|
|
|
 News Around the Republic of Mexico | April 2008 
Cartel Assassins Join Drug War in Juarez
 Louie Gilot & Daniel Borunda - El Paso Times
go to original
The Zetas, a ruthless group of assassins formed by Mexican army deserters, are involved in the war between drug cartels for control of Juárez, a senior U.S. counter-drug official said.
The official, who spoke to the El Paso Times on the condition of anonymity, shed light on the roots of the recent wave of violence that led the Mexican government to send more than 2,000 soldiers and federal police to patrol the streets of Juárez.
He also said he hoped that the military intervention would lead to the capture of cartel leaders.
"You cut the head off the mother snake and you deal with the babies. Are they poisonous? Sure. But they are babies," he said.
The official said the violence in Juárez - about 200 people dead since Jan. 1 - is the result of a territorial struggle between the Juárez drug cartel and the Sinaloa drug cartel.
The Juárez cartel has formed an alliance with a faction of the Gulf cartel. The Zetas, who serve as enforcers for the Gulf cartel, are believed to have taken part in the recent Juárez violence.
The Zetas were founded by Mexican army deserters, including officers trained by the United States, the Washington Post reported last month. They gained notoriety for their commando-style attacks on police, rivals and journalists in Nuevo Laredo.
"They're highly trained in army warfare. They are very dangerous, and if they are in the area, that can be bad news," said Robert Almonte, executive director of the Texas Narcotics Officers Association.
The counter-drug official and El Paso Police Chief Greg Allen said they did not believe violence would spill over into El Paso. In the Laredo area, however, the Zetas' violence did lead to some kidnappings and shootings on the U.S. side of the border.
"It's not an immediate concern. If they have been there for a while, their history has not shown them a threat here" in El Paso, Allen said.
Jaime Torres, spokesman for the Juárez city police, said he did not know whether the Zetas were behind the recent killing spree but said the way victims were ambushed in the street and executed was far from amateurish.
"They are very studied, very targeted," he said. "But since the (military) operation started, we haven't seen this type of shooting."
The killings seem to have abated in Juárez because the drug traffickers are "bunkering down," the counter-drug official said.
He said the killings started at the beginning of the year with a move by the Sinaloenses, led by Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, to take over Juárez from the Juárez cartel. The Juárez cartel allegedly allied itself with one of three "fingers" of the Gulf cartel, reputedly headed by Heriberto "Lazca" Lazcano, who is believed to be the leader of the Zetas.
The anti-drug official said the Juárez cartel is made up of five leaders, including Vicente Carrillo Fuentes.
Carrillo Fuentes and Chapo Guzman are wanted by U.S. authorities.
The official said he did not believe a rumor that Guzman was killed last week in a shootout in Guatemala, which is part of a fight for control of drug-trade routes crossing Central America.
Mexico's drug cartels have become increasingly sophisticated, he said, running information and misinformation campaigns through YouTube, and other Internet sites; expanding to drug markets in Europe; and even setting up training camps and shooting ranges for hit men.
Dan Stitt, assistant special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in El Paso, said he could not confirm the presence of the Zetas in Juárez.
"We're exploring all the avenues to the violence in Juárez but we have no confirmation, nor could we confirm if we did, that they are there," he said.
The official also said he was in favor of the Merida Initiative, a plan by the Bush administration to send $550 million to Mexico to help the government in its fight against drug traffickers. The Mexican anti-drug campaign has had some effect on the availability of drugs in the United States, the official said. Drug prices have increased, and drug purity has decrease.
"I think it's the ideal time to strike while the iron is hot," he said.
He cited the government crackdown that dismantled the leadership of the Arrellano Felix organization in Tijuana and left the area open to low-level groups that are more easily controlled.
"The Arrellano Felix cartel is defunct. Ten years ago I could not even have imagined that," the official said.
However, the official recognized that the power vacuum in Tijuana is making the area attractive for other cartels.
Louie Gilot may be reached at lgilot(at)elpasotimes.com; Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda(at)elpasotimes.com |
| |
|
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us