AZMEX EXTRA 16-9-11

AZMEX EXTRA 16 SEP 2011

Note: Vekol Valley News Still conflicting stories, one source says
whole bunch of shots fired, and another that a person and firearm
picked up. Happy Independence Day

Shots fired at DPS officers along Interstate 8 by KTAR Newsroom
(September 16th, 2011 @ 8:20am)
http://www.ktar.com/category/local-news-articles/20110916/Shots-
fired-at-DPS-officers-along-Interstate-8/

STANFIELD, Ariz. -- Two Arizona Department of Public Safety officers
were shot at as they worked along Interstate 8 west of Stanfield
Friday morning.
The officers were not injured.

The shots were fired just before 6 a.m. No details were available.
Border Patrol agents, DPS and the Pinal County Sheriff's Office were
investigating.
Stanfield is in a corridor which authorities say is used to smuggle
drugs and illegal immigrants from the Mexican border to the Valley.

Arizona shooting: Shots fired at DPS officers in Pinal County
by Morgan Sailor - Sept. 16, 2011 08:47 AM
The Arizona Republic-12 News Breaking News Team
http://www.azcentral.com/community/pinal/articles/
2011/09/16/20110916arizona-shooting-dps-officers-pinal-county-abrk.html

Shots were fired at DPS officers as they were working with the U.S.
Border Patrol on a human- and drug-smuggling operation in Vekol
Valley early Friday morning.

"It was an ambush," said Officer Carrick Cook of the Department of
Public Safety. "The officers were just merely walking back to the
command post."

Officers fired back at the shooter, but no one was injured in the
exchange that took place just before 6 a.m. near Stanfield off of
Interstate 8. The shooter ran away, and DPS officers, Border Patrol
agents and Pinal County Sheriff's deputies organized a foot search.

Authorities said that they found a person of interest while scouring
the nearby desert. That person is now in custody as officials attempt
to find out if he was involved. Authorities said they also recovered
a handgun and drugs.

The officers were probably either getting ready to leave for the day
or taking a break from the operation to get a drink, Cook said.

No one hurt when shots are fired at police officers
Posted: Sep 16, 2011 7:20 AM MST Updated: Sep 16, 2011 10:00 AM MST
By Eric Zott - email
PHOENIX (KPHO) -
http://www.kpho.com/story/15479183/no-one-hurt-when-shots-are-fired-
at-police-officers

Police are searching for the person that fired shots at officers
Friday morning along I-8.

Authorities with the Arizona Department of Public said someone fired
shots at their officers Friday morning in the area of I-8 west of the
SR84 junction. Authorities confirm that no officers were hit.
The officers were working in the area south of Stanfield along I-8
near mile post 147 when shots were fired at them.

Officers various agencies, including the DPS, Border Patrol and Pinal
county sheriff's office, are working the area searching for the shooter.

The CBS 5 news helicopter flew over the area while the incident was
being investigated.

Valley Drug Pipeline Busted
ICE, Pinal Co. break up smuggling operation
Ted Houston - KFYI News
http://www.kfyi.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?
feed=118695&article=9118436

Agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Pinal County
Sheriff's Office have dismantled what they term a large-scale drug
smuggling operation.

A news release from ICE says the organization is believed to be
responsible for moving thousands of pounds of marijuana per month
between the city of Maricopa and metro Phoenix, after the drugs were
brought north from Mexico by drug runners. ICE says 28-year-old Jose
Sarinana-Placencia was the alleged ringleader. He and five members
of his organization are facing state and federal drug smuggling and
weapons charges.

The arrests were made after federal and Pinal County authorities
executed seven search warrants Thursday morning at locations, in
Maricopa, Chandler, and Mesa. In addition to the arrests, agents
seized 3,000 pounds of marijuana, $300,000 in cash, and ten weapons.

"From every indication, this organization has been a major player in
moving narcotics smuggled in from Mexico into the Phoenix area," said
Matt Allen, special agent in charge of ICE's Homeland Security
Investigations in Phoenix.

Note: related?
Westbound I-10 re-opens after fatal shooting
Posted: Sep 16, 2011 4:54 AM MST Updated: Sep 16, 2011 9:52 AM MST
By Steve Stout -
Westbound I-10 re-opens after fatal shooting
PHOENIX (KPHO) -
http://www.kpho.com/story/15478073/dps-driver-shot-killed-wb-i-10-
closed-at-51st-avenue

Traffic is moving again on westbound I-10 at 51st Avenue after a
deadly late-night freeway shooting that led to a crash Thursday night.

Homicide detectives were called to the crash after it was determined
the driver of a pickup truck suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head.

Westbound Interstate 10 between 43rd and 59th avenues was reopened
just before 7:30 a.m. Friday, according to the Arizona Department of
Transportation traffic cameras. Commuters were faced with traffic
back-ups in both directions as eastbound traffic slowed near the scene.

Steve Roser of the Department of Public Safety said the middle-aged
man driving the pickup appeared to have been shot one time in the head.
He said witnesses told officers the driver appeared to lose control
of the vehicle just after 10 p.m. Thursday night before crashing
through the guardrail.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact
Phoenix Police at 602-262-6141, 480-WITNESS, or 480-TESTIGO for Spanish.

No other information was available.

AZMEX MEX ARMS IMPORTS 2010

Note:  been gone for quite a while so don't know if most of you have this or not.

thx

AZMEX MEX ARMS IMPORTS 2010 

Note:  This info pulled from UN website on register of conventional arms  

Very much doubt if the numbers include everything, but thousands in this report.   Have seen in hands of Mex govt agencies very many AR platform arms, along with some Berettas, Uzi, G36, et al. and a very wide variety of pistols.   

If it can be pried from State, DOD and DOJ, there should be an extensive paper trail of US made equipment exported to Mexico.   It would be very good to get the S/N's of the U.S. arms.  Also interesting is the apparent lack of Mexican made weapons sighted over last few years.  

Fusil = rifle     Subametralladora = submachinegun    ametralladora = machinegun   SAKO is Finnish   CZ or Ceska Zbrojovka is Czech   7.62x51 =.308     5.56 = .223   Escopeta = shotgun  

For a better look go to the web address 

http://unhq-appspub-01.un.org/UNODA/UN_REGISTER.nsf  

 

MEXICO  arms imports for 2010

Submitted 11 May 2011 

http://unhq-appspub-01.un.org/UNODA/UN_REGISTER.nsf  

Information on international transfers of small arms

IMPORTS

• SMALL ARMS

• 1. Revolvers and self loading pistols

• Italia 9,125

Austria 9,309

Germany 16

USA 151

• Brazil 656

• Israel 510

• Belgium 281 

• Czech Republic 505

Total   20,553

• 7,196 Pistolas Beretta cal. 9mm, 

• 1,010 Pistolas Beretta cal. 0.40" MCA

• 1,009 Pistolas Beretta cal. 0.380" MCA

• 6,059 Pistolas cal. 9mm Glock

• 1,230 Pistolas cal. 0.40" Glock

• 2,020 Pistolas cal. 0.380" MCA Glock

• 15 Pistolas cal. 0.22" MCA Walther

• 1 Pistolas cal. 0.22" ISSC

• 130 Pistolas cal. 9mm MCA Sig Sauer

• 1 Pistolas cal. 45" ACP Mod. Government

• 20 Pistolas cal. 0.380" MCA Sig Sauer

• 50 Pistolas cal. 9mm MCA Taurus

• 606 Pistolas cal. 0.380" MCA Taurus

• Pistolas cal. 9mm MCA I.W.I.

• Revolvers cal. 0.38" SPL Taurus

• Pistolas cal. 5.7 MCA FN Herstal

• Pistolas cal. 0.22 MCA Ceska Zbrojovka

•

• 2. Rifles and carbines  (note the 7.62x39 imports)  

• USA  8,431 

• Israel 555

• Belgium 75

• Italy 202

Total    9,465

• 810 Carabina cal. 5.56x45 Bushmaster

• 72 Carabina cal. 0.223" DS ARMS

• 68 Carabina cal 0.223" Smith & Wesson

• 2,954 Carabina cal. 0.223" Colt

• 252 Carabina cal. 7.62x39 US Ordenance

• 43 Fusil cal. 7.62x39 Colt

• 1,100 Fusil cal. 7.62x51 Bushmaster

• 857 Fusil cal. 7.62x51 MCA DS ARMS

• 1 Rifle cal. 5,56MCA Remington

• 40 Rifle cal.5.56Sig Sauer

• 18 Carabinas cal. 9mm Colt

• 2,155 Rifles cal. 308" Win Bushmaster

• 61 Rifles cal. 308" Win Remington

• SA58

• 50 Fusiles cal. 7.62x39 IWI

• 505 Fusiles cal. 7.62x51 IWI

• Fusiles cal. 7.62x51 FN Herstal

• Carabinas cal. 9mm Beretta

•

• 4. Assault rifles   (note the Barrett rifles ) 

• Italia 3,427

• USA 115

• Czech Republic  250 

• Israel 505 

Total    4,297

• 700 Rifle cal. 5.56x45 Beretta SC 70/90

• 2,727 Rifle cal. 5.56x45 Beretta ARX160

• 55 Fusiles cal. 0.50" Barrett

• 50 Fusiles cal. 6.8 Barrett

• 10 Rifles cal.0.338' Barrett

• Rifles cal. 05.56 Ceska Zbrojovka

• Rifles cal. 5.56 IWI

•

• 5. Light machine guns

• USA 49

• Belgium 10

• Israel 103  

Total    162  

• 47 Subametralladora cal. 9mm Colt

• 2 Subametralladora cal. 9mm DS ARMS

• Ametralladora cal. 5.56 mm Herstal

• Ametralladora cal. 5.56mm IWI

•

• 6. Others

• USA 3,024

• Finland 55

• Czech Republic  1,154

• Belgium 707

• Germany 303

• Portugal 201

• Italy 558  

Total   6002  

• Various Rifles 

• 15 Rifle cal.308 Win MCA SAKO

• 40 Rifle cal.308 MCA SAKO

• Rifle Ceska Zbrojovka varios models

• Escopetas Browning cal. 12, 20, 30-06

• Rifle cal. 22 LR Walther G22

• Escopetas YILDIZ cal. 12, 20

• Escopeta Benelli cal.12, 20, Berretta cal. 12, Fabarm cal.12, 20

•

• LIGHT WEAPONS

• 1. Heavy machine guns

• Belgium 1  • (FN) Herstal cal. 50mm

•

• 2. Hand-held under-barrel and mounted grenade launchers

• USA  248  • Lanzagranadas cal. 40mm

•

Believe they had to return 500 H&K MP5 to Germany 

end

AZMEX WEAPONS 15-9-11

AZMEX WEAPONS 15 SEP 2011

Note: while not directly tied to the border situation, it is a good
example of not only the Mex. govt unable to keep their weapons and
associated hardware. Has any or how much has made it south from
this group? And other groups?

3 soldiers accused in theft of rifle scopes
By Adriana M. Chávez \ EL PASO TIMES
Posted: 09/14/2011 12:00:00 AM MDT
http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_18888650?source=most_viewed

Three Fort Bliss soldiers are accused of stealing rifle scopes and
other supplies from the Army post and selling them to a man who later
resold some of the property in Connecticut.
According to a federal court indictment, Army Sgts. Oldair Silva and
Jasmine Barrett, along with Connecticut resident Dennis John Wilson,
are each charged with conspiracy, theft of government property and
transporting stolen property in interstate commerce. Sgt. James
Barrett is charged with one count of receipt of stolen government
property.
FBI agents arrested Jasmine and James Barrett on Friday. Silva was
arrested in July and is scheduled to plead guilty later this month
before U.S. District Judge Phil Martinez. It is unclear whether
Wilson has been arrested.
According to a criminal complaint filed against Silva, FBI agents in
June received a tip that Silva, assigned to the Special Troops
Battalion of the 4th Brigade, 1st Armored Division, stole an unknown
number of weapon scopes and sold them.
About a week later, Army officials in Connecticut received a tip from
the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that a
business in New Haven, Conn., had bought 60 rifle scopes from Wilson.
A preliminary investigation by Fort Bliss officials determined the
scopes belonged to the 4th Brigade, 1st Armored Division.
Investigators later learned that Wilson sold several scopes, helmet
lights and vertical foregrips to a Connecticut business for $42,000
after Silva allegedly shipped
the items to Wilson, his brother-in-law. Wilson later flew to El Paso
with the proceeds of the sale and split the money with Silva.
The indictment alleges that between May 1, 2009, and May 31, 2010,
while the 4th Brigade, 1st Armored Division, was stationed in Iraq,
Jasmine Barrett failed to notify her chain of command that the rifle
scopes had not been properly entered into the unit property books and
"intentionally failed to correct the error herself," even though she
was the unit's supply sergeant.
At the time, Silva was the company's armorer and had full access to
"the sensitive military items stored in the arms room."
Prosecutors allege Jasmine Barrett hid the scopes before returning to
the U.S., and later told Silva she had "successfully brought the
scopes to Fort Bliss unnoticed."
Silva is also accused of stealing 24 emergency air tanks from a cargo
container at Fort Bliss and shipping them to Wilson, who in turn sold
them for $800 and the promise of more money after the tanks were sold
on eBay.
James Barrett is accused of taking two rifle scopes valued at more
than $1,000 between March and May 12 this year.
Court hearings for James and Jasmine Barrett had yet to be scheduled
Tuesday. Silva's next court hearing has been scheduled for Friday.
Adriana M. Chávez may be reached at achavez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6117.

AZMEX SPECIAL 15-9-11

AZMEX SPECIAL 15 SEP 2011

Note: Few things;
First would question the numbers reported in the two ops.
Second; looks a lot like they working hard to find reasons not to do
it.
Third; given that there is a war going on, just what is wrong with
having a "militarized border?
Fourth; with an estimated 30k troops returning from Iraq/Afgan wars,
why not redeploy to border? They already on the payroll.
Fifth: the ROE's are insane, are they the result of idiocy, or
corruption?

National Guard's use on border worrisome, feds report
Brady McCombs Arizona Daily Star | Posted: Thursday, September 15,
2011 12:00 am |
http://azstarnet.com/news/local/border/article_3ad6c37c-
a983-51a9-958d-d9667b3cd6ad.html

Operation Jump Start (2006-08)
• Cost: $1.2 billion
• Number of soldiers: Up to 6,000 at a time, with more than 30,000
participating over the two-year mission along U.S.-Mexico border.
The National Guard helped the Border Patrol
• Make 186,814 apprehensions of illegal immigrants (11.7 percent of
all apprehensions made during this time on U.S.-Mexico border).
• Seize 316,364 pounds of marijuana (9.4 percent of marijuana seized
during this time on U.S.-Mexico border).
Operation Phalanx (July 2010-present)
• Cost: $145 million through September.
• Number of soldiers: Up to 1,200 along U.S.-Mexico border.
The National Guard helped the Border Patrol
• Make 17,887 apprehensions of illegal immigrants (5.9 percent of all
apprehensions made during this time on U.S.-Mexico border).
• Seize 56,342 pounds of marijuana (2.6 percent of marijuana seized
during this time on U.S.-Mexico border).

Full Story
The lack of a comprehensive security strategy for the U.S.-Mexico
border hampers the ability of the Department of Defense to make the
best use of guardsmen assigned to help the Border Patrol, a federal
report says.
The new report by the Government Accountability Office also says
defense officials are "concerned about 'mission creep' " because
border security is not a core mission of the National Guard.
The GAO report comes after last week's announcement by Homeland
Security officials that they would extend the current National Guard
border mission for another three months. It is the second mission
extension for the guardsmen since the current border assignment began
in July 2010.
The current border mission is the second time in the last five years
that guardsmen have been sent to the border. In Operation Jump Start
of 2006-08, as many as 6,000 soldiers were stationed along the U.S.-
Mexico border. There are now 1,140 guardsmen along the border, with
about 500 in Arizona.
The two missions have cost $1.35 billion, the GAO reported. The
latest extension is expected to cost $35 million.
In a Senate hearing Tuesday, John McCain, R-Ariz., asked Homeland
Security Secretary Janet Napolitano about the Defense Department
concerns raised in the GAO report.
She said she was not aware of the report, but said she "vehemently"
disagrees that there is no comprehensive border-security strategy.
Napolitano said she has spoken with Defense Department leaders about
the fact that "we do have a comprehensive border strategy, what it
is, and what roles DOD can play to assist us there."
"I would be glad to hear about your strategy," McCain replied,
"because I have failed to see one yet, nor residents of my state."
Napolitano said she would be more than happy to do so.
The Border Patrol is better staffed than at any point in its 87-year
history, and while there still is more to do, "every key metric
currently available shows that these border-security efforts are
producing significant results," Homeland Security spokesman Matt
Chandler said in an email response to questions about the report.
In announcing the extension last week, Chandler said the National
Guard assignment at the border should not be construed to be a
permanent situation, but a "critical bridge" until new Border Patrol
officers arrive. National Guard troops along the border aren't
authorized to arrest anybody. Most of them work in observation posts,
serving as extra eyes and ears to report illegal crossings to the
Border Patrol.
The GAO report highlighted several other concerns raised by the
Department of Defense and other federal agencies about the National
Guard on the border:
• Militarized border - Having the National Guard on the border
creates a perception of a "militarized" border, officials from the
Departments of State and Defense told the GAO, "especially in light
of efforts by the State Department and the Department of Justice to
help support civilian law enforcement institutions in Mexico to
address crime and border issues."
"Civilians may not distinguish between guardsmen and active-duty
military personnel in uniform," Defense officials told the GAO.
• Expanded patrols by the Guard would be manpower-heavy - Asked to
assess the viability of expanding Guard duties to include patrols in
high-trafficking areas, the GAO found it would take twice the people
because Guard soldiers must work in pairs, whereas Border Patrol
agents can work alone.
• Toll on National Guard - Having so many guardsmen tied to one
mission reduces their availability for other missions, such as
helping in natural disasters, defense officials told the GAO. And use
of out-of-state guardsmen for long-term missions in involuntary
status may harm future recruitment and retention.
The border missions aren't without their benefits, though, according
to defense officials. In addition to helping deter illegal entries
and helping the Border Patrol make apprehensions and drug seizures,
troops get training in geographically inhospitable environments
similar to some areas where troops are sent into combat, the report
said.
Contact reporter Brady McCombs at 573-4213 or bmccombs@azstarnet.com

Read more: http://azstarnet.com/news/local/border/article_3ad6c37c-
a983-51a9-958d-d9667b3cd6ad.html#ixzz1Y2BewZHh

system problems with 9-1-1 calls

Note: this should serve as a highlight as to how how critical our
2nd Amendment, self-defense and RKBA rights are to citizen safety.
We citizens are the actual "first responders".
"From a PSAP perspective, it's too many people with too many devices,
he said."

PSAPs Struggle with 9-1-1 Call Overload, Abandoned Calls
September 14, 2011
By Michelle Zilis, Associate/Web Editor
http://www.radioresourcemag.com/onlyonline.cfm?OnlyOnlineID=265

Emergency 9-1-1 system and public-safety answering points (PSAPs) are
increasingly overwhelmed by the volume of calls and, in times of peak
call numbers, often have abandoned calls because of long wait times.

"With new mobile devices and the increased call volume, there is an
overload of too many calls," said Kevin Murray, the 9-1-1 Industry
Alliance (9IA) chairman. 9IA's goal is to insure adequate funding and
research for 9-1-1 centers. "Our members think 9-1-1 calls are
approaching 300 million a year, but the staffing and funding has not
kept up," Murray said.

9IA is hosting the National Workshop on 9-1-1 Overload Oct. 4 – 5 to
start a conversation about the problem. Bringing together senior-
level policymakers and government officials, the workshop plans to
examine causes, address different perspectives and consider future
options. "Industry leaders and new technology will start to bring
about solutions," Murray said.

The Orleans (La.) Parish Communication District (OPCD) published a
staff information paper March 15, outlining how budget cuts have
negatively impacted the emergency service center to combat call
overload. The executive summary states that the National Emergency
Number Association's (NENA) standard for answering 9-1-1 calls is at
least 90 percent of all calls must be answered within 10 seconds and
95 percent of all calls must be answered within 20 seconds. In April
2010, the Orleans Parish 9-1-1 Center exceeded the standards, with 98
percent of all calls answered within 10 seconds.

However, between April and December 2010, the number of call-takers
was cut by nearly 50 percent, from 65 to 34, because of budget
layoffs and voluntary resignations. From June through October 2010,
the employees still working were also required to take furlough days.
At the same time, call volume increased. The center dropped from
exceeding the requirement to falling below. In December, only 89.2
percent of calls were answered within 20 seconds, and five callers
waited eight minutes for their calls to be answered.

"It is reasonable to conclude that the layoffs, furloughs, voluntary
resignations and increased call volume have had negative impact on
New Orleans Police Department's (NOPD) ability to answer 9-1-1 calls
in a timely manner," the report said. "A major incident could
overload the thinly staffed 9-1-1 system."

If a call center is experiencing call overload, wait times and the
number of abandoned calls increase. In a 2009 study in California,
more than 26 percent of mobile calls were abandoned, Murray said. "As
the devices increase, the issue is becoming more evident."

An abandoned call is when the caller hangs up before he is connected
to a call-taker. "Once a caller has dialed 9-1-1, the call is
immediately placed into the 9-1-1 network and the call is still
routed to the PSAP, even if the caller hangs up and is no longer on
the line," said the OPCD report. "The caller information is presented
as an abandoned call to the 9-1-1 call-taking equipment, and is
displayed in an abandoned call list."

If a call is abandoned, the PSAP call-taker must call the number back
to determine if assistance is needed, according to a June 2006 NENA
report on call-taking operational standards and model
recommendations. If more than 20 percent of calls are abandoned, that
many calls must be returned to establish if they are an emergency.

9-1-1 calls are increasingly coming from cell phones, with Champagne,
Ill., reporting up to 80 percent of calls being made by wireless
devices, Murray said. This brings a variety of problems, and the
workshop plans to highlight several.

One factor is the sheer number of people who have cell phones. If
everyone is walking around with devices, people can easily call
whenever there is an incident, Murray said. From a PSAP perspective,
it's too many people with too many devices, he said.

Another problem is the number of calls placed to report one incident.
An example is an accident on a highway, in which everyone on the road
has a device and calls to report the same accident. In Alabama, New
York and New Orleans, people calling about major storms have
overloaded emergency 9-1-1 systems, Murray said.

A third factor is people calling for nonemergencies. Despite the
education and outreach done to inform the public about when to call
9-1-1, centers deal with nonemergency calls on a daily basis. A
report by MSNBC said the emergency operators in Lee County, Fla.,
received about 3,600 nonemergency calls a month.

Another problem is calls from nonservice-initialized cell phones. One
of the panel speakers, Lynn Questell, executive director of the
Tennessee Emergency Communications Board, will discuss the issue at
the workshop. It's a problem that stems from a 2002 FCC order that
made it a law that cell phones must continue to dial 9-1-1 even after
the phone is no longer associated with a carrier or plan. If there is
a battery in the phone, it has to be able to call 9-1-1.

Often problems arise when old phones are given to children to play
with or when the service is purposely used to harass the emergency
line. Questell and her staff conducted a three-month survey and
discovered that Tennessee received 10,000 noninitialized calls in the
three months. "It ties up resources like you would not believe," she
said.

In February 2008, Questell, joined by NENA, the National Association
of State 9-1-1 Administrators (NASNA), as well as the states of
Michigan, Montana, New Jersey and Washington, submitted a petition to
the FCC. The petition asked the FCC to address the problem.

"I thought once the FCC found out about the problem, they would have
been eager to fix it," Questell said. "It's a problem they created."

After submitting the petition, the FCC asked for reply comments, but
further action has stalled. Questell submitted a reply brief and in
July 2009 sent a letter to the FCC Chairman asking him to resurrect
the docket. She addressed it again at this year's NENA national
conference. "It's so tremendously disappointing that it's going
nowhere," she said.

"I would like them to talk to us, for someone to just have the
conversation," she said. "There were some really good comments filed.
But it's a very complicated issue, so it needs a conversation. 9IA is
showing their leadership that they've invited a panel member to
discuss it."

The two-day event will feature panels and discussions on each topic
of interest to address the overall problem of overload. "This is new
for 9IA, but we feel the conversation has relevance and importance
for the public," Murray said. "We hope to bring together experts to
start solving problems."

More information can be found on the event website, http://
911calloverload.com.

Your comments are welcome, click here.

AZMEX SPECIAL 14-9-11

AZMEX SPECIAL 14 SEP 2011

Note: yet more infiltration of U.S military/law enforcement?

Border Patrol finds guns, explosives on Rio Grande
Associated Press
Posted: 09/14/2011 12:23:43 AM MDT
http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_18889677?source=most_viewed

McALLEN, Texas (AP) - Border Patrol agents have found a bag full of
assault rifles, other weapons and what they believe to be plastic
explosives hidden near the community of Fronton along the Rio Grande.
The agency says its agents were on patrol in Fronton, a rural area
about 250 miles south of San Antonio Tuesday when they found a black
bag hidden in the brush near the river. Inside there were six assault
rifles, one grenade launcher, one rocket launcher, 20 ammunition
magazines and three packages of what appeared to be the plastic
explosive known as C-4.
Weapons purchased in the U.S. are commonly smuggled to criminal
organizations in Mexico.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.

AZMEX SPECIAL 13-9-11

AZMEX SPECIAL 13 SEP 2011

Note: In the world market, AK's go for a whole lot less.
Time to show us the guns? "Mexican authorities seized 40,469
pistols and 55,269 "long firearms" between Dec 1, 2006 — when
President Felipe Calderón took office — and Dec. 23, 2010 "

Weapon of Choice: The AK-47's price, reliability garner fans on both
sides of the law
Comments 10
September 13, 2011 9:05 AM
Ildefonso Ortiz
The Monitor
http://www.themonitor.com/articles/reliability-54703-law-weapon.html

The AK-47 assault rifle has gained a bad reputation in recent years
as the weapon of choice of the Mexican cartels.

But while law enforcement officials and weapons experts agree that
the nearly 65-year-old Avtomat Kalashnikova is popular for its
reliability, accuracy and price, those very traits are what make it
so appealing to criminal organizations, Mexican officials say.

"It has a simple design that is easy to maintain, and it is easy to
operate," said Luis Morales, general manager at RDS, an upscale
firearms store that specializes in tactical equipment. "The
ammunition for it is very cheap, and it is easy to find magazines and
other accessories for it."

Mikhail Kalashnikov began designing the AK-47 model in 1945. It was
finished in 1947 and put to work by the Russian army in 1949. The
weapon quickly caught on with militaries worldwide, and it became a
popular sporting rifle soon after.

Today, there are more than 100 million AK-47s out there, Morales said.

While an AK-47 retails in the $600 to $800 range, with some models
reaching more than $1,000, some knock-offs can be found for about $430.

WEAPON OF CHOICE

A former Zeta, who left the drug cartel in 2006, told Valley Freedom
Newspapers earlier this year that the AK-47 was one of his favorite
weapons because of the minimal maintenance it requires. The AK-47 he
described was a fully automatic rifle, meaning that multiple shots
were fired each time he squeezed the trigger. A semi-automatic rifle,
on the other hand, fires one shot each time the trigger is pulled.

Members of organized crime — including the Gulf Cartel and the Zetas
— typically carry the AK-47, a Tamaulipas law enforcement official said.

Mexican authorities seized 40,469 pistols and 55,269 "long firearms"
between Dec 1, 2006 — when President Felipe Calderón took office —
and Dec. 23, 2010 — the most recent date for which figures were
statistics, according to information released by the Mexican
military. A former Mexican naval officer said he wouldn't be
surprised if more than half of those "long firearms" were AK-47s.

They certainly make the news often enough:

>> Last year, Tamaulipas police arrested three Zetas in Matamoros in
connection with the shooting of two police officers. Also seized in
the arrest were three AK-47s.

>> Last week, the Mexican military seized 24 of the Soviet-designed
rifles hidden inside a cave in the town of Anzaldua, near Reynosa.

>> And after Brownsville native and U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement Special Agent Jaime Zapata was killed in February by
Zetas in the northern Mexican state of San Luis Potosi, casings
recovered from the scene revealed that the murder weapon was an AK-47.

GUN LAWS

Unlike the United States, Mexico largely restricts possession of
firearms to members of law enforcement and the military. Civilians
can purchase and own certain small-caliber pistols and sporting
rifles, but the restrictions are lengthy.

In the Unites States, law-abiding citizens may purchase semiautomatic
rifles — like AK-47s — if they meet certain criteria.

Those looking to purchase a rifle must be 18 or older, present
certain documentation and pass a background check through the FBI's
National Instant Criminal Background Check System, Morales said.
Those looking to purchase an automatic firearm must go through a
strict, three-month process that includes a lengthy background check
in addition to the regular background check done when purchasing a
firearm, he said.

People with felonies or assault violations are not eligible to
purchase a firearm, Morales said.

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, which is
tasked with enforcing firearm laws is familiar with
AK-47s.Individuals who are not eligible to purchase a firearm will
try to get one through a "straw purchase" by having eligible
customers do the buying for them, agency spokeswoman Franceska Perot
said.

While the agency didn't have specific data singling out the weapon by
model, the ATF lists the AK-47 as one of the weapons targeted by its
"Project Gunrunner," which sought to reduce cross-border arms
trafficking, Perot said. The only other rifle listed in the project
is the AR-15 assault rifle.

Although the AK-47 is associated with Mexican cartels, it's also a
reliable weapon for law-abiding citizens for use in hunting, target
practice and home defense, Morales said.

Morales himself has had an AK-47 for more than 16 years, and it's
still in optimum condition.

"The caliber is great for hunting," he said. "This is a weapon that
you can put through anything and it will continue to fire."

--

Ildefonso Ortiz covers law enforcement and general assignments for
The Monitor. He can be reached at (956) 683-4437.

AZMEX UPDATE 10-9-11

AZMEX UPDATE 10 SEP 2011

Note: tip of the corruption iceberg.

3 MCSO workers offered plea bargains
Sentences would vary for them, 16 others linked to cartel
by JJ Hensley - Sept. 9, 2011 10:09 PM
The Arizona Republic
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/09/09/20110909maricopa-
sheriffs-employees-plea-deals.html

The case began with a bombshell: A confidential source had witnessed
a Maricopa County sheriff's deputy snorting lines of cocaine at a
home near 69th Avenue and Van Buren Street in the summer of 2010.

As if that weren't bad enough, the informant told investigators that
he heard Alfredo Navarrette, a member of Sheriff Joe Arpaio's human-
smuggling unit, bragging about how he escorted cars and trucks
carrying drugs or money to "make sure they would get to their
destinations safely."

Within six months of the report of Navarrette snorting cocaine,
investigators got court approval to tap the deputy's cellphone.

Less than a year later, Navarrette, two Maricopa County sheriff's
detention officers and 16 other defendants would be indicted amid
allegations that they had roles in a drug-trafficking organization
that worked with members of the Sinaloan Cartel to bring more than 5
pounds of heroin into the Valley every week.

Now, all 19 defendants have been offered plea bargains, with proposed
sentences ranging from probation to "substantial prison terms"
depending on each defendant's role in the organization, according to
the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.

Navarrette and one of the detention officers implicated in the ring,
Marcella Hernandez, no longer work for the sheriff. Silvia Najera,
the third sheriff's employee indicted, was released on bond and
remains on administrative leave.

Conversations investigators captured through wiretaps reveal the
lengths to which the smuggling suspects went to avoid detection and
the roles each of the accused sheriff's employees played.

Mitch Dooley, an attorney representing Najera, said the conversations
reveal that his client played only a minor role in the ring. Dooley
believes sheriff's officials were intent on arresting as many
employees as possible to deflect attention from fallout Arpaio
experienced in May after an internal investigation led him to fire
two of his top commanders.

"I don't think there's any coincidence," Dooley said of the timing.
"There's really no evidence that Sylvia Najera had anything to do
with any of the people involved in this, other than knowing some of
them. It seems to be guilt by association."

But investigators intercepted phone calls in April and May in which
Najera, Navarrette and another suspect, Hugo Octavio Mejia, made
plans to deposit $48,000 into a construction-company account that
prosecutors claim was being set up to launder money on behalf of the
drug traffickers.

Attorneys for Navarrette and Hernandez declined to comment.

By the time a plan had been hatched to launder the money through
Mejia's company, the recorded conversations indicate, the ring's
alleged leader, Francisco Arce-Torres, was getting increasingly
anxious about the amount of cash flowing through his drug operation,
according to the court records.

The documents allege that Navarrette's role was as something of a
gofer for human- and drug-smuggling groups. Navarrette is alleged to
have hidden illegal border crossers in his home until they could be
smuggled to another city and to have driven empty drug-hauling
vehicles to California. It's also alleged that at one point he tried
to secure a submachine gun for an unidentified drug-cell member,
according to court records.

Investigators captured Navarrette's attempt to buy a gun during an
early March conversation with a man identified as Cisco. Cisco
initially offered a sawed-off shotgun before Navarrette reminded him
that "those guys (drug-cell members) won't take those kind,"
according to court records. The following week, Cisco phoned
Navarrette offering to sell a submachine gun for $850. Records do not
indicate whether the two sealed the deal.

On more than one occasion, investigators believed they had captured
Arce-Torres directing drug dealers to pick up narcotics at a Surprise
house that Hernandez shared with her brother, Duran Alcantar. They
also heard conversations in which Arce-Torres instructed Alcantar on
how to dilute drugs.

Despite those conversations, records indicate, investigators were
seizing cars with the telltale signs of drug-hauling - but no drugs.
That included a May traffic stop outside Gila Bend.

"Investigators have pulled over and searched three vehicles during
this investigation and . . . dogs alerted to all the vehicles;
however, narcotics were never found in the very thorough searches,"
court records state.

Ultimately, it was the raid on Arce-Torres' home that produced the
most incriminating physical evidence of large-scale drug smuggling,
investigators say.

During the raid on the house in the 6900 block of West Cypress
Street, they reported finding more than $23,000 stashed throughout
the kitchen and more than 5 pounds of heroin inside the oil pan of a
red Chrysler, records state.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/
2011/09/09/20110909maricopa-sheriffs-employees-plea-
deals.html#ixzz1XZFCjX6u

Note: reader poll today in El Diario de Chihuahua typical results
Close Window
Saturday September 10, 2011

Do you feel vulnerable to police corruption? results
Yes, I fear for my safety 73%
No, I trust in the justice 20%
Depends on the agency 7%

Total votes: 1375

Note: infiltration?
Fort Bragg missing ammo investigated
Sept. 10, 2011 08:35 AM
Associated Press
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/09/10/20110910north-
carolina-fort-bragg-missing-ammo-ON.html

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - Officials at Fort Bragg say an investigation is
under way into the disappearance of nearly 14,000 rounds of
ammunition at the Army base.

Staff Sgt. Joshua Ford, a spokesman for the 82nd Airborne Division,
says the ammunition went missing from the 1st Brigade Combat Team at
Fort Bragg.

The Fayetteville Observer reports (http://bit.ly/rcSmoA ) that Ford
believed the ammunition was taken overnight on Tuesday. The 1st
Brigade team was placed on lockdown for a few hours Wednesday night
while officials conducted a search.

The missing ammunition can be used in an M-4 or M-16 assault rifle.

Ford says the 82nd Airborne Division and military police are taking
the matter seriously and that "any amount of ammunition that goes
missing" has "got to be accounted for."

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/
2011/09/10/20110910north-carolina-fort-bragg-missing-ammo-
ON.html#ixzz1XZFvVYlK

AZMEX EXPORTS 11-9-11

AZMEX EXPORTS 11 SEP 2-11
Note: this is a very short version of the data on U.S. arms &
associated exports for year 2010, to Mexcio and Central American
countries with the most "leakage".
As we have long claimed, there is a whole lot of stuff moving south,
via govt. exports. Of course way too much seems to pass go and right
to the TCO's (cartels)
Listed value of total exports to Mexico under this section 655, was
$85 USD million plus
Then there are the european arms exports to Mexico.

As noted on occasion before, civilians would be astonished/horrified
at the rate men and materials are used up in a war. Even BATFE can't
supply enough weapons.

http://www.pmddtc.state.gov/reports/655_intro.html
http://www.pmddtc.state.gov/reports/documents/rpt655_FY10.pdf

Cat 1. Firearms of several types and related components

To Mexico: 2,547,047 items (nothing specified of course)

To: El Salvador: 4,300 items
Guatemala: 5,597 items
Honduras: nothing listed for 2010
Nicaragua (?) 3,571 items
Panama 23,408 items

Cat. 3 Ammunition/ordnance

To Mexico: 11,374,846 items

To: El Salvador: 1,050,000
Guatemala: 10,287,040
Honduras: nothing listed for 2010
Nicaragua (?) 15,297,154
Panama 5,450,150

AZMEX UPDATE 9-9-11

AZMEX UPDATE 9 Sep. 2011

Note: SECOND violent crime???

More crime in state tied to ATF gun program
Mcclatchy Newspapers Mcclatchy Newspapers | Posted: Friday, September
9, 2011 12:00 am |

http://azstarnet.com/news/local/border/article_d1a0bb52-
f407-5044-9152-2b06b1ef6787.html

WASHINGTON - In the second violent crime connected with the failed
Fast and Furious program, two Arizona undercover police officers were
allegedly assaulted last year trying to stop two men in a stolen
vehicle containing two weapons linked to the program.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety officers said they tried to
stop the men south of Phoenix when the driver rammed their cars,
threatened them with the firearms and fled into the desert. They were
caught and arrested, and a Beretta pistol and AK-47 semiautomatic
assault rifle were found in the stolen Ford truck, police said.
The driver, Angel Hernandez-Diaz, 48, was charged with aggravated
assault on a police officer, driving a stolen vehicle and illegal
possession of weapons. He pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to
stand trial in Pinal County next month. The passenger, Rosario
Zavala, 30, of Mexico, was charged with possession of narcotics and
the stolen vehicle.
The episode came five months after the start of the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' Fast and Furious program,
in which agents allowed the illegal purchase of weapons to try to
track the firearms to Mexican drug cartels. And it occurred nine
months before the slaying last December of U.S. Border Patrol Agent
Brian Terry south of Tucson.
Two Fast and Furious firearms were discovered at the scene of Terry's
shooting. Sources said that this is the first case so far of Fast and
Furious weapons found at the scene of a violent crime other than
Terry's.
On StarNet: Find extensive coverage of immigration issues at
azstarnet.com/border

Read more: http://azstarnet.com/news/local/border/article_d1a0bb52-
f407-5044-9152-2b06b1ef6787.html#ixzz1XT1uNlUZ

Published: 09/09/2011 12:46 By: SUN
PF detain person with 4 000 cartridges
Navojoa, Sonora (SUN)
http://www.elimparcial.com/EdicionEnLinea/Notas/Noticias/
09092011/540724.aspx

Federal Ministerial Police said a person with more than four thousand
rounds, 900 bullets, 100 cases and gunpowder in Navojoa, Sonora,
thanks to a citizen complaint, said the Attorney General's Office.

On these facts, the Federal Public Ministry assigned to the office in
Sonora, began a preliminary investigation against Keith "N" for his
probable responsibility in the crime of violation of the Federal
Firearms and Explosives.

According to the record AP/PGR/SON/NAV-I/236/2011 assurance was given
to the report of a vehicle carrying cartridges and supplies for the
armed and refilling cartridges for firearms.

Thus the Social Representative of the Federation and Federal elements
of the Ministerial Police were constituted on the International
Highway 15 Mexico-Nogales, section-Navojoa Don Station, at kilometer
129 +900.

"They stopped a car for inspection from Phoenix, Arizona, and bound
for Concordia, Sinaloa, driven by Keith N". After a inspection, the
federal agents located in a compartment of the rear doors:

Four thousand cartridges caliber .22, one hundred 12 mm caliber
cartridges, five .20 caliber cartridges, 600 bullets .284 caliber,
one hundred .308 caliber bullets, two hundred bullets .22 caliber,
fifty .243 caliber cases, and fifty 50 .308 caliber cases.

Under the rear seat, the Federal Ministerial Police also found three
kilos 500 grams of powder and two devices to refill cartridges
Therefore, the detainee, cartridges, explosives, bullets, cases,
devices and vehicle were turned over to the Prosecutor of the
Federation, who is part of the investigation to determine
responsibilities according to law for the commission of crimes
involving the violation of Firearms laws .

They seize more than two thousand rounds at Sonoyta Customs
http://laperladeldesierto.blogspot.com/

Mexico .- The Tax Administration Service (SAT) announced that Sonoyta
Customs seized more than two thousand cartridges caliber 7.26 x 39 mm
cartridges and 70 magazines for the same caliber.

The incident took place when a passenger bus from Ensenada, Baja
California and bound Escuinapa, Sinaloa, arrived at the Garita de San
Emeterio, attached to the Office of Sonoita, Sonora.

In conducting the review of the vehicle, using high-tech gadgets,
there were irregularities in the outlet duct of air conditioning and
under the lid of it, were over two thousand rounds of ammunition 7.26
x 39 mm caliber addition 70 ammunition magazines for the same type.

Cartridges and magazines were made ​​available to the Federal
Public Ministry for legal purposes that are appropriate.

During this administration, Mexican Customs have managed to secure
more than 510 thousand cartridges, which amount will be credited to
this fact.
Posted by LA PERLA DEL DESIERTO

Border Patrol vehicles disabled during drug bust
The Associated Press
Posted: 09/09/2011 07:34:26 PM MDT
http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_18862843?source=most_viewed

LOS EBANOS, Texas (AP) - Smugglers disabled four U.S. Border Patrol
vehicles with homemade spikes as agents in South Texas chased them
during a drug bust that netted more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana.
The agents were patrolling the U.S.-Mexico border near Los Ebanos,
located about 25 miles west of McAllen, when they saw several people
loading a truck with bundles near the Rio Grande on Thursday.
The agents gave chase and during the pursuit, the smugglers threw the
homemade spikes from the window of their truck, disabling the Border
Patrol vehicles.
The smugglers plunged their truck into the river and escaped into M

Note: Real waste once again, could have been used for chronically
under-equipped forces. US aid strings at work?

Chihuahua, Chih. To September 8, 2011.
Destruction of weapons, secured by various authorities in Chihuahua,
Chih.
http://www.sedena.gob.mx/index.php/sala-de-prensa/comunicados-de-
prensa-de-los-mandos-territoriales/7499-8-de-septiembre-de-2011-
chihuahua-chih

The Ministry of National Defense through the Commander of the 5 / a.
Military Zone, informs the public that under the Comprehensive
Strategy of the Mexican state against Drug Trafficking and Organized
Crime, this date, military personnel carried out the destruction of
weapons, ammunition and accessories in the main square angel, Colonia
Centro, Chihuahua, Chih., which were seized by the various
authorities of the three levels of government, as indicated below:

460 rifles.
512 handguns.
36.991 cartridges.
622 chargers.
26 various accessories.

The weaponry was destroyed in the presence of civilian authorities of
the three levels of government.
These actions demonstrate the commitment of military personnel to
limit the activities of organized crime and harm to civilians,
ratifying the permanent commitment to act for the country and Mexican
society.

The Ministry of National Defense, thanks to citizen confidence in the
institution invites them to report any type of criminal activity to
our hotline (01 6144186090), which is available 24 hours a day to
receive citizen complaints or can also do via e-mail: @
mail.sedena.gob.mx denuncia.5zm.

-0-0-0-0-0 -

AZMEX SPECIAL 10-9-11

AZMEX SPECIAL 10 SEP 2011

Note: A good example of the sophistication and resources of the
TCO's ( DTO's, cartels, etc.) Not limited to Veracruz by any means.
for mil/commo types, interesting photos of equipment on MEX Navy
webpage listed below. Impressive resources and the expertise to use
them. Would be good to get more details. Is U.S. "technical" help
making the difference?

Mexican navy op nets Zeta communication system
Associated Press
Posted: 09/08/2011 02:48:27 PM MDT
http://www.elpasotimes.com/juarez/ci_18852610

VERACRUZ, Mexico -- The Mexican navy says it has dismantled a
telecommunications system set up by the Zetas drug cartel and has
arrested 80 people, including six police officers.
Navy spokesman Jose Luis Vergara says forces confiscated 13 antennas
the cartel set up in several cities around the Gulf coast state of
Veracruz to provide communication between the gang's cells.
Vergara said Thursday that forces also found amplifiers, power
supplies, batteries, solar panels and wiring. The system was operated
from a central base.
The spokesman said the 80 detainees are suspected of extortion, drug
trafficking, kidnapping and murder.
The 26-day operation also netted seven vehicles carrying medical
kits, clothing and groceries.

Press Release 279/2011

MEXICO NAVY PERSONAL SECURE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK AND DISMANTLING OF
"Los Zetas" IN THE STATE OF VERACRUZ
http://www.semar.gob.mx/sitio_2/component/content/article/1890-
comunicado-de-prensa-279-2011.html

Arrest of 80 suspects.
Dismantling of communication infrastructure.
The Dips, Veracruz, September 8, 2011 .- This morning, the Secretary
of the Navy of Mexico in naval facilities in the state of Veracruz,
announced the securing of 80 alleged offenders and the dismantling of
communication infrastructure of the criminal group known as "Los
Zetas", actions that are part of the achievements of the Navy of
Mexico against organized crime, to strengthen the rule of law in our
country and in solidarity with the people of Veracruz.

It follows an intense naval intelligence work carried out for several
months in that entity, for which Special Forces were deployed by this
institution in Veracruz, mainly in northern and central region,
resulting in the discovery of the infrastructure communication of
that criminal group, by dismantling its network of encrypted radio
communications, and operations to disrupt their cells and gunmen who
supported the actions of drug traffickers. The immediate consequence
is the loss of command and tactical leadership of Los Zetas in the
state.

Thus were dismantled network nodes of communication in the villages
of Tepetzintla, Panuco, Veracruz, Xalapa, Orizaba, Cordoba, Orange,
Tantoyuca, Poza Rica and the Cofre de Perote which consisted of
repetitive high-frequency antennas, power amplifiers, power supplies,
batteries, portable transceivers, solar cells and wiring, allowing an
efficient and secure digital communications.

In addition to the above and a result of this work, Aug. 10 to Sept.
4, has managed to secure 80 suspects linked to various crimes such as
kidnapping, drug dealing, car theft, bank card cloning and traffic
drug. Cited people have already been made available to the Attorney
General's Office, among which are the following:

(names in spanish original for those interested)

Also, in recent days during the course of "Operation Veracruz Seguro"
in the city of Cordoba, located and secured seven abandoned trucks,
three of which were box whose contents were different effects such as
tools, medical supplies, new clothes, among others.

The Secretary of the Navy of Mexico makes the knowledge of the
company remains determined to increase its operations, in order to
continue the dismantling of criminal groups.

Federal Government

01800MARINA1 (018,006,274,621)
Last Updated on Saturday, September 10, 2011 8:34

AZMEX UPDATE 8-9-11

AZMEX UPDATE 8 Sep 2011

Note: your AZMEX person is at last back on the job. Am told the
situation continues to deteriorate in Mexico, that with the F&F
debacle highlights the dangers to our Rights and interests.

Note: can't believe this made CNN. But, yes, self defense is a
fundamental human right and should always be treated as such. Maybe
we should look for ways to help. Also this is very consistent with
various public opinion polls done in Mexico.

Mexican city plans to train citizens to fire guns
From Javier Estrada, For CNN
September 8, 2011 -- Updated 0808 GMT (1608 HKT)
Violence in Nuevo Leon has been rampant, including a grenade attack
at a casino in the capital of Monterrey in August.
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/americas/09/07/mexico.gun.training/

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Garcia mayor: Many citizens want training "to defend their families"
The project also will train citizens on what to do when someone is
wounded
So far about 3,000 people have signed up for the training course
Students at a city hunting club will use .22-caliber guns for training
Garcia, Mexico (CNN) -- Officials in a northern Mexican city plagued
by violence say a new course will take a fresh approach toward
protecting citizens: Training people to handle and shoot guns.
The aim of the approach, says Garcia Mayor Jaime Rodriguez Calderon,
is putting a stop to crime in the 40,000-person city in Nuevo Leon
state.
"Many people call me because their son or their husband has been
kidnapped, or some family member's car has been stolen. I said to
myself, 'Wow, how can we, the citizens, defend ourselves,' "
Rodriguez told CNNMexico.com.
Twice this year, gunmen have tried to assassinate Rodriguez, who has
earned the nickname of Bronco for his strong personality.
The training for people with weapons permits in Garcia is part of a
phase of Rodriguez's security program aimed at "involving the
citizens in defense of the region."
"Many of them want the training and knowledge ... to defend their
families and their heritage," he said.
In addition to the weapons course, the project also includes broader
training in its "urban defense" goals.
"Imagine if there is someone wounded and no one in the neighborhood
knows what to do. It's happened to us that in the street there is
someone who's been shot and the (paramedics) don't come," Rodriguez
said.
So far, about 3,000 people from Garcia and nearby cities have signed
up for the course, including engineers, teachers, housewives and
retired military.
The course's start date has not yet been scheduled. It will be free
and take place in a city hunting club, where students will use .22-
caliber guns for training.
Garcia's program is not the first citizen-defense proposal in Nuevo
Leon state involving weapons. State lawmakers are also studying a
proposal that would relax weapons restrictions there.
Nuevo Leon, which borders Texas, has seen a surge in violence as the
Gulf Cartel and the Zetas drug gang fight over drug trafficking routes.

Note: this one very interesting, needs further verification and
research

Posted September 2, 2011, 2:43 a.m.
Mexico sells more weapons to USA
Mexico has escalated among the main suppliers of weapons to the
United States.
reforma
Mexico - New Day
http://www.nuevodia.com.mx/nacional/mexico-le-vende-mas-armas-a-eu/

Arms exports to Mexico makes to America have grown steadily over the
past five years, a rate of 9 percent annually, according to the
Census Bureau in that country.
Only in the first half of this year, the country has sold 52 million
108 thousand U.S. dollars, up from 49 million 709 000 in the same
period last year.
In this same period, Mexico has climbed into the main suppliers of
weapons to the United States.
2011 is already the fourth largest provider of such equipment when in
2010 it ranked 5.
For many of these products, the U.S. tariff and charges for those who
do so, Mexico is exempt due to the Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA),
according to information from the SE and the International Trade
Commission United States.
The report, "Diffusion of Small Arms in Latin America," published by
the Federation of American Scientists (FAS, for its acronym in
English) indicates that most of the production of weapons in the
country is conducted by the National Arms Plant (Fabrica Nacional de
Armas), a operaton of the Mexican military's.
A small percentage of production is done in private companies or
Industrias Cabañas or Productos Mendoza.

Note: not directly firearms interests related, but increasing
accounts of illegals from China, believe it is a national security
problem, but doesn't seem to be addressed.

Higher wall, harder falls
The new, taller border fence in downtown Nogales, seen here while
under construction in June, is proving to be dangerous for climbers.
Photo/Jonathan Clark

Posted: Friday, September 2, 2011 12:00 am | Updated: 1:05 pm, Wed
Sep 7, 2011.
By JB Miller
For the Nogales International | 1 comment
http://www.nogalesinternational.com/news/higher-wall-harder-falls/
article_437237b0-1b3a-5d39-9f4e-2c44b04a1451.html

The imposing new border fence running through Nogales is proving to
be a treacherous obstacle for undocumented border-crossers – several
of whom have been injured in recent weeks while descending the U.S.
side of the barrier.
The victims, who include two women and one man hurt during a 10-day
span, won't find much sympathy from the Border Patrol, however. The
agency says it's not responsible for people who tangle with the 23-
to-30-foot security fence.
On Aug. 12, a woman identified only as "Asian" broke her leg after
climbing the border fence near East Hudgins Street, according to a
Nogales Police Department report.
NPD officers responded to the scene shortly before 9 p.m. and met
with Border Patrol agents who were treating the woman, who could not
be identified because she could not speak English, the report said.
The agents reportedly took the woman to Carondelet Holy Cross
Hospital for further evaluation.
Two days later, on the afternoon of Aug. 14, NPD officers encountered
another injured fence-climber after responding to a reported burglary
on East Street.
The homeowner had called the police after finding 38-year-old Maria
Sanchez of Veracruz, Mexico in her house. When the officers arrived,
Sanchez told them that she went into the home in search of help after
hurting her leg while jumping from the fence.
The Border Patrol took custody of the woman, the NPD said.
Then on Aug. 22, Border Patrol agents from the Nogales Station said
they rescued a 21-year-old illegal immigrant from Fujhou, China after
he fell from the wall and sustained a compound fracture to his left leg.
Rescue personnel from the Nogales Fire Department responded and took
the man to the hospital.
"(The fence) is so high," NFD Chief Hector Robles said. "We've seen
some compound fractures, open wounds, a loss of fingers, the knees
are blown…"
In addition to the height of the fence, Robles cited adrenaline and
miscalculations in determining the distance and angle of a fall as
potential injury factors.
Begun in March and completed in late July, the $11.6-million, 2.8-
mile fence ranges from 23 to 30 feet in height and is topped by a 5-
foot high, south-facing metal sheet to discourage climbers. The
landing mat fence that it replaced measured 10 feet tall, and was
also easier to cut through and burrow under.
Asked about the recent injuries, Eric Cantu, spokesman for the Border
Patrol's Tucson Sector, pointed to the new barrier's principal
purpose: providing better security for the United States.
"The intent of the design, structure and height of the fence is to
make it more difficult to climb which gives us as an agency more time
to identify, classify and respond to any threats. Which in turn makes
us a nation safer, which everybody wants," said
Colleen Angle, another Tucson Sector spokesperson, said did not know
how undocumented immigrants are managing to climb the fence.
Human smugglers might be the ones who could better answer that
question, she said.