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Friday, December 20, 2019

Highway robberies on the rise in Mexico as drug cartels target holiday travelers

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat  TY GUS  from KXAN

Motorists urged to be on the lookout for illegal roadblocks; cargo trucks also being targeted
Image result for Highway robberies on the rise in Mexico


EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) — When he travels to Mexico for the holidays, Lorenzo Escamilla practices the saying: “There’s safety in numbers.”

The Dallas resident on Monday was part of a vehicle caravan that drove into Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, with donations for the poor. “We’ve traveled together for four years to be safe. Not two weeks ago three guys I know got robbed near the highway to Monterrey. One car stopped in front of them, one got behind them, and six men got out and took their cell phones and $700 in cash,” said Escamilla, a painting contractor.

Highway robbery in Mexico tends to spike around the Christmas and Easter holidays, when tens of thousands of U.S. residents venture south to visit family members, often bearing gifts that make them more of a target, public safety analysts say. And with the drug cartels now targeting commercial trucks and their cargo as well, it’s important to exercise extreme caution on Mexican highways.


“As we get closer to the holidays, the criminals want to score extra cash so they can buy stuff for their families. They will even steal (gifts) for the kids in their own family,” said Scott Stewart, vice president of tactical analysis for Stratford Global Intelligence, an Austin, Texas-based private security group.

Several high-profile instances of highway robbery have been recorded this year, according to Stewart. In April, a group of armed criminals robbed hundreds of motorists near a tunnel on the Mexico City-Acapulco highway, taking advantage of the lack of cell phone signal. In July, an American couple was killed while trying to run through an illegal checkpoint set up by the rogue Auto Defensas group in Guerrero state.

Closer to the U.S. border, some Americans have run into trouble with the police for driving with small appliances in tow. “I’ve heard quite a bit on that route (Nuevo Laredo-Monterrey) of people getting stopped and asked for very big bribes for things they bought in the United States. That became a real issue for them,” Stewart said.

That’s something that travelers like Escamilla say they run into year after year. On Monday, he was having trouble getting the goods to be donated past the Mexican customs checkpoint. “We set things up with the consulate in Dallas. Now customs is telling us that whatever deal we made over there is no good over here,” he said, vowing not to turn back until getting his mission accomplished.

The Mexican government runs a seasonal program called “Paisano” to assist travelers who run into trouble on Mexican territory. The toll-free numbers are 1 (877) 210-9469 if calling from the United States or 01-800-440-3690 if dialing from Mexico

More trucks, more cargo … more criminals roaming highways.

According to a Dec. 13 article by Mexico News Daily, more than 1,500 robberies have been recorded this year on Mexican highways. The thefts have cost Mexican manufacturers more than $68 million and have occurred primarily along four roads: Progreso-Monterrey; Veracruz-Puebla; Celaya-Leon and Guanajuato-Irapuato. The article quoted a Nuevo Leon business leader as saying that half of the manufacturers in the state have had at least one cargo stolen, and some have lost the truck as well.

Commercial trucks are targeted for their cargo, but they’re not the only vehicles that highway robbers crave, Stewart said.

“Four-wheel drive pickups, the large (Chevrolet) Suburbans tend to be very popular with the cartels as far as stealing, but cretainly anything that’s flashy could attract attention,” he said.

So if you must drive in Mexico, the advice is to stick to toll-roads with a strong police presence, avoid driving at night (that’s when most robberies occur) and not travel alone. However, even toll-roads may not be safe in areas of Mexico with a strong drug cartel influence, where armed bandits can set up illegal roadblocks, Stewart said.

“In most cases, especially those involving Americans who are not locals and not specifically targeted, the criminals basically just want your stuff,” he said. “So, if you’re confronted by armed criminals or come up to an illegal roadblock, it’s always advisable to surrender your stuff … your wallet, your car, none of that is worth your life.”

43 comments:

  1. Those all those, that say MEXICO is safe, look what's happening in the highways. Carry guns save your life.

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    Replies
    1. Am American cannot carry a gun in Mexico absent some extraordinary circumstances. You'll go to jail for 25 years in Mexico

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    2. No guns in Mexico! We allow Criminals to own guns. Please leave ur guns at home, so we can rob u. We got the power. We own ur car, money, and ur wife. We Rule, welcome to mexico , ja ja

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    3. You can't take a gun or even bullets into Mexico legally. If you are caught, even a bullet will get you 10 years in a Mexican prison!

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  2. It's important to exercise extreme caution period. Especially in corrupt unarmed wild west mexico. Where only bad hombres and crooked cops have firearms. And you're not allowed to protect your belongings or family. Judging by Ramon protecting his son from kidnapping.
    El Smarto

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  3. They did this to me and some friends, near Santa Ana, Sonora. They planted small bag of coke under my hood and asked for bribe. I stabbed the fucker with the ak47 in the neck, when he looked away, we sped off, they fired at us, chased us and I ran them off a cliff and their fake police car exploded. Just another day in paradise.

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    1. Oh, right; and we believe that too.......gimme a break.
      Give your shit up too and do NOT carry a gun, at least where you might use it is such circumstances.......R U Nuts ?
      They got Aks plus and you got a pistola.
      Stayin’ Alive, stayin’ alive

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    2. Haha AS IFFFFFF

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    3. And then you woke up, right?

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    4. I am an American and prefer to live in Mexico where I have freedom. The mexican people are good people. America is controlled by George Schwartz, aka George Soros. Americans are cold, heartless, selfish, spoiled, and ungrateful. I can't even worship God in the USA or I'll be ridiculed or even put in jail. USA dead. I will renounce my US citizenship. The USA stole half of Mexico on the 1800s.

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    5. 12:09 you are Thelma or Lousy,
      glad you have learned to fly, without fear...

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    6. Self defense is self defense.

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    7. @1209 hrs.: Pray tell, Audie Murphy: how do you stab someone with an AK-47? Inquiring minds wish to know.

      M.F.

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    8. Sure you did, then you rolled out of bed...🤣

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  4. Navidad se pone un poco defecil para crusar...My primo works for oil companies in Texas makes real good money. Drives latest Cadillac or Chevy models. I can remember couple years back maybe like 5 he was passing through Laredo to get to Guanjuato. Ladrones stop my cousin and ask him de quien es la troka? Es del banco my primo replied. Me gusta tu troka no es mia es del banco. Ladrones ask my primo eres paysano primo said si de Guanjuato. They let him go but not before stopping him once again and asking them the same pinche questions. Of course my primo was shitting the situation. He even said that he was going to put a stash for his 45. Told him for what by the time you reach your 45 the ladrones got R15 or Ak47 or 50. No vale la pena con un 45. Highly recommend staying on toll roads and don't travel at night just like Chivis article states, estilio caravan best way. Feliz Navidad Chivis and rest of familia of border land... Just remember the 3 dots its me a pelon who loves 🇲🇽 but we need to change for better...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No guns in Mexico

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    2. Whoever drives a a new car truck or anything fancy to Mexico is a straight up pendejo. I have a Porsche Panamera and I often go to Tijuas and I always just walk and use cabs and taxis out there. You're better off renting a cat in Mexico it's cheap AF but the insurance is the costly one.

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  5. A Mexican federally told me truck robberies have spiked up between Monterrey and Nuevo Laredo. But they flash their light at vehicles with American license plates, regardless what you’re driving they know it’s illegal to stop drivers with their lights.

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  6. This makes me so sad and mad. I imagine people work all year in America, then they come home with presents bought by their hard earned money for their children and loved ones and they just get robbed by some criminals...

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  7. The paisano program peole in nuevo laredo work for the local cartel. My brother in law was robbed by one of them, he told him he was going to take him to another office to get a special permit for a 4 wheeler. They got in his car and he made him give him $500 or else the bad people were going to come get him, the dude even had the programa paisano badge with him.

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    1. Since Amlo, cartels are the New Vistas at the bridge.

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    2. Amlo said the Corruption is over! Come to the Frontera, Amlo see for yourself

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  8. I don’t understand, how do they know it’s drug cartels doing the robberies. Why can’t it be a group of people that steal. just like people in the United States that rob people..

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    1. Good question. If the cartels found out that was happening they would put a stop to it. It's competition.

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    2. Exactly @4:49 its funny how they can quickly find out that its cartels who steal it but can't even get to the truth with trumps case like gtfoh with this bs a lot of people are getting robbed here in america on people's doors step now they care about the stuff they steal in mexico lmao I'm sorry but I don't find this post serious at all because Im from Monterrey and even C.D.N give out toys here for the kids in communities with all that drug money why the fuck do they need to steal . u.s government knows very well what stealing really looks like lmao the u.s government has done plenty of that but as always it goes unnoticed.

      El Grande De Nuevo Leon

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    3. In nuevo laredo you know its the cartel doing it because they dont even hide they doit in broad daylight, just a few hundred feet away from the bridge. Aduanales and military are colluded. If its not the cartel robbing people every single day in nuevo laredo, it has to be people that pay for protection so the local cartel will let them rob all they want.

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  9. yeah, Suburbans......extremely popular, wasn’t that what the LaBaron women were driving ? Or something very similar ?

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  10. Just don't go to Mexico, you'll be fine!!!

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  11. No Guns the Criminals get rich.

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  12. Cuando no hay policia ni militar, cualquier persona con una pistola puede operar su propia reten temporal. Algunas de estas fantasmas que me leyó mi hija son increíbles. Un método muy real es pasar un carro rico y apuntar a un neumático trasero. El automóvil generalmente se hace a un lado muy pronto. El ratero ofrece ayuda y usted puede averiguar el resto. Estos no son carterelos, como la mayoría de los piseros están sueltos. Afirman tener poder pero, en realidad, si los auténticos jefes de la plaza los encuentran trabajando, son hombres muertos. Los que roban los grandes remolques pueden ser sicarios, pero robar los pequeños autos extraños trae a la policía federal y al ejército. Se toman camionetas lujosas enteras no para revenderlas sino para usarlas con placas robadas o para llevarlas a una ciudad y cortarlas y venderlas para refracciones y partes. Un nuevo jeep wagoneer valdrá más en pedazos que uno nuevo en la EUA.

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  13. The smart US criminals just head down to mex to rob and extort for the christmas holidays. There is no law or justice so why not commit murder and more mayhem for some extra coin..

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    Replies
    1. If they step in on someone else's territory, though, they're history.

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  14. safety is in numbers?????? no it is not, a larger number simply turns a single murder into a massacre

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  15. Must be careful . I see more people crossing here at Matamores this year. New pickups. People have money going home for the Christmas. More than last year.

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  16. Do not take ur Guns to Mexico. The government does not allow weapons in Mexico. By the way that gives the Criminals the guys, they break the law. Guns don't kill People Kill

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    1. Sounds like you are related to the issue at hand. We all know guns are illegal in Mexico, yet the cartels have them, and when they are caught with weapons, they are let out of jail, with a bribe paid. In other words you don't want the victims to arm themselves for protection, if my life is in danger, I will use it.

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    2. 8:01 use your weapon all you want,
      but before you get to it you will have been pumped full of bullets,
      Better to stay home, safe, until the US weapons vendors stop selling their crap to the cartels to kill the poor tourists.

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    3. I have grown enjoy the freedoms and rule of law in the U.S. don't think I live in Mexico again. Mexico a great country with wonderful people. It will be missed

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  17. These robberies are not Cartel sanctioned,this type of petty crimes heat up the areas/roads/highways.These are low level meth using mangueras who will soon be found out by the Plaza Boss & executed.

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    1. Sure! Because cartels have morals!? I bet you still believe in Santa! Hahaha #MAGA

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  18. Like John Rambo, I want to pull the still beating hearts, from every single sicario! If I was a fedérale, I would execute them on-site, and save Mexican tax payers (as well as American tax payers) the money in letting these parasites breathe!

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  19. That's why I roll in my 2007 Toyota Corolla down there I get no looks from cops criminals or ladies .

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