Posted on 03/07/2005 8:45:17 AM PST by SwinneySwitch
NUEVO LAREDO This border city held hostage by violence could be freed if the 700 federal and state police officers that entered the city Sunday are successful in their fight against organized crime.
The reappearance of the federal presence comes on the heels of the citys 19th and 20th homicide of the year.
The citys mayor has demanded state and federal intervention in helping to combat crime, much of which is said to be drug-related.
"We expect direct, concrete action against the criminals," Mayor Daniel Peña Treviño said. "We now have in the city representatives of the Federal Preventive Police, State Preventive Police and the Municipal (city) Police."
Peña Treviño said he was satisfied with federal intervention.
"We are happy. Their presence gives us confidence. We are confident we can reclaim our city," he explained.
Federal officials told reporters at a Sunday morning press conference the agents are in the city to seek out members of criminal gangs and jail them.
They acknowledge the city is in the middle of a turf battle between members of the Gulf Cartel, whose leader, Oziel Cardenas, now in prison, and Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, who is said to be wanting to take control of lucrative drug smuggling routes through the city.
Agents of the Federal Preventive Police entered town at early Sunday. They were accompanied by state police officers. Members of the Mexican Army joined them.
The soldiers are to patrol poorer, more violent neighborhoods.
Federal agents and the military have been deployed in Nuevo Laredo in the past, as recently as January. They generally spend a few days patrolling the city, making arrests, and then leaving.
Arturo Jimenez Martinez, a commander of the Federal Preventative Police, said in addition to the massive mobilization of forces, investigators would begin interviewing Nuevo Laredo municipal police officers and state prosecutors in search of those who may be taking bribes from drug smuggling gangs.
"Its difficult to combat crime when there are a lot of allies of organized crime who block our efforts," Jimenez told the Associated Press, who was sent to oversee the Nuevo Laredo crackdown by Mexicos Public Safety Secretary Ramon Huerta.
Another Federal Preventative Police official, Arturo Jimenez Martinez, later said Nuevo Laredoans want a peaceful city and dont want the worry about becoming a statistic in the wave of violence.
Through early Sunday afternoon, one group of state and federal officers had arrested 41 people for possession of prohibited weapons, auto theft and violation of public security. In addition agents closed nine pharmacies for illegal sales, having expired or no licenses and faulty bookkeeping.
Another group of state police officers has arrested 12 for vehicle thefts, nine for burglary of business establishments, one for homicide, another for violation of the health code and four for carrying firearms.
In addition, the group recovered 10 vehicles reported stolen, and confiscated 82.5 pounds of marijuana, 110 pounds of cocaine and 41.25 pounds of heroin.
The actions of the officers, Jimenez Martinez said, "is proof of our convictions that the federal government, in coordination with local authorities, can confront organized crime."
Residents like Antonio Segovia said it is the job of the police to confront criminals.
"Look, we cannot be outside after 10 at night," Segovia said. "We want to believe (federal police) have come to combat organized crime."
The homicides Saturday follow the shooting deaths of two men Friday night sitting inside a car in the Victoria neighborhood, by a man on a bicycle. Another man, a bystander, was wounded.
Thursday evening, a woman standing outside of her home was shot to death. Another woman was wounded.
In Saturdays incident, State Ministerial Police received a call at 9:30 p.m. reporting gunfire.
Officers found dead two men, 25 and 30, who were sitting in a grey, 1988 Nissan with Texas license plates.
The unidentified suspects were located near a hotel on the Monterrey highway.
Police reportedly found bullet casings from an AR-15 "cuernos de chiva," as well as .223 caliber, .45 caliber, 7.62-mm and 9-mm at the scene.
Officials ordered autopsies on the body.
Translated by Assistant Copy Editor Mark Webber 03/07/05
No argument here...
However, we're being assimilated by those we've elected to sell us out to Global interests...so, lie back and enjoy it.
And put some ice on that thing...
Grow your own drugs! Why involve our borders???
I've had it with stoners that can't grasp reality.
Homegrown drugs would be difficult to tax and would circumvent the main positive aspect of legalization.......the Govt has to get their cut of everything....I'm surprised they don't tax babies and birth control....those that play must pay...put the drug warriors to work on the WOT and illegals.....
This is the 'Mexicanized' political culture that can become the norm across the US Southwest unless the tidal wave of illegals is contained and stopped.
LEO swarming on your community for sweeps from time to time you mean??
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.