Posted on 11/19/2005 11:25:56 AM PST by dennisw
A marijuana-laden dump truck got stuck in the Rio Grande on Thursday evening in Hudspeth County, leading to a standoff between U.S. law enforcement and what appeared to be the Mexican military, sheriff officials said.
"It's a very serious incident," Hudspeth County Chief Deputy Mike Doyal said.
"We are very fortunate (Thursday) night no one got hurt," Doyal said. "Everyone had the presence of mind not to cause an international incident, or start shooting."
The incident began when Border Patrol agents tried to stop the dump truck on Interstate 10, sheriff's officials said. The truck fled to Mexico in the Neely's Crossing area.
The truck got stuck in the riverbed, and the driver took off running. Agents "started to retrieve the bundles (of marijuana) when the armed subjects appeared," said Agent Ramiro Cordero, a Border Patrol spokesman. The Border Patrol called Hudspeth County sheriff's deputies and Texas state troopers for backup, both agencies confirmed.
Doyal said the truck driver returned with the armed men, including men who arrived in official-looking vehicles with overhead lights and what appeared to be Mexican soldiers in uniform and with military-style rifles.
The Mexican army is used in anti-narcotics operations. Army officials could not be reached for comment.
The standoff ended when the "soldiers" used a bulldozer to pull the dump truck into Mexico, sheriff's officials said.
Doyal said the bulldozer is kept in the area and is suspected of being used to create makeshift paths across the river.
"The 1,850 pounds confiscated (by U.S. authorities) was probably a third of what was in the truck. The rest went into the Mexican side," Doyal said.
Cordero, the Border Patrol spokesman, described the incident as an "armed encounter with drug smugglers" but would not confirm whether the Mexican military was involved. Investigations into the incident continue.
Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com; 546-6102.
they say they will forgive you if you instead give them 700 cooked noodles: you know that tramps *do* love pasta
Unless there is a specific treaty defining the border as the river bank(s), international law controls. Under customary international law the border follows the river's main channel with the law of erosion and accretion applying to a meandering change in the border. Under a less well accepted doctrine, the border is the constant middle of the river. Both are subject to amendment by treaty.
And *serious* (as a hear attack).
"I question any appreciable intelligence in any areas in which "Reality TV" (sic) gets market share and precincts tilt Democrat."
HA!!
Yes I agree with your take wholeheartedly, PC.
...a kindred soul. ;^)
I don't disagree.
a fence-topped wall with towers every 1000meters, laced with sensors and the towers armed with 50BMGs, would END the problem as we know it.
BTW, the Libyans were crossing during the time that the US bombed some of Momar's military installations and personal residences. When the Libyans were caught, the media made abrief mention that they were captured. Later, info trickled out that the dudes were Libyan commandos or intel agents sent to target US military bases.
I have a vague memory of that, yes.
The Mexican drug cartel is growing so much pot in our national forests that they may be shipping it back to Mexico. It's difficult to tell if the truck was going north on I10, would it be able to turn around and head the other way on a freeway?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1524578/posts?page=36#36 National parks' pot farms blamed on cartels San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 11/18/5 | Zachary Coile Posted on 11/18/2005 7:54:52 AM PST by SmithL Mexican drug lords find it easier to grow in state than import -
At that time, I was living about 120 miles from the border; everyone was on edge. I remember that many of the guys in the town in which I lived had speculated on whether they would receive a reward for capturing or shooting the Libyans.
I'm with you on this!!!!
"After helping plan the US raid on Muammar Qaddafi's terrorist bases in Libya, [Ollie] North was targeted for assassination by Abu Nidal, the infamous terrorist. . . ."
It may be, but I recall that military bases along the border increased their security sharlpy and started inspecting vehicles for bombs (inspecting trunks, truck beds, undersides of vehicles, using bomb sniffing dogs, etc.) when they entered bases. I was a kid at the time and recall visiting a couple of base museums and hearing the gate security folks state that they had to search the vehicle for explosives because of the Libyans who had crossed the border.
You may be correct. I assumed that the truck was heading into the U.S.
I thought the reason for growing the pot on our side of the border was to make it easier to distribute in this country and to avoid having to make any border crossing excursions.
I'll see if I can find an article with some more details in it.
No...this it'd have to be an all-American city; one with which every Joe and Jane American can identify...not a communist holdout.
Besides, the bay area Leftists, like their French counterparts, would ultimately claim that they were attacked only because they didn't appease the terrorists enough.
The Mexican army is used in anti-narcotics operations.
Of course, you can't be faulted for ignoring what the administration and congress are doing ...
Your points are well taken, but I will stick with San Francisco. Somehow, it just seems like the best fit--communist holdout and terrorist appeasers notwithstanding...
it sounds like the sooner you yanks build that wall the better .
Sons of Cheech & Chongs next movie
Noun
S: (n) Mexican standoff (a situation in which no one can emerge as a clear winner)
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