Drug cartel targets agents

Washington Times ^ | November 25, 2004 | Jerry Seper

[Ramonan]

A band of Mexican army deserters that smuggles illicit drugs into the United States across the southern Texas border has offered bounties of up to $50,000 for the assassination of U.S. Border Patrol agents and state and local police officers, U.S. law-enforcement authorities said. The gang, known as the "Zetas" or the "Z's," is suspected in nearly 90 deaths of rival gang members in the past two years as part of a violent drug war to control trafficking across the Mexico-Texas border. Members use their military training and stolen equipment, including high-powered weapons, to fight competing organizations. Law-enforcement authorities said the gang is targeting border agents and police and Mexican military and law-enforcement personnel. "They are extremely violent, and they are very much feared in the region because of the bloodshed they unleash," Jose Santiago Vasconcelos, Mexico's top anti-drug prosecutor, said recently. The leaders of the Zetas have been identified by Mexican authorities as former members of an elite paratroop and intelligence battalion known as the Special Air Mobile Force Group, which formerly was assigned to the border state of Tamaulipas -- along southern Texas -- to fight drug traffickers. They abandoned the Mexican military in 1991, first protecting drug smugglers for Mexico's infamous Gulf cartel and later establishing their own trafficking routes into the United States. A force of about 30 former members of the group are thought to be involved. U.S. law-enforcement authorities said the Zetas have offered bounties of between $30,000 and $50,000 for the killing of border agents and state and local officers. Fourteen suspected members of the Zetas, including a reputed gang leader, Rogelio Gonzalez Pizana, also known as "El Kelin," have been ordered to stand trial in Mexico City on organized-crime, money-laundering and weapons-possession charges.

[Ramonan]

"They just want to come here for jobs." Reading this, it appears to be a Declaration of War by part of Mexico against the United States.

[inquest]

The leaders of the Zetas have been identified by Mexican authorities as former members of an elite paratroop and intelligence battalion known as the Special Air Mobile Force Group, which formerly was assigned to the border state of Tamaulipas -- along southern Texas -- to fight drug traffickers.

Nice. Just like the Russian mafia consists primarily of "former" KGB members.

[Mr. Keys]

Why try to arrest this scum. Bounties paid for their assassinations seems fitting. I'm sure there are many well trained people who would like to supplement their incomes. Tax free of course.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Ping

[thegreatbeast]

We should create a free fire zone along our borders if these bad guys are putting a bounty on our people. Sen. Kerry may not like it but so what?

[gubamyster]

ping

[Brian Allen]

<< Sen. Kerry may not like it but so what? >>

Senor who?

[truthkeeper]

bttt

[radicalamericannationalist]

Or a move a la Pancho Villa.

[radicalamericannationalist]

Just killing the cops that Americans refuse to...

[Travis McGee]

bttt