Mexican drug gang tentacles reach Europe, Africa

Reuters ^ | December 23, 2008 | Mica Rosenberg

[Tailgunner Joe]

Violent Mexican cartels that have killed thousands in a drug war at home this year are increasingly smuggling drugs to Europe by way of Africa.

Under pressure from a government and army crackdown at home, the drug gangs are seeking new lucrative markets.

Recent high-profile arrests of Mexicans around the globe show how the Gulf cartel and its main rival, the Sinaloa federation run by Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman, are moving beyond their traditional market in the United States.

A 15-month international drug sweep called "Project Reckoning" captured 500 Gulf cartel collaborators in the United States, Mexico and Italy, where the Mexicans have teamed with the notorious Italian 'Ndrangheta crime syndicate.

The arrests, which came to a head in September, were one of the biggest busts of Mexican operatives working with European counterparts. They came as Mexican cartels move in on trafficking routes traditionally dominated by Colombians, who produce most of the world's cocaine, experts say.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon has deployed thousands of soldiers and federal police to dangerous U.S.-Mexico border towns to take on drug gangs after coming to office in 2006.

"Given the pressure from the Calderon government, we are seeing some of the Mexican groups seeking alliances with Europeans," University of Miami drug expert Bruce Bagley said.

Cocaine can be sold for more than four times as much in Europe as in the United States and in 2005 some 80 percent of the drug not destined for the U.S. market went to Europe, according to the United Nations.

The U.S. government estimates cocaine consumption in western Europe has increased nearly 60 percent since 1998, creating huge opportunities for profit.

The shift comes as Colombian cartels are splintering from years of government pressure, opening more trans-Atlantic opportunities for Mexican gangs either collaborating with or working around the Colombians.

[ought-six]

Someone needs to “go Apache” on these guys. Mexicans were terrified of the Apaches.

[SpaceBar]

Singapore has a good law enforcement model.

[Clintonfatigued]

Maybe we can’t stop it entirely, but that doesn’t mean we should make it so easy for them.

[DownInFlames]

Read today on the web that Zero plans on legalizing pot here in the USA.

[Grim]

I thought the headline read “testicles.” Which would have been kinda weird...

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Just militarize the border and kick the illegals out.

[AuntB]

“Maybe we can’t stop it entirely, but that doesn’t mean we should make it so easy for them.”

Amen!! Merry Christmas, Clintonfatigued. Have a good 2009.

[AuntB]

“”Given the pressure from the Calderon government, we are seeing some of the Mexican groups seeking alliances with Europeans,”

And if you think that doesn’t include Islamic Jihad sympathizers and terrorists countries, think again.

[AuntB]

“Someone needs to “go Apache” on these guys. Mexicans were terrified of the Apaches.”

Indeed. There were also some Commanches that gave them a run for their money. In fact there was a settlement of Cherokees at Mt. Tabor, Tx, who protected Sam Houston and the settlers from marauding Mexicans. The Republic of Texas allowed to keep their land for their service to them, but that ended when Texas joined the union.

[SwinneySwitch]

Belated ping!

If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.

[SwinneySwitch]

“I don’t know Apache, but I know crazy!”

[ought-six]

Comanches had a wierd relationship with Mexicans. They were often enemies, and at times were bitter foes, but they could also just as quickly agree to engage in trade and other exchanges. But the Apaches never had anything even remotely resembling a benign relationship with the Mexicans. Mexicans and Apaches routinely raided each other and killed each other with wild abandon. Mexicans and Apaches hated each other to an extent not shown towards others.

[BellStar]

Why is it not national news that Mexico is a Cesspool! As we continue to allow illegal immigration we import the very source of the seeds of our undoing.

[lentulusgracchus]

Comanches and Apaches waged war from the minute the Comanches came down out of the Rockies in 1752 onto the buffalo prairie. They physically cut the Apache nation in two, in the vicinity of San Antonio and the Balcones Escarpment. The Kiowa Apache, who were the eastern bands, had to take refuge among the Caddoan Kiowas. The Lipans may have been out of touch likewise with the western Apaches -- Jicarillas, Mescaleros, etc. Thus T.R. Fehrenbach, the manual historian of Texas (who wrote straight, pre-PC history in the early 60's).

[ought-six]

All true.