07/17-19 VIOLENCE TIJUANA ASSASSINATION IN ROSARITO BEACH

DIOGENES SEARCHING FOR AN HONEST MAN: (inspired by Fu)




Two days ago Mayor Ramos and Chief Leyzaola met with the President of the Newspaper Associaltion of Tijuana, Bartolome Rubio Hernandez, Jesus Gil of the Baja Journalist Association and Ramon Ramon Jurtado of the California Association of Graphic reporters regarding the accusations of the press against Tijuana Municipal Police for intimidation and harrassment of photojournalists in their coverage of the violent drug war in Tijuana.

Both the Mayor and the Chief pledged to end attacks on press photographers and camermen and to punish policemen who have overstepped their authority in this regard. The one regional commander of the Tijuana Municipal Police has been put on fifteen days suspension for the his part in the confrontation last week at the site of the police killings in Tijuana.


Chief Leyzaola requested that photojournalists avoid taking pictures of the officers faces and the numbers which identify their patrol units. Other than those two requests, the Chief reiterated there are no limitations put on photojournalists.


The conditions which the police are working under in Tijuana are beyond any imaginable stress level that you or I will ever experience or even begin to appreciate. No policeman wants identifying pictures of him/herself or his/her patrol unit completely exposed; even during Army and Federal Police actions, the men wear masks. This is basic protocal for their safety and protection. Imagine the anxiety and flood of emotion when these policemen find one or two or three or more of their co-workers murdered in cold blood, that along with the dangerous conditions which exist daily and which have been going on for a few years now and seem never ending. Add to that the choking heat which has been bearing down on this area and you have a cocktail for combat fatigue,and alot of anger.


Before we point a finger at the cops and say, oh they're just blaming the press, take one second and tell all of us how you think you might react if you were in their position.


I think Plan Mexico should include post traumatic stress therapy for these brave men and women who put their lives on the line every day, the good ones, and throw in a little R&R, like a paid two weeks vacation for them and their families somewhere nice. How about it Obama ?


More local updates:


- All agencies reporting in ROSARITO BEACH, Duran Julio Cesar Benitez, a member of the administrative staff of the Municipal Police was executed by gunmen from their vehicle as he was leaving a meeting in Rosarito Beach. El Mex notes that he had only been employed in this position for about two months. AFN however, gives a bit more background which takes us back to the arrest in REAL DEL MAR ON 07/07/09. That evening a private security guard was arrested in Real Del Mar for driving an official State vehicle and in the possession of marijuana and glass. It turns out that the vehicle belonged to Captain Jorge Eduardo Montero (the appointed Chief and good guy), a police report was filed of which AFN says only a few people, including Cesar Benitez knew about. Charges were dropped against the private security guard and he was released after he was visited in jail by a judge. Some controversy exists as to who was responsible for releasing him, AFN says Montero had him released. At this point, Cesar Benitez, according to AFN was transferred as punishment, because according to AFN it was he [Benitez] who leaked the fact that the private security guard had been released to the press. AFN also states that Cesar Benitez has a brother who works in the department, and allegations have been made that a secret force is working in this area composed of officials who wear masks and cover the identifying numbers on their vehicles,entering houses without warrants - their work it is said, is being carried out at night. Here is the AFN story with the link to the arrest in Real Del Mar on 07/07/09:


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And I think that is about as far as that story is going to go.



- All agencies reporting one man shot by an armed group in colonia Altiplano while resisting being robbed, he is in serious condition.


- All agencies reporting another two violent deaths; one young man shot after altercation and one man stabbed in colonia Camino Verde, the Tijuana Municipal Police were able to arrest 5 people in the stabbing event. It is unclear whether these incidents are drug related.


07/18:

- All agencies reporting four people found executed in various parts of the city; colonia Florida, colonia Lomas Conjunto Residencial, colonia Flores Magon and colonia San Luis. The colonia Lomas was a home robbery, the others were gunshots.



- El Mex reporting one man shot and killed, this was a drug dealer in Modulas de Otay.



- Frontera and El Mex reporting in TECATE, USBP pursues vehicle headed into Mexico on back roads by the border fence, rocks are thrown at Agents and vehicle also tries to run Agents down to which USBP fires two shots. The vehicle was a Dodge Dakota truck. Mexican officials (SEDENA) arrive to inspect site @ ECO17, where a large hole had been cut to allow vehicles to drive through. No arrests, the Dakota vanished into the night.



- El Mex and AFN reporting one man shot and killed in ENSENADA while riding his bike on calle Magisterial between 4th and 5th Avenues. El Mex noted that this man was in a drug rehab program.


07/17:


- El Mex report Municipal Police Officers arrest two young men carrying firearms, a .380 and a .357 magnum.


- All agencies reporting State Preventative Police acting on an anonymous tip, rescue three people who had been kidnapped and arrest one man, colonia Nueva Tijuana, Tijuana. The three were in handcuffs, and they had managed to get out of the house when PEP found them. The kidnapper guy was not at the safehouse, but shortly afterwards he was arrested, carrying take out food to the house. How thoughtful of him.


- All agencies reporting that based on an anonymous tip, the State Preventative Police confiscate 450 Kilos of marijuana in house located on calles Ciruela and Fresno, Tijuana. No one was home, no arrests.


- El Mex reporting three human traffickers arrested by the Tijuana Municipal Police. They had just received 2K dollars from a migrant wanting to cross over into US. Well, the migrant probably lucked out, because we see time after time these coyotes/polleros take the money and run, kill or rape the migrants, or hold them for ransom or leaving them in the middle of bum fuck eqypt out in the hills and the desert.


- El Mex reporting USBP seizes 125 pounds of crystal meth @ the CALEXICO port of entry. The vehicle had been sent to secondary where gamma rays and the use of a K-9 drug sniffing pero uncovered the dope. One Mexican citizen arrested.



- AFN reporting Chief Leyzaola has urged for the immediate release of economic resources to provide high powered weapons and body armor plates for the Tijuana Municipal Police. He admitted that the police are out gunned by organized crime and there simply are not enough weapons to support police agents. This request goes back two years to 2007, but has not been implemented by the Federal government.


- SADM: CRAZY NEIGHBOR GUY'S DOGS RUNNING LOOSE AND UN SUPERVISED FOR THE THIRD TIME ATTACK ANOTHER NEIGHBORS DOGS WHO WERE ON LEADS AND HE IS STILL SCREAMING AT REUBAN'S DOGS. GEE DAVID HOLT, YOU TALKED TO REUBAN, SO WHAT ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS? WTF GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER.



I'll be later later with National Updates, it's really HOT here. yuck.


The Links:


AFN

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EL MEXICANO


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FRONTERA


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07/16 VIOLENCE TIJUANA NUNEZ WALKED BUT HE DIDN'T WALK THAT FAR

MEXICAN ARMY ARREST 10 TODAY INCLUDING FORMER BODYGUARD OF THE GOVERNOR MILAN:





We'll have to do an instant replay back to March of this year when the Mexican Army
busted the "Narco-fiesta" in Tijuana, arresting El Kaibil and roughly 60 people and also present were bodyguards of Governor Milan, who were detained and then released. At the time of the El Kaibil story, neither the San Diego Union or the Los Angeles Times even mentioned the fact that the Governor's bodyguards had been at the party and detained. But the Mexican press in Tijuana picked up the story and not only broke it but ran with it, and were furious when the Governor denied at first that these men were even at the party, then blasted the Mexican press for not having "respect" for these men.


AFN produced pictures which showed the same bodyguards who were detained the night of the party, and pictures of the same men by the Governor's side at different functions. At the time, AFN was hot under the collar about this and felt we were all being deceived.



Today, based on an anonymous tip, the Mexican Army arrested ten people in Sanchez Taboda, Tijuana with dope, guns and vehicles. Two of these arrested are Ministerial Police: Daniel Eduardo Trejo Meza and Edgar Eruby Murrillo Arechiya. Three of these people arrested are agents of the State Preventative Police: Pedro Preciddo Gutierrez, Jose Alberto Leyva Rojas and Nicholas Delgadillo Nunez.



Nicholas Delgadillo Nunez did in fact work as a body guard for the Governor at one time. Nunez did infact attend the "Narco-fiesta" last March and was in fact detained last March. Late this afternoon, Daniel de la Rosa Anaya announced that Nunez was not acting as a bodyguard to the Governor, but the new sources say he was, prior to the March "narco-fiesta" and his first detention. It was after his first detention that he, according to the Mexican press, was transferred to another department.

Frontera reports that Daniel de la Rosa Anaya said today that one of the PEP agents arrested, Jose Alberto Rojos was never a bodyguard to the Governor, but was assigned to "protect" a group of officials in Tijuana. To make matters even more confusing, there was at the "narco-fiesta", another element who was a bodyguard of the Governor Milan, but he was not involved in today's arrests.


What does it mean? I don't know, maybe they just let him (Nunez) walk the last time around so that he would lead them to more fish, which they certainly did catch today, sort of a sting setup.


Which also means that if we are to believe that Nunez was set free the first time as a sort of trap, the Governor knew exactly what was going on, infact all the officials did, we were the ones who were in the dark. Which also means all of these allegations against the Governor and others including Daniel de la Rosa Anaya were nothing, meaningless. There are so many twists and turns in high profile arrests because of the high rate of infiltration by organized crime and the ever present danger to honest officials.


The next question is, why did the US Press completely omit reporting in the first place there were bodyguards of the Governor at the "Narco-fiesta" who were arrested last March when the Mexican press had pictures and evidence which proved that there were? Were they told not to report this fact? And the question my neighbors are asking is how many more bad apples are there out there, particularly ones which are supposed to be protecting public officials?


Also seized were two kilos of cocaine, 2 rifles, 1 short firearm and catridges of different calibres. AFN is saying that all of these 10 individuals have been involved in kidnappings, murders and drug transhipment to the USA.


The wife of Rojas is denying his guilt, does this mean that some of these officials arrested today might be innocent and are undercover? We won't know that until the dust settles.


All the agencies are covering this story, here are pics from AFN:

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UPDATE 07/17: This is the story - at least down here - that will not go away. AFN is republishing the photographs of the Governor's bodyguards who were arrrested at the Narco fiesta last March and you will be able to recognize Nunez, the other two guys were released. Take the time and read the comments, people are not happy. Also, it was revealed today that ROJAS LEVYA was a bodyguard to the Governor, a completely different statement than made yesterday. The other switch in the story is that there were two arrests yesterday, one involving 5 civilians in the same area, and another involving the 5 officials in the same area, although all ten were presented together. No response from Governor Milan, he has been very quiet this time around. I'm throwing in today's piece from Frontera, check out the comments.

AFN

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FRONTERA

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You will have to make your own minds up of what is going on here.

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More Local Updates:


- El Mex reporting in ROSARITO BEACH last night at the grocery store Aztan Mini Market, a group of hooded gunmen entering the store were spotted by a man waiting in the parking lot for his kids who were inside of the store. The man rushed into the store to get his kids out, and was shot in the stomach. The gunmen escaped and there has not been a report on the vitims condition.


- El Mex reporting that yesterday the Soriana market @ the Plaza Monarca was hit by 3 men who also assaulted employees. Two of those men were arrested later.


- El Mex reporting in MEXICALI, State Preventative Police arrest three narcomenustas
in different parts of the city.


- All agencies reporting the service of dismissal with honor for officers Roxana Castro Machado and Leonardo Balcaza Gomez in Tijuana. These two officers, BTW, were part of the new wave of replacements for the crooked cops which had been weeded out of the force.

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07/16 National Drug War News Updates:


- This one is from AP, and I swear to god I cannot find it on the Mexican sources. The AP article says that on July the 14th, Mateo Juarez, a retired Army Captain suspected of selling weapons to the Beltran-Leyva cartel and training soldiers to become hitmen or bodyguards was arrested. The article does not say where he was arrested or who arrested him, which is weird. Even googling in his name, I just come up with the same AP short sentence. Well, maybe this accounts for the Kristin Bricker article which accuses US Military of selling armor and weapons to the cartels, which is just too unlikely and out there for me to buy. Anyone?

07/17: Okay this is from Fu or someone in the Fu department (ahem)...it's been copyrighted so I don't know if the link will come up. Basically it is the same information the PGR released through AP, they are being very closed lipped about this operation, "Operation Cleansweep." Mateo Juarez has been transferred to somewhere in Tamulipas:

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Thanks you guys.



- MORELIA, MICHOACAN: Mexican government is sending 1,500 Federal Police, 2,500 Mexican Army soldiers and 1,500 Naval soldiers (Marines) to reinforce Michoacan.



- GUANAJUATO, GUANAJUATO: Authorities confirmed that among those arrested last Tuesday was Francisco Javier Sotelo Barrera, aka "el Pancho", the nephew of La Tuta.


EDIT 07/17 - Here's one I missed completely on the Matazetas in Guanajuato - or at least it wasn't reported in the sources I go to: (2nd paragraph down)


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- MEXICO CITY: Senators from the big three, PAN, PRI and PRD back Calderon and the Federal government 100% in no dialogue with La Tuta and organized crime. Okay, here comes I think that coalition Calderon needs to control both houses, despite the PRI so-called vidtory last election: the PVEM (Green Ecologist and new Partnership of Mexico Party) endorsed Calderon's refusal to engage in a dialogue with organized crime. Flexing their muscles a little bit, because they know this is an opportunity for them to get in the political swing (but they still need to flex), they admit they want Calderon to rethink the strategy against drug trafficking and which actions need to be taken to contend with the increasing violence of these groups. (here's a hint...nuke em) One to watch.


- CULIACAN, SINALOA: An anonymous call alerted agents of the Federal Investigation Agency of a car traveling from Michoacan headed to Tijuana with cargo of drugs. Agents stop a vehicle with Baja California plates in Escuinapa and seize 28 kilos and 175 grams of heroin. No report on how many arrested yet.


- VILLAHERMOSA, TABASCO: Six Ministerial Police of the Attorney General of Justice of Tabasco (PGJT) accused of working for the Gulf Cartel arrested by the Federal Police and Mexican Army.


- MATAMOROS, TAMULIPAS: Federal Police and Mexican Army engage in a chase and shootout, leaving one dead. No official verification on this yet.


That's it from here, take care everyone. I wonder where Fu is?


The Links:


AFN

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EL MEXICANO

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FRONTERA

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07/14-15 VIOLENCE TIJUANA ALERT TO US CITIZENS IN MICHOACAN... MEXICAN GOVERNMENT WILL NOT NEGOTIATE WITH ORGANIZED CRIME

OFFICER DOLORES CASTRO ROXANA MACHADO: (courtesy AFN)




All agencies reporting that Officer Dolores Castro Roxana Machado, age 27, injured at the colonia Terrazas del Valle ambush and shoot out in Tijuana, has died. There is some controversy that moving her from the Red Cross to the ISSSTECALI facility despite her family's objection contributed to her death, however, doctors are saying that after the surgery to remove her lung, she was stable. Still, another bitter heartbreak for Tijuana.

07/15 Updates:


- Expect a long wait (20 minutes - 45 minutes) coming into Mexico at San Ysidro due to construction of new monitoring stations to review vehicles. This is big, yesterday they had trenches dug to lay electric lines.



- El Mex is reporting that according to COLEF researcher and expert on public security, Vincente Sanchez, the drug traffickers are assassinating police officials and military in an attempt to impose their conditions on the the Mexican government, that they want to make a pact with the government. Sanchez stressed that despite the Army's distrust of local police, now more than ever strategy needs to be rethought and information shared to prevent more deaths of police officers who are extemely vulnerable. What he forgot to say was that the drug traffickers are pissed off because of the nationwide purging and loss of protection from former Mexican officials and police officers.


- El Mex reporting the USBP rescues three women including a 12 year old girl abandoned by smugglers in a remote area of Boulevard. As you know, it has been boiling hot here, with temperatures hovering into the 90's inland. These people required medical treatment - they were dehydrated and suffering heatstroke, in a daze. This year, the USBP has rescued 193 people in this area alone. And, I'm putting this in here because generally speaking the USBP is chastised continuosly when in fact, now more than ever before, US agents and Mexican officals are working in concert. Even the Mexican press gives them credit, obviously. Scoundrels and dip shits would have you believe otherwise.


- AFN reporting that the Attorney General's office (PGR) and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have established a partnership to gather and share vital information regarding weapons traffickers in order to secure the border and return the right of the people living in communities on both sides to live in peace. Of highest importance included in this agreement and playing a vital role is the ATF, you know, the ones Mayor Hugo Torres of ROSARITO BEACH wanted to sue.



- AFN reports that USBP nails one man, US citizen on I5
@ San Clemente with over 5 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine with a street value of 253K dollars.



- All agencies reporting in MEXICALI a robbery of the store "Mary's" @ K15 leads to a pursuit and shootout between the robbers and Municipal Police. Municipal Police shoot and kill the two robbers.



- All agencies reporting the Mexican Army seizes three tons of marijuana on the Tijuana-Mexicali highway @ K41.5. The dope was hidden in a truck carrying alfalfa. The driver fled, but the minor who was accompanying him was arrested. The truck is
owned by an unnamed company in Tecate.



- All agencies reporting one man found executed colonia San Antonio de los Buenos, Tijuana.



- All agencies reporting eight men arrested in a convoy on the Fast Track, Tijuana with stolen vehicles. This of course is just another one of organized crime's enterprises.




07/14:


- AFN reporting USBP seized 59.87 kilograms of cocaine in the Pine Valley area, and another seizure, all total street value: 1 million 320K dollars. One US citizen arrested, one Mexican citizen arrested:

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- All agencies reporting based on anonyomous tip, State Preventative Police arrest three men in colonia Guayacura, Tijuana armed with one .22 loaded with 21 cartridges and a 9mm loaded with 8 cartridges. Also, State Preventative Police based on anonyomous tips, arrests 2 in colonia Altoplano with drugs, 1 in ejido Matamoros with drugs and 1 more in Marinao Matamoros with drugs.



07/14:


- All agencies reporting security guards found the body of an executed man in REAL DEL MAR across the street. Frontera is reporting the body was found on a dirt road in Real Del Mar, but there are alot of dirt roads in Real Del Mar, one going up to the new development and behind the golf course, more behind the horse stables and soccer field. El Mex reported the body was found in a courtyard in front of a house.



- El Mex reporting that three masked and armed men hit three different OXXO stores in colonia Arenales, colonia Nueva Tijuana and colonia Otay Constituyentes. The three were wearing masks of spiderman, a clown and a character from "Scary Movie." On the back windshield of their vehicle was a logo of Santa Muerte.



National Drug War Updates from Frontera and El Mex:



- MEXICO CITY: The Ministry of Public Security is sending close to a thousand more Federal police as reinforcements to Michoacan.



- MEXICO CITY: The US government through the US Embassy in Mexico City has issued an alert to US citizens traveling to or residing in Michoacan. US citizens are advised to maintain awareness of their surroundings when traveling throughout the State. US citizens are urged to:

* Always be aware of surroundings.

* Wherever possible, carry a cellphone with contact information for
emergencies.

* When gunfire/explosions are heard, go immediately to a safe area with good
coverage, stay away from doors and windows and do not venture to try to
observe conflict.

* Be aware of the danger and threat of those around you.



- "La Tuta" Servando Gomez Martinez who the Mexican government identifies as one of the top operational commanders (killers) of "La Familia Michoacana" granted an interview today on the program "Voz y Solucion" hosted by journalist Marios Knapp. In the interview, La Tuta appealed to President Calderon, expressed respect for the Mexican Army and Navy (right, after his guys shot two of them in cold blood), basically blasted the Federal Police for victimizing members of La Familia, accused the Secretary of Public Security Genaro Garcia Luna of collusion with drug cartels and having links to the Beltran-Leyva group and Los Zetas and having ties to corrupt US Law Enforcement Officials who likewise are supporting these groups. He wished peace for everyone and just wants to get along.


He goes on to say what a great bunch of guys the La Familia members are, it is revolting. Keep in mind, this guy, La Tuta, has assumed control of La Familia and according to one of his top lieutenants who participated in the killings of the 12 intelligence officers and Federal Police and was arrested yesterday, said it was La Tuta who ordered the attacks. And now he wants to talk?


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What is happening is that this group has lost it's protection from Mexican government officials and police officials who have been purged from the corporations and they are DESPERATE. Entire agencies have been eliminated, giving the Federal Police more authority. They [the criminals] know they cannot sustain a prolonged war, they neither have the manpower or the arms. Guerilla tactics will continue and they will inflict damage but these are not partisans, and they do not have the support of the Mexican people.


The Mexican government's response.....


- MEXICO CITY: IN A PRESS CONFERENCE INTERIOR MINISTER FERNANDO GOMEZ MONT SAID THAT THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT DOES NOT DISCUSS OR NEGOTIATE WITH ORGANIZED CRIME. HE SAID THE TASK OF THE GOVERNMENT IS TO CONFRONT AND ARREST CRIMINALS AND THAT THE STATE WILL CONTINUE THE FIGHT AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME, FURTHER, THE VIOLENCE WILL END ONLY WHEN THE CRIMINALS ARE SUBJECTED TO AUTHORITY.



- MONTEREY, NUEVO LEON: The Governor of Nuevo Leon, Natividad Gonzalez Paras reported the armed confrontation that occurred on Tuesday between Federal Police and armed gunmen resulted in the death of Joston Ahumada Enriquez aka "La Liga", top leader of Los Zetas. The Governor also stated that IT IS EXPECTED THAT IN THE COMING DAYS THERE WILL BE MORE CONFRONTATIONS.



- LEON, GUANAJUATO: 4 members of the La Familia were arrested and these people are most likely responsible for the killing of the Intelligence Chief of the Federal Police, Eladio Romero Duran on last Tueaday. Also seized:

22 rifles
2,444 cartridges
70 chargers
70 porters
18 uniforms & ballistic tactical vests.



- GUADALUPE,NUEVO LEON: Federal agents clashed with armed gunmen in a shoot out lasting over 15 minutes leaving 6 people dead. It has not been reported if Federal agents were injured.



- CULIACAN, SINALOA: The engine of a Cessna airplane was dismantled and stolen by an armed group of men in the northern part of the city of Los Mochis. A security guard and a caretakeer of an adjacent business were subject to violence.



- REYNOSA, TAMULIPAS: Report from the Attorney General's office (PGR) states that in Tamulipas during this last month of June more than 8 tons of marijuana seized, 9 kilos of cocaine seized, 117 firearms and 75 cartridges seized and 171 people arrested. Importantly, trained Federal agents visited 18 middle schools to give presentations and lectures on drugs and prevention of crime. Is the US doing this too, or did Bush bankrupt us so bad we can't afford educational drug programs?



- ACAPULCO, GUERRERO: Mexican Army arrests three people in the town of La Subana and also seize 3 fragmentation grenades, rifles (unspecified number of) and cocaine.



07/14:


- MONTERREY, NUEVO LEON: 19 Police officers including a Police Commander from San Pedro Garza Garcia have been arrested by the Mexican Army. To date, 112 police elements in 21 districts have been arrested and at least 65 of them have been linked to organized crime.


I read on MSNBC that police officers are defecting, and I have not been able to find a link. If they are defecting it's probably because they were associated with organized crime. So if anyone has the story on this, please share it so that we can get the facts straight. Richard?



- SINALOA: Three men found executed.



- CHIHUAHUA, CHIHUAHUA: In La Hacienda, Mayor Ariel Melyequeira was executed.



- PETATLAN, GUERRERO: Federal Public Seurity Secretariat (SSP) has arrested Francisco Javier Frias Lara aka "El Chivo", top lieutenant in the La Familia and participated in the execution of the 12 intelligence officers. According to Frias Lara, it was Servando Gomez Martinez aka "La Tuta" who has assumed control and ordered the attacks on the Federal police and deaths of the intelligence officers.



- MEXICO CITY: Technical Secretary of the National Security Council, Monte Rubido Alejandro Garcia in a press conference this afternoon announced that Godoy Julio Cesar Toscano, the PRD's Federal Deputy and the half brother of the Governor of Michoacan, Leonel Godoy, is part of the structure of the La Familia criminal organization. Also named was a former Green party candidate of Apatzingan, Saul
Solis-Solis. Godoy toscano was responsible for institutional safety nets for operations in the regions of Lazarro Cardenas, Arteaga and Nueva Italia.
The Governor of Michoacan, Leonel Godoy, has denied any wrong doing on his part and called on his half brother to surrender to authorities.



- SALTILLO. COAHUILA: Four officers of the Federal Police of Piedras Negras were kidnapped including the Deputy Director of the Municipal Police, Rogelio Hernandez Ramos.



- LA HUACANA, MICHOACAN: 30 elements of Federal Police onboard a bus from Morelia to Lazaro Cardena were attacked by a group laying in wait for them atop a hill overlooking the highway. The armed group opened fire with grenades and assault rifles, three Federal police were injured but repelled the attack. Well, the bad guys knew the good guys were coming, somone was tipped off.

The Links:

AFN

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EL MEXICANO

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FRONTERA

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That's it from here, take care everyone.

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07/13 VIOLENCE TIJUANA LA JOLLA BEACH IN PUNTA BANDA HAS BEEN DESIGNATED HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH SHOOTOUT ROSARITO BEACH MAYHEM IN MICHOACAN

Sorry for the old map, I'm sure UABC will update it soon...with a red flag. From El Mex, an alert to bathers of potential risks: The Oceanographic Research Institute (IOI) of the Universidad Automona de Baja California in Ensenada has issued a warning to bathers of the high levels of disease/bacterial organisms in the water at La Joya (La Jolla) Beach, Ensenada. Yes, this is La Jolla at Punta Banda.

Further, they have now classified La Joya (La Jolla) as "hazardous to health" with elevated levels of enterococci bacteria.

Noticibly the El Vigia news source out of Ensenada is NOT printing this story. (so far)

Make no mistake, this is NOT the red tide guys, that generally happens at the end of September or early October.

I hate to say I told you so, but I did, a long time ago.

Here's the link:

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It is no secret that the Japanese have leased acres and acres of land in Punta Banda and generated irrigation intensive systems using groundwater to force high yields from crops, which are basically sent to the USA. It is no secret that DDT and other pesticides with little capability to break down are used in this area continuously and without controls. This accumulated waste, plus fecal waste generated further north,(not to mention the most likely contaminated water tables of Punta Banda which are used for well water and to supply water to Campo La Joya) just about all end up in the estuary and onto La Jolla.

Naturally, the real estate people don't want you to know about this, and neither do the private landowners, who have had ample time to act as responsible stewards of this area. Instead, the problem is ignored and their only concern is rake in the dough. Well, that's ok guys, Mike Pabloff has bought acres down in San Quintin to set up yet another pig sty tourist camp, you can always move down there and throw your money away.

There are tons of reports going back to the early 90's of environmental abuse in this area. All you need to do, if you don't believe me, is just google them in. Here's a much older one, it will get you started:

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Do not fool yourselves and think that oh well, they will clean this up. No they will not. This is an accumulation of years and years of abuse, and there are no Super Funds down here to clean it up. As the population of Ensenada grows and the lack of sewage treatment persists in the Punta Banda area, the problem will only intensify.

In the word of the master, Mike Pabloff, "Everyone thinks this is paradise...until they move here." And then they laugh all the way to the freakin bank.

Several years ago, two elderly women who lived at Campo La Joya and were for all practical purposes relatively healthy for their age, contracted serious internal bacteria infections (gee I wonder why?) and they died. Both used camp water pumped from the local wells, one of these, English Laurie was a friend of ours, her death was a shock. Although we cannot say with absolute certainty that these women picked up the bacteria from the well water used in camp, it sure makes you wonder. Are you willing to expose your family members to these type of conditions?

Who knows, maybe the Tiger Woods group will pour billions into this area to clean it up, afterall, the way it sits now is only detrimental to their development plans. I can just hear the conversation:


First Person:


"Oh yes, we just bought a package at the Tiger Woods golf course, it only cost a couple of million dollars, but John can write that off, or maybe he's just going to take the funds out of our off shore account. It is so posh, I can hardly wait !"


Second Person:

"Oh my, didn't you know you are right next to a cesspool of pollution? We thought about it, but backed out. So dirty, you know what I mean, so passe, so well, so common. Just thinking about it makes me shudder. Well darling don't worry, I'm sure there is a way you will be able to get out of the deal, or right it off, as in a total loss."



Here's the 64 thousand dollar question: Will the Pabloff's post a yellow warning sign to alert Mexicans and Americans alike that swimming, jet skiing, kayaking, surfing, diving, boogie boarding, fishing in this area is hazardous to your health? I seriously freakin doubt it. Meanwhile, don't feel too bad, when the first DDT reports were coming out we didn't have a clue, we thought it was a wonderful place. Alot of people said when we left that we got the short end of the stick. I don't think so, I think anyone who is left down there got the short end of the stick, and there is no way out for them. Sorry, I tried to warn you, but you just would not listen.


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Local Updates:

- AFN is reporting that at 4:40 PM a Rosarito Beach Police Officer and three other people were shot at with high powered weapons and pursued by armed men in three vehicles on the SCENIC HIGHWAY, this after the policeman was doing a check on a stolen vehicle. The incident occured at RANCHO DEL MAR ROSARITO BEACH (just down the road). At this moment, there are no reports of injuries; Mike just came home and reported a heavy Federal Police operation (at least ten Federal Units) at the toll booth, they are stopping and questioning people headed northbound. I imagine those guys took off into the hills, who knows. More information as it becomes available.

EDIT: At about 7PM, El Mex has picked this story up and is reporting an American citizen was shot, but then they say he was unhurt (?). Although the location is the same, El Mex does not mention the police officer from Rosarito Beach. We'll just have to keep watching this one, sometimes the details are not all in until hours later, but AFN is pretty accurate. Frontera hasn't picked this story up yet.


EDIT: AT 9:15PM Frontera has yet to run this story.


- All agencies reporting Mayor Ramos and Attorney General for the State, Rommel Moreno Manjarrez have spoken out regarding the recent attacks on police in Tijuana and Rosarito Beach. Mayor Ramos said that the Tijuana Municipal Police are being targeted because they are not protecting the criminals. Officials are considering whether police officers can carry their weapons home with them after their shifts.
The Attorney General stated that a special agency, working under the PGJE in conjunction with the State will be established to specifically address and investigate assaults on police officers.


- El Mex reporting this morning that Tijuana Municipal Police are hampering the Mexican press, particularly photojournalists in their coverage of the drug war. El Mex states that officers have made verbal, written or electronically generated (email) threats.

Over the past weekend at two events, El Mex states that in addition to actually photographing the photojournalists, officers said,"...the media has been responsible for the violent situation."

As a result, media representatives are seeking to meet with Chief Leyzaola, Mayor Ramos and General Alfonso Duarte Mujica.

I'm not quite sure what is going on here, I know everyone is under extreme stress. As you know, the photos in the Mexican press can be quite graphic. Maybe the cops are just really pissed off and out of respect, don't want pictures of their buddies who have been cut down on the front page.

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- Lizbeth Diaz Arroyo of El Mex has a piece on why it is so important to include this part of Mexican history in educational textbooks. The Secretary of Education of Baja California, Oscar Vega Marin said that to omit or ignore this difficult episode in the lives of Mexicans is tantamount to insuring repetition in the future. Although a different select group in Mexico approves historical educational texts which Marin is not part of, he said that "...we cannot skip over this." He said that "..we need to say how things were, without removing anything." The Secretary believes that the responsibility of education is to transmit to future generations the realities of what people experienced, how they lived, their challenges. Regarding the "narcocorridos", the Secretary said that they too should not be omitted because they represented an aspect of the cultural process. Wow, he sounds like JFK.


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- Frontera reporting a man was shot and wounded on Sunday night while trying to stop 3 armed men who were robbing the liquor store AZTECA en colonia Davila, ZONA CENTRAL, Tijuana. One of the men was subsequently arrested by Tijuana Municipal Police, two escaped.


- All agencies reporting the apprehension by the Ministerial Police of a kidnapper involved in the abduction of a woman in colonia Miramar, Tijuana, who was subsequently rescued by the Mexican authorities.


- El Mex reporting that early this morning four men attacked a taqueria and its customers. The customers put up a fight, one of the women actually slapped one of the attackers and then customers chased the attackers with their vehicles. The pursuit was soon joined by the Tijuana Municipal Police with several patrol units who captured and arrested the assailants. Mad as hell and they just will not take it anymore.


- El Mex reporting a bomb threat at the Palacio Municipal in Tijuana turns out to be a hoax.


07/13 National Drug War News Updates


- LAZARO CARDENAS, MICHOACAN:


- Fifteen bodies found tortured and executed on the intersection of Highway Siglo XXI Morelia-Lazaro Cardenas. It has not been confirmed if a narcomessage was left at the site. This is the same site where on 07/09 four tortured and executed bodies were found with messages from Los Matazetas.

EDIT: EL UNIVERSAL IS REPORTING THERE WERE 12 BODIES FOUND AT THIS LOCATION (HWY SIGLO XXI LAZARO CARDENAS-MORELIA NEAR THE TOWN OF LA HUACANA, 11 MEN AND 1 WOMAN. THE ATTORNEY FOR MICHOACAN HAS VERIFIED THAT THESE PEOPLE WERE INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS ATTACHED TO THE MEXICAN ARMY.

THE FIFTEEN NUMBER COMES FROM THREE MORE BODIES FOUND @ K122 (SAME HWY) NEAR THE TOWN OF TEJABAN. ONE OF THESE MEN HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS AN AGENT OF THE FEDERAL PREVENTATIVE POLICE. NARCOMESSAGE LEFT WITH THESE BODIES, ALTHOUGH CONTENTS HAVE NOT BEEN REVEALED. SO WHAT'S HAPPENING LOOKS TO ME LIKE THE CARTELS ARE TRYING TO STRIKE A DEAL WITH THE GOVERNMENT, TARGETING MEXICAN AUTHORITIES. This also indicates of course that cartels have an inside line on who's who in intelligence, very scary.


- In another event, 2 more Federal Preventatvie Police agents killed and 4 PFP agents wounded @ K187 on same hwy. They were ambushed.



- In Maravato, another attack on Federal Police, no reports yet on injuries or deaths. This area is now surrounded by the Mexican Army.


- In Arteaga, Federal authorities arrive and airlift 3 officilas out.


- GUACAMAYAS, LAZARO CARDENAS: An armed clash between Federal forces and armed gunmen leave one attacker dead and two arrested. Also seized:

3 AK-47's
1 .38 super
14 magazines for AK-47
600 cartridges
3 tactical vests
1 bulletproof vest
4 radios


- A new attack today with grenades and high powered weapons at the hotel Sol del Pacifico which serves as general headquarters for elements of the Federal Police leaves two police wounded. This is the third attack on this building in the past three days.


- VERACRUZ, VERACRUZ:


- Fighting in the streets in the historic center of the port which expanded into the tourist area leaves 2 hitmen dead, 1 arrested and 3 Federal Police wounded by grenade shrapnel.


- A pursuit and shootout near Central de Abastos Malibran.


- Opposite the General hospital heavily armed men try to abduct a person who escapes.


- Zamora Park: another armed clash between Federal forces and gunmen. No reports in yet on injuries or arrests.



CUIDAD JUAREZ, CHIHUAHUA:


- Since this last Sunday, 12 executions throughout Ciudad Juarez. We were supposed to hear something today on a different strategy in Ciudad Juarez, nothing in the press yet.



See you guys later, I won't be around for a few days so keep checking the links.




The Links:


AFN

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FRONTERA


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EL MEXICANO


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(c;

07/12 VIOLENCE TIJUANA MORE ATTACKS MICHOACAN AND TIJUANA CHANGE COMING TO CIUDAD JUAREZ

MORELIA PATROL UNIT FROM YESTERDAY'S ATTACKS:



LA GLORIA, TIJUANA ATTACK LAST NIGHT:




According to the President of the Human Rights Commission of the Federal District of Mexico (CDHDF), Emilio Alvarez Icaza, Mexico has the highest rate of violent deaths in the whole world for a country which is not at civil war. He went on to say that just as important as security is the responsibility of the State and the number one priority, human rights and democracy must work together in order to insure both succeed.

I stayed up last night reading anti drug war materials, of how the drug war is a plot by the governments (including the USA) and corporations to control money and dope, and in the end, people. I read forever of how Plan Merida will never work because of the deep infiltration of the cartels into every aspect of the most important law enforcement agencies in Mexico.

Nothing I read offered the least bit of ackowledgement to the continual purging of agencies which we see going on in Mexico on almost a daily basis. These negative reports were indictments of the entire system, emphasizing past transgressions which we are already acutely and painfully aware of with litte regard for current accomplishments to break the yoke of corruption or for the lives and welfare of good and honest leaders and law enforcement officials in Mexico, who are every minute of the day putting themselves in danger to insure democracy, and who are aware that democracy without human rights is meaningless. I sensed a desperation in the tone that these writers are simply afraid that Mexico will change - but perhaps not in the manner which they want. Fascism is alive and well, even on the extreme left. (Well doh, look at bird brains Chavez) Let's take a look again at more events targeting the very people who are putting their lives on the line to restore Mexico's dignity:


07/12:


- GUACAMAYAS, LAZARO CARDENAS MICHOACAN: Troops of the 82nd Infantry Battalion and Federal Preventative Police attacked by gunmen at a safehouse. One attacker killed and two more arrested, a part of an arsenal found, officials have not released the findings yet.


- LAZARO CARDENAS, MICHOACAN: In yet another attack on the Hotel Posado del Sol where the PFP maintains their headquarters (in the center of the city), initial reports indicate that at least ten gunmen in two vehicles opened fire and sprayed the hotel with bullets. The event triggered a major mobilization of various police forces and the Mexican Army who combed the area for three hours searching for the assassins with no success.


- CIUDAD JUAREZ. CHIHUAHUA: The State Public Security Secretary, Victor Valencia de los Santos has reported that the presence of thousands of troops engaged in Ciudad Juarez has not paid off. On Monday a new strategy will be unveiled, which will focus on police and intelligence work. Well, at least they admitted something is wrong and they are not achieving their goals, especially with the rise in crime throughout the month of June. Keep in mind that Ciudad Juarez is the cabal de Chihuahua, although not in a political sense, in a drug sense. We'll have to watch this one.


Local Updates:

- This just in from Frontera, on Calle de la Confradia, east of Terrazas de Valle, Tijuana armed men attack police unit killing one Tijuana Municipal Police officer and injuring two more. The attackers escaped on to Blvd. 2000, more details as they come in. AFN is reporting that there was one officer killed and three officers wounded, one of the wounded had to be airlifted out. AFN is also reporting that the police frequency has been comprised again after this attack with more threats against the authorities.


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- Frontera also reporting that this morning a group of hooded and armed individuaols attack soldiers who were on patrol in San Antonio de los Buenos, Tijuana which leads to shootout leaving two civilians injured, a young person and a minor. More details on this as they come in.

None of the other agencies are reporting this, it is paragraph 7 which reads,"La madrugada de este domingo un grupo de individuos encapuchados intento asesinar a uniformados que patrullaban en la delegacion San Antonio de los Buenos, lo que culmino en un enfrentamiento y dejocomo saldo una joven y un menor de edad heridos."

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Very weird El Mex hasn't reported this unless I missed it.



- El Mex and Frontera reporting in colonia La Gloria, Tijuana 3 civilians wounded when armed gunmen open fire on their vehicle. Witnesses called for help, Tijuana Municipal Police respond in two units which are sprayed with bullets. A joint operation was unsuccessful in finding the attackers.


- El Mex reporting the bodies of 2 men found shot this morning inside of a home on calle Castello Blanco, Villas del Sol, Tijuana.


- Frontera reporting a 16 year old was shot this morning entering his home in El Pipila by armed gunmen. He received impacts to his arm.


07/11:

- Horacio Carvajal in an op-ed piece in El Mex on the recent attacks of police and military here notes that,"...the Mayors of Tijuana, Rosarito Beach, Ensenada and Mexicali should be seriously considering the purchase of armored vehicles for the patrols in order to provide them with more protection."


- All agencies reporting four armed men attack Federal Police Officers in colonia Obrera, Tijuana leaving two of the officers wounded, who are in a private heavily guarded Hospital in Zona Rio. The shoot out also left one of the attackers dead and three injured.

I'll have more updates later.



Sing it, Bob...


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The Links:


AFN

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EL MEXICANO

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FRONTERA

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07/11 VIOLENCE TIJUANA BAD DAY IN MICHOACAN, PFP AND MEXICAN ARMY UNDER ATTACK ALSO UNDER ATTACK IN GUERRERO

PFP AFTER ONE ASSAULT:





This is going to be a little different, with a National news event first, I'll do local updates later.

MORELIA, MICHOACAN:

Steadily throughout the day, news clip one right after the other on events happening in Michoacan have been streaming in. The dust has not settled, so the facts and figures may change as the details come in over the Mexican press. Today's events were one of the biggest organized attacks on Police bases and the Mexican Army to date.


Yesterday in Morelia, as elements of the Federal Ministerial approached a safehouse where they were about to investigate a prior shooting, an armed group opened fire on them. Returning fire one assassin was killed and five others arrested along with 3 AK-47's, a G-3 rifle, and AR-15, 2 fragmentation grenades, 130 cartridges, tactical vests 8 porters and 3 sets of handcuffs.


Early this morning before dawn, Rafael Cedeno, a major leader of the La Familia cartel was taken into custody by Federal Agents. What has happened since that arrest has been rapid retaliation, so far leaving at least two Mexican soldiers dead, three Federal Agents dead, two civilians dead and eight PFP agents wounded. These numbers could increase.


Shortly after the arrest of Cedeno, the highly organized attacks began. There have been reported at least six simultaneous attacks on the Federal Preventative Police command posts in Morelia, Apatzingua, Lazaro Cardenas, Patzcuaro and Zitacuaro with high powered weapons and grenades. The offices of the Subprocurauria Regional de Justicia in Zitacuaro has also been attacked. Reports are that several houses and vehicles have either been destroyed or badly damaged in all areas.


In Zamora, two Mexican army soldiers who were leaving the base of the 37th Infantry Battalion were intercepted and shot. UPDATE: The two men had just left the base, they were in civilian clothing and having beers at the Olympic Center when they were attacked by a truckload of armed men. They are: First Sergeant Ramon Morales de la Cruz and Cape Infantryman Fernando Gonzalez Omar Moral. You can click the El Sol link for the story.


In Zitacuaro, three Federal Police have been killed. Also, a patrol unit was attacked leaving the Federal Police base on an alleged call for help, inotherwords, they lured him out, bastards.


In Huetamo, PFP officials took shelter in the Mexican Army Barracks.


At the port, two men killed by an armed group, one of these men was a contractor, Alejandro Avila Masariego; his companion kidnapped then killed, this was Juan de Jesus Subino.


Attacks were also made at hotels where Federal agents and Military officials were staying - the Posada de Sol hotel in Apatzingan was attacked by thirty armed individuals who fired directly at the hotel rooms. Grenades were also launched, but did not fire.


In La Piedad, elements of the PFP realizing what was happening elsewhere in the state manoeuvre a crain to block the main entrance to police command in an attempt to protect against an attack.


At 2:30 this afternoon another confrontation between PFP agents and armed gunmen on the Morelia-Lazaro Cardenas Highway which is now closed. Official reports are not in on this one yet, but sources are saying there are many injured on both sides. UPDATE: EL SOL is reporting this took place at the Century Freeway near the toll gate of St. Casilda. These PFP agents were ambushed.


ALTAMIRANO, GUERRERO:


In Altamirano, armed gunmen launch three grenades and unload at least 500 shots from high powered weapons into the building which houses the Federal Preventive Police. No deaths, no injuries.


SPECIAL LINK TO MORELIA NEWS:


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I'll be back later.

The Links:

FRONTERA

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AFN

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EL MEXICANO

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07/10 VIOLENCE TIJUANA LATE NIGHT CATCH UP

MEXICAN ARMY SEIZES ARSENAL AND DOPE IN TIJUANA BELONGING TO SANCHEZ ARELLANO:





Since the funeral service for the one policeman and one policewoman who were murdered at the beginning of this week, there have been many apprehensions and huge busts throughout Tijuana. Many of these have been made through anonymous tips and citizens complaints, which effectively shows the population's absolute disqust of organized crime and confidence in Mexican authorities. It seems as though after each attack on authorities and the Military, either physically or psychologically, not only do they grow more resolute in their determination to obliterate organized crime, they gain more support from the Mexican people. Nothing will stop them, these are men and women of honor. Let's take a look at the past two days events.


07/09:

- All agencies reporting the funeral services for Officer Jeronimo Jimenez Calderon and Officer Eva Gonzalez Cruz:


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- AFN reporting seven people were arrested by Tijuana Municipal Police, five men and two women, 2 weapons fully loaded seized.


- All agencies reporting in Playas de Tijuana two men arrested for kidnapping attempt.


- All agencies reporting three men arrested by Ministerial agents; these three are believed to have been involved in two murders and three kidnappings. The AG has not ruled out that these three most likely work for one of the cartel cells.


07/10:


- AFN reporting Mexican law enforcement officials meet with US Naval officials in San Diego to firm up committments to exchange information and support on the fight against organized crime. Daniel de la Rosa Anaya was one of the Mexican Officals attending.

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- AFN and El Mex reporting USBP in the past two days has seized drugs valued at over half million dollars. One US citizen arrested, one Mexican citizen arrested.


- AFN reporting the State Preventative Police (PEP) has had a busy day:

On anonymous tip a main distributor of narcotics arrested with drugs in colonia Maclovio Rojas, this person was also armed with .45, 2 loaders and 8 bullets.

Two stolen vehicles recovered in Playas de Tijuana, these were reported stolen from San Diego.

Another stolen vehicle recovered and one person arrested in ZONA NORTE, Tijuana.

Three men arrested in Tijuana, possession of narcotics.


There are still of course, violent events happening all around us:


- All agencies reporting in colonia Maestros, ENSENADA one mand found executed.


- In Tijuana, after leaving a Casa de Cambio (money exchange)in the busy downtown area in the light of day, one man assaulted and robbed by three armed gunmen.


- All agencies reporting three young people found executed in TECATE, behind the Rancho Ojai, K114, Mexicali-Tijuana free road.


More apprehensions:


- In MEXICALI, the Ministerial Federal Police (PFM) seizes 629 Kilos and 920 grams of Marijuana. This seizure was based on an anonymous tip.


- AFN reports in another case of a citizen's complaint, one man arrested in ZONA
CENTRAL for selling heroin.


- All agencies reporting based on yet another citizen's complaint, one man arrested by Tijuana Municipal Police on Avenida Revolucion, Tijuana. This man is reported to be one of the main distributors (narcomenudista) in this area, he has a criminal record in the USA and has served 15 years in a USA prison for assault and drug trafficking, and had at one time lived in Los Angeles. He was also armed tih a 380 with 49 shots. Check out his pic on AFN, scary. Does he wish he was back in a prison in the US? Probably.


- And the big one, all agencies are reporting that based on another anonymous tip, the Mexican Army seizes an arsenal, roughly 700 pounds of marijuana and one arrest, in colonia Ebano Chapultepec, Tijuana. The man arrested was Eduardo Morquecho Hernandez, aka "El Lado", originally from Santa Ana, California a top operative of Sanchez Arellano. Weapons seized:

- Explosion (component) material 'EMULGEL', quantity not specified. AFN alone is reporting this, it was found in a cylindrical container 30 centimeters in height/length.
- 4 sacks of caustic acid
- 32 weapons: 21 of which were high caliber
- 105 magazines
- 2,550 cartridges
- 6 bulletproof vests
- 4 tactical vests
- 5 vests with the AFI (Federal Investigation Agency) Logo
- Miltary cammies


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Finally this has nothing to do with the drug war, and I haven't had a chance to read the US papers on this one, but according to Frontera there have been misteriosos temblores; scientists have detected an increase in deep underground activity in a section of the San Andreas fault in California where a 7.8 earthquake was registered in 1857. The article does not mention which part of the San Andreas this activity has been happening in, but goes on to say that some experts assume that these mysterious vibrations and deep quakes (tremblors) suggest the possibility of an earthquake of great intensity, other scientist dismiss this theory.


Well, whatever, just have your supplies, H2O and flashlights ready.


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EDIT 07/11 9:30AM - Oopsie, did you feel it?

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Also does anyone know what "Emugel" is used for? It's a component for explosives? I looked it up and only could find emugel-voltaren cream which is used for muscles aches, which is good stuff BTW.

(c;


The Links:


AFN

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FRONTERA

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EL MEXICANO

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See you guys later.