El Centro

Western Banks 'Reaping Billions from Colombian Cocaine Trade' by Ed Vulliamy of The Guardian.

The vast profits made from drug production and trafficking are overwhelmingly reaped in rich "consuming" countries – principally across Europe and in the US – rather than war-torn "producing" nations such as Colombia and Mexico, new research has revealed. And its authors claim that financial regulators in the west are reluctant to go after western banks in pursuit of the massive amount of drug money being laundered through their systems...

A New Front Line in the U.S. Drug War by Damien Cave, Charlie Savage, and Thom Shanker of the New York Times.

… Throughout 2011, counternarcotics officials watched their radar screens almost helplessly as more than 100 small planes flew from South America to isolated landing strips in Honduras. But after establishing a new strategy emphasizing more cooperation across various United States departments and agencies, two smugglers’ flights were intercepted within a single week in May, a development that explains why American officials say they are determined to press forward with the approach…

Mexico Cartel Drops Aerial Leaflets Against Gov't - AP via The Seattle Times. BLUF:

Drug traffickers took the unusual step of using an airplane to drop thousands of leaflets on the northern city of Culiacan accusing the governor of Sinaloa state of taking orders from drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, authorities said Wednesday.

Mexican Cartel Tactical Note #12: Forensics of Recovered Weapons from Piedras Negras Tactical Engagement Between Los Zetas and GATE (Grupo de Armas y Tácticas Especiales)

Note— Borderland Beat Reporter Chivis Martinez provided additional informational support pertaining to the Piedras Negras incident for this tactical note.

Key Information: Chivis Martinez “Gunmen in Piedras Negras Attack, Block Roads and Terrorize the City.” Borderland Beat, Wednesday, March 7, 2012, http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2012/03/gunmen-in-piedras-negras-attack-block.html?m=1.

Chaos and panic erupted last night in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, the Mexican city that shares the border with Eagle Pass Texas.

Around 8PM twitterers and libre network users began reporting that shootouts were occurring in various sectors of the city in what media sources are calling a “narco rebellion”. In the aftermath Sergio Sisbeles, a spokesman for security affairs of Coahuila, stated there were 10 known casualties of the attacks with no apparent losses by the narco group, but possibly there may be civilian casualties.

Elements of GATE (special weapons and tactics group) and the narco group engaged in battle on Highway 75 and various parts of Piedras Negras. Using combat weapons and granadazos (grenades) the attacks lasted for hours.

Terror gripped the city causing widespread turmoil. The first confrontation broke out on Highway 57 at around 5 PM and the Micare plant and offices. The violence triggered American federal authorities to close the two international bridges in Eagle Pass, Texas.

A girls softball tournament was in progress while the violence was occurring, as the shootout ensued close to the playing field creating hysteria by the players and those attending the game, as they ran to safety.

Buses were stopped by the gunmen, passengers robbed and the buses set afire.

The armed gunmen are believed to be the Los Zetas cartel known to have control of Piedras Negras and are most likely responsible for the attacks.  The border with Mexico, Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras was closed to protect American citizens and prevent the violence from crossing over into the United States.

By using buses and a crane, it was the gunmen themselves that blocked highway 57, and the Acuna/Piedras highway, virtually isolating and paralyzing the city.  Bullet ridden vehicles were left inoperable by the gunmen shooting out the tires leaving hundreds of “ponchallantas” (punctured tires) scattered and blocking the main traffic arteries of the city.

A GATE officer was killed in the shootings, Maria Guadalupe Delgadillo, age 21, was dead at the scene however her fellow officer was alive but seriously wounded, he and the other wounded officers were taken to IMSS Clinic 11 for medical treatment, one in critical condition, four others serious condition and five in fair condition.

Army tanks remained at the hospital to protect the safety of the wounded officers. This action was taken hoping to prevent the gunmen from gaining entrance and killing the officers, as often occurs in Mexico to survivors of such attacks.

Recently, Piedras was one of the border cities receiving additional security as additional troops arrived such as the Marina and equipment including helicopters. On Monday of this week GATE troops arrived, and clearly preventing even greater loss of human life and property.

UPDATE:  Coahuila's Prosecutor's Office   announced the arrest of Eusebio Hernandez Olivas, alias “El Chebo” and Eduardo Hernández Reyes alias “El Guero”. These individuals were arrested in the vicinity of the road that leads from Piedras Negras to the ciudad Acuña and were arrested for involvement in the Piedras attack.  (see fotos below)  The state also emphasized that the GATE elements were deployed to Piedras this week to combat the alarming elevation of kidnapping and carjacking incidents in the city.

Among the items confiscated from the attack:

• Black Durango model 2000
• A Toyota Tundra burgundy
• A GMC Sierra crew cab gray
• A Toyota Tundra, double cab, white, 2010 model
• A double cab DODGE RAM, color red, model 2010
• 50 AK-47s
• Two rocket launchers
• Three grenade launchers
• Grenades
• Ammunition
• Six radios (communication type)
• Three bullet-proof vests
• Camouflaged boots
• Camouflaged uniforms;
• HK machine gun with ammunition
• Machine gun MDD
• Long gun (shotgun)
• 20 long gun (R15
• A 22-caliber rifle
• A 33 caliber rifle
• Drugs
• An antenna base

The images of the captured weapons below are from Boletín de Prensa Piedras Negras- Detención 07 de Marzo 2012, https://www.facebook.com/notes/fiscal%C3%ADa-de-coahuila/bolet%C3%ADn-de-prensa-piedras-negras-detenci%C3%B3n-07-de-marzo-2012/337563779628298.

This photo is an untouched original.

GATE/For Public Distribution

Who: Between Los Zetas (assumed) and GATE.

What: An engagement between criminal insurgents and Mexican state authorities that turned into running gun battles with infantry small arms (assault rifles, light machine guns, thrown/launched grenades, and rocket propelled grenades). Vehicles (with tires shot out) and buses (set on fire) were utilized by Zeta tactical units to channel opposing forces (to create kill zones) and to block main avenues of approach/hinder the mobility of responding GATE/law enforcement elements. Note—The reporting of army tanks protecting the hospital is in error; rather armored cars (non-tracked vehicles) were deployed. Ten allied Mexican state casualties were noted from this engagement.

When: Initially at 5:00 PM and then from 8:00 PM on for hours afterward, on Tuesday, 6 March, 2012.

Where: On Highway 75 and in various parts of Piedras Negras, Coahuila (Across from Eagle Pass, Texas).

Why: The Mexican government is deploying additional forces to Piedras Negras in order to retake de facto political control of the city from Los Zetas.

Outside Expert Analysis: Sid Heal, a retired SWAT Captain (later Commander) with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and retired CWO5 with the U.S. Marines, was asked to evaluate the level of this engagement. According to Commander Heal “Clearly, the confrontations between the authorities and criminals have escalated to war in all but name only.” After some reflection, he further went on to state:

One thing that occurred to me in retrospect is the long understood principle that the weaker adversary always seeks refuge.  The nearest and safest refuge is a short distance to the north. Inevitably then, some of these violent episodes will follow and I believe we are starting to see that very thing.  Moreover, there are historical precedents, not the least of which are the execution of 18 Americans by Pancho Villa in 1916 which resulted in the incursion by Gen. Pershing.  Accordingly, if the Mexican government is unable to protect their own citizenry it is at least not incredible that they would seek refuge because it would provide both a temporary sanctuary and potential punitive actions against the assailants by a stronger government.

Commander Heal’s concerns are being echoed by many law enforcement officers along the U.S. Border. Increasingly, we are witnessing the emergence of zones of “dual-sovereignty” being established by the cartels on U.S. soil. The potential for the loss of

de facto political control in rural areas of Southern Texas across from Piedras Negras and other borderland towns controlled by the Mexican cartels is becoming a U.S. national security concern.

Photographic Analysis: The following two photographs originally posted by GATE have had numbers added to them in order to label and identify the various weapons and hardware recovered. A third photograph of weapons on the table has then been enhanced and has had numbers added. It should be noted that the cartels are increasingly being armed with military grade weaponry—the same weaponry that would be provided to squad and platoon sized military units of insurgent forces and national armies. 

GATE/For Public Distribution

GATE/For Public Distribution

Note:  This roster is a culmination of the weapons and/or components shown in main photograph, the photographic enhancement of the items to the extreme right (displayed on the table nearest the banner).  Weapons and components were moved around as the photographs were taken and, therefore, some will appear only in certain photographs.  Additional enhancement of the photographs has revealed the presence of certain weapons that were not previously apparent due to placement and lighting.

1. AK-47, 7.62 X 39mm, fixed stock.
2. Grenade launcher, 40mm, rifle mount (mount configuration unknown).
3. Assorted Ammunition, Rifle, .30 caliber or greater, type unknown.
4. Grenade launcher, 40mm, M-79, standard format.
5. Grenade launcher, 40mm, Multiple, 6-round capacity, mfg. unknown.
6. Grenade launcher, 40mm, HK 69A1 “Granatpistole,” retractable butt-stock (Heckler & Koch).
7. (7) 40mm Spin-stabilized Grenades, HE // HEDP:  (2) types present:

      (4) Bearing strong resemblance to the U.S. M433 HEDP (Fragmentation / Shaped-charge).

      (3) Bearing strong resemblance to the S. Korean K200 HE (Fragmentation / High Explosive).

8. Ammunition, Rifle, .30 caliber or greater, type unknown.
9. AK-47, 7.62 x 39mm, unknown origin, folding stock.
10. AK-47, 7.62 x 39mm, military issue, fixed stock.
11. Model 1919A4.30 cal. Browning Machine Gun, belt-fed, (U.S. produced or exact foreign copy).
12. PG-7 Booster charge – for RPG-7 munitions.
13. RPG round – PG-7VM (Romanian) HEAT with a modified fuze or an improvised fuze safety cover; heavily carried.
14. RPG round – PG-7V Anti-tank; consistent with RFAS or Bulgarian mfg.
15. RPG round – PG-7V Anti-tank; consistent with RFAS or Bulgarian mfg.
16. RPG round – PG-7VM (Romanian) HEAT.
17. RPG-7 Launcher, 40mm Russian (RFAS) or Eastern Bloc, heavily carried and recently fired.
18. RPG-7 Launcher, 40mm Russian (RFAS) or Eastern Bloc, heavily carried.
19. M-60 machine gun, 7.62 x 51mm, U.S. issue, produced sometime between 1996 and 1999.
20. Ammunition, Military Ball, linked, 7.62 x 51mm (for the M-60).
21. AK-47, Weapon origin uncertain, however, the folding stock that it is equipped indicates that it is Romanian, Polish, or post 1985 East German.
22. Weapon not identifiable from view angle, but may be a semi-auto shotgun, box magazine fed.
23. AK-47, 7.62 x 39mm, fixed stock.
24. This firearm appears to be a pump-action rifle, .30 cal. or above, model / origin unknown.
25. Limited item view prevents positive identification.
26. Magazines, 7.62 x 39mm, 30-round capacity, loaded.  Magazine count:  108 // Total rounds:  3,240 rnds.
27. (2) Hand-held Transceivers (appear to be VHF).
28. Magazine, Drum, 7.62 x 39mm, AKM, 75-round capacity.
29. Hand Grenades, delay fragmentation, M-26A1 design, country of origin not identifiable; possibly:  South African, South Korean, or U.S.
30. Hand Grenade, appears to be an RFAS RDG-5 with UZRGM Fuze.
31. Unknown container, possibly Deta-sheet (flexible explosive) rolled, or similar foreign compound.
32. Packing container containing at least one PG-7 booster charge – for the PG-7 rounds.
33. Canister, PG-7 booster charge.
34. Canister, PG-7 booster charge.
35. Tactical Vest, hand grenade configuration.
36. Body armor, military.
37. Tactical gear pouches.
38. Tactical duty belt.
39. Tactical Rifle sling, padded.
40. Body Armor, tactical, threat level (Bullet resistance) unknown.
41. This appears to be a ceramic plate/s for body armor shown (Item No. 40).

Note:

HK69A1 40mm Grenade launcher (“Granatpistole”) [Item No. 6; is a very high quality 40mm launcher that is produced in Germany and is in service with a number of military and police forces, all of which are overseas.  There is a high likelihood that this weapon was hijacked or interdicted during a shipment of legitimate arms, possibly destined for delivery to the Mexican government.  Another probable example of a hijacked weapon in this group would be Item No. 19, the M-60 Machine gun of U.S. mfg.

RPG-7 Presence:  The presence of two RPG-7s’ (Item Nos. 17 & 18) in this cache may have significance based upon their origin.  Components of the Mexican army appear to have fielded small numbers of RPG-7s within the past several years from sources currently unknown.  The RPG-7 has seen very limited use on the southern continent, with the exception of the El Salvador conflict that occurred in Central America in the mid 1980’s.  While the dates of manufacture of these weapons are not readily apparent, they appear far too new to be from the El Salvador conflict.  They do however, appear, to be of European (RFAS or former Eastern Bloc) or Middle Eastern origin.

Significance: Arms Transfer; Cartel TTPs; Cartel Weapons; Cross Border Violence Potentials; SWAT; Urban Combat

Background Source(s):

Buggs, “Problems in Piedras Negras.” Borderland Beat, Sunday, October 16, 2011, http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2011/10/shootout-in-piedras-negras.html.

Overmex, “Mexico Army arrests 7 U.S. citizens in Piedras Negras, Coahuila.” Borderland Beat, Wednesday, September 7, 2011, http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2011/09/mexico-army-arrests-7-us-citizens-in.html.

Gerardo, “Piedras Negras in the Grip of Fear.” Borderland Beat, Friday, May 28, 2010, http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2010/05/piedras-negras-in-grip-of-fear.html.

Gerardo, “Fall from Grace.” Borderland Beat, Sunday, August 15, 2010, www.borderlandbeat.com/.../fall-from-grace.html.

This is an addendum on the potential source of MG-34 GPMGs seized by the Mexican Government at Ixtlan del Rio, Nayarit, as originally discussed in Mexican Cartel Tactical Note #11.

Note: The presence of MG-34 General Purpose Machine Guns in Mexico can be traced back to the 1954 Guatemalan Civil War and illuminates often-ignored arms smuggling routes into southern Mexico.

Key Information: Kristen Bricker, Chiapas Government Tries to Pin Narco Arsenal on Peasant Leader, Narconews, October 2009

http://narcosphere.narconews.com/notebook/kristin-bricker/2009/10/chiapas-government-tries-pin-narco-arsenal-peasant-leader

Another MG-34 (initially misidentified as a “Barrett”) was part of what was described as the largest weapons seizure in the history of Chiapas, and the biggest weapons seizure in the entire country to that date in 2009. While the Mexican government claimed that the cache belonged to Chiapan peasant leader Jose Manuel “Don Chema” Hernandez Martinez, substantial circumstantial evidence actually pointed to the Zeta cartel ownership. Martinez was arrested on September 30^th and subsequently released on November 24^th, 2009.

Who:  Chiapan peasant leader Jose Manuel “Don Chema” Hernandez Martinez, probably Zeta cartel.

What: Weapons cache seizure by the Mexican Government.

When: Reportedly October 9, 2009, press release dated October 18, 2009

Why: Conflicting arrest accounts of three men later linked to the Zeta cartel

Where: Frontera Comalapa, Chiapas, Mexico

Photo Analysis : MG-34 seized in October 2009 raid, originally misidentified as a “Barrett”.

Note: The most likely source for the 7.92mm MG 34 General Purpose Machine Guns seized in October 2009 and January 2012 was a 1954 Czechoslovakian shipment to Guatemala. At that time, Guatemalan President Jacobo Arbenz Guzmán circumvented an arms embargo by arranging for two thousand tons of weaponry to be smuggled into his country via the Swedish motor vessel Alfhem. 

While the vast majority was detritus from Czech arsenals, part of the Alfhem’s cargo included 7.92mm MG-34 GPMGs (along with 9mm MP-40 submachine guns, 7.92mm K98 and G43 rifles) which were delivered to the Guatemalan Army’s 1^st and 2^nd Regiments. A period post-coup newsreel about Carlos Castillo Armas clearly shows several of these weapons on display at the 1.09 mark.

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675024188_Ceased-guns_large-crowd-in-street_C-C-Armas-in-meeting_rifles-and-machine-guns-displayed

Exactly how and when these weapons could have crossed into Mexico over the next 55 years remains a mystery, but corruption has been singled out as the main problem affecting Mexico’s southern border management and the Customs Service.

While most of the media’s attention still focuses on Mexico’s northern border, Guatemala remains a major source country for cartel weaponry (both Central American Cold War left-overs and new arms trafficked into Guatemala from the U.S.).

Ironically, former CIA employee Samuel Cummings’ INTERARMCO was the first arms dealer to set up shop in Guatemala, re-equipping the 5,000-strong army in 1954 with American WWII weaponry surplused from Britain.

As noted in #11, the absence of linked ammunition at the time that the weapons were recovered indicates a potential lack of tactical relevance. While the MG-34 and MG-42 share the same non-disintegrating belts, the 7.62 NATO MG-3 (a modernized MG-42 license produced by SEDENA in Mexico) uses M13 disintegrating links. Substitution of disintegrating link belts for non-disintegrating would be problematic, without some imaginative modifications.

Significance: Cartel Weaponry, Smuggling Routes, Weapons Sources (Potentials)

Further Reading(s):

Jorge Kawas, “Guatemala and the Black Market for US Weapons”, Insight Magazine, November 25, 2011

http://www.insightcrime.org/insight-latest-news/item/1896-guatemala-and-the-black-market-for-us-weapons

K. Bricker, “OCEZ Political Prisoners' First Day Of Freedom After Nearly Two Months", NarcoNews.com, November 2009

http://lists.mutualaid.org/pipermail/mexico-week/2009-November/000366.html

David M. Barrett, “Congress, the CIA, and Guatemala, 1954”, Center for the Study of Intelligence

https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/kent-csi/vol44no5/html/v44i5a03p.htm

CIA documents relating to the 1954 Guatemalan Civil War

http://www.foia.cia.gov/search.asp?pageNumber=1&freqReqRecord=Guatemala5.txt

M/V ALFHEM ARMS SHIPMENT (W/ATTACHMENTS)         

http://www.foia.cia.gov/docs/DOC_0000934451/DOC_0000934451.pdf

Johnson, George B. & Hans Bert Lockhoven, INTERNATIONAL ARMAMENT. Vol. II. International Small Arms Publishers, Cologne, Germany. 1965.

Brogan, Patrick & and Albert Zarca, DEADLY BUSINESS: Sam Cummings, Interarms, and the Arms Trade, Norton, 1983.

Mexico’s Two Major Crime Cartels Now at War by William Booth, Washington Post. BLUF:

The two most important criminal organizations in Mexico are engaged in all-out war, and the most spectacular battles are being fought for the cameras as the combatants pursue a strategy of intimidation and propaganda by dumping ever greater numbers of headless bodies in public view - some of the victims most likely innocents…

Mexican Cartel Tactical Note #11: MG 34 Machine Guns Recovered in Nayarit— Hezbollah Arms Transfer Concerns

Note— This incident is extremely fragmentary and a minor footnote to a larger report by Borderland Beat. Five pictures of recovered weapons, ammunition in plastic bags, and license plates were posted along with the key information. What is significant, however, are the recovered machine guns that appeared in one of the photos.

Key Information: Via Gerardo, “Nayarit update.” Borderland Beat. Tuesday, January 17, 2012. http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2012/01/nayarit-update.html:

On Monday the Mexican Army announced the seizure of weapons and vehicles in the municipality of Ixtlan del Rio, Nayarit.

A total of 14 rifles and automatic weapons, 5 handguns, 2 grenade launchers, tactical equipment, 2,573 rounds of ammunition and 3 vehicles, one of which was armored, were secured.

No arrests were announced by the Army.

Who:  Unknown cartel or drug gang. Criminal enforcer units operating in the vicinity of the Nayarit plaza are though to include those belonging to the Sinaloa cartel, Beltran Leyva loyalists, and Los Zetas.

What:  Weapons and vehicle seizure by the Mexican Army.

When: Seizure announced Monday, January 16, 2012.

Where: Ixtlan del Rio, Nayarit.

Why:  Unknown military action. Part of general offensive promoted by Governor Roberto Sandoval who took office in September 2011.

Photo Analysis:

Weapon / Component Identification – Nayarit Incident

(SEDENA/For Public Distribution)

1. MG 34 Machine gun, 7.92 x 57mm belt-fed, bipod missing, no rear stock.
2. 12 ga. Shotgun, exact model not determined.
3. MG 34 Machine gun, 7.92 x 57mm belt-fed, non-original synthetic stock adapted to fit receiver.
4. 12 ga. Shotgun, SWD mfg., 12-shot with folding stock.
5. Grenade Launcher, 40mm, fitted with an M-4 collapsible stock, origin unknown.
6. Grenade Launcher, 40mm, lower rifle mount. 
7. 7.62 x 39mm SKS Carbine, Eastern Bloc.
8. 12 ga. Shotgun, possibly semi-auto with receiver modifications.
9. .30 cal. M1 Carbine action; barrel cut down to approximately 10-inches and set into a hand made stock to make a weapon similar appearance and function to the U.S. made “Enforcer” model produced by the Universal Arms Corp. in the 1960 – 70’s.

Note: The MG 34 Machine guns appearing in action in this location in January 2012 are extremely unusual.  The MG-34 was originally produced by three companies in both Germany and Austria during WWII for use by German troops.  The last ones that were observed in any known conflict appeared in Lebanon in 1975 – 1976 and were utilized by Hezbollah fighters.  The MG 34 has a very high cyclic rate; 900 rpm.  At this rate of fire, untrained personnel will expend their ammunition quickly.  This may, in fact, be evident by the absence of linked ammunition present at the time that the weapons were recovered.

Significance: Cartel Weaponry, Terrorist Arms Transfer (Potentials)

Further Reading(s): David A. Kuhn and Robert J. Bunker. “Just where do Mexican cartel weapons come from?” Small Wars & Insurgencies. Robert J. Bunker, ed., Special issue “Criminal Insurgencies in Mexico and the Americas: The Gangs and Cartels Wage War.” Vol. 22. No. 5 (December 2011): 807-834.

Tags: El Centro, Mexican Cartel Note, Tactical Note

Mexican Cartel Tactical Note #10

by David A. Kuhn and Robert J. Bunker

Mexican Cartel Tactical Note #10: Claymore Anti-Personnel Mine (and Other Military Hardware) Recovered in Zacatecas

Note—The key information has not been translated into English. It is being provided below as raw Spanish language OSINT for context/to allow for more in depth future analysis due to the significance of the Claymore anti-personnel mine that was recovered. We wish to thank Chris Covert for alerting us to this weapons recovery incident.

Key Information: Personal militar repele agresión armada, asegura droga y armamento en diferentes municipios del estado de Zacatecas. Guadalupe, Zac., a 28 de enero del 2012. Guadalupe, Zac., a 28 de enero del 2012. http://www.sedena.gob.mx/index.php/sala-de-prensa/comunicados-de-prensa-de-los-mandos-territoriales/8389-28-de-enero-del-2012-guadalupe-zac:

Hay cinco personas detenidas.

La Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional, a través de las Comandancias de la V Región Militar y 11/a. Zona Militar, informa a la opinión pública que en el marco de la Estrategia Integral del Estado Mexicano en contra del Narcotráfico y Delincuencia Organizada, los días 26 y 27 de enero del presente año, personal militar jurisdiccionado a este mando territorial, en atención a una denuncia ciudadana efectuaron reconocimientos terrestres en los municipios de Teul de González Ortega, y Florencia de Benito Juárez, Zac., donde fueron agredidos con disparos de armas de fuego por un número indeterminado de personas, por lo que en defensa de su integridad física y de la población civil, los efectivos militares repelieron la agresión, falleciendo en el lugar de los hechos tres agresores y logrando la detención de cinco individuos más; realizando los siguientes aseguramientos.:

    * 181 kilos con 400 gramos de mariguana.

    * 6 armas largas.

    * 1 arma corta.

    * 122 cargadores para diversas armas.

    * 1,052 cartuchos de diferentes calibres.

    * 1 mina antipersonal.

    * 2 granadas de mano.

    * Equipo táctico diverso.

    * 5 vehículos asegurados (3 con reporte de robo).

Con acciones como esta, La Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional, ratifica su compromiso de continuar combatiendo frontalmente al narcotráfico y crimen organizado, con el objeto de devolver la seguridad y paz social que demanda el pueblo de México, invitando a la sociedad a denunciar cualquier actividad ilícita que observe, al número telefónico lada sin costo 01800 507 6081 y correo electrónico [email protected] dirección electrónica esta protegida contra spam bots. Necesita activar 

Ver más comunicados.

Blvd. Manuel Ávila Camacho S/N. Esq. Av. Ind. Mil., Col. Lomas de Sotelo; Deleg. Miguel Hidalgo, D.F. C.P. 11640 Tel. 21228800. Comentarios sobre este Sitio de Internet Comentarios y Sugerencias sobre éste sitio de Internet.

Key Information: Decomisa Sedena, mina antipersonal en Zacatecas (Teúl y Florencia). Escrito por El Eco del Cañón on ene 29th, 2012 y presentadas en Regionales, Teúl, Zacatecas. Puedes seguir cualquier respuesta a esta entrada a traves de la RSS 2.0. Ambos comentarios y pings estan actualmente cerrados. http://www.elecodetlaltenango.com/?p=6940:

Guadalupe, Zac.- La Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional (Sedena), informó que tras sendos enfrentamientos en Teúl de González Ortega y Florencia de Benito Juárez, en el que fallecieron tres sicarios y cinco más fueron detenidos, se decomisó la primera mina personal en la entidad.

En comunicado de prensa, la Sedena informó que los días 26 y 27 de enero del presente año, personal militar jurisdiccionado a las Comandancias de la V Región Militar y XI Zona Militar, fueron agredidos con disparos de armas de fuego por un número indeterminado de personas.

Así, en respuesta y defensa de su integridad física y de la población civil, los efectivos militares repelieron la agresión, falleciendo en el lugar de los hechos tres agresores y logrando la detención de cinco individuos.

En el operativo posterior se decomisaron 181 kilos con 400 gramos de mariguana; seis armas largas; un arma corta; 122 cargadores para diversas armas y mil 52 cartuchos de diferentes calibres.

También una mina antipersonal, dos granadas de mano, equipo táctico diverso y cinco vehículos asegurados tres con reporte de robo).

Who: Narcotics (marijuana) traffickers in Zacatecas.

What: Engagement between Mexican military personnel and traffickers who had a large amount of marijuana and military weapons and hardware in their possession. 3 traffickers were killed and 5 were arrested. No military casualties reported.

When:  January 26-27, 2012.

Where: The municipalities of Teul de González Ortega and Florencia de Benito Juárez in the state of Zacatecas. Military Region V and XI Military Zone.

Why: Defensive action by deployed Mexican military forces against criminal (narco) insurgent forces.

Photo Analysis: The photograph of the weaponry recovered and shown on the tarp is from La Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional (SEDENA). The weapons and other military hardware have been labeled from 1 to 10 and are as follows:

Cartel Weapons / Explosives on Tarp

(SEDENA/For Public Distribution)

1. Ammunition, .30 cal., exact cartridge type unknown.
2. AK-47 action; set into a polymer stock (folding).
3. M-26A1 Hand grenade, delay fragmentation.
4. 40mm HE or HEDP, Spin-stabilized (model not identifiable).
5. M18A1 Claymore Anti-personnel Mine (or exact foreign production copy). [See note].
6. M18A1 electrical wire (detonating) and storage reel.
7. Firing Device, electric impulse, hand, M18A1 Claymore AP Mine.
8. Electrical wire, supplemental, M18A1.
9. Magazines, 7.62 x 39mm, 30-round capacity; Magazine count:  53; Total rounds:  1,590 rnds. (Note the magazine on the extreme left.  It appears to have sustained gunfire damage.)

   10)   The area identified as “10” appears to be improvised body armor sets totaling three in number.

The body armor appears to be of carbon steel alloy, and constructed using professional fabrication techniques and machinery.  It appears to be constructed of at least 4-gage (.204-inch) sheet steel or greater.  There may be additional ceramic plate armor and padding on the interior of the armor that is out of view.

Note:

M18A1 Claymore AP Mine [Item No. 5]: The U.S. M18A1 Claymore Anti-personnel Mine is widely copied by a number of countries; however, there are only a few that can be considered “exact,” or “close” copies for the purposes of general appearance.  Two examples of these would be the South African Shrapnel Mine No. 2 and the Chinese Type 66 (the Type 66 does not have “FRONT TOWARD ENEMY” in raised lettering across the face of the mine that appears on the standard M18A1).  The mine shown face down in the photograph could, in fact, be one of these close foreign copies.

Items #5-8 composing the Claymore Anti-personnel Mine system is a significant weapons recovery. Earlier reports of such mines being in the inventory of cartel enforcers and traffickers have been made but no photographic evidence has been provided. The effects of such a mine can be viewed at: M18A1 Claymore Directional AP Mine, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDqaeMGMAWk.

The M18A1 Claymore: These mines can be effectively used in ambushes and booby traps against dismounted Mexican military and law enforcement personnel.  The M18A1 “Claymore” Anti-personnel Mine carries an explosive weight of 682-grams (1.50-lbs. of Composition C-4).  It will deliver steel fragments over a 60° fan-shaped pattern that is 50-meters wide and 2-meters in height, and is effective up to a range of 100-meters.  These blast fragments are still dangerous up to 250-meters forward of the mine.  Their fielding and use in tandem with low yield car bombs (VBIEDs) and/or hasty assaults to create kill zones in to which military and federal police small units are forced/drawn and channeled into must now be considered.  Additionally, terrorists favor mines such as these as they often contain additional fuze wells (for blasting cap detonators) that will allow the mine to be detonated as a boobytrap device in a variety of scenarios that are well outside of a conventional battlefield environment.  The M18A1 Claymore is equipped with two separate fuze wells.

Significance: Ambushes, Booby Traps, Cartel Weaponry

Tags: El Centro, Mexican Cartel Note, Tactical Note

Should U.S. Troops Fight the War on Drugs? New York Times debate on whether the US military should be involved in the war on drugs.