Alleged Leader Captured

MEXICO CITY -- Federal police arrested an alleged local leader for a drug cartel that purportedly offered to disband if the Mexican government proves it can protect citizens from other criminals in a western state, authorities said Tuesday.

Jose Alfredo Landa, 37, was in charge of La Familia operations in Morelia, the Michoacan state capital, said Ramon Pequeno, the federal police anti-narcotics chief.

Police surrounded a house outside Morelia on Monday and arrested Landa and three others, seizing an AK-47 and other weapons

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/30/AR2010113001827.html

DEA Aids Mexican Marines

MATAMOROS, MEXICO - The U.S. government is turning to elite units of Mexican marines to go after drug cartel bosses in aggressive "capture or kill" missions, providing intelligence and training to bolster what officials say is Mexico's most trustworthy and nimble force. The U.S. government has long been wary of corruption among Mexican police and frustrated by the slow response of the Mexican army. The decision to rely on the marines has enabled that force to carry out the kind of rapid-strike operations undertaken by U.S. forces against Taliban leaders Afghanistan.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/03/AR2010120306820.html

CBP Customs Agent HUMINT Interview: Week Oct 26- Nov 2

Mercedes, Tx -- This home-based interview consists of several questions and answers over drug-cartel violence and human smuggling. The approx. time of interview was 45 mins.

GSSL Student: What drugs are being smuggled into the U.S. from Mexico by drug cartels?
CBP Agent: The most common types of drugs smuggled in the U.S. are marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine.
GSSL Student: What impact would legalization/decriminalization of some drugs have on the cartels?
CBP Agent: If drugs were legalized, violence would decrease in Mexico. Cartels would stop fighting to control drugs routes in Mexico, because everyone would have the right to obtain drugs. Drug cartel profits will decrease because of high demands of drugs available at lower prices; negative impact on cartels.
GSSL Student: What tactics are cartel groups using to smuggle in humans/narcotics?
CBP Agent: When they try to smuggle in large amounts of narcotics, they use legal means of international trade to transport illicit narcotics from Mexico into the U.S. For example, they use legitimate Mexican truck companies to transport merchandise into the U.S; such as bringing in watermelons that are used to conceal narcotics. Narcotics are usually hidden in false compartments within truck beds or truck walls. For human smuggling, illegal aliens are utilizing legitimate documents to make entrée into the U.S. in forms of identity theft.
GSSL Student: What criminal activity reports or scenes did you witness throughout this week by cartel groups?
CBP Agent: This week, we seized 80 pounds of marijuana concealed inside the tires of an F150 truck. The drugs were detected by having the suspect referred for further inspection at the port of entrée due to the out of the ordinary nervousness of the driver. The k9 unit alerted suspicion towards the truck’s tires; therefore; agents seized the drugs and arrested the individual.
GSSL Student: Have you been in a situation where you encountered a drug cartel suspect, if so, how did you handle the situation?
CBP Agent: No, but if we were to encounter a drug cartel suspect we would conduct investigatory questioning towards the individual, while contacting FBI and ICE agents.
GSSL Student: What do you think about CBP corruption?
CBP Agent: Corruption is bad and not worth. CBP provides good pay and excellent retirement for agents. Integrity is the most important aspect of any federal agency; therefore, corruption would be considered morally wrong.
GSSL Student: Where can I find useful and accurate open source intelligence information to conduct my academia research?
CBP Agent: You can check el blog del narco, where local media reports on everyday incidents that occur alongside the U.S. and Mexican border.
GSSL Student: How much of a threat are drug cartels perceived as?
CBP Agent: They are seen as a very big threat because Mexican violence can spill into the U.S. at any time. Since people are being killed everyday, the violence can move into the U.S., causing fear amongst communities and citizens. Federal, state, and local officials will be challenged and forced to diminish cartel violence in the U.S.

On-the-field Human Smuggling Pictures of Drowned Individual

* Pictures of an unidentified man who drowned; victim of a human smuggling case. Provided by agent on-the-field, for academia research purposes only. Tuesday, November 9, 2010 8:13 PM

On-the-field Pictures of Narcotic Smuggling

*Pictures of marijuana loads taken on-the-field by agent, provided to GSSL student for academia research purposes only. Tuesday, November 9, 2010 8:13 PM

CBP Assistant Port Director HUMINT Interview: Week Oct 26- Nov 2

This home-based interview consists of several questions and answers over drug-cartel violence and human smuggling. The approx. time of interview was 58 mins.

GSSL Student: How much of a threat are drug cartels perceived as?
CBP Director: They are a minimal threat due to the fact that they are in the U.S. already. Some members live and reside in the U.S. Mexican national Cartel members realize that the U.S. is powerful; therefore, they won’t cross the border nor get close to it. There’s no chance that they would attack the U.S. and it’s agents on our borders, but we always take precaution.
GSSL Student: What is the most popular tactic used for human/narcotic smuggling alongside the RGV?
CBP Director: The tactics used to smuggle humans into the U.S. is by obtaining valid U.S. documents. They recruit minors, as well as people with same facial features as in the documents. Kids and teens are targeted by cartel members to become part of the Narco bussiness. CBP and agents have created a program called Operation Detour, aimed to keep kids out of narco bussiness on the entire southwest border. Another tactic is straw purchasing: having U.S. citizens buy arms/weapons for cartels to make crimes. They bribe and target citizens that have clean records, this creates a felony problem of Arms trafficking.
GSSL Student: Where can I find useful and accurate open source intelligence information to conduct my academia research?
CBP Director: Look into The monitor, borderbeat.net, borderlandbeat.com, cbp.gov, san Antonio express. Also, check out the blue campaign (warn people about cartels). Here is also a very useful book that CBP uses for reference, book called “Los Capos” Las narco-rutas de Mexico. By Ricardo Ravelo.

Additional Comments: CBP Director gave me some valuable information regarding a conference called "Texas' First Annual International Conference on Human Trafficking: Oct 6-7, 2010. Location: State Capitol", that she attended in person.

Border Patrol Agent HUMINT Interview: Week Oct 26- Nov 2

Edinburg, Tx -- This home-based interview consists of several questions and answers over drug-cartel violence and human smuggling. The approx. time of interview was 37 mins.

GSSL Student: What drugs are being smuggled into the U.S. from Mexico by drug cartels?
Agent: All type of drugs are being smuggled into the U.S., but the main ones are marijuana and cocaine. In every marijuana load, 1 out of every 8 dope gets caught and seized. We hardly ever catch cocaine, mainly because drug cartel organizations are too extremely organized; due to the fact that cocaine is expensive and demandful. Another reason why we don't seize too much is due to the fact that they have endless amount of money and members within their organizations. They also have better weapons and advanced technology, such as (night vision, infra red cameras), which makes them know where we are at most of the time.
GSSL Student: What impact would legalization/decriminalization of some drugs have on the cartels?
Agent: It would impact cartels in a negative way, since illicit drugs is their money-maker. But here in the U.S., drugs would never become legalized or decriminalized, but lets say it did happen, the solution to this factor would be that drug cartels would just sell it cheaper and still make their profit.
GSSL Student: What tactics are cartel groups using to smuggle in humans/narcotics?
Agent: Cartel members are now using high tactical acts of surveillance so they can know where we are at most of the time. Another recently used, and effective tactic is known as the Sacrificial Lamb. In this tactic, cartels send two non-members to get intentionally caught while distracting agents, while close by, cartel members pass illicit loads of narcotics and people. Another tactic that is now seen is cartel members recruiting immigrants to pass drugs/narcotics on their way into the U.S. We are still trying to figure out if immigrants have close ties with carterls, or if they are being forced into smuggling. Lastly, one veri important tactic that we are dealing with is cartels using little kids as coyotes, to smuggle drugs/humans. They are targeting kids because they are very aware of U.S. laws, where no kid cannot be tried and prosecuted; therefore, using kids as the perfect tactic.
GSSL Student: What criminal activity reports or scenes did you witness throughout this week by cartel groups?
Agent: This week I caught 7 people, illegally entering the U.S. by swimming across the river. Its a very common daily routine, seizing and catching illegals/narcotics.
GSSL: Have you been in a situation where you encountered a drug cartel suspect, if so, how did you handle the situation?
Agent: Yes, it happens a lot of times. If it involves drugs, we wear vests and equipt ourselves with guns to be safe just in case they attack us. One time, we spotted members trying to smuggle in drugs, but when they saw us they drove back towards and into the river leaving the load behind.
GSSL Student: What do you think about CBP corruption?
Agent: Its wrong and not worth it, but people give in easily. Its not worth it in the long run. CBP pays good and has a good system, so I dont understand why individuals would go corrupted. At least once a month, one person is caught and prosecuted for CBP corruption.
GSSL Student: Where can I find useful and accurate open source intelligence information to conduct my academia research?
Agent: Since, I'm an agent out on the field, the best advice that I can give you is to check and look up el blog del narco, youtube, and todo sobre el narcotraficante blog as well.
GSSL Student: How much of a threat are drug cartels perceived as?
Agent: Cartels are a big threat, as well as their violence because its close to border. They have endless money. They have tons of weapons smuggled south from the U.S. Different cartel members are also seen and live in the valley, such as zetas/golfo/la mana members. Alot of them are U.S. citizens and they live and operate here. They are used for counter intelligence against the U.S.

Democrats Show Little Enthusiasm for CIFTA Treaty on Gun Trafficking

Washington Post Writer -- President Obama visited Mexico and pledged to do more to keep U.S. guns out of the hands of murderous drug cartels, but the symbolically treaty known as CIFTA, has gone nowhere. Mexican authorities have begged the U.S. government to do more to curb the flow of high-powered rifles to drug traffickers. Both governments say that thousands of U.S. weapons have been sent illegally south of the border in recent years. CIFTA requires countries to criminalize the illegal manufacture and import or export of weapons.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/21/AR2010102107266.html

U.S. and Mexico Struggle to Stop Flow of Weapons Across Border

Mexico City -- Efforts to stem the smuggling of weapons from the U.S. to Mexican drug cartels have been frustrated by bureaucratic infighting, a lack of training and the delayed delivery of a computer program to Mexico. In the past several years, Mexico has submitted information about more than 74,000 guns seized south of the border that the government suspects were smuggled from the U.S. Obama administration officials have responded with surge in spending to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Department of Homeland Security. Guns are sold legally in the U.S. and are easily obtainable in the worldwide black market in arms. More than 28,000 Mexicans have died in drug violence in the past four years. The U.S. announced three years ago that it would provide Mexico with its proprietary e Trace Internet-based system; the system is described as "a cornerstone" of its effort to fight arms trafficking to Mexico. Users enter basic data about a weapom, such as its make, model and serial number, and then receive vital intelligence from the ATF about where and when it was manufactured and sold, and to whom. The Mexican government often states that 90 percent of the weapons it confiscates come from the U.S. U.S. agents along the southwest border are seizing a small percentage of the weapons likely to be smuggled south. Border Patrol and ICE, captured 1,404 guns on their way to Mexico from March 2009 to March 2010.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/06/AR2010100607018.html

Mexico Arrests Man Accused of Detonating Car Bomb

Mexico City -- Federal police arrested a gang member on Thursday who detonated the first successful car bomb by Mexican drug cartels, an attack that killed three people in the border city of Ciudad Juarez. Fernando Contreras used a cell phone to set off the bomb that killed a federal police officer and two civilians. The bomb exploded after police and paramedics arrived on a street corner to help a wounded man. More than 2,000 people have been killed this year in Ciudad Juarez, a city of 1.3 million across the border from El Paso, Texas.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/21/AR2010102103006.html

Pot Bust affects Sinaloa Gang

Mexico City -- On Monday October 18, Mexican soldiers and police grabbed the U.S.-bound marijuana in pre-dawn raids in three neighborhoods when 11 people were arrested after a shootout which led authorities to the drugs. This is Mexico's largest-ever seizure of marijuana packaged for sale. The Sinaloa cartel is run by Mexico's most wanted fugitive, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, which is now moving drugs through the Tijuana corridor. Army officials said the drugs weighed 105 tons and had an estimated street value of 4.2 billion pesos, about $340 million. With the Mexican military changing its role and more actively going after organized crime groups, it could have affected that; the drugs were found stored in tractor trailers and houses wrapped in different colors and labeled with apparently coded phrases and pictures that included the cartoon character Homer Simpson. It is evident enough to suspect that cartel groups are using new tactics when smuggling narcotics.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/19/AR2010101905920.html

Gruesome Cartel Tactics

Ciudad Juarez -- Drug cartels have used good media tactics, such as Youtube, to post kidnappings of police officers, officials, and regular citizens by releasing video clips of the captives admitting to crimes, including government corruption. It is often impossible to verify the accuracy of the admissions made under extreme pressure. The release of clips also adds to drug gang pressure on public officials in Mexico, following a string of slayings of mayors, senior police officers and a gubernatorial candidate. The Juarez and Sinaloa cartels have each claimed- through videos, graffiti and messages left on bodies- that the other receives government protection. Drug cartels have committed gruesome tactics not seen in Tijuana for months, beheading rivals and hanging bodies from bridges.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/25/AR2010102500851.html

Mexican Drug Cartels: Corruption at the Border

Online discussion -- Thomas M. Frost, assistant inspector general for investigations at the Department of Homeland Security's Office of the Inspector General, was online discussing Ceci Connolly Post article about drug cartels employing Cold War-era spy tactics to recruit and corrupt U.S. officials. She is a national staff writer for the Washington Post, and posted up a blog article for discussion about the recent corrupted CBP former member, Martha Garnica. She lived a double life. At the border crossing, she was Agent Garnica, a veteran law enforcement officer. In the shadows, she was "La Estrella," the star, a brassy looker who helped drug cartels make a mockery of the U.S. border.


Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2010/09/10/DI2010091006300.html

28 Gulf Cartel Members Found Guilty

The Monitor -- 28 Gulf Cartel members were arrested in Matamoros and announced guilty by Mexican authorities. These members were found guilty of engaging in organized criminal activity, crimes against public health, possession of restricted weapons and possession of military ammunition and explosives. The group was arrested by Mexican Marines and seized 55 assault rifles, 11 handguns, two rocket launchers, 21 grenades, 340 ammunition magazines, a large number of ammunition rounds, two trucks, $394,000 in U.S. currency and 560,000 pesos. It is highly possible that arms trafficking within the U.S. and Mexico is a criminal tactic that cartel groups are making in attempt to gain power and wealth. One of the 28 cartel members is Juan Francisco Martinez Manzanares, known to have led all members into criminal activity.

Source: http://www.themonitor.com/articles/cartel-43571-members-guilty.html

Mexico Suspends Search for Hartley

Zapata -- Mexico's search for McAllen man David Michael Hartley was temporarily suspended, with no further questions or comments made. STRATFOR, a private intelligence service based in Austin, stated that its sources indicated that low-level members of the Zeta drug cartel were responsible for the attack and that the group destroyed the body that same day. Due to both U.S. and Mexican government ties in partnership to locate the body, a halt was done due to a severed head of a Tamaulipas state police commander investigating the case was delivered in a suitcase to a military post in Miguel Aleman. STRATFOR analyst predicts that there will be more killings and beheadings of Mexican authorities if that search continues. Citing unnamed sources, STRATFOR reported that low-level Zetas identified the Hartleys as a potential Gulf Cartel surveillance team and rashly chose to retaliate by shooting at the couple.

Source: http://www.themonitor.com/articles/hartley-43582-think-indicate.html

American Death linked to Cartel Group

CNN -- Unwanted attention to a cartel known as Los Zetas is caused by suspected shooting death of an American by gunmen. Officials state that "It's more likely than not that more senior people in the organization are unhappy about what happened here because this brings pressure from the U.S. and Mexican authorities". David Hartley was killed on September 30 while enjoying a sightseeing trip on Falcon Lake. Drug cartel groups try to limit and minimize attacks on Americans because they know this would bring pressure on their organizations. It is highly believed that suspected Zeta killers may be already dead by their own senior organization members.

Source: http://articles.cnn.com/2010-10-15/justice/texas.hartley.zetas_1_drug-cartels-mexican-investigator-mexican-drug?_s=PM:CRIME

Smugglers of Drugs Burrow on Border

Nogales , Ariz. – Border Patrol agents utilized many different techniques and ways to stop illegal immigrants or drug smugglers into the U.S. Some ways that Border Patrol agents prevent these illegal acts, are through drone aircraft patrol, fast boats, trucks, horses, all-terrain vehicles, and bicycles. Unfortunately, smugglers have found other ways to smuggle human or drugs into the U.S. by using tunnels. Tunneling has gained popularity in many areas, Nogales leading in cases. These tunnels are mainly used to smuggle in drugs, such as marijuana. Agents have discovered many tunnels due to the geography of the region where higher elevation and water flow through generations of old underground channels. Tunnels are discovered in many ways, such as sinking pavement, manholes popping up with furtive eyes peering out, and also discovered in border-front property.

Source: : http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/03/us/03tunnels.html?_r=2&sq=human

$3.1 Million in Tour Bus; 14 Arrested

Hidalgo – On Sunday, October 3, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized $3.1 million from luggage on a tour bus destined for Mexico. 14 people, 7 U.S. citizens and 7 Mexican nationals are currently facing federal charges at U.S. District Court in McAllen. The case was found hidden in deflated air mattresses packed inside 17 pieces of luggage aboard the bus. “the $3.1 million seized by federal agents far exceeds the $10,000 limit for cash declarations upon entering or exciting the United States. If convicted, each person can face up to five years in prison and fines up to $250,000”.

Source: http://www.themonitor.com/articles/hidalgo-43196-mexico-million.html

Police: Father, son escape kidnapping unharmed

Mission – On Tuesday afternoon, a father and son were held at gunpoint by several men before taking off with their pickup truck, state mission police chief. Both father and son were close in becoming human trafficking victims by Mexican cartel members. A man got inside their black 2010 Ford F-150 pickup truck, ordered them to drive until being forced into another vehicle. Both were not harmed by these men, but were in for a scare. Police chief, Martin Garza stated that “trucks like the man’s F-150 are typically targeted by thieves along the U.S.- Mexico border to be used in drug of human smuggling operations”.

Source: http://www.themonitor.com/news/mission-43180-unharmed-father.html

Mexican Drug Trafficking

Mexico City --- Mexico has been a producer and transit route for illegal drugs for generations, the country now finds itself in a pitched battle with powerful and well-financed drug cartels. More than 28,000 people have been killed in the nearly four years since President Felipe Calderón began his offensive against the nation’s drug organizations, with the gangs escalating fights over turf and dominance as the federal police and military try to stamp them out. While Mr. Calderon dismisses suggestions that Mexico is a failed state, he and his aides have spoken frankly of the cartels' attempts to set up a state within a state, levying taxes, throwing up roadblocks and enforcing their own perverse codes of behavior. The Mexican government has identified 233 "zones of impunity'' across the country, where crime is largely uncontrolled, a figure that is down from 2,204 zones a year ago. The United States and Mexico set their counternarcotics strategy on a new course in March 2010 by refocusing their efforts on strengthening civilian law enforcement institutions and rebuilding communities crippled by poverty and crime.

Source: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/mexico/drug_trafficking/index.html?scp=3&sq=human%20smuggling&st=cse

Mexico Paper, A Drug War Victim, Calls for a Voice

Mexico City --- “We want you to explain to us what you want from us,” the front-page editorial in El Diario in Ciudad Juárez asked the leaders of organized crime. “What are we supposed to publish or not publish, so we know what to abide by. You are at this time the de facto authorities in this city because the legal authorities have not been able to stop our colleagues from falling.” Luis Carlos Santiago, 21, a photography intern at the paper who was shot dead while leaving a shopping mall after lunch. A car drove up. A barrage of bullets. Mr. Santiago, shot in the head, died instantly while another intern, who was wounded, stumbled and dragged himself to safety in the mall and is recuperating. The message was send to drug gangs in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, the bloodiest city in drug battles. All along the border, news organizations have silenced themselves out of fear from drug cartel organizations.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/world/americas/21mexico.html?_r=3&scp=6&sq=human%20smuggling&st=cse

Pilgrims Trafficking Corridor

Santa Elena --- Elizabeth Burns owns a ranch in south Texas called Rancho Los Malulos where illegal immigrants or “pilgrims” as she decides to call them, cross on foot illegally into the U.S.A. Broken bottles, wrappers, and footprints are always normal discoveries every day. Burns takes action is conducting interviews on “pilgrims” who cross through her ranch, but still notifies Border Patrol agents about them. Drilling oil companies have long since been a part of the family’s business, therefore, the roads made by these oil companies provide a perfect route for smugglers, who blend in with the other traffic as they use their own trucks to transport drugs and people through the region. One day she encounters herself with a Honduran national and decides to interview him, she states, “He looked thin, weak and said he was hungry, Burns said. She gave him a Red Bull and some orange soda while they talked. The pilgrim testifies that he was kidnapped by organized crime members and was held for ransom for his release. Urbino Martinez, chief deputy of the Brooks County Sheriff’s Office, said in court documents that smugglers charge as much as $10,000 to move drugs or people through the property.

Source: http://www.themonitor.com/articles/wife-42874-pilgrims-camera.html

Togo woman gets 27 years in NJ forced labor case

Newark, NJ --- Akouavi Afolabi, a woman from the impoverished West African nation Togo, was sentenced to 27 years of sentenced due to running a human smuggling operation by forcing women to work at New Jersey hair braiding salons. The 20 smuggled women ranged between ages 10-19 and where brought into the U.S. from West Africa with fake visas. These women were forced to work at these salons with no pay. Along with Afolabi, her ex-husband and son where convicted and sentenced for these acts. A fourth suspect defendant received a 26-month prison term.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/20/AR2010092004242.html

Gunmen kidnap 9 Mexican state lawmen, 2 found dead

Acapulco, Mexico --- An agency’s commanders and a team of eight agents investigating a death in the southern Mexican state of Guerrero, where kidnapped while two were found dead. Searchers found the bodies of two officers near a small community, El Revelado, where the police group was kidnapped. In Coyuca de Catalan, another part of Guerrero, two moving vehicles threw two human heads in front of a refreshment stand, believed to be linked to drug gangs. In Ciudad Juarez, a region full of drug violence, police arrested two alleged leaders from the Aztec gang identified as Gonzalo Dominguez Sanchez, known as “El Chore,” and Eduardo Rocha, alias “El Dienton.” These two suspects are linked to at least 10 murders, including the killing of a federal police officer last month. These violent events are just some examples of drug cartel organizations who are battling for control of smuggling routes.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/18/AR2010091802364.html

Cartel Massacre affects immigration official resignation

Mexico City --- In a ranch about 100 miles south of Brownsville Texas on August 24, 2010, the bodies of 72 Central and South American migrants were found dead and massacred. Followed by this massacre, Cecilia Romero, an immigration official, resigns her position which leaves many unanswered questions and concerns. It is believed that her resignation as head of the National Institute of Migration was due to her inexperience. A government official, who spoke in anonymity, said that they need a person who has experience in security and with a different type of background to head the institute. Officials state that illegal immigration and drug trafficking have both become linked within cartel organizations. For example, several suspected Zeta members were arrested who are thought to be linked to the massacre. Cartel members are killing migrants who refuse to work as drug trafficker, therefore, it is highly possible that drug cartels are increasingly trying to recruit vulnerable migrants to smuggle drugs.

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/14/AR2010091406972.html