Posted on 04/28/2007 7:25:34 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
MEXICO CITY — Federal police said Friday they have arrested two drug smugglers who strained Mexico's relations with the United States by disguising themselves as Mexican soldiers and confronting Texas sheriff's deputies and state police.
Oscar Alonso Candelaria Escajeda and Ivan Gandara Trejo, were detained Thursday in the border city of Ciudad Juarez, across from El Paso, according to a news release from the federal public security secretary.
It said that the two disguised themselves as Mexican soldiers and crossed the Rio Grande into Hudspeth County, Texas, in January 2006.
Texas state police and sheriff's deputies spotted three vehicles, including at least one a military-style Humvee, and tried to halt them near Neely's Crossing, about 50 miles east of El Paso, on suspicion they were loaded with marijuana.
The smugglers escaped back across the border without a shot fired, abandoning more than a half-ton of marijuana as they fled.
U.S. authorities initially believed the men were Mexican soldiers and the incident strained relations between the two nations before U.S. officials said they accepted Mexican assurances that the smugglers were only disguised as soldiers.
Candelaria Escajeda also faces drug smuggling and possession charges filed in West Texas in December 2006, the news release said.
Incursion update.
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
Ping!
Border incursion follow-up...
Mexican assurances? </snort>
Do these US officials control a huge source of funds? Because in SF there’s this excellently-located, valuable bridge I’m sitting on, and....
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