DTO weapons sourced from American stockpiles in Honduran custody

Posted on May 30, 2011 by defnac

According to a WikiLeaks (08STATE105491) diplomatic cable release, Honduran light anti-tank weapons (LAWs) and grenades supplied to them under America’s Foreign Military Sales program have been recovered in Mexico and Columbia. The diplomatic cable asks its foreign post to raise the issue of the weapons with the Honduran government. According to the cable, the US Embassy is to ensure that the Honduran government “understands their legal end-use obligations with respect to control of U.S.-origin defense articles”.

The diplomatic cable states that according to a July 9, 2008 Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report, three anti-tank weapons (LAWs) were recovered in Mexico City in January 2008, one was recovered in Cd. Juárez, México in April 2008 and six more were recovered in Columbia on March 2008.

According to the cable, the Honduran government undertook an internal military investigation and determined that the 2nd Infantry Battalion could not account for 26 of the 50 LAWs transferred to Honduras.

Additionally, at least two U.S.-produced M433 40-mm grenades have been recovered in Columbia and Mexico, according to the DIA report. The cable adds that the only foreign sale of the M433 40-mm grenades was to Honduras in 1985.


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Lucha antinarco debe ser global

Posted on May 19, 2011 by defnac

Title: Lucha antinarco debe ser global
Source: Reforma
Date: May 19, 2011
Byline: None

Reforma reports that Columbia president Juan Manuel Santos stated that the “battle against drug trafficking organizations is a global battle, a single country cannot battle alone against such odds”, during the 71st anniversary celebrations of the country’s police school.

Santos is quoted as adding that Mexico has paid a significant price.

Santos also gave Genaro García Luna, director of the Mexican Public Security Administration and John Morton, director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) the merit medal in the category of exceptional service.


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Unofficial sources report vigilante activity in Nuevo Laredo

Posted on May 19, 2011 by defnac

Unofficial sources reported vigilante activity in Nuevo Laredo on May 19, 2011. The unconfirmed reports via the Internet include pictures of a body of a man alongside a cardboard, handwritten sign baring a message to the public.

The message reads, in Spanish:

“The families must be respected. They should not be blamed for the situation. The one at fault should pay, the innocent should be respected. If you continue to hurt innocent families, we will hurt yours. From the lowest to the highest levels, regardless of who it is.”

The Spanish version is grammatically incorrect.

According to unconfirmed reports, the authorities in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas received an anonymous call at 2:00 am reporting a body. The body, of a man was found shot through the back of the head with the sign next to it. Responding authorities found the body and the message next to the statue of Christopher Columbus.


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Suspected killer of immigration agent faces extradition to US

Posted on May 17, 2011 by defnac

Title: Suspected killer of immigration agent faces extradition to US
Source: CNN
Date: May 17, 2011
Byline: CNN Wire Staff

CNN reports that the United States has formally requested the extradition of Julian Zapata Espinoza, alias “El Piolin” for the “probable responsibility” in the death of ICE agent Jaime Zapata on February 15, 2011. Zapata Espinoza stated, shortly after his arrest in February 2011, that “they thought” the vehicle in which agent Zapata and another agent were riding in “was owned by a rival” drug trafficking group, according to the news report. CNN adds that Zapata Espinoza has been transferred to another prison to be processed to determine if he will be extradited.


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Purported video of the interrogation and assassination of narco assassin making rounds on the internet

Posted on May 15, 2011 by defnac

A one minute, ten second video, released via the Internet in the last few days, purports to be the interrogation of an alleged assassin (sicario) for the Chapo Guzman drug trafficking organization (DTO). The individual presented via the video is handcuffed with his hands in front of him, his eyes blindfolded with packing tape and wearing a camouflage military uniform without insignia. The individual is first interrogated by someone off camera and then shot in the head.

He is first asked his name. His response is difficult to understand except for “Ortega”, which according to Mexican custom, would be his maternal last name. He is then asked what he does for a living. His response is that he is an assassin (sicario) for “Chapo”. He is then asked where he lives to which he replies “Santiago Papasquiaro, Durango”. He is then asked how much he is paid. He replies $N8,000 Pesos a month, approximately $680 USD.

The video dialog is difficult to follow at this point but it appears that the alleged assassin is asked who the leader is in the town where he lives and he replies that a “coronel” whose name is undecipherable. He is then asked how he knows this and he replies because he delivered $N5 million to him in the last month.

The captive adds that there are about 100 assassins (sicarios) working in the area. He is then asked what they are doing in the area and he replies that they are there to execute people in order to “steal their money” and make them “work” for the Chapo organization.

He is then asked if he personally knows the “colonel” to which he replies that he delivered the $N5 million to him. He is then shot in the head.


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Mexican jail governor decapitated

Posted on May 13, 2011 by defnac

Title: Mexican jail governor decapitated
Source: BBC
Date: May 13, 2011
Byline: None

The BBC reports that among the additional eight dead bodies Durango is the body of deputy governor of Durango’s prisons who was abducted on May 9, 2011. According to the news report, Gerardo Galindo’s head was discovered next to a wall with a “threatening message” from a local gang.

The total count of recovered bodies in Durango is at 196, according to the BBC.


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Six die in Honduras drug clash

Posted on May 12, 2011 by defnac

Title: Six die in Honduras drug clash
Source: BBC
Date: May 12, 2011
Byline: None

The BBC reports that “six suspected drug traffickers” were killed in a confrontation with police. According to the news report, seven individuals were arrested by authorities who accuse them of working for drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) in the city of Catacamas.

The BBC adds that an Honduran journalist; Francisco Medina, was shot near his home. According to the news report, 11 Honduran reporters have been killed in the last 18 months. Medina was the first reporter killed in 2011.


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RI lawmaker faces arraignment in Conn. drug case

Posted on May 8, 2011 by defnac

Title: RI lawmaker faces arraignment in Conn. drug case
Source: AP
Date: May 8, 2011
Byline: None

The AP reports the Rhode Island Representative Robert Watson (R), former Rhode Island House minority leader, is scheduled to make a court appearance on May 11, 2011 for drunken driving and drug possession. According to the police report, quoted by the AP, police stated that “Watson smelled of alcohol and marijuana when they stopped him on April 22″, 2011.

According to the AP, Watson has stated that he consumed “several” drinks but was not drunk when he was arrested. He is also quoted as stating that “he uses marijuana to treat recurring pain from pancreatitis”.


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Hallan avioneta sin sobrevivientes

Posted on May 7, 2011 by defnac

Title: Hallan avioneta sin sobrevivientes
Source: Reforma
Date: May 7, 2011
Byline: None

Reforma reports that a Bolivian military aircraft with two Bolivian military personnel and four UN military personnel was found Saturday, May 7, 2011 crashed in the jungle with all on board dead. According to Reforma, which quotes a Bolivian military press conference, that the aircraft crashed into a tree 50 meters above ground, 180 kilometers from La Paz.

The aircraft had disappeared on Thursday, May 5, 2011, according to the news piece. The aircraft was on a cocaine eradication mission.


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Prepara EZLN marcha en apoyo a Sicilia

Posted on May 7, 2011 by defnac

Title: Prepara EZLN marcha en apoyo a Sicilia
Source: Reforma
Date: May 7, 2011
Byline: Martín Morita

Reforma reports that 5,000 members of the Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional (EZLN) are preparing to march in support of poet Javier Sicilia’s march for peace.

According to Reforma, the members of the EZLN will march in silence from the Centro Indígena de Capacitación Integral to the Cathedral of San Cristóbal de las Casas where they will read a communiqué stating their position on the violence in Mexico.

Reforma also reports that commanders “Tacho” and “David” will lead the march adding that Subcomandante Marcos may make a presence.


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