Case gives glimpse into drug hit squad’s inner workings

Houston Chronicle ^ | Jan 17, 2000 | SUSAN CARROLL

[AuntB]

LAREDO — On his last night of freedom, Gabriel Cardona laid on his bed in a stash house in north Laredo, chatting on his cell phone about how he’d sliced open twoAmerican teenagers with a broken bottle.

“You should have been there,” Cardona, a 22-year-old Laredo high school dropout told a fellow member of the Gulf Cartel’s hitman squad... Jorge “Poncho” Aviles, 19, and Inez Villarreal, 14, were abducted from a Nuevo Laredo nightclub and taken to an abandoned house south of the border, tortured, gutted and then burned in 55-gallon drums.

One U.S. law enforcement source, speaking anonymously, said the Zetas — the enforcement arm of the Gulf Cartel — have retained control of the Laredo smuggling business even since the disruption of Cardona’s hitman cell by employing enforcers with prison gangs, including the Texas Syndicate and Mexican Mafia. While cartel-related violence has increased markedly elsewhere along the Texas-Mexico border, Laredo has seen relatively few drug-related homicides in the past two years, in large part because the Zetas are maintaining control of the area.

“It’s quiet now,” the source said, “but that could change at any moment.”

According to recently unsealed court records, the hitmen were paid $500 a week just to be on-call to kill, and up to $50,000 to carry out a double homicide. They drove fancy cars, were paid with cash and cocaine, and killed on command.

... On the recording, Cardona said he grabbed a bottle “and slash! I slit his whole (expletive) belly. And — poom! —He was bleeding, I grabbed a little cup and — poom! poom! —I filled it with blood and — poom! —I dedicated it to the Santisima Muerte,” the saint of death.

[AuntB]

Isn't this wonderful of Mexico to share its 'culture' with us??

Hitmen ‘blend in’

“They blend in,” Guillen said of the hitmen. “They’re U.S. citizens. They speak fluent English. They’re able to follow shipments, and collect money for it. They’re able to drive up to Dallas and Houston without any problems.”

Cardona’s American-born hitman crew was dubbed “Zetillas,” slang for “little Zetas,” because of their ages. The youngest, at 16, was Reta, a Houston native. He is now a convicted murderer in Texas, and a suspect in multiple homicides in Mexico.

[AuntB]

MORE:

Troops are restricted on travel to Mexico
January 17, 2009

CAMP PENDLETON

Troops are restricted on travel to Mexico

In response to the “prolonged, escalating violence” in Mexico, the commanding general of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force has tightened regulations for all Marines who want to travel south of the border, officials said.

Marines and sailors cannot travel alone to Mexico and must use the buddy system.

Also, troops must take an anti-terrorism course and keep the telephone number of the U.S. consulate in Tijuana when traveling in the border region. Violations of the order are punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, officials said.
[snip]

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-briefs17-2009jan17,0,4472460.story

[Pearls Before Swine]

The youngest, at 16, was Reta, a Houston native. He is now a convicted murderer in Texas, and a suspect in multiple homicides in Mexico.

I hope he got tried as an adult; no juvie for him.

[AuntB]

“The youngest, at 16, was Reta, a Houston native. He is now a convicted murderer in Texas, and a suspect in multiple homicides in Mexico.

I hope he got tried as an adult; no juvie for him.”

So much for the old argument that these second generation Latino ‘immigrants’ are assimilating. Anchor babies do not automatically become “Americans”. It seems they just become Mexican gangbangers.

[Starfleet Command]

Just executing the competing drug dealers Americans refuse to.

[JSteff]

This is another case where the killers should NOT have a long trial. Limited to one hour hearing then execute with extreme prejudice.

Dump the bodies in a minefield along the border. Let their friends and relatives watch as they swell up and the vultures get them

[texican01]

They are just folks doing “jobs” that Americans won’t do

-—President George Bush (2007)

[ExpatCanuck]

Who is buying all the f*cking drugs these cartels are selling? Americans, that’s who. Legalize it, produce it ourselves, tax it, and let natural selection take it’s course.

[AuntB]

“Who is buying all the f*cking drugs these cartels are selling? Americans, that’s who. Legalize it, produce it ourselves, tax it, and let natural selection take it’s course.”

I don’t disagree, EC. The problem with these Mexican gangs is we would also have to legalize identity theft, human smuggling, prostitution, illegal immigration, etc. etc.

[ExpatCanuck]

Unless I hear a compelling argument to the contrary, I have to disagreee about the human smuggling, illegal immigration and identify theft - they are, I believe, for the most part unrelated to the drug trade and would continue regardless. As for the prostitution, legalize that as well and make the hookers pay taxes (and enforce super stiff penalties for those engaging in human smuggling/slavery activities to support their prostitution businesses - life in prison or death perhaps). Bottom line = hundreds of millions saved on the war against drugs and prostitution and hundreds of millions gained in tax revenues.

[Tennessee Nana]

The Terry Anderson Show...

Tonight Terry wil discuss whether or not outgoing President Bush will pardon the border patrol agents...

What do you think ?

Call Terry LIVE 9-10 PM PST at (866) 870-57521

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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2167171/posts?page=1

[Lurker]

Give the poster a cigar.

L