Mexican Mayor Unhurt in Attack (SIN)
8 November 2011
Fox News (EFE)
The mayor of the Mexican resort city of Mazatlan and his bodyguards emerged unscathed after gunmen opened fire on their vehicles near a toll plaza on the Pacific Highway in the western state of Sinaloa, authorities said Tuesday.
Alejandro Higuera Osuna and his escorts were attacked Monday night while traveling between Mazatlan and Culiacan, the state capital, police sources told Efe.
At least 10 heavily armed assailants hiding in the brush started shooting as the SUVs carrying the mayor and his guards passed the El Marmol toll plaza.
Sinaloa's public safety secretary, Francisco Cordova, confirmed that the attack occurred, but said authorities are not sure whether Higuera was specifically targeted.
Members of Mexico's warring drug cartels typically favor SUVs and some highway shooting incidents are due to gunmen firing on the wrong vehicle in pursuit of their enemies.
After the shooting stopped, Higuera took refuge at the toll plaza and made a call for help that was answered by more than two-dozen units from various law enforcement agencies.
Shell casings from AK-47 and AR-15 assault rifles littered the highway and the vehicle carrying the mayor's bodyguards was riddled with bullet holes.
A score of Mexican mayors have been slain since the beginning of 2010, according to statistics from the Fenamm association representing 1,500 of the country's 2,500 municipal chiefs.
The most recent victim was Ricardo Guzman Romero, mayor of La Piedad in the western state of Michoacan, who was gunned down last week while campaigning for his party's candidates in upcoming elections.
Source: [latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2011/11/09/mexican-mayor-unhurt-in-attack/]
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Valley Seeing Rise in Kidnappings (TX)
8 November 2011
KRGV TV
There has been a rise in kidnappings across the Rio Grande Valley over the last few months and especially in the last few weeks. Most of these crimes are still under investigation. Investigators say a lot of the kidnappings are criminals targeting other criminals and are usually drug related.
"Based on my experience, if you are not involved with the cartels - you're not involved in moving their products through the Valley area to maybe up north - you don't have anything to worry about," says the Hidalgo Police Chief.
He says the kidnappings here can usually be traced back to the Mexican drug war.
“The cartels have diversified. They've split. Cartel heads no longer there. There's new guys on the road. So there's probably a lot of loads that are being ripped off by some of the players they've hired. So what they are doing now is they are kidnapping people on this side to try to get info to find out where load went," explains the Police Chief.
It's the kind of scenario under investigation by the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office. Last week, a deputy was shot while responding to a call. It all started with a kidnapping. Multiple people were charged. The sheriff says they were part of a gang hired by the Gulf Cartel to recover a lost load of marijuana.
About two weeks ago, two men were kidnapped in Starr County. Deputies believe it was drug related. They're still investigating.
In Brownsville, three men were recently charged with aggravated kidnapping and engaging in organized crime. Police say a 17-year-old was kidnapped by his own cousin over a debt.
"This is something they've been using pretty exclusively over in Mexico,” says the police chief.
He points out kidnappings have been happening across the border for years. In Mexico, the threat affects criminals and innocent bystanders, but the police chief says he does not see innocent people here becoming targets.
"You know, if you are wealthy enough and someone has the contact. By all means, it's all about money. But you know the pattern has been to try and keep it within the cartels, because all they are doing is trying to conduct business over here," he says.
The Chief says there is always a possibility an innocent person could be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Kidnappings are just another example of how the Mexican drug war is affecting this side of the border.
Source: [www.krgv.com/news/local/story/Valley-Seeing-Rise-in-Kidnappings/TSVAgF3HMUyfT0cePQRCBA.cspx]
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Mexican Government Says La Familia Cartel Is Finished (MEX)
8 November 2011
KRGV TV
The Mexican government is telling media outlets the La Familia drug cartel is finished. Another top boss was arrested this weekend. A cartel expert says the once-powerful cartel is down but not out.
It has been a rough year for the La Familia gang in Mexico. The cartel operated in Michoacán with little resistance from 2006 to 2010. That changed last December when top La Familia boss Nazario Morena, “El Chayo,” was killed by the Mexican army. The cartel's infrastructure crumbled in the following months.
The Mexican army arrested the next in command seven months later. This weekend, the highest ranking member left on the streets was arrested following a shootout in Mexico state. Three top leaders taken out in less than a year.
“Right now, it's not really clear who is the leader; there are many leaders,” says a cartel expert from UT Brownsville.
She says the string of La Familia killings and arrests weakened the cartel but it is not destroyed.
“They are still committing some kidnappings and some extortions in the state, so we really cannot talk about a real extermination of La Familia,” she says.
She disputes the government's claims that La Familia has disappeared from its home turf.
“I cannot say La Familia has ended. I would not dare to say that,” says the expert.
Shee says those claims are political ammo for President Calderon's war on drugs.
“He has to show some results,” says the expert.
She cautions anyone from thinking the former cartel power will stay down for long.
“Sometimes when they are really weakened, we see a period of silence, but they are arming and they are making alliances with some groups and they commit more extortions and kidnappings, and this gets them more resources,” she says.
She says the future of La Familia remains uncertain.
A La Familia leader broke away from the cartel in March and started the Knights Templar, a new cartel growing in power. The expert says it will be more difficult for the army to stop two groups in that state.
Source: [www.krgv.com/news/local/story/Mexican-Government-Says-La-Familia-Cartel-Is/75ypr3QjIUK9I6uv3Ttx6w.cspx]
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