BajaNomad

Shootout in TJ last night?

Santiago - 4-26-2008 at 09:35 AM

Saw this on Yahoo this morning.

TIJUANA, Mexico (Reuters) - Fourteen Mexican drug gang members were killed and eight others were injured in a gun battle near the U.S. border on Saturday that was one of the bloodiest shootouts in Mexico's three-year-long narco-war.

Rival factions of the local Arellano Felix drug cartel in Tijuana on the Mexico-California border fought each other with rifles and machine guns in the early hours of the morning, police said.

The bodies lay in pools of blood, strewn along a road on the city's eastern limits, surrounded by hundreds of bullet casings. Many of the victims' faces were destroyed.

"By the way this happened and the guns used, we believe the men are from the same cartel, the Arellano Felix gang," said a senior police officer in Tijuana who declined to be named.

Two of the dead are believed to be senior hitmen for the Arellano Felix cartel and were identified by the large gold rings on their fingers. The rings carried the icon of Saint Death, a ghoulish grim reaper figure that gangsters believe protects them, police said.

Officials also found police helmets and body armor that the two hitmen used for protection.

Six men were arrested but the remaining survivors escaped, the office said.

A source close to the Tijuana mayor's office said local authorities had requested more troops for the city bordering San Diego, California, and that they could arrive this weekend.

President Felipe Calderon has sent thousands of troops to Tijuana and Baja California state on Mexico's Pacific coast since taking office in December 2006. Some 25,000 soldiers and federal police are deployed to fight cartels in drug hot spots across Mexico.

The army in Tijuana said it was on high alert for reprisals against soldiers and federal police following the shootout and the ensuing arrest.

"The risk of attacks against our agents after an event like this is extremely high," said Lt. Col Julian Leyzaola, Tijuana's police chief.

The Arellano Felix gang was long the dominant drug-trafficking organization in Tijuana, smuggling drugs into California. Recently the group has been under attack from a rival gang from the Pacific state of Sinaloa, led by Mexico's most wanted man, Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman.

Some 190 people have been killed in Tijuana so far this year. In 2007, there were more than 2,500 drug killings across Mexico and there have been more than 900 this year.

(Writing by Robin Emmott; Editing by Bill Trott)

surfer jim - 4-26-2008 at 10:05 AM

As long as no outsiders are hurt...this could be considered "good news"....

The Gull - 4-26-2008 at 10:17 AM

Drug lords killing drug lords near Otay. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

oldlady - 4-26-2008 at 10:24 AM

When I lived in New York, such Mafia activities were referred to as waste management. Yep, "Good News"!

David K - 4-26-2008 at 10:34 AM

NO, NOT GOOD NEWS!

Did you guys see these lines?:

The army in Tijuana said it was on high alert for reprisals against soldiers and federal police following the shootout and the ensuing arrest.

"The risk of attacks against our agents after an event like this is extremely high," said Lt. Col Julian Leyzaola, Tijuana's police chief.

The Gull - 4-26-2008 at 10:39 AM

C'mon David, that is why the soldiers have guns...to use them on drug lords and gang members. I say line them up and empty your clips.

oldlady - 4-26-2008 at 10:44 AM

I agree with Gull. The heightened risk is a heightened opportunity to waste those suckers en masse.

David K - 4-26-2008 at 10:44 AM

Oh sure... if they can line them all up at the same time... We can only hope!

This is how two great people I knew were murdered in Tijuana (2006)... they had families... big families... This is messed up, is all I can say!

oldlady - 4-26-2008 at 11:06 AM

And a little prayer that your step son and his Unit will be safe and successful!

DENNIS - 4-26-2008 at 11:09 AM

Good. Let the war begin. That's the only way this problem will be resolved.

BajaWarrior - 4-26-2008 at 11:12 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Good. Let the war begin. That's the only way this problem will be resolved.


Unfortunately the innocent get caught in the crossfire...

DENNIS - 4-26-2008 at 11:17 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaWarrior
Unfortunately the innocent get caught in the crossfire...


That is the bad part, for sure but, they're getting it anyway. Mexico has an insurgency and Mexico needs a war to eradicate the enemy. Let full scale war begin. Get it over with otherwise, it will go on indefinitly.

pacificobob - 4-26-2008 at 04:58 PM

i wonder how many of those who sing the praises of war have actually participated in one?

Hose A my prayers are with your stepson also,k

Keri - 4-26-2008 at 05:13 PM

XRPhlang - 4-26-2008 at 05:38 PM

13 dead, 9 wounded and all of them drug scum... pretty lucky, huh? They need to guard the morgue better this time.

bacquito - 4-26-2008 at 08:05 PM

If only we could reduce the demand for drugs in the USA and stop the flow of guns into Mexico. I was glad to read recently of a large gun bust occurring in Arizona-Mexico was happy.
The trouble with turf wars between drug gangs is that the wars do kill innocent people and law enforcement personel.

Balance????

Baja Bernie - 4-27-2008 at 06:26 AM

AP..Chicago police put on show of force in effort to deter wave of shootings. Three dozen (36) shootings left nine people dead last weekend.

Hook - 4-27-2008 at 07:38 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Baja Bernie
AP..Chicago police put on show of force in effort to deter wave of shootings. Three dozen (36) shootings left nine people dead last weekend.


How much of this was domestic violence? I honestly dont know but am asking.

There IS a difference. Many of us can say with pretty good certainty that we wont be a victim of domestic violence (except around March Madness, of course). But we could become a victim of the type of random violence that TJ has been seeing.

DENNIS - 4-27-2008 at 07:56 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bacquito
If only we could reduce the demand for drugs in the USA and stop the flow of guns into Mexico.


Maybe too late on the gun issue. They already have them and with proper care, they'll last a long time. It would be more realistic if we stopped making bullets.

vandenberg - 4-27-2008 at 08:15 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Santiago



Rival factions of the local Arellano Felix drug cartel in Tijuana on the Mexico-California border fought each other with rifles and machine guns in the early hours of the morning, police said.


.









The army in Tijuana said it was on high alert for reprisals against soldiers and federal police following the shootout and the ensuing arrest.




)


Somehow I don't get the relevance of these statements. If the shootout was just between the cartels own factions, why would that result in reprisals against the cops, unless they were somehow involved in the trade.:?:

[Edited on 4-27-2008 by vandenberg]

Hook

Baja Bernie - 4-27-2008 at 08:20 AM

Been a while since I was a cop--but I doubt that they have SWAT patrol the streets for domestic shootings.

http://sandiego.cox.net/cci/google

TonyC - 4-27-2008 at 08:42 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by vandenberg
Quote:
Originally posted by Santiago
The army in Tijuana said it was on high alert for reprisals against soldiers and federal police following the shootout and the ensuing arrest.
)

Somehow I don't get the relevance of these statements. If the shootout was just between the cartels own factions, why would that result in reprisals against the cops, unless they were somehow involved in the trade.:?:
[Edited on 4-27-2008 by vandenberg]


Maybe cause the feds. have live talking prisoners, as oppose to dead bodies? I hope the feds. gets them (prisoners) to rat out the bad cops, and or, whoever else.

bacquito - 4-27-2008 at 08:52 AM

I am surpised that the San Diego Union has not reported the shoot out as of 04-27.

awfulart - 4-27-2008 at 08:54 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bacquito
If only we could reduce the demand for drugs in the USA and stop the flow of guns into Mexico. I was glad to read recently of a large gun bust occurring in Arizona-Mexico was happy.
The trouble with turf wars between drug gangs is that the wars do kill innocent people and law enforcement personel.


Anyone who uses illegal drugs, casual or extensive, contributes to the problem. Where do the gangs in the U.S. & Mexico get their money? It is through the sale of drugs and other illegal activities. We have always had gangs but since illegal drugs and illegal immigration have become so prevalent, the gangs have proliferated.

bajaguy - 4-27-2008 at 08:55 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bacquito
I am surpised that the San Diego Union has not reported the shoot out as of 04-27.




They did:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/tijuana/20080426-1...

Hook - 4-27-2008 at 10:12 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Baja Bernie
Been a while since I was a cop--but I doubt that they have SWAT patrol the streets for domestic shootings.

http://sandiego.cox.net/cci/google


We are on the same side of the discussion, Bernie.:yes:

pargo - 4-27-2008 at 10:16 AM

....I think it's safe enough now to go back to baja...yeah sure:O

vandenberg - 4-27-2008 at 11:33 AM

Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
)


Somehow I don't get the relevance of these statements. If the shootout was just between the cartels own factions, why would that result in reprisals against the cops, unless they were somehow involved in the trade.:?:

[Edited on 4-27-2008 by vandenberg]

Past history shows that the cartel attacks hospitals to free prisoners .
In the past 18 months there have been several attacks on TJ hospitals to free wounded cartel members.

My stepson and his partner were involved in guarding a prisoner at a TJ hospital last year and came under attack during that time.
One of his friends was killed during that fight.

Regardless of the poor wording of the press release the danger is real.


Thanks Gene.

Iflyfish - 4-27-2008 at 11:50 AM

Hose A,

Hope your step son ok. I honor him and his comrades. There are wonderful and brave people involved trying to end this horrible crisis. It saddens me greatly to read of the "colllatoral damage", always broken hearts and lives in that.

I too doubt that this will end till prohibition repealed and the profits removed and non punative treatment provided.

Saying that we can eradicate consumption to address this issue is focusing on the wrong issue and will not stop this giant whack a mole game. Changing our minds about how we view this problem is sorely needed. There are models in Europe about how to address this that are very successful, Holland is a good example. In the mean time my heart goes out to the family and friends of the good guys in this, who are doing their heroic jobs in a very dangerous enviorment.

Iflyfish

The Gull - 4-27-2008 at 11:51 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by awfulart
Anyone who uses illegal drugs, casual or extensive, contributes to the problem. Where do the gangs in the U.S. & Mexico get their money? It is through the sale of drugs and other illegal activities. We have always had gangs but since illegal drugs and illegal immigration have become so prevalent, the gangs have proliferated.


Ten Cuidado, Art. I've have been down that road of a discussion point and dismissed as being anti American by some of the blowhards.

Santiago - 4-27-2008 at 04:35 PM

Story actually made the Sacramento Bee this morning. First Baja news I can recall they've ever printed.

fulano - 4-28-2008 at 10:51 AM

Llega a 16 muertes guerra de "narcos"
[The total rises to 16 dead in narco war in TJ]

Tijuana, B.C. - Ya suman 16 los sicarios que han muerto a raíz del enfrentamiento armado entre grupos delictivos registrado la madrugada del sábado en el bulevar Insurgentes. Dos de ellos murieron en los hospitales donde eran atendidos.
Personal del Hospital General confirmó que dos hombres que habían resultado heridos después de participar en la balacera, murieron a primeras horas del domingo debido a complicaciones.

Elementos del Servicio Médico Forense (Semefo) acudieron al nosocomio el domingo por la mañana para recoger los cuerpos, los cuales no han sido identificados oficialmente, sin embargo se mencionó que tenían entre 20 y 23 años.

Testigos de la balacera afirmaron que sobre la Vía Rápida Poniente, a la altura del panteón Monte de los Olivos, se encontraba el cuerpo ya sin vida de otro hombre, aunque momentos después un grupo de sicarios se lo llevó.

Las personas, junto con los oficiales que resguardaban el cadáver, fueron amagados por los hombres con armas largas, subieron el cuerpo al vehículo en el que viajaban y se dieron a la fuga.

Por tal motivo se presume que el número de pistoleros que perdieron la vida en el enfrentamiento pudiera ser mucho mayor; no obstante, la Procuraduría General de Justicia del Estado (PGJE) señaló que sólo tiene contemplados 13 cuerpos.

Con respecto a la identificación de las personas que murieron el sábado, las autoridades aseguraron que hasta el momento continúan en calidad de desconocidos en las instalaciones del Semefo.

En ese orden, se desconoce si uno de los cuerpos encontrados corresponde al de Raybel López Uriarte, “El Muletas”, líder de una célula del Cártel de los Arellano Félix, información que se dio a conocer desde el día de los hechos.


Saldo rojo

-14 personas muertas fue el saldo preliminar de la balacera el sábado

-2 más murieron en el Hospital General a consecuencia de las heridas

-8 personas fueron detenidas, sin que hasta el momento se conozcan sus identidades

-21 vehículos baleados fueron decomisados

http://elvigia.net/noticias/?seccion=generales&id=43006

fulano - 4-28-2008 at 11:00 AM

They found another body this morning at Punta Bandera which bore the message "traitor".

"Esta mañana fue encontrado el cuerpo de una persona sin vida a la altura de Punta Bandera; el cadáver presentaba un mensaje con la leyenda “traicionero”.

El hallazgo fue realizado a las 7:00 horas en Punta Bandera y hasta el momento las autoridades no han dado a conocer más información. El cuerpo al parecer se encontraba envuelto en una sábana y tenía una cartulina con la palabra “traicionero” escrita en ella.

Se desconoce si la víctima fue ultimada por impacto de bala o golpes así como si tenía relación con la balacera registrada el sábado pasado por la madrugada."

http://www.frontera.info/EdicionEnLinea/Notas/Noticias/28042...

surfer jim - 4-28-2008 at 08:41 PM

Channel 7 (LA) carried a story tonight about the shootout on the 5 o'clock news....

Woooosh - 4-29-2008 at 03:06 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaWarrior
Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Good. Let the war begin. That's the only way this problem will be resolved.


Unfortunately the innocent get caught in the crossfire...


Exactly right. When I lived in LA during the mid-80's the Blacks and Mexican gangs were killing each other off like crazy (still are I think). Those not involved figured they'd killl each other off eventually. Problem still is that innocents get caught in the crossfire and theere are more of these c-ckroaches than there are bullets.