4,615 people were initially held, and
the Rio Grande Valley Staging Facility, with 4,556 detainees.
The Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, or TRAC, is a
nonpartisan research organization associated with Syracuse University.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials wouldn't comment on the
report this week citing a need to review it.
Individuals were first processed at these locations and then
deported, released or transferred to more permanent detention
facilities. The Florence Staging Facility is also used as a regional
transportation hub to fly individuals who are from countries other
than Mexico to their places of origin.
The number of people picked up by Customs and Border Protection and
transferred into ICE's custody may be a contributing factor to the
high number at the Florence facility, said Maurice Goldman, a local
immigration attorney.
Seven out of every 10 individuals were originally detained in states
along the Southwest border.
The biggest share comes from Texas, where 24,811 people were detained
between November and December last year - more than twice as many as
in Arizona or California.
Still, Goldman says his law firm has seen an increase in the number
of people being picked up and detained by immigration officials in
the last several months.
"It seems like not a day goes by that we don't get a least one phone
call from a family member of someone who has been picked up by Border
Patrol or ICE," he said. "We are still seeing a good amount of people
who get turned over to (ICE) based on traffic violations."
TRAC based the state location on the place where ICE recorded the
person as entering its custody since the agency hasn't released
information on where the person was initially apprehended, the report
says.
Nearly 8,500 individuals were picked up across the country and
detained by ICE during a typical week, TRAC reported, "If activity
levels continue at this pace, ICE will detain around 400,000
individuals during the current fiscal year."
And what happens to detainees in immigration custody also varies
widely by state.
Arizona has the second-highest state removal rate at 84 percent, only
after New Mexico, with 88 percent, TRAC reported Wednesday.
On StarNet: Find extensive coverage of immigration issues at
azstarnet.com/border
ICE Custody
66,278
Total number of individuals detained by ICE in November and December
2012
TOP 5 STATES
Texas 24,811
Arizona 11,373
California 10,230
Florida 1,931
Georgia 1,590
TOP 5 FACILITIES
Where people were initially detained
• Florence Staging Facility (Arizona): 7,650
• Brooks County Jail in Falfurrias (Texas): 4,615
• Rio Grande Valley Staging Facility (Texas): 4,556
• The Laredo Contract Detention Facility (Texas): 2,022
• San Diego District Staging Facility (California): 1,857
Source: Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse
end
Friday, May 24, 2013
AZMEX EXTRA 22-5-13
AZMEX EXTRA 22 MAY 2013
Note: "The federal government sees both the self-defense forces and
the cartel as dangerous enemies."
http://news.yahoo.com/mexico-cartel-dominates-torches-western-
state-201000790.html
Mexico cartel dominates, torches western state
By MARK STEVENSON | Associated Press – 1 hr 28 mins ago
Associated Press/Marco Ugarte - In this May 20, 2013 photo, an armed
man belonging to a local self-defense group patrols from the back of
a pick-up truck in the town of Buenavista, Mexico. Self-defense
groups …more
LA RUANA, Mexico (AP) — The farm state of Michoacan is burning. A
drug cartel that takes its name from an ancient monastic order has
set fire to lumber yards, packing plants and passenger buses in a
medieval-like reign of terror.
The Knights Templar cartel is extorting protection payments from
cattlemen, lime growers and businesses such as butchers, prompting
some communities to fight back, taking up arms in vigilante patrols.
Lime picker Alejandro Ayala chose to seek help from the law instead.
After the cartel forced him out of work by shutting down fruit
warehouses, he and several dozen co-workers, escorted by Federal
Police, met on April 10 with then-state Interior Secretary Jesus
Reyna, now the acting governor of the state in western Mexico.
The 41-year-old father of two only wanted to get back to work, said
his wife, Martha Elena Murguia Morales.
But, as often, the cartel responded before the government did.
On the way back, his convoy was ambushed, twice. Ayala and nine
others were killed.
"I called him after the first one, and he said, 'They shot at us, but
I'm OK,'" Murguia Morales said. "Then I called him again, and he
didn't answer."
Help finally arrived Sunday when thousands of soldiers rolled in to
restore order. The government of President Enrique Pena Nieto says
troops will stay in Michoacan until every citizen lives in peace. But
the offensive, headed by Secretary of Defense Salvador Cienfuegos,
looks a lot like failed operations launched previously by former
President Felipe Calderon, who started his first assault on organized
crime in Michoacan shortly after taking office in late 2006.
Calderon was trying to stop drug cartels from morphing into mafias
controlling all segments of society. But that's exactly what has
happened, as they maintain country roads, control the local economy
and mete out justice for common crimes.
In the Tierra Caliente, a remote agricultural region, fire has been a
favored weapon of the cartel. On the highway between Coalcoman and La
Ruana, the ruins of three sawmills torched by the cartel still
smoldered this week.
The owners reportedly had failed to pay protection fees of 120 pesos
(about $10) for every cubic meter of wood they sold, the equivalent
of about 10 cents for every two-by-four board.
The Knights Templar also demands that avocado growers pay 2,000 pesos
(about $160) per hectare of trees. Avocado warehouses were set afire
this month by armed men.
The heart of a conflict where a mafia openly rules and the government
is largely absent is nowhere more evident than in the lime groves
that cover the hot, hilly plains, miles and miles of trees with the
fruit yellowing and falling into uncollected heaps on the ground.
Mexico is the world's largest producer of limes, according to the
U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 2 million tons in 2012.
Much of its exports go to the United States, and Michoacan
contributes a large share of that: nearly 475,000 tons of the fruit
last year, half from the Tierra Caliente.
It sometimes seems like everything in Mexico, from tacos to potato
chips to beer, gets a squeeze of lime.
By late last year, the cartel wasn't just extorting money from lime
growers and packers. It had started charging per-box payments from
lime pickers, who make only $10 to $15 per day laboring under the
scorching sun.
With officials doing nothing to help, self-defense groups started to
spring up in February to fight back. Heavily armed men in masks and
baseball caps began manning barricades along highways and patrolling
the countryside, sometimes openly battling the cartel. Last month
Then the cartel shut the warehouses, forbidding brokers to buy limes
and cutting off work for the pickers who had revolted.
Straw-hatted fruit broker Carlos Torres Chavez watched on Tuesday as
thousands of fresh green limes poured down the chutes from his
plant's giant hoppers into a 37-ton truck for shipment to a
processing mill. It was his first day open in two months, thanks to
the arrival of the army.
Torres Chavez sells to mills that make lime oil. He usually gets
yellow, overripe, second-rate fruit.
But because of the growers' desperation to make money, they were
selling him fresh green limes for a peso per kilogram (8 cents per
pound), a third of what the fruit is normally worth.
"This is a waste. These are good limes, they can be eaten. They
shouldn't be going to the mill," said Domingo Mora, 54, as he picked
up one of the limes sifting through the hoppers.
Mora's 24-year-old son, Daniel Mora Torres, was arrested in March
along with 50 other young men from the La Ruana self-defense force
and was sent to a prison in northern Mexico.
Authorities accused them of carrying banned assault rifles, and said
some had links to a rival cartel, Jalisco Nueva Generation, which
they deny. The federal government sees both the self-defense forces
and the cartel as dangerous enemies.
Mora says his son is just a lime picker who couldn't work to feed his
family after the Knights Templar banned the lime sales.
Meanwhile, in Mexico City, the federal government recently declared a
lime emergency because prices had doubled to about 70 cents a pound
(18 pesos per kilogram). For a fruit so central to Mexican cuisine,
it was a crisis.
The government announced last week it would tackle the shortage by
importing limes from Brazil. The government attributed the local
scarcity to crop pests and "seasonal fluctuations" in production.
Sergio Ramirez, president of a lime trade group called Sistema
Producto Limon, insisted there is no shortage and blamed the high
prices on greedy fruit dealers and government bungling. His
explanation doesn't play in the Tierra Caliente.
"Isn't it ironic, Mexico is going to import limes from Brazil,
because there isn't enough supply?" asked a rancher wearing a
baseball cap and leaning back into his chair at the headquarters of
the local self-defense group in Tepalcatepec. "Here, the limes are
falling to the ground, because the lords of the Knights Templar won't
let them be sold."
The rancher, who like most of the vigilantes won't give his name for
fear of reprisal, knows the price of living under the rule of the
gang. They used to demand 800 to 1,000 pesos (up to $80) in
protection money for each head of cattle he owned, about equal to any
profit he would make from selling them.
The Mexican army was met with cheers when it arrived in La Ruana on
Monday night. Federal Interior Secretary Miguel Osorio Chong promised
that the offensive this time would have better coordination,
cooperation and intelligence to be successful.
But federal forces up against a deeply rooted local mafia that, with
at least a decade of state and local government tolerance, exerts
almost governmental power.
The last time the federal government truly went after the cartel,
then known as La Familia, was in 2010. Federal Police killed leader
Nazario Moreno Gonzalez in a gunbattle and firefights followed for
weeks in dozens of spots. La Familia's leadership fell apart, but one
branch of the cartel evolved into the Knights Templar, which has
consolidated control.
The cartel now operates relatively openly. A man resembling its
leader, Servando "La Tuta" Gomez Martinez, recently appeared on
YouTube, calling on the federal government to do its job and saying
the vigilantes were men sent by rival cartels from outside of Michoacan.
He has regularly sent messages depicting the Knights Templar as home-
grown Robin Hoods who take from the rich, give to the poor and defend
the state against other gangs.
The cartel even built public, roadside chapels to its fallen leader,
"St. Nazario," which some of the vigilantes destroyed.
And it can draw crowds of supporters, either by threat, persuasion or
payment, in cities such as Apatzingan, where hundreds of people have
rallied to condemn the self-defense squads.
Many of the vigilante squads disappeared this week with the arrival
of the army, though they vow to take up arms again as soon as the
soldiers leave. But the patrols continued in the town of Buenavista,
where one self-defense guard, a square-jawed young lime picker in a
straw hat, carried a 16-gauge shotgun at a checkpoint. He described
the cartel this way:
"It's like a monster with a thousand arms, that wants to control
everything, the way you live, the way you think," said the young
patrolman. "You cut off one arm, it grows another."
___
end
Note: "The federal government sees both the self-defense forces and
the cartel as dangerous enemies."
http://news.yahoo.com/mexico-cartel-dominates-torches-western-
state-201000790.html
Mexico cartel dominates, torches western state
By MARK STEVENSON | Associated Press – 1 hr 28 mins ago
Associated Press/Marco Ugarte - In this May 20, 2013 photo, an armed
man belonging to a local self-defense group patrols from the back of
a pick-up truck in the town of Buenavista, Mexico. Self-defense
groups …more
LA RUANA, Mexico (AP) — The farm state of Michoacan is burning. A
drug cartel that takes its name from an ancient monastic order has
set fire to lumber yards, packing plants and passenger buses in a
medieval-like reign of terror.
The Knights Templar cartel is extorting protection payments from
cattlemen, lime growers and businesses such as butchers, prompting
some communities to fight back, taking up arms in vigilante patrols.
Lime picker Alejandro Ayala chose to seek help from the law instead.
After the cartel forced him out of work by shutting down fruit
warehouses, he and several dozen co-workers, escorted by Federal
Police, met on April 10 with then-state Interior Secretary Jesus
Reyna, now the acting governor of the state in western Mexico.
The 41-year-old father of two only wanted to get back to work, said
his wife, Martha Elena Murguia Morales.
But, as often, the cartel responded before the government did.
On the way back, his convoy was ambushed, twice. Ayala and nine
others were killed.
"I called him after the first one, and he said, 'They shot at us, but
I'm OK,'" Murguia Morales said. "Then I called him again, and he
didn't answer."
Help finally arrived Sunday when thousands of soldiers rolled in to
restore order. The government of President Enrique Pena Nieto says
troops will stay in Michoacan until every citizen lives in peace. But
the offensive, headed by Secretary of Defense Salvador Cienfuegos,
looks a lot like failed operations launched previously by former
President Felipe Calderon, who started his first assault on organized
crime in Michoacan shortly after taking office in late 2006.
Calderon was trying to stop drug cartels from morphing into mafias
controlling all segments of society. But that's exactly what has
happened, as they maintain country roads, control the local economy
and mete out justice for common crimes.
In the Tierra Caliente, a remote agricultural region, fire has been a
favored weapon of the cartel. On the highway between Coalcoman and La
Ruana, the ruins of three sawmills torched by the cartel still
smoldered this week.
The owners reportedly had failed to pay protection fees of 120 pesos
(about $10) for every cubic meter of wood they sold, the equivalent
of about 10 cents for every two-by-four board.
The Knights Templar also demands that avocado growers pay 2,000 pesos
(about $160) per hectare of trees. Avocado warehouses were set afire
this month by armed men.
The heart of a conflict where a mafia openly rules and the government
is largely absent is nowhere more evident than in the lime groves
that cover the hot, hilly plains, miles and miles of trees with the
fruit yellowing and falling into uncollected heaps on the ground.
Mexico is the world's largest producer of limes, according to the
U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 2 million tons in 2012.
Much of its exports go to the United States, and Michoacan
contributes a large share of that: nearly 475,000 tons of the fruit
last year, half from the Tierra Caliente.
It sometimes seems like everything in Mexico, from tacos to potato
chips to beer, gets a squeeze of lime.
By late last year, the cartel wasn't just extorting money from lime
growers and packers. It had started charging per-box payments from
lime pickers, who make only $10 to $15 per day laboring under the
scorching sun.
With officials doing nothing to help, self-defense groups started to
spring up in February to fight back. Heavily armed men in masks and
baseball caps began manning barricades along highways and patrolling
the countryside, sometimes openly battling the cartel. Last month
Then the cartel shut the warehouses, forbidding brokers to buy limes
and cutting off work for the pickers who had revolted.
Straw-hatted fruit broker Carlos Torres Chavez watched on Tuesday as
thousands of fresh green limes poured down the chutes from his
plant's giant hoppers into a 37-ton truck for shipment to a
processing mill. It was his first day open in two months, thanks to
the arrival of the army.
Torres Chavez sells to mills that make lime oil. He usually gets
yellow, overripe, second-rate fruit.
But because of the growers' desperation to make money, they were
selling him fresh green limes for a peso per kilogram (8 cents per
pound), a third of what the fruit is normally worth.
"This is a waste. These are good limes, they can be eaten. They
shouldn't be going to the mill," said Domingo Mora, 54, as he picked
up one of the limes sifting through the hoppers.
Mora's 24-year-old son, Daniel Mora Torres, was arrested in March
along with 50 other young men from the La Ruana self-defense force
and was sent to a prison in northern Mexico.
Authorities accused them of carrying banned assault rifles, and said
some had links to a rival cartel, Jalisco Nueva Generation, which
they deny. The federal government sees both the self-defense forces
and the cartel as dangerous enemies.
Mora says his son is just a lime picker who couldn't work to feed his
family after the Knights Templar banned the lime sales.
Meanwhile, in Mexico City, the federal government recently declared a
lime emergency because prices had doubled to about 70 cents a pound
(18 pesos per kilogram). For a fruit so central to Mexican cuisine,
it was a crisis.
The government announced last week it would tackle the shortage by
importing limes from Brazil. The government attributed the local
scarcity to crop pests and "seasonal fluctuations" in production.
Sergio Ramirez, president of a lime trade group called Sistema
Producto Limon, insisted there is no shortage and blamed the high
prices on greedy fruit dealers and government bungling. His
explanation doesn't play in the Tierra Caliente.
"Isn't it ironic, Mexico is going to import limes from Brazil,
because there isn't enough supply?" asked a rancher wearing a
baseball cap and leaning back into his chair at the headquarters of
the local self-defense group in Tepalcatepec. "Here, the limes are
falling to the ground, because the lords of the Knights Templar won't
let them be sold."
The rancher, who like most of the vigilantes won't give his name for
fear of reprisal, knows the price of living under the rule of the
gang. They used to demand 800 to 1,000 pesos (up to $80) in
protection money for each head of cattle he owned, about equal to any
profit he would make from selling them.
The Mexican army was met with cheers when it arrived in La Ruana on
Monday night. Federal Interior Secretary Miguel Osorio Chong promised
that the offensive this time would have better coordination,
cooperation and intelligence to be successful.
But federal forces up against a deeply rooted local mafia that, with
at least a decade of state and local government tolerance, exerts
almost governmental power.
The last time the federal government truly went after the cartel,
then known as La Familia, was in 2010. Federal Police killed leader
Nazario Moreno Gonzalez in a gunbattle and firefights followed for
weeks in dozens of spots. La Familia's leadership fell apart, but one
branch of the cartel evolved into the Knights Templar, which has
consolidated control.
The cartel now operates relatively openly. A man resembling its
leader, Servando "La Tuta" Gomez Martinez, recently appeared on
YouTube, calling on the federal government to do its job and saying
the vigilantes were men sent by rival cartels from outside of Michoacan.
He has regularly sent messages depicting the Knights Templar as home-
grown Robin Hoods who take from the rich, give to the poor and defend
the state against other gangs.
The cartel even built public, roadside chapels to its fallen leader,
"St. Nazario," which some of the vigilantes destroyed.
And it can draw crowds of supporters, either by threat, persuasion or
payment, in cities such as Apatzingan, where hundreds of people have
rallied to condemn the self-defense squads.
Many of the vigilante squads disappeared this week with the arrival
of the army, though they vow to take up arms again as soon as the
soldiers leave. But the patrols continued in the town of Buenavista,
where one self-defense guard, a square-jawed young lime picker in a
straw hat, carried a 16-gauge shotgun at a checkpoint. He described
the cartel this way:
"It's like a monster with a thousand arms, that wants to control
everything, the way you live, the way you think," said the young
patrolman. "You cut off one arm, it grows another."
___
end
AZMEX POLICY2 24-5-13
AZMEX POLICY 2 24 MAY 2013
AID TO MEXICO
US Sets Merida Initiative program
Depends on the definition of anti-crime strategies from the
government of Enrique Peña Nieto
AP
24/05/2013
http://www.noroeste.com.mx/publicaciones.php?id=870303
WASHINGTON (AP). _ The State Department reported to Congress that
still works on the implementation of the new strategy of the Mexican
government to centralize U.S. counternarcotics cooperation through
the Interior Ministry.
Appearing before the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of the
House, the Secretary of State for International Narcotics Combating
William R. Brownfield said he had no objection on the new strategy
but said that "we are now working on how to implement this in a multi
with dozens of government agencies.'re Still working on that and hope
to have a more concrete answer when he appears again" before this
committee.
Before President Barack Obama visited Mexico earlier this month,
Mexican authorities announced their cooperation centralize preference
through the Ministry of the Interior to maximize inter-ministerial
coordination.
Brownfield said the United States has given $1,200,000,000 of the
$1,900,000,000 dollars (??? ) pledged in 2008 to counternarcotics
efforts in Mexico through the Merida Initiative.
The official described as "predictable and systematic" gradual
reduction of funds in recent years to the Merida Initiative and
attributed to the achievements of the initiative.
Merida received $ 248 million in fiscal year 2012, 199 million in
2013 and 2014 were requested 148 million, said Brownfield specifying
that the funds for 2013 have not yet been disbursed.
There are other $ 95 million related to Merida retained "for issues
related to the nature of the plan and the strategy in the future"
Brownfield said he was working with Mexican authorities on "how to
respond to a request from the Senate for additional information" .
Among other changes to the security strategy proposed by the
government of Enrique Peña Nieto, in power since December, included a
Commission for the Prevention of Crime, review the practice of
prolonged pretrial detention without indictment and the creation of a
National Human Rights Program.
Brownfield said U.S. cooperation so far has allowed training 8,500
federal judiciary officials, 19,000 federal and state police, of
which 4,000 are federal investigators, strengthening in the custody
of 14 federal prisons with capacity for 20,000 inmates and seizure of
illicit goods worth almost three billion dollars.
END
AID TO MEXICO
US Sets Merida Initiative program
Depends on the definition of anti-crime strategies from the
government of Enrique Peña Nieto
AP
24/05/2013
http://www.noroeste.com.mx/publicaciones.php?id=870303
WASHINGTON (AP). _ The State Department reported to Congress that
still works on the implementation of the new strategy of the Mexican
government to centralize U.S. counternarcotics cooperation through
the Interior Ministry.
Appearing before the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of the
House, the Secretary of State for International Narcotics Combating
William R. Brownfield said he had no objection on the new strategy
but said that "we are now working on how to implement this in a multi
with dozens of government agencies.'re Still working on that and hope
to have a more concrete answer when he appears again" before this
committee.
Before President Barack Obama visited Mexico earlier this month,
Mexican authorities announced their cooperation centralize preference
through the Ministry of the Interior to maximize inter-ministerial
coordination.
Brownfield said the United States has given $1,200,000,000 of the
$1,900,000,000 dollars (??? ) pledged in 2008 to counternarcotics
efforts in Mexico through the Merida Initiative.
The official described as "predictable and systematic" gradual
reduction of funds in recent years to the Merida Initiative and
attributed to the achievements of the initiative.
Merida received $ 248 million in fiscal year 2012, 199 million in
2013 and 2014 were requested 148 million, said Brownfield specifying
that the funds for 2013 have not yet been disbursed.
There are other $ 95 million related to Merida retained "for issues
related to the nature of the plan and the strategy in the future"
Brownfield said he was working with Mexican authorities on "how to
respond to a request from the Senate for additional information" .
Among other changes to the security strategy proposed by the
government of Enrique Peña Nieto, in power since December, included a
Commission for the Prevention of Crime, review the practice of
prolonged pretrial detention without indictment and the creation of a
National Human Rights Program.
Brownfield said U.S. cooperation so far has allowed training 8,500
federal judiciary officials, 19,000 federal and state police, of
which 4,000 are federal investigators, strengthening in the custody
of 14 federal prisons with capacity for 20,000 inmates and seizure of
illicit goods worth almost three billion dollars.
END
AZMEX POLICY 24-5-13
AZMEX POLICY 24 MAY 2013
99% Approval Rate!
No, that is not a job satisfaction rating for Border Patrol agents,
it is the current approval rating for amnesty program applicants.
This program was unilaterally implemented by the Obama Administration
because Congress wouldn't give him what he wanted (democracy is such
an old and tired concept).
The USCIS union claims they are overwhelmed and on a quota system, so
they are being forced to "skim" files and rubber stamp approvals. And
this amnesty program is much, much smaller than the program
envisioned by the so-called "gang of eight". So let's see if we can
get this straight – USCIS is overwhelmed by a much smaller amnesty
program than the monstrosity that is looming on the horizon, but we
are somehow to believe that a new program involving millions and
millions of illegal aliens and costing the taxpayers billions of
dollars will be properly scrutinized and implemented? And that
"border security" will come afterwards? We have some ocean-front
property just south of Tucson we'd like to sell you after you fall
for the promise of a "secure" border when the politicians get the
amnesty program they want.
Let's look at reality for a moment – a cutback in patrol hours, a
huge pay cut looming over hour heads, fuel rationing, years-long ammo
shortages, equipment falling apart and morale in the dump, one lie
after another about the illegal aliens who get away from us, lies
about the illegal alien criminals released from prison, but we are
all supposed to believe that a "secure" border is just one more
massive amnesty program away from becoming the new reality. Simply
stunning that anyone would buy this work of fiction.
Read more about the USCIS union's position on the current amnesty
program here.
http://www.local2544.org/99-approval-rate/
This entry was posted on Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 at 8:12 pm and is
filed under News. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Retired BP Chief Calls Secretary Napolitano a Liar
Secretary Napolitano's detractors are growing in both number and
rank. We have been beating on her pretty hard here for many months
(and deservedly so), but now retired top brass is exposing her as well.
You may recall a few months back when ICE Director John Morton and
Secretary Napolitano decided it would be a good idea to release
thousands of illegal alien criminals from prison and unleash them on
the citizens they are supposed to be protecting. It's bad enough that
they did it, but then Secretary Napolitano decided to lie about it.
The first lie from the Administration was that they were all "low
level" offenders. The second lie was the announced numbers that were
released (a couple of hundred is a long way from well over 2,000).
And of course, the third fairy tale was the old and tired "I didn't
know anything about it." that seems to run rampant in the federal
government these days. Does anyone really believe that John Morton
would order thousands of criminals released from prison without the
direct knowledge and approval of Janet Napolitano? Really? If these
people who are paid so much money to run government organizations,
and to know what's going on within the organizations they're running,
really don't know anything about anything unless it's something that
makes them look good, perhaps they should all be fired. In the case
of the recently exposed IRS officials, perhaps prison is more
appropriate.
We remind you that rank-and-file Border Patrol agents are FIRED for
telling lies, and even for not telling everything we know about a
situation (when we are deemed to be withholding information we can be
charged with "lack of candor" and fired). But too many who hold lofty
managerial positions apparently just consider lying part of their
job. And they are supposed to be setting the standard for us.
Read the retired BP chief's blog post here.
http://www.local2544.org/retired-bp-chief-calls-secretary-napolitano-
a-liar/
This entry was posted on Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 at 8:33 pm and is
filed under News. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
END
99% Approval Rate!
No, that is not a job satisfaction rating for Border Patrol agents,
it is the current approval rating for amnesty program applicants.
This program was unilaterally implemented by the Obama Administration
because Congress wouldn't give him what he wanted (democracy is such
an old and tired concept).
The USCIS union claims they are overwhelmed and on a quota system, so
they are being forced to "skim" files and rubber stamp approvals. And
this amnesty program is much, much smaller than the program
envisioned by the so-called "gang of eight". So let's see if we can
get this straight – USCIS is overwhelmed by a much smaller amnesty
program than the monstrosity that is looming on the horizon, but we
are somehow to believe that a new program involving millions and
millions of illegal aliens and costing the taxpayers billions of
dollars will be properly scrutinized and implemented? And that
"border security" will come afterwards? We have some ocean-front
property just south of Tucson we'd like to sell you after you fall
for the promise of a "secure" border when the politicians get the
amnesty program they want.
Let's look at reality for a moment – a cutback in patrol hours, a
huge pay cut looming over hour heads, fuel rationing, years-long ammo
shortages, equipment falling apart and morale in the dump, one lie
after another about the illegal aliens who get away from us, lies
about the illegal alien criminals released from prison, but we are
all supposed to believe that a "secure" border is just one more
massive amnesty program away from becoming the new reality. Simply
stunning that anyone would buy this work of fiction.
Read more about the USCIS union's position on the current amnesty
program here.
http://www.local2544.org/99-approval-rate/
This entry was posted on Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 at 8:12 pm and is
filed under News. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Retired BP Chief Calls Secretary Napolitano a Liar
Secretary Napolitano's detractors are growing in both number and
rank. We have been beating on her pretty hard here for many months
(and deservedly so), but now retired top brass is exposing her as well.
You may recall a few months back when ICE Director John Morton and
Secretary Napolitano decided it would be a good idea to release
thousands of illegal alien criminals from prison and unleash them on
the citizens they are supposed to be protecting. It's bad enough that
they did it, but then Secretary Napolitano decided to lie about it.
The first lie from the Administration was that they were all "low
level" offenders. The second lie was the announced numbers that were
released (a couple of hundred is a long way from well over 2,000).
And of course, the third fairy tale was the old and tired "I didn't
know anything about it." that seems to run rampant in the federal
government these days. Does anyone really believe that John Morton
would order thousands of criminals released from prison without the
direct knowledge and approval of Janet Napolitano? Really? If these
people who are paid so much money to run government organizations,
and to know what's going on within the organizations they're running,
really don't know anything about anything unless it's something that
makes them look good, perhaps they should all be fired. In the case
of the recently exposed IRS officials, perhaps prison is more
appropriate.
We remind you that rank-and-file Border Patrol agents are FIRED for
telling lies, and even for not telling everything we know about a
situation (when we are deemed to be withholding information we can be
charged with "lack of candor" and fired). But too many who hold lofty
managerial positions apparently just consider lying part of their
job. And they are supposed to be setting the standard for us.
Read the retired BP chief's blog post here.
http://www.local2544.org/retired-bp-chief-calls-secretary-napolitano-
a-liar/
This entry was posted on Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 at 8:33 pm and is
filed under News. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
END
AZMEX F&F EXTRA 23-5-13
AZMEX F&F EXTRA 23 MAY 2013
Note: Burke has been a key staffer to J. Napolitano throughout much
of her career in government. Was very active at staff level in anti
2nd Amendment efforts with the original Semi Auto rifle ban a few
years ago.
Former Arizona Prosecutor Leaked Gunwalking To Media
By Michel Marizco
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
http://www.fronterasdesk.org/news/2013/may/21/former-arizona-
prosecutor-leaked-gunwalking-media/
Audio clip
Former Arizona Prosecutor Leaked Gunwalking to Media
Document
OIG Report
Download .PDF
TUCSON, Ariz. — The former federal prosecutor for Arizona who
resigned after a gunwalking scandal known as Operation Fast and
Furious may now face ethical violations.
The Office of Inspector General for the Department of Justice said
former U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke leaked a memo to Fox News in 2011.
The OIG said it believes Burke was trying to discredit a key
whistleblower to the gunwalking operation.
The memo in question was one written by John Dodson, a Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent. In the memo, Dodson
had recommended letting guns walk so they would be used in crimes,
opening up the possibility of charging the gun buyers with federal
crimes.
That practice was the same one being employed by agents in Fast and
Furious. Dodson was a critic of that operation and later said he only
wrote the memo to highlight what he saw as the erroneous thinking
behind Fast and Furious. Burke was already under investigation when
he leaked the memo.
He had told OIG investigators that he had earlier leaked information
to The New York Times. Burke resigned as Arizona's U.S. Attorney in
August 2011. The OIG is pushing for the former prosecutor to be
investigated by ethics boards in the states where he is licensed to
practice law.
end
Note: last sentence the punch line.
Tim Steller: Every leaker acts out of own interests
ALL THE MORE REASON FOR JOURNALISTS TO KEEP DIGGING, GIVE CONTEXT
8 hours ago • Tim Steller Arizona Daily Star
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/tim-steller-every-leaker-acts-out-of-
own-interests/article_3dd612a0-f51f-5cc7-909f-322bddb5a368.html
Dennis Burke, the former U.S. attorney for Arizona, tried to
undermine a whistleblower in the Fast and Furious gun-trafficking
case by leaking a document to a journalist, but he failed.
The reason is significant: The journalist, Fox News producer Mike
Levine, checked out Burke's information and declined to pursue the
story.
Burke's episodes of leaking information about Operation Fast and
Furious in 2011, detailed in a new report by the Justice Department
Office of Inspector General, contain lessons in leaking. There's a
how-to lesson - Burke's office was exposed as the source of one leak
for a comical reason - and a lesson in how leaking information can
work for the common good when handled well.
Both of these are increasingly relevant in light of the revelations
this month that the Justice Department has pursued journalists'
records in its effort to find leakers of government-produced
information. Chillingly, the Justice Department has seized phone
records from Associated Press reporters and a Fox News correspondent
in its effort to prosecute leakers of information about North Korea
and a foiled Yemeni terrorist plot.
In Burke's case, the leaks centered on Operation Fast and Furious,
the flawed ATF investigation of Arizona gun traffickers buying
weapons for Mexican drug cartels. As 2011 went on, Republican members
of Congress were pressing an investigation, and Burke's office was on
the defensive because one of the hundreds of guns allowed into
criminal hands by the operation was left at the scene of the killing
of U.S. Border Patrol agent Brian Terry.
On June 14, 2011, the New York Times published a story about the
congressional investigation that included a link to a memorandum
about Jaime Avila, the man who bought the gun later found at the
scene of Terry's murder. The memorandum provided a defense of the
Phoenix U.S. Attorney's Office's handling of gun-trafficking cases in
a story that otherwise was largely critical. It provided worthy
balance, in my view.
But as originally published, the online image of the memorandum
revealed the apparent leaker: The fax number for the U.S Attorney's
Office in Phoenix was printed at the top of the page as the sender of
the document.
Although a Justice Department official confronted Burke about that
leak on June 16, 2011 - and investigators eventually concluded Burke
was involved - he carried out another one soon after. Burke was upset
that ATF Special Agent John Dodson was given credit as a
whistleblower against Fast and Furious when Dodson himself, according
to one email Dodson had sent, once pursued a similar tactic of
selling guns to criminals as part of a separate investigation.
On June 28, 2011, Burke sent a copy of Dodson's email from his
personal email account to a friend of Levine, the Fox News producer
in Washington, D.C., the report says. The friend printed the email
and hand-delivered it to Levine.
Burke did not return a phone message left for him late Thursday
afternoon.
I spoke with Dodson on Thursday, and he told me he learned of the
leak of that email when Levine called him about it almost two years
ago. Dodson recounted for me Thursday the explanation he gave Levine
then: His supervisor had asked him to write the email proposing that
he purchase the guns for a suspected criminal, so that the plan could
be approved by a higher-up. In other words, it wasn't Dodson's idea.
Levine talked over Dodson's email with a fellow reporter and decided
not to pursue it, the report says. That's to his credit because it
appears the point Burke was trying to make with the leak was false.
"I agree with you that the more information that's out there, the
better," Dodson told me. "My problem, especially with the leak is,
the context in which it comes out."
This is the part that the public doesn't see when good journalists
receive leaked material. Every leaker has an interest that the
journalists must consider, and every leak has a context. The
reporters' job is to contact those affected, talk with each other and
decide how to proceed.
The New York Times did this in 2005, publishing an exposé that
revealed the National Security Agency had conducted "warrantless
eavesdropping" on American citizens. The story was based on leaked
information, and the paper delayed publication for months in part to
consider White House objections.
In a much less consequential example of a story based on a leak, I
wrote in February about a new order to Border Patrol spokesmen that
they no longer give interviews or ride-alongs related to the border.
I provided the email to Customs and Border Protection, discussed it
with them and included their perspective in the column.
Burke resigned in August 2011, after admitting to Justice Department
investigators that he leaked Dodson's email, but Dodson says he holds
no grudge.
"Whatever you may think about Dennis Burke, that guy is the only one
in any of this who has stepped up and taken responsibility for
anything," he said.
end
Note: Burke has been a key staffer to J. Napolitano throughout much
of her career in government. Was very active at staff level in anti
2nd Amendment efforts with the original Semi Auto rifle ban a few
years ago.
Former Arizona Prosecutor Leaked Gunwalking To Media
By Michel Marizco
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
http://www.fronterasdesk.org/news/2013/may/21/former-arizona-
prosecutor-leaked-gunwalking-media/
Audio clip
Former Arizona Prosecutor Leaked Gunwalking to Media
Document
OIG Report
Download .PDF
TUCSON, Ariz. — The former federal prosecutor for Arizona who
resigned after a gunwalking scandal known as Operation Fast and
Furious may now face ethical violations.
The Office of Inspector General for the Department of Justice said
former U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke leaked a memo to Fox News in 2011.
The OIG said it believes Burke was trying to discredit a key
whistleblower to the gunwalking operation.
The memo in question was one written by John Dodson, a Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent. In the memo, Dodson
had recommended letting guns walk so they would be used in crimes,
opening up the possibility of charging the gun buyers with federal
crimes.
That practice was the same one being employed by agents in Fast and
Furious. Dodson was a critic of that operation and later said he only
wrote the memo to highlight what he saw as the erroneous thinking
behind Fast and Furious. Burke was already under investigation when
he leaked the memo.
He had told OIG investigators that he had earlier leaked information
to The New York Times. Burke resigned as Arizona's U.S. Attorney in
August 2011. The OIG is pushing for the former prosecutor to be
investigated by ethics boards in the states where he is licensed to
practice law.
end
Note: last sentence the punch line.
Tim Steller: Every leaker acts out of own interests
ALL THE MORE REASON FOR JOURNALISTS TO KEEP DIGGING, GIVE CONTEXT
8 hours ago • Tim Steller Arizona Daily Star
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/tim-steller-every-leaker-acts-out-of-
own-interests/article_3dd612a0-f51f-5cc7-909f-322bddb5a368.html
Dennis Burke, the former U.S. attorney for Arizona, tried to
undermine a whistleblower in the Fast and Furious gun-trafficking
case by leaking a document to a journalist, but he failed.
The reason is significant: The journalist, Fox News producer Mike
Levine, checked out Burke's information and declined to pursue the
story.
Burke's episodes of leaking information about Operation Fast and
Furious in 2011, detailed in a new report by the Justice Department
Office of Inspector General, contain lessons in leaking. There's a
how-to lesson - Burke's office was exposed as the source of one leak
for a comical reason - and a lesson in how leaking information can
work for the common good when handled well.
Both of these are increasingly relevant in light of the revelations
this month that the Justice Department has pursued journalists'
records in its effort to find leakers of government-produced
information. Chillingly, the Justice Department has seized phone
records from Associated Press reporters and a Fox News correspondent
in its effort to prosecute leakers of information about North Korea
and a foiled Yemeni terrorist plot.
In Burke's case, the leaks centered on Operation Fast and Furious,
the flawed ATF investigation of Arizona gun traffickers buying
weapons for Mexican drug cartels. As 2011 went on, Republican members
of Congress were pressing an investigation, and Burke's office was on
the defensive because one of the hundreds of guns allowed into
criminal hands by the operation was left at the scene of the killing
of U.S. Border Patrol agent Brian Terry.
On June 14, 2011, the New York Times published a story about the
congressional investigation that included a link to a memorandum
about Jaime Avila, the man who bought the gun later found at the
scene of Terry's murder. The memorandum provided a defense of the
Phoenix U.S. Attorney's Office's handling of gun-trafficking cases in
a story that otherwise was largely critical. It provided worthy
balance, in my view.
But as originally published, the online image of the memorandum
revealed the apparent leaker: The fax number for the U.S Attorney's
Office in Phoenix was printed at the top of the page as the sender of
the document.
Although a Justice Department official confronted Burke about that
leak on June 16, 2011 - and investigators eventually concluded Burke
was involved - he carried out another one soon after. Burke was upset
that ATF Special Agent John Dodson was given credit as a
whistleblower against Fast and Furious when Dodson himself, according
to one email Dodson had sent, once pursued a similar tactic of
selling guns to criminals as part of a separate investigation.
On June 28, 2011, Burke sent a copy of Dodson's email from his
personal email account to a friend of Levine, the Fox News producer
in Washington, D.C., the report says. The friend printed the email
and hand-delivered it to Levine.
Burke did not return a phone message left for him late Thursday
afternoon.
I spoke with Dodson on Thursday, and he told me he learned of the
leak of that email when Levine called him about it almost two years
ago. Dodson recounted for me Thursday the explanation he gave Levine
then: His supervisor had asked him to write the email proposing that
he purchase the guns for a suspected criminal, so that the plan could
be approved by a higher-up. In other words, it wasn't Dodson's idea.
Levine talked over Dodson's email with a fellow reporter and decided
not to pursue it, the report says. That's to his credit because it
appears the point Burke was trying to make with the leak was false.
"I agree with you that the more information that's out there, the
better," Dodson told me. "My problem, especially with the leak is,
the context in which it comes out."
This is the part that the public doesn't see when good journalists
receive leaked material. Every leaker has an interest that the
journalists must consider, and every leak has a context. The
reporters' job is to contact those affected, talk with each other and
decide how to proceed.
The New York Times did this in 2005, publishing an exposé that
revealed the National Security Agency had conducted "warrantless
eavesdropping" on American citizens. The story was based on leaked
information, and the paper delayed publication for months in part to
consider White House objections.
In a much less consequential example of a story based on a leak, I
wrote in February about a new order to Border Patrol spokesmen that
they no longer give interviews or ride-alongs related to the border.
I provided the email to Customs and Border Protection, discussed it
with them and included their perspective in the column.
Burke resigned in August 2011, after admitting to Justice Department
investigators that he leaked Dodson's email, but Dodson says he holds
no grudge.
"Whatever you may think about Dennis Burke, that guy is the only one
in any of this who has stepped up and taken responsibility for
anything," he said.
end
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
AZMEX EXTRA2 21-5-13
AZMEX EXTRA2 21 MAY 2013
Note: Forensic results, gang is also very active in CA and SW of USA.
MS-13 Use of Guns in Guatemala Shows Modus Operandi
Written by James Bargent Wednesday, 08 May 2013
http://www.insightcrime.org/news-briefs/ms-13-used-just-32-guns-to-
kill-over-200-people-in-guatemala
Weapons seized from a street gang in Guatemala
Forensic analysis has revealed that the MS-13 gang in Guatemala used
32 guns to allegedly commit 238 murders, offering insight into the
gang's modus operandi and highlighting some of the difficulties of
tackling organized crime with gun control.
Members of Guatemala's National Institute of Forensic Sciences
(Inacif) used the Integrated Ballistics Identification System (Ibis)
to identify 1,133 guns that had been used in multiple crimes,
reported Prensa Libre.
Of those weapons, prosecutors linked 32 to murders they believe were
committed by the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) due to the style of
execution and the relationship of the MS-13 to the victims -- who
prosecutors say were all members of rival gangs, prison guards, or
victims of robbery or extortion.
Prosecutors will use the weapons as evidence in the case they are
preparing against eight MS-13 leaders, who they accuse of ordering
the hits.
According to Inacif, pistols were by far the most common weapon used
to commit crime and 85 percent of those pistols were stolen from the
National Police and law enforcement agents.
InSight Crime Analysis
In Guatemala, the street gangs known as Maras -- principally the
MS-13 and their Barrio 18 rivals -- operate in small cells known as
"clicas" (cliques), which have between 10 - 50 gang members. As the
forensic analysis suggests, instead of all members of a clique being
armed, the group will have a small number of weapons, which are
stored in a secret place where only members can access them and use
as needed. In some cases there could be as few as one "murder" weapon
used by an entire clique.
There are over one million unregistered guns in Guatemala. The fact
that so few of them are used in organized crime shows how difficult
it will be to limit the activities of street gangs through gun
regulation. What's more, many of these weapons were stolen -- or
possibly bought, as happens elsewhere in the region -- from the
security forces, illustrating the challenge of controlling the gangs'
access to weapons.
END
Note: Forensic results, gang is also very active in CA and SW of USA.
MS-13 Use of Guns in Guatemala Shows Modus Operandi
Written by James Bargent Wednesday, 08 May 2013
http://www.insightcrime.org/news-briefs/ms-13-used-just-32-guns-to-
kill-over-200-people-in-guatemala
Weapons seized from a street gang in Guatemala
Forensic analysis has revealed that the MS-13 gang in Guatemala used
32 guns to allegedly commit 238 murders, offering insight into the
gang's modus operandi and highlighting some of the difficulties of
tackling organized crime with gun control.
Members of Guatemala's National Institute of Forensic Sciences
(Inacif) used the Integrated Ballistics Identification System (Ibis)
to identify 1,133 guns that had been used in multiple crimes,
reported Prensa Libre.
Of those weapons, prosecutors linked 32 to murders they believe were
committed by the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) due to the style of
execution and the relationship of the MS-13 to the victims -- who
prosecutors say were all members of rival gangs, prison guards, or
victims of robbery or extortion.
Prosecutors will use the weapons as evidence in the case they are
preparing against eight MS-13 leaders, who they accuse of ordering
the hits.
According to Inacif, pistols were by far the most common weapon used
to commit crime and 85 percent of those pistols were stolen from the
National Police and law enforcement agents.
InSight Crime Analysis
In Guatemala, the street gangs known as Maras -- principally the
MS-13 and their Barrio 18 rivals -- operate in small cells known as
"clicas" (cliques), which have between 10 - 50 gang members. As the
forensic analysis suggests, instead of all members of a clique being
armed, the group will have a small number of weapons, which are
stored in a secret place where only members can access them and use
as needed. In some cases there could be as few as one "murder" weapon
used by an entire clique.
There are over one million unregistered guns in Guatemala. The fact
that so few of them are used in organized crime shows how difficult
it will be to limit the activities of street gangs through gun
regulation. What's more, many of these weapons were stolen -- or
possibly bought, as happens elsewhere in the region -- from the
security forces, illustrating the challenge of controlling the gangs'
access to weapons.
END
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