Mexican officials seize arsenal, arrest leader

Dragunov · 11-08-2008, 02:35 AM

By DUDLEY ALTHAUS
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle Mexico City Bureau
Nov. 7, 2008, 11:25PM

MEXICO CITY — In a seeming one-two punch against one of Mexico's fiercest criminal syndicates, authorities announced Friday that they had seized one of the largest weapons caches in modern Mexican history and arrested a senior gang leader in a city bordering South Texas.

The blows were struck in Reynosa, on the Rio Grande near McAllen, against the Zetas, gunmen linked to the Gulf Cartel, which operates throughout eastern and central Mexico.

Army troops seized 400 pistols and rifles, 500,000 bullets, 165 grenades, several grenade launchers, six heavy machine guns and an anti-tank rocket launcher.

Assistant Attorney General Marisela Morales said the arsenal "is the largest in the history of Mexico."

One of the largest previous seizures involved a cache of 280 weapons found in 1984, according to the Associated Press.

Mexican officials have long complained that most of the weapons used by the criminal gangs are smuggled in from Texas and other border states.

Federal police also captured Jaime Gonzalez, nicknamed "The Hummer," described as a founder of the Zetas, which were originally composed of former army and policemen.

Operating out of Reynosa, Gonzalez, 37, directed Zeta operations in Mexico City and seven Mexican states, police said. He is a close collaborator to Zeta leaders Heriberto Lazcano and Miguel Treviño, authorities said. Police said Gonzalez reported to Lazcano.

Gonzalez joined the Mexican army in 1991 and deserted in 1999 to form the Zetas, which have acted as the Gulf Cartel's enforcers. He began his criminal career as the bodyguard for reputed cartel boss Osiel Cardenas, nicknamed "The Friend Killer," who is jailed in Houston awaiting federal trial on drug trafficking charges.

Since Cardenas' extradition last year, the Zetas have been operating on their own, with many of their gunmen drawn from civilian ranks.

The Zetas' battle with gangsters from the Pacific Coast state of Sinaloa for control of narcotics smuggling routes into Texas at Laredo caused most of the violence that shook Nuevo Laredo in 2004 and 2005.

The groups reportedly reached a truce last year and the violence in that area of the border and along the Rio Grande to the Gulf has dramatically decreased this year.

Though the group has been relatively quiet in the Mexican border cities, authorities say the Zetas have racked up a high body count this year in battles with drug rivals in all the states Gonzalez reportedly operated.

A war between the Zetas and a gang called The Family has been raging in the suburbs surrounding Mexico City, claiming dozens of lives, many of them police officers.

Officials have also blamed the Zetas for a Sept. 15 grenade attack on an Independence Day crowd in Michoacan, The Family's home state, which claimed nine lives.

Also Friday, state police in Tabasco, on the lower Gulf Coast, announced they had captured a Zeta-linked band of killers and kidnappers. The band was responsible for a number of recent murders, police said. Those included that of a radio personality in the state capital who was shot Sept. 24 as he was hanging a banner calling for the end to violence.

Underworld violence has killed more than 5,000 people since President Felipe Calderon launched a crackdown on Mexico's powerful drug-smuggling gangs upon taking office nearly two years ago.

dudley.althaus@chron.com

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...e/6101324.html

Carib · 11-08-2008, 03:05 AM

That's some serious firepower, but I guess with the money they pull in thru the drug business it is not a problem to acquire this kind of stuff

Dragunov · 11-08-2008, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carib

That's some serious firepower, but I guess with the money they pull in thru the drug business it is not a problem to acquire this kind of stuff

Yeah, they have lots of money to buy more and more, the drug trade in Mexico is 10 Billion a year.

By the way, Congratulation to the 10th Cavalry regiment soldiers, Federal Agents, and DEA agents who participated in these operations. You guys rock!

Pics in a minute...

He219 · 11-08-2008, 03:12 AM

Quite a few .50 cal rifles ..

Alfacentori · 11-08-2008, 03:12 AM

Kudos to the Mexican law enforcement and military for keeping up the good fight despite the losses suffered and dangers they and their families face.

Damn those cartels are well armed, note the .50cal sniper rifles, what happens to the arms? Hopefully they get turned back on their former owners or if not suitable destroyed.

Alfa

Dragunov · 11-08-2008, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfacentori

Kudos to the Mexican law enforcement and military for keeping up the good fight despite the losses suffered and dangers they and their families face.

Damn those cartels are well armed, note the .50cal sniper rifles, what happens to the arms? Hopefully they get turned back on their former owners or if not suitable destroyed.

Alfa

Most of them Destroyed my friend. But, the ''good ones'' are kept.

Alfacentori · 11-08-2008, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragunov

Most of them Destroyed my friend. But, the ''good ones'' are kept.

Nice, well if anything it saves the Mexican taxpayer a bit on nice shiny big bore sniper rifles

Alfa

Dragunov · 11-08-2008, 03:26 AM

Photos.

Alfacentori · 11-08-2008, 03:31 AM

As I said the first time, damn they are well armed, everything from .50cals to gold plated pistols, looking at these pics I can almost imagine what Hollis's gun room looks like.

Alfa

kuttless · 11-08-2008, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragunov

Photos.

holy crap!! glad those are off the streets

Dragunov · 11-08-2008, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kuttless

holy crap!! glad those are off the streets

X2

TheEngineer · 11-08-2008, 11:00 AM

wow, that is a pretty nice arsenal, scary when you think about it what they stil have in other arsenals.

jupiter · 11-08-2008, 11:29 AM

ID the one in the back of the orange box please?

especial · 11-08-2008, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheEngineer

wow, that is a pretty nice arsenal, scary when you think about it what they stil have in other arsenals.

maybe they even have a briefcase nuke. thank the russians for that

especial · 11-08-2008, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jupiter

ID the one in the back of the orange box please?

I see no organe box? It looks like a french machine gun.

11-08-2008, 02:35 AM	#1
Dragunov Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: www.MexicoDefense.com Age: 24 Posts: 2,829	Mexican officials seize arsenal, arrest leader By DUDLEY ALTHAUS Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle Mexico City Bureau Nov. 7, 2008, 11:25PM MEXICO CITY — In a seeming one-two punch against one of Mexico's fiercest criminal syndicates, authorities announced Friday that they had seized one of the largest weapons caches in modern Mexican history and arrested a senior gang leader in a city bordering South Texas. The blows were struck in Reynosa, on the Rio Grande near McAllen, against the Zetas, gunmen linked to the Gulf Cartel, which operates throughout eastern and central Mexico. Army troops seized 400 pistols and rifles, 500,000 bullets, 165 grenades, several grenade launchers, six heavy machine guns and an anti-tank rocket launcher. Assistant Attorney General Marisela Morales said the arsenal "is the largest in the history of Mexico." One of the largest previous seizures involved a cache of 280 weapons found in 1984, according to the Associated Press. Mexican officials have long complained that most of the weapons used by the criminal gangs are smuggled in from Texas and other border states. Federal police also captured Jaime Gonzalez, nicknamed "The Hummer," described as a founder of the Zetas, which were originally composed of former army and policemen. Operating out of Reynosa, Gonzalez, 37, directed Zeta operations in Mexico City and seven Mexican states, police said. He is a close collaborator to Zeta leaders Heriberto Lazcano and Miguel Treviño, authorities said. Police said Gonzalez reported to Lazcano. Gonzalez joined the Mexican army in 1991 and deserted in 1999 to form the Zetas, which have acted as the Gulf Cartel's enforcers. He began his criminal career as the bodyguard for reputed cartel boss Osiel Cardenas, nicknamed "The Friend Killer," who is jailed in Houston awaiting federal trial on drug trafficking charges. Since Cardenas' extradition last year, the Zetas have been operating on their own, with many of their gunmen drawn from civilian ranks. The Zetas' battle with gangsters from the Pacific Coast state of Sinaloa for control of narcotics smuggling routes into Texas at Laredo caused most of the violence that shook Nuevo Laredo in 2004 and 2005. The groups reportedly reached a truce last year and the violence in that area of the border and along the Rio Grande to the Gulf has dramatically decreased this year. Though the group has been relatively quiet in the Mexican border cities, authorities say the Zetas have racked up a high body count this year in battles with drug rivals in all the states Gonzalez reportedly operated. A war between the Zetas and a gang called The Family has been raging in the suburbs surrounding Mexico City, claiming dozens of lives, many of them police officers. Officials have also blamed the Zetas for a Sept. 15 grenade attack on an Independence Day crowd in Michoacan, The Family's home state, which claimed nine lives. Also Friday, state police in Tabasco, on the lower Gulf Coast, announced they had captured a Zeta-linked band of killers and kidnappers. The band was responsible for a number of recent murders, police said. Those included that of a radio personality in the state capital who was shot Sept. 24 as he was hanging a banner calling for the end to violence. Underworld violence has killed more than 5,000 people since President Felipe Calderon launched a crackdown on Mexico's powerful drug-smuggling gangs upon taking office nearly two years ago. dudley.althaus@chron.com http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...e/6101324.html

11-08-2008, 03:05 AM	#2
Carib Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sierra Hotel Posts: 1,911	That's some serious firepower, but I guess with the money they pull in thru the drug business it is not a problem to acquire this kind of stuff

11-08-2008, 03:12 AM	#4
He219 Krachslhuaba Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: SoCal Posts: 20,138	Quite a few .50 cal rifles ..

11-08-2008, 03:12 AM	#5
Alfacentori Reported.....For not reporting T3ngu sooner Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Resident Misanthrope Posts: 2,088	Kudos to the Mexican law enforcement and military for keeping up the good fight despite the losses suffered and dangers they and their families face. Damn those cartels are well armed, note the .50cal sniper rifles, what happens to the arms? Hopefully they get turned back on their former owners or if not suitable destroyed. Alfa

11-08-2008, 03:26 AM	#8
Dragunov Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: www.MexicoDefense.com Age: 24 Posts: 2,829	Photos.

11-08-2008, 03:31 AM	#9
Alfacentori Reported.....For not reporting T3ngu sooner Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Resident Misanthrope Posts: 2,088	As I said the first time, damn they are well armed, everything from .50cals to gold plated pistols, looking at these pics I can almost imagine what Hollis's gun room looks like. Alfa

11-08-2008, 11:00 AM	#12
TheEngineer Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Luxembourg Posts: 55	wow, that is a pretty nice arsenal, scary when you think about it what they stil have in other arsenals.

11-08-2008, 11:29 AM	#13
jupiter Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: The Lone Star State. Posts: 564	ID the one in the back of the orange box please?