In the United States, the second hearing of the Miguel Ángel and Omar Treviño Morales brothers, the leaders and founders of the ZETAS Cartel, was held today. They showed their muscle and the amount of money they have to pay for their defense. We have already told you about the Dream Team here. Nine lawyers were sitting there defending them.
This report is from my colleague Ángel Hernández. In the federal court in Washington, the second hearing was held against Miguel Ángel Treviño Morales, alias "El Z40," accused of drug trafficking along with his brother, Omar "El Z42," who did not appear due to scheduling complications.
Minutes before 11:00 a.m., the chains that bind him could be heard in the courtroom. Treviño arrived accompanied by Alfredo Rangel, alias "El Chicles," former plaza boss of the criminal group in Miguel Alemán, Tamaulipas. "El Z40" was dressed in a white shirt, blue overalls, glasses, and his hair was almost A shaved head, as well as a growing beard, shook hands with his lawyers and then, notebook in hand, listened to the judge, the prosecutor, and his defense attorneys.
Alfredo Rangel, dressed in orange and also wearing glasses, paid equal attention. The nine people who formed part of the Treviño brothers' legal team stood out in front of the three representatives of the U.S. Attorney's Office, led by Frank Pérez, Eduardo Balareso, lawyers also for Ismael Zambada García, El Mayo, and a former lawyer for Joaquín Guzmán Loera, El Chapo. They completely filled the defendants' table. Prosecutor Kenneth Hendrick presented the status of the evidence in the case: 490,000 intercepted calls, transcripts, summaries of information, and other evidence, a total of 4.9 million files that are part of the investigation in Houston, plus another wealth of evidence that the offices of Dallas and Laredo, in addition to the Mexican government, have not yet filed a complaint.
The judge determined that the third hearing will be on October 14, once the prosecution decides whether it will seek the death penalty against the defendants. He announced that he is preparing motions to demonstrate a potential conflict of interest for Eduardo Balareso, one of the Z40 lawyers, as he is the legal representative of another co-defendant in the case. This is Gilberto Barragán Valderas, alias the former Gulf Cartel leader who was extradited to the United States in 2020. In response, the lawyer denied that he had a conflict of interest and warned that he should demand an explanation as to how Mexico handed the Treviño brothers over to the United States last February because it was clearly not an extradition. According to Milenio Noticias, Ángel Hernández
Treasury Sanctions High-Ranking Members of Foreign Terrorist Organization Cartel del Noreste
Cartel Engaged in Drug and Arms Trafficking, as well as Deadly 2022 Attack on U.S. Consulate
WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned two high-ranking members of the Mexico-based Cartel del Noreste (CDN), formerly known as Los Zetas. CDN, one of the most violent drug trafficking organizations in Mexico and a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), exerts significant influence over the border region, especially near the Laredo/Nuevo Laredo point of entry. These sanctions underscore our commitment to target CDN and other violent cartels involved in drug trafficking, human trafficking, arms trafficking, and other heinous crimes that are endangering the American people.
“In working toward the total elimination of cartels to Make America Safe Again, the Trump Administration will hold these terrorists accountable for their criminal activities and abhorrent acts of violence,” saidSecretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. “CDN and its leaders have carried out a violent campaign of intimidation, kidnapping, and terrorism, threatening communities on both sides of our southern border. We will continue to cut off the cartels’ ability to obtain the drugs, money, and guns that enable their violent activities.”
Today’s action was coordinated with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). This action was also closely coordinated with Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit, Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera.
The action was taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14059, which targets the proliferation of illicit drugs and their means of production, and pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, which targets terrorists and their supporters.
CARTEL DEL NORESTE
CDN is a terrorist organization primarily based in the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Coahuila, and Nuevo Leon. CDN has been involved in narcotics trafficking, human trafficking, arms trafficking, money laundering, vehicle theft, and oil theft. They have also been involved in terrorist activity to intimidate American citizens and local communities in Mexico, including engaging in acts of extortion, kidnapping, and murder.
In March 2022, CDN hit the U.S. Consulate in Nuevo Laredo with gunfire and grenades after the arrest of a CDN member who was wanted in Mexico for terrorism, homicide, and extortion. The U.S. Consulate closed for almost a month due to this incident. This was a retaliatory act intended to intimidate the American diplomats serving their country internationally.
On February 20, 2025, the U.S. Department of State identified CDN as an FTO and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). Prior to its designation as an FTO, CDN, then known as Los Zetas, was identified by the United States as a significant foreign narcotics trafficker on April 15, 2009 pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act) for playing a significant role in international narcotics trafficking. On July 24, 2011, Los Zetas was named as a transnational criminal organization (TCO) in the annex to E.O. 13581. On December 15, 2021, OFAC designated CDN pursuant to E.O. 14059.
SANCTIONING KEY MEMBERS OF CARTEL DEL NORESTE
Miguel Angel de Anda Ledezma(De Anda) is a high-ranking member of CDN residing in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas. De Anda oversees the procurement of guns and ammunition for CDN. In this position, De Anda has overseen payments to facilitators and straw purchasers in the United States and organized the delivery of firearms to Nuevo Laredo. These straw purchasers made false representations to secure firearms from American businesses, who fell victim to the cartel’s lies. Some of the weapons have been used in terrorist activity. One of the weapons purchased in this arms-trafficking conspiracy was recovered after CDN attacked Mexico’s army, Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional (SEDENA), during one of SEDENA’s patrols in March 2024.
Firearms acquired by affiliates of CDN smuggled into Mexico
Ricardo Gonzalez Sauceda (Gonzalez), residing in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, was the second-in-command of CDN prior to his February 2025 arrest by Mexican authorities. In this capacity, Gonzalez led an armed enforcement wing of CDN. Gonzalez has benefitted from these trafficked firearms in his various criminal activities, including attacks on Mexican police and military, and drug trafficking. On February 3, 2025, Mexican law enforcement arrested Gonzalez in connection with the August 17, 2024 CDN attack on the Mexican military, which killed two Mexican soldiers and injured five. Mexican authorities indicated that, at the time of arrest, Gonzalez was in possession of a rifle, a handgun, 300 grams of methamphetamine, and a package of 1,500 fentanyl pills.
EL RICKY
OFAC’s designation of De Anda and Gonzalez was the result of strong partnership and coordination with HSI San Antonio, ATF San Antonio (Operation Southbound Firearms Trafficking Task Force), and the DEA.
SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS
As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC or exempt, OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.
Violations of U.S. sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on U.S. and foreign persons. OFAC may impose civil penalties for sanctions violations on a strict liability basis. OFAC’s Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding OFAC’s enforcement of U.S. economic sanctions. In addition, financial institutions and other persons may risk exposure to sanctions for engaging in certain transactions or activities with designated or otherwise blocked persons.
Furthermore, engaging in certain transactions with the persons designated today entails risk of secondary sanctions pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended. Pursuant to this authority, OFAC can prohibit or impose strict conditions on the opening or maintaining in the United States of a correspondent account or a payable-through account of a foreign financial institution that knowingly conducted or facilitated any significant transaction on behalf of an SDGT.
Exports, reexports, or transfers of items subject to U.S. export controls involving persons included on the SDN List pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, may be subject to additional restrictions administered by the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security. See 15 C.F.R. section 744.8 for additional information.
The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC’s ability to designate and add persons to the SDN List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC’s Frequently Asked Question 897 here, and to submit a request for removal, click here.
A federal judge has brought charges against Ricardo González “N”, “El Ricky”, the alleged second in command of the Cartel del Noreste, after his capture on February 3 by federal security elements in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas.
The accused will be tried for his probable responsibility in crimes against health in the form of possession for commercial purposes and carrying a firearm for the exclusive use of the Army, Navy and Air Force, with the aggravating circumstance of carrying two or more weapons, according to the Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime (FEMDO).
During his arrest, Ricky was carrying a loaded long firearm and a short one; bags with 1,509 fentanyl pills and bags with 434.5 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride, according to the final expert report.
According to the Attorney General's Office (FGR), Ricky was arrested by elements of the National Defense Secretariat (Defense), the Navy Secretariat (Navy), the National Guard (GN) and the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, after he tried to escape, and who also identified himself as the head of a criminal organization.
Later in a hearing, the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF) presented sufficient evidence to obtain the link to the process, official preventive detention, in the Federal Social Readaptation Center Number 1 "Altiplano", in Almoloya de Juárez, State of Mexico, and one month for the complementary investigation.
The violent Ricardo Gonzalez, "Mando R" "Ricky" founder of the Los Chukys armed wing of Cartel Del Noreste and regional boss with a presence in Nuevo Leon was captured the morning this Monday, February 3, 2025, in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas.
in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, arrested Ricardo “N”, leader of a violence generating group that operates in Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, and Coahuila; he is linked to extortion and multiple attacks on police officers of Fuerza Civil of Nuevo Leon.
@SSeguridadNL
. In August 2024, he participated and coordinated criminal cells to attack military personnel in Nuevo Laredo, where five members were wounded and two more were killed. He has arrest warrants for homicide and illegal deprivation of liberty.
Our recognition to the military personnel of the Special Forces of
@SEDENAmx
for this operation".
SHOOTOUTS AND ROADBLOCKS REPORTED IN NUEVO LAREDO, TAMAULIPAS
This article was translated and reposted from EL UNIVERSAL
Miguel Ángel Treviño Morales has been deprived of his freedom for eleven years without any conviction.
WRITTEN BY: MANUEL ESPINO
NOVEMBER 11, 2024
Eleven judges reached the same decision: Miguel Ángel Treviño Morales is not “El Z40” that the authorities are looking for, emphasized Juan Manuel Delgado, lawyer for Treviño Morales, who has been in prison for eleven years without any conviction.
The litigant affirmed that the Attorney General's Office (FGR) proved that there is a person named Miguel Angel Treviño Morales, with the alias “Z40” and that he is the leader of “Los Zetas”, but it was proven that his client is a homonym.
He recalled that there were more than 10 protected witnesses who testified against his defendant, three of whom, when confronted by his defendant Miguel Ángel Treviño Morales, stated that they did know “Z40”, Miguel Ángel Treviño Morales, but that the person who was in front of them was not “Z40”.
“Of the entire universe of collaborating witnesses that the Attorney General's Office brought, absolutely all of them coincide in describing Z40 with the same name as my client, Miguel Ángel Treviño Morales, as a person of 1 meter 80 centimeters, with a closed beard, but with very clear secondary identification characteristics:
“For example, everyone talks about him having a scar on his right parietal, a prolonged scar on his abdomen, a scar on his right arm, a very large tattoo on his chest, but those characteristics do not correspond to Mr. Miguel,” he said.
And he added: “If there are 10 protected witnesses to talk about a judicial error, we could understand that a judge could make a mistake, but that at the moment 11 judges have reached the same determination, I think it is beyond reasonable, the doubt, let's say for the general public, that there is an error in the identification of Z40, but what there is no doubt is that it is an established legal truth and against and against a legal truth, we will have to go against the rule of law itself to have it dismissed. Today it has already been accredited by the Judicial Power that it is not the one they are looking for or the one the United States is requesting”.
Attorney Juan Manuel Delgado assured that by means of expert evidence they accredited that his client, Mr. Miguel Angel Treviño Morales, “never had those tattoos or scars and we accredited that our client has never had those types of characteristics.
Therefore, he said, “as of today there is an irrefutable legal truth” that his client is not “El Z40”, even the litigant pointed out that the FGR has accepted in several replies sent to them that there is a confusion in the identity of his client.
Regarding the extradition process of his client, attorney Juan Manuel Delgado explained that no judicial opinion has been issued on the appropriateness of the transfer to the United States, the country that requires it.
He added that in the ten years he has been defending Mr. Miguel Angel Treviño Morales there has not been any conviction against him and a few months ago he obtained the last acquittal sentence for organized crime.
“We still have one more process pending resolution, which is the process derived from the arrest of Mr. Miguel Angel, which I must say is a process that although it is still under investigation, we are still weaving a defense, there is no sentence, it is a process that is plagued with lies and falsehoods”.
However, he emphasized that all the sentences that exist in Mexico against his defendant Miguel Angel Treviño Morales, are liberties, he has been in preventive prison for 11 years without a single conviction, he is not guilty of anything today and what is even more relevant is that today in Mexico he is not being accused of organized crime, nor is he being accused of being Z40, this is finished”.
This article was translated and reposted from MILENIO
Bola Treviño', Co-leader of Northeast Cartel and nephew of Z-40, arrested in Tamaulipas
Carlos Alberto Monsiváis Treviño was captured in flagrante delicto by members of the National Guard and the Sedena.
LA BOLA TREVIÑO
WRITTEN BY: ANGEL HERNANDEZ
SEPTEMBER 3, 2024
Carlos Alberto Monsiváis Treviño, alias Bola Treviño, was captured in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, in flagrante delicto by members of the National Guard and the Mexican Army.
Translated for Borderland Beat from a Proceso article by Otis B Fly-Wheel
Federal Forces detained Humberto Dominguez Lara, presumed financial operator for the Cartel of Los Zetas in the states of Nuevo Leon, Zacatecas, Tamaulipas and Coahuila.
The detention happened this Tuesday past in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas in an operation in which elements of the Army, the PGR, and the Federal Police participated.
In a communication, the Federal Governments Security Cabinet said that Dominquez Lara paid members of his criminal group and acted as responsible for the management of economics, resources, and proceeds of illicit activities.
In addition to the arrest of Dominguez Lara, his aide Daniel Lopez Lozano was arrested, and in both cases it was not necessary for the forces to discharge their weapons, according to a statement.
Eight individuals were were killed or were found dead in separate incidents in drug or gang violence in the northern Mexican border state of Tamaulipas since Monday, according to official Mexican news reports.
According to a news release posted onm the website of Tamaulipas state government, one man was killed by a Mexican Army patrol last Thursday in Ciudad Vitoria, the state capital of Tamauliapas.
The incident took place near the intersection of Avenida Jose Sulaiman Chagnon and Calle Carlos Adrian Aviles in La Paz colony.
Armed suspects were observed by a Mexican Army patrol which attempted a traffic stop. According to the report, the armed suspects opened fire on the soldiers. Army return fire hit and killed one suspect.
Two other suspects were detained at the scene and were identified as Daniel Rafael Martinez Gonzalez, 24, and Juan Ramon Alvarez Jaramillo, 30. Soldiers also seized one rifle, one weapons magazine and 27 rounds of ammunition.
Three days before, a Tamaulipas state police agent was killed in Ciudad Victoria as he was dining at a seafood restaurant. The agent was identified in the official new release as Omar Oswaldo Nava Gil. The news release failed to detail how Nava Gil died.
On Monday in Nuevo Laredo, two inmates were killed in a prison brawl, according to a separate news release. The victims were identified as Jorge Gonzalez Gomez, 21, and Luis Eduardo Corral Oropeza, 28. Both men had been admitted to the Nuevo Laredo Centro de Ejecucion de Sanciones (CEDES) only the day before.
Three inmates, identified as Humberto Lopez Perez, 32, Valentin Casas Franco, 26, and Vidal Gutierrez Chavez, 28, were said to have committed the murder, which was the result of a "personal grudge".
A second prison brawl took place on Thursday, this time at the Centro de Ejecución de Sanciones (CEDES) in Ciudad Victoria.
According to the data supplied, Carlos Palacios Ramirez, 39 and Edgar Villafuerte Cabriales, 28,were attacked by two other inmates using a makeshift knife. Both victims were serving time for murder.
Two other inmates, identified as Arturo Valdez Loera, 29, and Rodolfo Solis Rodriguez, 28, were said to have confessed to the crime.
Finally, the Tamaulipas Procuraduría General de Justicia del Estado (PGJE) or attorney general reported finding at least two dead in separate graves.
In Gomez Farias, charred remains, presumably of an unidentified woman were found in a field, along with articles of women's clothing on January 31st.
Meanwhile in El Mante municipality, charred remains were found in a creek bed in ejido El Abra, also with articles of women's clothing, February 12th.
Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com and BorderlandBeat.com. He can be reached at grurkka@gmail.com
A total of two unidentified armed suspects were killed in a confrontation with Mexican security forces in the northern border city of Nuevo Laredo in Tamaulipas state Tuesday, according to official Mexican news accounts.
A news release posted on the state government website of Tamaulipas said that the gunfight took place at about 0255 hrs near the intersection of Bulevar Adolfo Ruiz Cortines y Calle Coahuila in Riberas del Bravo colony.
A Mexican Army Policia Militar unit observed a Mazda Tribute SUV that had been reported as stolen, apparently traveling in convoy with a Chevrolet Malibu sedan. The unit attempted a traffic stop, which ended with gunfire. Two of the shooting victims were left in the vehicle. Presumably other armed suspects fled the scene.
In the sedan, soldiers found five rifles, one semiautomatic handgun, and weapons magazines and ammunition.
Later that evening in Matamoros municipality, according to a separate news release, a Mexican Naval Infantry road patrol detained eight suspects in the village of Control Ramirez presumably at a residence near the intersection of calles Sexta and Panaderos y Jornaleros. The report said that the detainees were behaving suspiciously.
Marines seized eight rifles, 164 weapons magazines, 5,137 rounds of ammunition, four hand grenades, .67 kilograms of marijuana, five radios, and five vehicles.
Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com and BorderlandBeat.com. he can be reached at grurkka@gmail.com
A total of seven unidentified armed suspects were killed Saturday and Sunday in three separate shootouts in northern Tamaulipas state, according to official government sources.
According to a news released posted on the Tamaulipas state government website, the first incident took place at 2118 hrs near the intersection of calles Grijalva and Rio Cupatitzio in El Campanario colony, where armed suspects traveling aboard a Ford F-150 pickup truck exchanged gunfire with a Mexican Army road patrol.
Two armed suspects died in that encounter, and Mexican Army soldiers seized three guns and an undisclosed quantity of ammunition.
A second shootout took place at around 2230 hrs near the intersection of calles Cesar Lopez de Lara and Anahuac in Anahuac colony, between armed suspects traveling aboard a Ford Contour sedan and a unit of the Policia Federal.
One suspect, identified as Gilberto Herrera Jaques died in the encounter, while a second suspect, identified as Jonathan Saldaña Armendariz, was detained at the scene. Policia Federal agents seized one rifle, one weapons magazine, ammunition and two radios.
The third encounter took place between a Mexican Naval Infantry road patrol and armed suspects traveling aboard a Ford Expedition SUV, near the intersection of Calzada Revolucion and Calle Tecolote near the entrance to Lomas del Rio colony at around 540 hrs Sunday morning.
Four unidentified armed suspects died in that encounter. Mexican marines seized five rifles, one rocket propelled grenade and other munitions.
Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com and BorderlandBeat.com
Five alleged kidnappers detained by Tamaulipas state cops
A total of 104 kidnap victims were rescued by a Mexican Naval infantry unit in Nuevo Laredo Sunday, according to Mexican news accounts.
According to a news account which appeared on the website of El Diario de Coahuila news daily, the military unit had been dispatched to a residence in 150 Aniversario colony in Nuevo Laredo where marines found the victims, 91 men and 13 women. A total of 102 victims were from Honduras while two originated from El Salvador.
Meanwhile, a raid in Nuevo Laredo netted a total of five alleged kidnappers.
According to an account which appeared in a separate item on the website of El Diario de Coahuila, the raid came after investigations began following an armed confrontation between armed suspects in Nuevo Laredo March 7th. The gunfight involved Tamaulipas state Policia Ministerial, Policia Estatal Acreditable and Mexican Army units.
According to the report, the gang was responsible for at least 60 murders, as well as robberies and other violent crimes.
The detainees were identified as Fernando Araujo Flores, Carlos Aguilera Romano, Raul Murillo Fraga, Adriana Yacare del Toro Lopez, and José Juan Antonio Carvajal.
It is worth noting that José Juan Antonio Carvajal and Adriana Yacare del Toro Lopez died in the Nuevo Laredo Centro de Ejecuciones de Sancciones (CEDES) only a day after entering the prison. Antonio Carvajal was stabbed to death in a prison brawl while Toro Lopez was found hanged in her cell.
Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com
A total of five prison inmates died Sunday in a Nuevo Laredo prison, according to Mexican government news releases and press accounts.
The Centro de Ejecucion de Sancciones (CEDES) in Nuevo Laredo was the scene where a brawl erupted among inmates using handmade knives Sunday afternoon.
The dead were identified as Alejandro Flores Charles, José Torres Garcia, Gerardo Javier Colunga Padron and José Juan Antonio Carvajal. News accounts say three inmates had claimed alleged responsibility for the deaths. They were identified as Pablo Zamarripa Guerrero, Oscar Velez Andrade and José Angel Vazquez Presa.
The four victims had entered the prison only one day before they were killed.
A second incident at the prison involved a female inmate identified as Adriana Yacare del Toro Lopez, 23. Toro Lopez was found hanged in her cell Sunday afternoon. She had entered the prison only one day before her death.
The CEDES in Nuevo Laredo has seen a large increase in the number of prison inmates as prisoners from two separate prisons in Tamaulipas state were closed and heir inmates transferred to the Nuevo Laredo CEDES.
March 9th the CEDES in Ciudad Mante was closed with its 179 prisoners moved to the CEDES in Nuevo Laredo late last week, while the CEDES in Miguel Aleman was closed just a few days before.
The Miguel Aleman prison was closed only days following a mass prison break where armed suspects forced the release of 12 inmates at gunpoint.
Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com
UPDATE: Updating with new information that Wendy Soto Misell was with her biological mother. By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
The US Consulate in Matamoros in Tamaulipas state has extended a warning to its citizens and employees about travelling highway in Tamaulipas, according to Mexican news accounts.
According to a news report posted on the website of Milenio, the US Consulate based ion Matamoros in Tamaulipas has extended an advisory it originally issued last November against travel in northern areas of Tamaulipas state. According to the report, specific concerns listed were of armed robbery and kidnappings, especially on the roads linking Matamoros and Reynosa.
This writer was unable to locate the specific warning extension. The November 20th, 2012 travel warning was issued by the US State Department for the entire nation of Mexico. A US Consulate in Hermosillo, Sonora state had issued travel restrictions on US government employees travelling in Mexico, especially between Nogales and Hermosillo in Sonora. Those warnings were issued just days after the massive intergang shootout in Tubutama in Sonora early July 2010.
A separate warning was released December 14th, 2012 by the US Consulate in Matamroros due to the threat of kidnappings and carjackings which occurred outside of Matamoros and Renosa.
Nuevo Laredo, west of Reynosa, has experienced a severe spike kidnapping, particularly of teens in the passed week. A news report posted on El Manana news daily said that four cases of kidnapped youths from age 13 to 20 have been reported in Nuevo laredo. The article claims that Tamaulipas government authorities are helpless or are unable to investigate the abductions.
The report also said that parents have been forced to investigate the disappearances of children.
A separate article which also appeared on the website of El Manana reported that a nine year old girl, identified as Wendy Soto Misell, disappeared and was presumed kidnapped last Wednesday at around 1200 hrs. The report said that Wendy attended La Primaria Luis Donaldo Colosio school in Nuevo Laredo.
However a later news brief in El Manana said that Wendy had been with her biological mother right along.
Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com
Two armed suspects were killed in an exchange of gunfire with a Mexican Army road patrol in Nuevo Laredo, according to Mexican news accounts.
According to a news report posed on the website of Milenio news daily, the shootout took place near the intersection of Calle Esfinge and Bulevar Canseco in Reservas Territoriales colony.
The two suspects were travelling aboard a Volkswagen Jetta sedan when the shootout took place. The report suggested more than the two suspects were aboard the vehicle when the gunfight took place. Soldiers found two AR-15 and two AK-47 rifles aboard the vehicle after the shootout.
Separately, three unidentified Tamaulipas state government employees were wounded in Ciudad Victoria -- Tamaulipas' state capital -- when two explosive devices, presumably grenades, were detonated Tuesday afternoon near the Palacio Gobierno which is located near the intersection of calles 15th and Hidalgo. Twitter reports say two grenades were detonated.
According to a news report which appeared on the website of Milenio, the attack took place at around 1635 hrs.
Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com
A total of four unidentified individuals were killed in an armed encounter with Mexican Army road patrol in Matamoros in Tamaulipas Tuesday afternoon, according to Mexican news reports and government news releases.
According to an El Universal news wire dispatch posted on the website of El Diario de Coahuila news daily, the gunfight took place at around 1310 hrs in Paradiso colony near the intersection of calles Nevado de Toluca and Sierra Tarahumara.
The armed suspects were travelling aboard a Chevrolet Suburban when the encounter took place. Following the confrontation several weapons were found inside the vehicle including three rifles, a handgun, 28 weapons magazines and ammunition.
Elsewhere, in Reynosa, according to the same news dispatch, two men were found shot to death aboard a Toyota Tundra Monday night. The vehicle was found by police near on Avenida Luis Donaldo Colosio near the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge at around 2000 hrs.
The victims were identified as Claudio Hernandez Velazquez, 28 and Miguel Ángel Flores Velazquez, 18. Inside the vehicle authorities also found guns, grenades and tactical gear.
Meanwhile in Nuevo Laredo one unidentified 47 year old woman was shot to death and four others were wounded in an attack on a dance hall, according to a news release posted on the website of the Tamaulipas state Procuraduria General del Estado (PGE) or state attorney general office.
The attack took place at around 2300 hrs Monday night at the Themis dance hall in Prolongacio Guerrero in Campestre colony. The woman was taken to receive medical attention before she succumbed to her wounds.
Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com
Two more grenades were detonated in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas Monday evening, -- one near a local college -- killing one unidentified individual late Monday morning, according to twitter reports, government press releases and Mexican news accounts.
A tweet issued by the US Consulate at around said that two explosions were heard, presumably near their offices.
A report released by the Tamaulipas state Procuradura General del Estado (PGE), or attorney general said that grenades were detonated in two separate incidents in the city starting at 1150 hrs.
The first grenade exploded near the intersection of Avenida Alvaro Obregon and Privada I. Tamez, near Johann Gutemberg college, wounding one unidentified woman. Her wounds were originally characterized in the PGE press release as not serious. However, late twitter reports said the victims wounds were labeled as grave. Two sedans also were damaged in the incident.
The unidentified woman who was wounded in the attack later died in the attack.
The second incident took place near the intersection of Avenida Juarez and Calle Bolivar. That incident caused damage to the facade of a business, which subsequently closed. An SUV also was damaged in the incident.
The grenade attacks are the second in a week. An attack took place last Thursday near the US Consulate when two rival gangs exchanged gunfire. Three grenades were detonated, but no one was reported wounded, nor was damage reported. Mexican federal security forces intervened, forcing the armed groups to flee the scene.
The Tamaulipas PGE denied last week's grenade attack even took place.
Getting news from Nuevo Laredo has been problematic. Local drug groups routinely intimidate local and foreign reports into not reporting incidents such as Monday's attacks. Because of the threats and intimidation local government officials must resort to social media such as Twitter to spread the word about danger zones in the city as they arise.
A tweet released Monday said that bots were being use to suppress reports.
A late tweet posted just two hours before press time reported gunfire in Riveras del Bravo colony on Avenida Ruiz Cortez.
Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com
UPDATED: According to an El Universal news update, unidentified sources with the Tamaulipas state Procuraduria General del Estado office said that explosions never took place. However, a news account published on the website of Vanguardia news daily said gunfire as well as explosions were heard in the area. That account can be seen here. The official news release by the US Consulate can be found here. The tweet from the US Consulate in Nuevo Laredo linking to the announcement can be seen here. By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
A shootout between armed drug gangs took place last Thursday evening near the US Consulate in Nuevo Laredo in Tamaulipas, according to Mexican news accounts.
A news account published on the website of La Tarde news daily said the gunfight took place near the intersection of Paseo Colon and Calle Allende at around 1920 hrs. No one was reported hurt in the incident.
The US Consulate is located near the intersection of calles Allende and Nayarit.
According to press reports, armed suspects from rivalling gangs shot at each other near the US Consulate. Included in the exchanges of gunfire were the detonation of three hand grenades.
Reports say that intervention by Mexican security forces including Mexican Army and Policia Federal troops forced the armed groups to flee the scene. No detentions were reported in the aftermath.
Nuevo Laredo was the scene of a mass execution where four individuals were shot to death last Monday. Three of the victims were identified as US citizens. Unconfirmed reports in the area said that another five unidentified individuals were shot and killed as well.
Last February 1st, seven armed suspects were killed in an encounter with a Mexican Army road patrol near Ciudad Victoria, the capital of Tamaulipas state.
Nuevo Laredo has been the focal point if an intense and bloody competition between the Los Zetas and Gulf Cartels. Nuevo Laredo has been known to be in the past Los Zetas territory until last summer, when several grisly incidents signalled that competition for control of the US border crossing was beginning.
Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com
Seven unidentified individuals were found shot to death in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas last Saturday, according to Mexican news accounts.
A news report posted on the website of Vanguardia news daily Monday said that four men were found shot to death near a beer dispensary known as Super Plus Carmen, which is near the intersection of calles Ocampo and Gutierrez.
The article, which was a news dispatch from an El Universal wire service said that three of the dead were partially identified. A fifth victim, an unidentified minor, was also found at the scene.
Later the same night, two unidentified men in their 20s were found shot to death at a a beer dispensary known as Modelorama near the intersection of calles Dr. Mier and Aquiles Serdan. The article said that a third victim was taken for medical treatment, but later died. He was identified as José Luis Pérez Vargas.
Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com
Fighting between drug gangs and Mexican security forces began anew early
Saturday morning in Nuevo Laredo, killing 10 armed suspects, according
to Mexican news accounts, Twitter accounts and narcoboard postings.
According to a post in Mforos.com, gunfire was exchanged in numerous
colonies in Nuevo Laredo beginning at 0230 hrs. The colonies affected
included, Infonavit, Benito Juarez and San Rafael colonies in western
sectors of the city.
According to the account, units of the Mexican Army observed a convoy of
vehicles, and as the drivers of the convoy were signalled to stop,
soldiers were fired on, sparking a pursuit and gunfight.
A second pursuit and gunfight took place about 20 minutes later when a
separate Mexican security forces convoy came under gunfire and pursuit.
The exchange of gunfire included Mexican Army, Mexican Naval infantry
and Tamaulipas state police units.
The fighting lasted until 0420 hrs.
According to a late report posted on the website of Proceso newsweekly, local government sources claim they have counted a total of 10 armed suspects dead in six separate engagements.
Father south in Ciudad Victoria, the state capital of Tamaulipas, one
armed suspect was killed in an armed confrontation between a Mexican
Army road patrol and two armed suspects Friday. According to news
posted on the website of Milenio news daily, the two suspects fired on the Mexican Army unit from a vehicle.
Mexican Army return fire killed on suspects. The news story does not
state the second suspect had been detained so it is presumed the second
suspect escaped the shootout.
One pistol and the vehicle was seized following the conclusion of the encounter.
New Los Zetas Group Appears
According to a news item posted on the website of Noticias-mexico.com
website, a news story on Saturday morning's firefights had been
appended with an announcement of the formation of a new separate Los
Zetas group, according to the translation, opposed to Los Zetas' leader
Miguel Trevino, who has apparently assumed leadership of the gang in the
wake of the shooting death of Heriberto Lazcano Lazcno at a baseball
field in Coahuila earlier this month.
The group has dubbed itself Los Legionarios, which has been
described as a renegade Los Zetas group. The announcement said that
Trevino, known as Z40, had a hand in the death of Lazcano Lazcano.
It is unclear if Saturday morning shootouts had anything to do with the formation of the new group. Blog del Narco has claimed fighing has erupted between shooters aligned with Z40 and the new Los Legionarios group, which has reportedly killed eight.
Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com
Four unidentified armed suspects were killed Thursday in an armed confrontation in the Mexican border city of Nuevo Laredo, according to Mexican news reports.
A news report appearing Thursday evening on the website of El Sol de Mexico said that a unit of the Mexican 8th Military Zone encountered armed suspects travelling aboard a vehicle on Bulevar Aeropuerto in Voluntad y Trabajo colony at around 0930 Thursday morning.
Army gunfire killed four suspects. A tota lof four rifles, undisclosed quantities of weapons magazines and ammunition were seized as well as one vehicles.
According to a news item posted on the website of Milenio news daily Thursday night, the four dead were identified as escapees from the Piedras Negras, Coahuila Centro Readaptacion Social (CERESO) prison, which took place last month. A total of 132 inmates, reportedly members of the Los Zetas criminal gang, escaped. A total of 104 inmates remain at large.
Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com
