"El Huaso" for Borderland Beat
Tamaulipas state authorities announced they have destroyed 14 captured Improvised Armored Fighting Vehicles (IAFVs), or "narco tanks", seized in operations against organized crime groups in the state.
On June 19, the Attorney Generals Office (FGR) released a video and photos on their Twitter account of the destruction, which happened in the FGR compound in Reynosa, Tamaulipas.
Since 2018, 630 armored vehicles were captured by Mexican authorities from organized crime groups across Mexico, revealed an Army press release in July 2022. Usually, about 80% of armored vehicles seized in Mexico are professionally armored, while the remaining 20%, like those shown here, are "homemade" in clandestine workshops. The highest number of these vehicles were found in Tamaulipas state with 231, just about a third of the nationwide total.
Narco tanks, also known as "narco blindajes" or "monstruos" are Improvised Armored Fighting Vehicles (IAFVs) intended to act as moveable cover when engaging in combat. They are constructed in clandestine workshops, where large trucks, often stolen, are stripped and fitted with metal plates to offer protection in gun fights. The most common automobiles forming the base for these narco tanks are large 4x4 trucks.
According to the Mexican military, narco tanks are "not very maneuverable in urban areas or on soft or sandy ground", due to the large metal panels that are often welded on the vehicles frame for protection. This added weight makes them incredibly heavy, but does provide some protection from small arms fire.
Aside from their advantages in a gunfight, narco tanks are important tools for intimidation. They are frequently shown off in photos and videos by cartel members.
According to Héctor Romero Sánchez, a security sector representative interviewed by Foro TV, organized crime groups have started to kidnap technicians and mechanics to up armor their vehicles in clandestine workshops.
Sources: Comunicado FGR 319/23, Small Wars Journal Tactical Note #3, Milenio, Borderland Beat Archives
You can follow me on Twitter @HuasoBB.
I tweet about organized crime in Latin America and security in Mexico.
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Who makes better Narco Tanks
ReplyDeleteGulf/Zetas or CJNG ?
LFM.
DeleteCjNG has the best quality it looks like
DeleteI can weld better than whomever did these
DeleteLFM definitely
DeleteCJNG does a bit more profesional “mostros.” I think because they hire a lot of ex-FARC members from Colombia that know how to do that or they “ask” those private security builders to do them if not then u know the deal.
DeleteThese are more frightening than the CJNG ones, these put out Jeepers creepers/mad max vibe
Delete@10:29 and/or @11:21 LFM is La Familia Michaocan right? What makes their monstrous so good or better than other cartels? What do theirs look like?
DeleteSo I heard that some of the military equipment left in Afghanistan will be showing up in Mexico soon. You think US is setting up Mexico to have a reason to bring US military into Mexico?
Delete14 destroyed narco trucks 20 narco trucks already created
ReplyDeleteSo then what do you suppose they do ? Should they not destroy the narco trucks they seized because the narcos will just make another one ? I guess they shouldn’t destroy the drugs or guns they seized either because the narcos will just make more, right ?
DeleteYes you are absolutely correct nothing can’t be done because there is so much corruption only God can save mexico
Delete"organized crime groups have started to kidnap..." I think a lot of this sort of talk is 1 - legal defense by collaborators and 2 - disinfo for the discouragement of the uninvolved to travel into narco states. The way the actual cartel operatives go about recruiting talents and mules is largely social and low pressure in my experience. Zetas horror stories aside.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment. That's a fair point. It could be to save face. Tough to know.
DeleteBest,
Huaso
Lol nice catch
DeleteShoot the tires, and their useless, would hate to be stuck inside if tires were shot out.
ReplyDeleteThey could still travel with flat tires.
Delete'They could still travel with flat tires'
DeleteReally
Flat tires and a few Molotov cocktails would be a nightmare for anyone inside
DeleteOh, so in that case I'll jump in a regular car with no armor 🤦♂️
DeleteIs Luis Chaparro a valid source ? Very popular in Youtube and Vice.
ReplyDeleteHe is a good source just like OG Shadow an ex Antrax Operator. El Commandante Sicario006 is a real deal
DeleteHe's not og shadow level but he's questionable.
DeleteSicario006 a real deal??? im sure he get his info from google n reddit n then puts out funny comments
DeleteLuis Chaparro is legit. He is a real journalist and a good source.
DeleteLmfaoooo! Og shadow ex antrax! You mfs are funny af!
DeleteI’ve listen to a few podcast with this guy and other than what most people already know this guy doesn’t have much info. And if you listen to his podcast he lies like a lot. Little simple lies like how he says Chapo was brains and everything behind Sinaloa. It’s small stupid lies people tell make you question everything thing they say. I’m sure we all know people like that.
DeleteLol he screwed up on that letter… you think they have time to “prove who they are”?
DeleteNo monstruo was destroyed just sold to the higher paying cartel
ReplyDeleteYou can literally see them beginning to dismantle one of the narco trucks they seized in the clip that the article provided. And there are plenty more videos online as well of more narco trucks being destroyed.
Delete12:33 "beginning to dismantle " doesn't mean destroyed, they only pulled off a metal plate on the bed which doesn't disable the truck....
DeleteThen maybe you should blame the person who wrote the article for using the word “destroyed” in their title and not dismantled or something else. The clip was only like one minute long. We obviously didn’t see the whole process on how the narco trucks were “destroyed”.
DeleteIt won’t be surprised that some do end up again in the highest bidder.
DeleteMax Max and The Temple of Mexico 2035.
ReplyDeleteReminds of the movie Mad Max.
ReplyDeleteI remember a commenter in here who said he lived in rural nomansland Zacetecas, he would hear these late at night. He said the sound of them moving was incredibly loud and would wake up the entire family despite being a distance away. Not particularly fascinating but ominous nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget to mention the milage, 5 miles a gallon, worse than a Hummer.
DeleteIs that a guess or is that the actual mpg? I bet it’s very bad but always have wondered what the actual mpg is
Delete7.26 read what 6.50 stated with all that heavy steel is less miles to the gallon he sure was not guessing.
DeleteThe Mexicans should sell them to the gringos who go to Burning Man
ReplyDeleteOrale good idea no period kid.😹
Delete