[Mexico's Gulf] Cartel may have U.S. bullet-proof vests

Houston Chronicle ^ | March 31, 2009 | DANE SCHILLER

[SwinneySwitch]

Mexico’s Gulf Cartel may have 40 bullet-proof vests emblazoned with “FBI” and “DEA” to trick their drug-trafficking rivals, according to a new law enforcement advisory.

Baseball caps and T-shirts with the agencies' names long have been a fad among everyday citizens, but ballistic armor raises the stakes and concerns, officials said.

“It is believed the Gulf Cartel intended to use the vests as a distraction while they were conducting enforcement activities against their victims,” reads a message prepared by an FBI intelligence coordinator.

The advisory, which was distributed Monday, comes as Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano plans to travel the border and visit Mexico this week to discuss taking on drug cartels.

The Gulf Cartel is based in Northern Mexico and its reputed former leader, Osiel Cardenas, is jailed in the United States, awaiting trial later this year in Houston.

The advisory was sent to local, state and federal law enforcement agencies for “situational awareness,” according to the document. Federal officials could not immediately comment on the credibilty of the source of the information.

Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman Mike Sanders said that during his nearly 20-year career, he’s only heard of a handful of times when criminals imitated agents, but never by wearing vests.

“It is a big concern,” he said.

“We know the traffickers wear ballistic vests, there is no doubt about it,” he said. “But with them saying FBI or DEA on it; we don’t know what they are going to use them for.

“We don’t know if they are using them in home invasions on this side (of the border) or will use them on the south side of border to throw off any military or law enforcement action.”

The FBI’s San Antonio office apparently was the first to receive information....

[SwinneySwitch]

The advisory notes that there is no indication the cartel intended to use the vests in the US.

[Islander7]

Groin shots.

[isom35]

I wonder if they are missile-proof?

[texrepub76]

A few Black Hawks, a few handful of special forces and snipers, and a mechanized unit with a batallion of ground forces...we know where their compounds are but Mexico’s reluctance to actually let us handle what they obviously cannot should exemplify just how serious they are about ending this problem.

[tired1]

I visited a shop in Tijuana that made such vests for export into the US. It was strictly controlled /s

[Oldpuppymax]

Well then gee, how EVER will we be able to tell Mexican drug dealers from Americans??!! After all, just looking at Jorje Hernandez and Joe Smith...they could be TWINS, huh?

[Spktyr]

They make greaves and leg armor now.

Go for faceplates.

[Farmer Dean]

Wonder ifthey are .30 proof.

[ctdonath2]

Just one more reason for the switch to short-barreled AR15/M16s. Vest? what vest?

[HiJinx]

Ping!

[rmlew]

Mexico’s Gulf Cartel may have 40 bullet-proof vests emblazoned with “FBI” and “DEA” to trick their drug-trafficking rivals, according to a new law enforcement advisory.
Obviously these were sold by gun stores in the US and millions of Americans have these. Oh wait we don't, just like we can't own the machine guns and actual assault rifles (select-fire medium caliber rifles/carbines).