BajaNomad

10% of cars to be searched entering Mexico

BajaTrooper - 9-25-2008 at 05:48 AM

Might slow things down a bit...
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MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s government plans to search 10 percent of all vehicles entering the country from the United States in an effort to curb arms smuggling, the attorney general said Tuesday.
Most illegal weapons in Mexico come from the United States, according to officials in both countries. Many end up in the hands of powerful drug cartels who supply most of the cocaine entering the United States from South America.
Attorney General Eduardo Medina said the stepped up vehicle searches would start soon at Mexican custom checkpoints, though he did not give an exact date.
He said an average of 230,000 vehicles across into Mexico from the U.S. each day. The number searched changes throughout the year, and varies with each crossing point.
"Soon, at least 10 percent of vehicles crossing from north to south will be subjected to obligatory searches at customs," Medina said.
Michael Sullivan, the acting director of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said last month that investigators have traced 90 to 95 percent of weapons seized in Mexico to the United States.
Mexico seized more than 10,763 guns between December 2006 and August 2008, most of them assault rifles, according to a recent report from the Attorney General's Office. More than 1,400 grenades also were confiscated.
"What's clear, as we have often told many lawmakers in the U.S. Congress, is that the Second Amendment was not designed to arm criminal groups overseas, as is in fact occurring," Medina said, referring to the amendment in the U.S. Constitution on the right to bear arms.
In general, only law-enforcement officers or military personnel can legally possess guns in Mexico.
The stepped up vehicle searches come as Mexico's government struggles to reverse a surge in violent crime, much of it tied to the drug trade. Mexican police often complain of being outgunned by drug cartels, whose fierce attacks have prompted terrified officers to walk off the job

elgatoloco - 9-25-2008 at 06:04 AM

This will keep guns from getting in the hands of drug cartels in Mexico like a wall will keep people from getting into the US.

IMHO.
:smug:

More than one in ten stopped

Loboron - 10-9-2008 at 03:43 PM

New changes crossing into Mexico at Otay. I don't know about the changes if any at San Ysidro since I've haven't been there in 6 months.

When crossing to the south, it's impossible to avoid the secondary inspection area. As you know, in the past when you received a Green light you drove around the secondary to the left and continued on. Now all vehicles green or red light are forced (by barracades and cones) to drive through secondary. If you have a green light you continue through while the Customs officials give you a cursory inspection. If you receive the red light, you stop where directed.

Today while in line to cross south, it appeared they were red lighting about every 5th vehicle.

Once again this was today 10-09-2008 at 1400 or 2 pm

Woooosh - 10-9-2008 at 04:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Loboron
New changes crossing into Mexico at Otay. I don't know about the changes if any at San Ysidro since I've haven't been there in 6 months.

When crossing to the south, it's impossible to avoid the secondary inspection area. As you know, in the past when you received a Green light you drove around the secondary to the left and continued on. Now all vehicles green or red light are forced (by barracades and cones) to drive through secondary. If you have a green light you continue through while the Customs officials give you a cursory inspection. If you receive the red light, you stop where directed.

Today while in line to cross south, it appeared they were red lighting about every 5th vehicle.

Once again this was today 10-09-2008 at 1400 or 2 pm


So while they are searching the car in front of you- you have to just sit and wait?

Loboron - 10-9-2008 at 04:09 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Woooosh
Quote:
Originally posted by Loboron
New changes crossing into Mexico at Otay. I don't know about the changes if any at San Ysidro since I've haven't been there in 6 months.

When crossing to the south, it's impossible to avoid the secondary inspection area. As you know, in the past when you received a Green light you drove around the secondary to the left and continued on. Now all vehicles green or red light are forced (by barracades and cones) to drive through secondary. If you have a green light you continue through while the Customs officials give you a cursory inspection. If you receive the red light, you stop where directed.

Today while in line to cross south, it appeared they were red lighting about every 5th vehicle.

Once again this was today 10-09-2008 at 1400 or 2 pm


So while they are searching the car in front of you- you have to just sit and wait?




There are several stalls where they have you stop and inspect you. The first stall is where they direct you through with the green light. They use the subsequent stalls for inspection.

[Edited on 10-9-2008 by Loboron]

woody with a view - 10-9-2008 at 04:29 PM

soon it'll take 1 hour to cross south in addition to the 1-3 hours to cross north, if you aren't killed in a drive-by whilst stuffing a taco into your mouth.... it just screams tourism!!!

Oso - 10-9-2008 at 04:37 PM

Wonderful, now in addition to 2+hrs to get back, it's going to be 2 hrs to cross into Mexico= half the freakin day in line to make a day trip. We heard about this in a civic meeting yesterday. It's going to make an absolute mess of little San Luis, AZ's main street. Unlike SLRC en el otro lado, there are no special lanes leading to the gate, just Main Street. The merchants might as well board up now.:mad: