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Monday, May 28, 2012

Mexico suspects cartel in Pepsi subsidiary attacks


Photo credit: AP | In this photo taken late Friday, May 25, 2012, flames rise from a warehouse of the Mexican potato-chip company Sabritas, in Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico. Over the weekend, unidentified gunmen launched a series of coordinated attacks against the company's installations in the western state of Michoacan in what has been described as the most violent and concerted attack on a private transnational company in the country's 5 ½-year drug war. Sabritas is a subsidiary of PepsiCo. (AP Photo)
Mark Stevenson
AP

A drug cartel lieutenant has been detained in a series of firebombing attacks on Mexican potato-chip company Sabritas, a subsidiary of U.S. food giant PepsiCo. Businessmen and experts said Monday the attacks were the first coordinated targeting of a multinational company in Mexico's 5 1/2-year-long drug war.
Five Sabritas warehouses and vehicle lots were attacked Friday and Saturday in the Mexican states of Michoacan and Guanajuato. Witnesses in one case described armed, masked men who tossed firebombs and torched dozens of the company's distribution trucks and some warehouses.
Gerardo Gutierrez, president of Mexico's Business Coordinating Council, said Monday that it was "an isolated case" of the kind of extortion that gangs have previously practiced with small and medium-sized businesses. He called on authorities to act immediately to prevent the practice from spreading.
"What we cannot allow is for this kind of isolated case to become generalized," Gutierrez said. "The authorities have to take forceful action."
In a speech to an anti-crime conference Monday, President Felipe Calderon said drug cartels threaten growth and development and called them "an obstacle to prosperity because they attack companies large and small."
The state attorney general's office in Guanajuato confirmed Monday that several suspects had been detained in the attacks there, and that one was identified as a lieutenant of the Knights Templar drug cartel. The office did not suggest a possible motive.
Alejandro Hope, a security analyst and former official in Mexico's CISEN intelligence agency, said it was the first attack he could recall against a transnational company in Mexico. Even in Mexico's most violent city, Ciudad Juarez, the warring drug gangs have largely left alone the many foreign-operated assembly plants known as maquiladoras.
"In Ciudad Juarez, they practically never tried to blackmail the maquiladoras," Hope said. "They focused more on small businesses ... they are easier targets, and with an industrial firm, one doesn't know exactly who to blackmail. It's not as clear who signed the checks or controls the checkbook."
The huge state-owned Petroleos Mexicanos oil company has suffered hundreds of non-violent fuel thefts from pipelines and the kidnapping of some employees. But only leftist rebels have tried to set fire to its facilities.
In a statement issued Sunday, PepsiCo said five distribution centers were damaged, but no one was injured in the attacks and the amount of the damages had not been calculated.
The company appeared to respond to emails that circulated in Michoacan, home of the Knights Templar drug cartel, suggesting the attacks were revenge for the unproven allegation that prosecutors used Sabritas' extensive fleet of delivery trucks to gather intelligence.
"We repeat that in accordance with our code of conduct, all of our operations are carried out in the current regulatory framework and our vehicles and facilities are used exclusively to carry our products to our customer and clients," the company said. The company would not say whether that statement responded to the spying allegations.
Hope said such a spying scenario sounded unlikely, if not impossible. Sabritas employs more than 70,000 people and has a nationwide delivery fleet of about 14,500 trucks that are a common sight even in the most dangerous and remote parts of Mexico.
Hope said the attacks may not represent a new stage in drug gang extortions, but rather stem from the peculiar characteristics of the Knights Templar, a pseudo-religious cartel that split from Michoacan's La Familia cartel in 2011.
The Knights Templar organization is a relatively local, minor player in drug smuggling, trafficking mainly in methamphetamines and marijuana. With little access to the more lucrative cocaine and heroin business, cartel members have sought to raise money from other criminal activities.
"The Knights Templar have been more aggressive in their use of extortion and alternative sources (of income) than practically any other cartel, except the Zetas," Hope said. The hyperviolent Zetas cartel was formed along Mexico's Gulf coast by deserters from an elite military unit and has been linked to the extortion and kidnapping of civilians.

UPDATE: According to Investigators, the attacks were launched after the company repeatedly refused to pay $50,000 pesos per month in extortion fees. (cuaota). Meanwhile, Sabritas has released a statement claiming there has never been any threats or extortion attempts.
Neither threats nor extortion: Sabritas (Spanish)





43 comments:

  1. Los Caballeros Templarios are the ones responsible for this.

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  2. I thought those.retards where busy playing captin mexico or dressing up like idiots.. Its obviouse some one.didnt pay up there extorion money saviers of michoacam my ass lol

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  3. Perhaps Los Caballeros Templarios prefer coca cola? Hey, nothing surprises me anymore with this drug war.

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  4. You have to laugh. "The authorities have to take forceful action". You think? The problem is 1) the authorities are on the take and actively involved and 2) even when not on the take, they lack the balls to take forceful action. I would make an example out of Nuevo Laredo, turn it into the world's biggest parking lot and after killing the 25 to 50 thousand Zetas there, then say to the cartels, who's next, fuckers? After a few massacres like that they would lose their appetites - just what the AUC did in Colombia.

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    1. All you people always talk big, but no action. This site has at least 50 superheros that would easily go into Mexico and end their problems. Fact of the matter is yeah a lot of cops are dirty but not all, and after watching the gruesome videos why would they risk their lives for a Mexican minimum wage? Yeah they took the job but its just a job to be able to provide for their families cuz there very little work, and cops are hiring like crazy cuz they turn bad, get killed or quit in fear. So if you got these brass balls, Mexico is waiting for you, there's nothing stoping you except your shit talking. You people can't control your own drug problems or gangs, you just turn a blind eye, and thank the lord that its not ad bad here cuz in the 70's 80's and 90's it was getting bad. Mexico is like going into a time machine, they are about 10 to 15 yrs behind the USA. So get out to Mexico and prove you worth the balls that you claim and record it so we can read about it, and see it here. Or prove that your just punk ass keyboard heroes.

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    2. For all you people that think this is only in Mexico, its slowly but surely coming here. I monitor borderland beat and mundonarco, its crazy how much info you get from both sites. http://www.mund0narco.com/2012/05/mujer-de-texas-pide-los-zetas-piedad.html?m=1

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    3. IM WITH YOU IN THAT ONE...

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  5. only a matter of time before the us military solves this problem. the next iraq

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    1. That would imply that they solved the problem in Iraq.

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  6. The cartels have signed their death warrant. Haw dare they get between me and my Sabritones. It's on now, jackwagons.

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  7. ''A que no puedes quemar solo una'' lmao.jk ive been to the factory in salvatierra, everyone in town knows they didnt pay up to da CT's

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  8. Subsidiary of Pepsi?? I recommend you sell to Mexican investors before you lose your pants!! Pepsi... Pendejos.
    The next Iraq...Jajaja! The Mexicans would tear your ass up.

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  9. i have to laugh at every gringo that boasts the us military is gonna have to solve the problem... the next iraq? try the next vietnam jajaja

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    1. Vietnam was over politically motivated ideals. This is over a relatively small group wanting to make a profit. The US doesn't have to get involved. Pepsi will hire its own security to protect its profits.

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    2. Vietnam started over the US destroying thief own ship and blaming the north Vietnamese to get into war to take out communist. And the only war the US has won out right is the civil war. So stop trying to solve the worlds problems by saying the American troops should get involved.

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  10. @ May 28, 2012 8:06 PM

    "The Mexicans would tear your ass up."

    OK. Great. Now take some of this misdirected energy and use it to FIX YOUR COUNTRY. Unless you haven't noticed Mexico is facing dire circumstances and needs that help NOW not later. Que estan esperando???

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  11. borderlandbeat blogdelnarco mundonarco diariodelnarco; you'll get alot more relevent information about our next door neighbors than you'll ever get from cbs/nbc/abc/fox. all they want americans to care about is whats happening in syria. The one thing our two governments have in commen is "NO PASA NADA" "NOTHINGS HAPPENING" just back to watching network TV

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  12. "The only war the U.S. has won was the civil war." I see you haven't heard of the British American War of 1812, the Mexican American War in 1846, or the Spanish American War in 1898, or how about WWI and WWII? You need to brush up on your history before you make an ignorant ass of yourself again!!

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  13. "The Mexicans would tear your ass up."
    OK. Great. Now take some of this misdirected energy and use it to FIX YOUR COUNTRY.
    Tellin ye,don't bother.They would rather hate on the US like the clowns they are,rather than put all that hatred and energy to focus on their own internal problem.Man,they really are so racist and haters.

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    1. For you sensitive types, psychopathic cartel members would literally tear anyone's ass up!

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  14. Mexicans always bring the US into their own problem.Always with the blame game and nationalistic bullshit.Man,it is pathetic concentrate on your own problem.Stop dragging other nations into this mess of your own creation.Face it,it is your problem.God knows i hope the US does not get involved,it is not appreciated,it is not wanted,so leave them alone to get on with it.

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    1. How is it our problem when you're the ones buying the dope! Stop doing drugs to all!

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  15. OK--enough is enough. Just as Obama can't blame Bush for everything, Mexico needs to realize their only problem isn't the consumption of drugs in the U.S.. Mexico has a SERIOUS, and perhaps unsolveable problem, with organized crime WITHIN Mexico. Drug sales to users in Mexico, kidnapping, extortion, uncontrolled killings, and robberies are a far greater problem than the competition for the U.S. drug market. When Mexico develops honest institutions (police, military, politicians, border control, etc.) they may start to solve their problems. Unfortunately for the people of Mexico, it probably means that their current problems will NEVER be solved!! Too bad. Mexico is a great country with millions of honest, hard-working people and they shouldn't have to live in a crime-ridden country like they do.

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  16. Maybe they though this company was making the Mexican population fat? After all, the C.T are here to help out the population!!!!!!!NOT!!!!!!!!!! What a bunch of morons,this corporation employs more than 70,000 people.

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    1. Yes Its true, Los Templarios did burn those trucks but what you idiots don't know is that, the company was loaning the trucks to the military so they could go unrecognized into the rancherias. Que no se hagan pendejos y digan la verdad!!! Aquí siguemos, arriba Los Templarios!!! Saludos al Macho Loco.

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    2. Ok and if they were what are they supposly doing at las rancheeias??? Is that bad?? Were they commiting crime??

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  17. This not the US or Colombia or any other drug dealing county's fault.. its Mexico's fault.. they allowed this shit to happend from the get-go.. there corruption its was destroying this country... A lot people here talk a lot of shit on here, but answer this.. IF YOU HAD ONE OF THESE HARD CORE KILLERS FACE TO FACE , WHAT WOULD YOU DO?? Besides pist on your pants and begg for ur life.. Internet Sicarios its what u are... The US is not gonna get involved cause there's no oil coming from Mexico bottom line......

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  18. The guilty live on both sides of the border.

    Street gangs with cartel ties are not only in Los Angeles and Dallas, but also in many smaller cities across the United States and much farther north of the Mexican border. Mexican cartels had a presence in 230 cities in the United States in 2008, according to the U.S. Justice Department. Its 2011 report shows that presence has grown to more than 1,000 U.S. cities. While the violence has remained mostly in Mexico, authorities in Arizona, Georgia, Texas, Alabama and other states have reportedly investigated abductions and killings suspected to be tied to cartels.

    Mexican black tar heroin (so called because it's dark and sticky), is cheaper than Colombian heroin, and used to be a rarity in the United States. Now it is available in dozens of cities and small towns, experts say. Customers phone in their orders, the Los Angeles Times reports, and small-time dealers deliver the drug, almost like pizza deliverymen.

    Traffickers are recruiting in the United States, and prefer to hire young. Texas high schools say cartel members have been on their campuses. Most notoriously, a 14-year-old from San Diego became a head-chopping cartel assassin.

    "I slit their throats," he testified at his trial, held near Cuernavaca. The teenager, called "El Ponchis" - the Cloak - was found guilty of torturing and beheading and sentenced to three years in a Mexican prison.

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  19. It doesn't matter why they did it. It only matters that the Mexican people can't do anything about it.

    Get out now, Pepsi. Fire all 70,000 employees and cut your losses.

    @8:33 PM Do you laugh at Mexico's inability to do anything about the criminal groups that dominate the country? No other country is interested in helping Mexico because they all know it is the corruption capital of the Western Hemisphere.

    Let Mexico drown in it's own shit. It may or may not be worth picking up the pieces afterward.

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  20. according to the logo on the truck looks like they are having a good time

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  21. If the United States didn't have such a coward for a president, these parasites would not be spreading into the United States. It's always been said, first Iraq, then Afghanistan, and then Mexico. Mexico will soon have their house cleaned.

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    1. By who obamas candy ass? Were gonna have to reelect bush. We can do sr he only served one term. We need a gun toting texan back in the house rick perry for president!!!! ;-)

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    2. RICK PERRY MY ASSSSS!!!!

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  22. These cartels are getting smarter. The good stuff is just beginning.

    OR

    It could be a false flag operation used to justify the invasion of yet another country by the Yankee Imperialists wanting to extend their out of control police state.

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  23. LOL. Yeah elect rick perry the mormon moron. u.s is already fubar and you want a religious nutjob runnin the show?NIce knowin ya!

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    1. I was being sarcastic you fool. U must be from the Northeast..there is noboby in pffice or fighting for the presidency that is gonna do anything about this..

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  24. For many decades Latino gangsters tattooed the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary on their backs in some twisted form of hope that their criminal actions would be blessed and protected. Now we have another violent Mexican gang associating themselves with an ancient religious order, how twisted and how much more sacrilegious can they get.

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  25. 5/30 2:25AM,
    Wow! What kind of dumbass makes a smart ass comment without even knowing what their talking about! First, Rick Perry has been out the Presidential race for months and was never really a contender. Second, Rick Perry isn't a Mormon..that would be Mitt Romney..you troll!

    As far as the US being fubar, as compared to what other country...Mexico! For all of its faults...the US is in far better shape regardless who's leading the country, as opposed to Mexico or any thee country for that matter. So, do us all a favor a take your foot out of your mouth and replace it with one of them "F&F" guns...the world would be a much better place...indeed!

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  26. 70.000 jobs?
    The fuckin idiots are destroying their own country because they have guns and there is no one to oppose them.Who the fuck would open a business in Mexico right now.Whats up with this?Didn't they get the payoff?So they threaten and burn a major employer?Don't they realize this is impacting on Mexico?The greedy little bastards can only think about a few grand in their hands at the cost of thousands of people.

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  27. Cartel cheerleaders??? What kind of Shit is that,your over there get involved,don't just sit there and cheer for your favorite plaza boss...make mama proud!!!

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  28. Its obvious that you don't know about the many nick names el Macho Loco has, so go ahead and sound like a fool while trying to school me. Saludos al Macho Loco

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  29. Best article. The amount if information here is sufficient and as needed. I know many people will appreciate this but they won't comment about that. singapore company registration services

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