AZMEX UPDATE 25 MAR 2016
Note: Drug trade a primary source of funding for many terror groups.
Arizona ranked among worst in nation for auto theft, contributes to border crime
BY CLARISSA COOPER/CRONKITE NEWS |
March 24, 2016 @ 9:08 pm
http://ktar.com/story/982316/arizona-ranked-among-worst-in-nation-for-auto-theft-contributes-to-border-crime/
PHOENIX — Arizona ranked No. 8 in the nation for overall vehicle thefts, according to reports from the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority.
"Auto theft has increasingly become a transnational crime, featuring very sophisticated organizations stealing vehicles in Arizona to conduct illicit activities on both sides of the border," the 2015 report said. "Stolen vehicles are destined for foreign countries; crossing the Mexico border to the south or in shipping containers sent out of state from/to port cities."
Vehicle theft a crime that fueled drug and human trafficking across the Mexican border as well as cost the state $86 million in economic losses.
INTERPOL also has identified vehicle theft and related criminal activity, including insurance fraud, as one of the primary funding sources for international terrorism.
More than 17,000 vehicles were stolen in Arizona in 2014, with the most auto thefts occurring in Maricopa County.
The state ranks No. 11 in the country for vehicle thefts per capita, just behind the District of Columbia, Washington, California, Nevada and New Mexico, according to the report.
"It's a border issue, we have the same issues as well as California, as well as Texas," Capt. Sean Carney of the Arizona Department of Public Safety said. DPS has about a 38 to 40 percent recovery rate for the stolen vehicles it investigates, he added.
During fiscal year 2015, the AATA Vehicle Theft Task Force reported the recovery of 1,023 stolen vehicles valued at over $11 million.
The task force reported 241 auto theft-related arrests, investigated 15 stolen automobile chop shops and found 152 cases of altered or switched Vehicle Identification Numbers.
"People buy their cars and park it someplace and it gets stolen…It upsets your life, your day-to-day activities, your job," said Alberto Gutier, director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.
The 1997 Honda Accord, 1998 Honda Civic, 2006 Chevrolet Pickup, 2003 Ford Pickup and 2005 Dodge Pickup were the most frequently stolen automobiles in Arizona, according to the AATA report.
"The biggest thing when we are talking about the Phoenix area and stolen vehicles is that a lot of these newer homes, you can't fit these big trucks in the garage," said Fred Zumbo, AATA executive director.
Zumbo said the big trucks are often used as vehicles for smuggling by cartels because of their storage space.
Experts said one of the best ways to prevent theft is to pay attention to where a vehicle is parked.
"You know if there's a car thief out there and they look in a vehicle and they see an alarm, they're going to pick the next car," said Lt. Mike Pooley, spokesman for the Tempe Police Department. "If they see a vehicle that's parked in the dark compared to a car that's parked underneath a lot of light at night, they're going to pick the car that's in the dark so they don't get caught."
Measures such as buying a car alarm, putting a locking mechanism on the steering wheel or parking closer to businesses in parking lots can help prevent theft, he said.
END
Posted: Mar 25, 2016 4:50 AM MST
Updated: Mar 25, 2016 4:50 AM MST
Officials: Owner of Drug Tunnel House in Calexico is Tucson resident
Written By Steve Nunez
http://www.kvoa.com/story/31564325/officials-owner-of-drug-tunnel-house-in-calexico-is-tucson-resident
HSI Special Agents photographing tunnel exit point during Calexico Tunnel Operation on March 23, 2016.
TUCSON (KVOA) -- The owner of a house in Calexico where federal agents discovered a drug tunnel that stretched the length of four football fields across the border into Mexico was arrested in Tucson on Thursday.
Augustin Enrique Cruz, also known as "Tinky," was taken into custody by agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security and is being charged with five counts drug trafficking, money laundering and tunnel-related crimes.
Cruz, the central figure in the tunnel case, is expected to be arraigned in federal court on Friday before he is extradited to Southern California.
News 4 Tucson has also learned Cruz lives in Tucson and is a U.S. Citizen.
Agents arrested Cruz one day after about 100 federal, state and local law enforcement officials seized the tunnel at a newly built house on east Third Street in Calexico. The 415-yard tunnel originated in El Sarape restaurant across the border in Mexicali, Baja Calfornia. Calexico is located about 122 miles east of San Diego.
According to the criminal complaint, Cruz purchased the property in January 2014. Prosecutors said Cruz and his associates arranged cash pickups in California and Arizona to pay for the land. Based on federal wiretaps, the construction of the house was expected to cost $86,000.
Cruz then hired local contractors to build the house. Prosecutors said Cruz's boss then directed contractors to leave a space in the foundation for a floor safe, which was intended to be the exit point for the tunnel.
Unbeknownst to the alleged drug traffickers, the construction of the home and tunnel were immediately under the watchful eye of Homeland Security agents who learned through surveillance and court-authorized wiretaps that Cruz and his associates began smuggling drugs through the tunnel on or after February 28, 2016.
In total, agents have arrested five people and have nabbed 3,000 pounds of marijuana that allegedly moved through the tunnel.
On March 23, 2016, two other men, Joel Duarte Medina and Manuel Gallegos Jiminez, were also arrested in connection with the tunnel. They were arraigned in a federal court in El Centro, California and charged with conspiracy to import marijuana, conspiracy to distribute marijuana and conspiracy to maintain drug premises.
Another defendant, Eva Duarte De Medina, was also arrested in Arizona in connection to the drug tunnel and faces charges for conspiracy to import marijuana and conspiracy to maintain drug premises.
Each of the drug charges for all of the defendants carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
END
Note: an example of the small fish, obviously not cartel associates.
Seize weapons and arrest four people
By: Writing ElImparcial | 24/03/2016 12: 1
Hermosillo, Sonora (GH)
http://www.elimparcial.com/EdicionEnLinea/Notas/Policiaca/24032016/1064344-Aseguran-armas-y-detienen-a-cuatro-personas.html
During the tours of surveillance by the State Public Security Police he carried out the arrest of persons with firearms in different events in the state.
In response to reports of people with a firearm in the municipality of Sonoyta, he managed to secure three men, among them a minor.
The fact was raised in the calle Obregon end on the dirt road when they saw a pick up which was driven without lights and with three people.
During the review, they realized that the copilot Roberto R., 31 years old, had between his legs a firearm, caliber .12mm. Therefore, it was secured with a minor and Jose M., 23, who was driving the car, so they were transferred to the appropriate authority.
In other developments in Navojoa, the PESP in coordination with the Navy arrested Jesus Y., 30 years old, while driving on the boulevard Alvaro Obregon and Calle Vicente Guerrero aboard a motorcycle without license plates. When requesting stop, he accelerated trying to evade the authority, however, to be intercepted for review found on him a revolver, caliber .38 special supplied with three rounds of ammunition.
The detainee was turned over to the Federal Public Ministry to continue with the investigations.
Coordinated operation in SLRC
In San Luis Rio Colorado, operation composed of members of the State Public Security Police, State and Municipal Research, to conduct searches in abandoned places, securing a revolver, .32 caliber and 19 cartridges.
The gun was found in the fractionation Chula Vista, and was made to be available to the Public Ministry.
end
Marijuana destroyed around Agua Blanca & Agua Caliente Son.
(Spanish)
http://www.elimparcial.com/EdicionEnLinea/Notas/Noticias/25032016/1064461-Destruyen-3597-toneladas-de-mariguana.html
end
Aseguran armas y detienen a cuatro personas
Por: Redacción ElImparcial | 24/03/2016 12:1
HERMOSILLO, Sonora(GH)
http://www.elimparcial.com/EdicionEnLinea/Notas/Policiaca/24032016/1064344-Aseguran-armas-y-detienen-a-cuatro-personas.html
Durante los recorridos de vigilancia que realiza la Policía Estatal de Seguridad Pública llevó a cabo el arresto de personas con armas de fuego en diferentes hechos en el Estado.
En atención a reportes de personas con arma de fuego en el Municipio de Sonoyta, se logró asegurar a tres hombres, entre estos un menor de edad.
El hecho se suscitó en la calle Obregón final sobre el camino de terracería cuando vieron un pick up que era conducido sin luces y lo abordaban tres personas.
Durante la revisión, se percataron que el copiloto Roberto R., de 31 años de edad, tenía entre sus piernas un arma de fuego, tipo escopeta, calibre .12mm.
Por lo anterior, fue asegurado junto a un menor de edad y José M., de 23 años, quien conducía el automóvil, por lo que fueron trasladados ante la autoridad correspondiente.
En otros hechos en Navojoa, la PESP en coordinación con la Secretaría de Marina detuvieron a Jesús Y., de 30 años de edad, cuando circulaba sobre el bulevar Álvaro Obregón y calle Vicente Guerrero a bordo de una motocicleta sin placas de circulación.
Al solicitar detener la marcha, aceleró velocidad intentando evadir a la autoridad, sin embargo, al ser interceptado para la revisión le encontraron un arma de fuego, tipo revolver, calibre .38 especial abastecida con tres cartuchos útiles.
La persona detenida quedó a disposición del Ministerio Público Federal para continuar con las averiguaciones correspondientes.
Operativo Coordinado en SLRC
En San Luis Río Colorado, el operativo conformado por elementos de la Policía Estatal de Seguridad Pública, Estatal Investigadora y Municipal, al realizar revisiones en lugares abandonados, llevaron a cabo el aseguramiento de un arma tipo revólver, calibre .32mm y 19 cartuchos.
El arma la encontraron en el fraccionamiento Chula Vista, por lo que tomando las medidas correspondientes se hizo el aseguramiento para quedar a disposición del Ministerio Público.
end
Marijuana destroyed around Agua Blanca & Agua Caliente Son.
(Spanish)
http://www.elimparcial.com/EdicionEnLinea/Notas/Noticias/25032016/1064461-Destruyen-3597-toneladas-de-mariguana.html
end
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