Three junior officers, 10 enlistees, accused of carrying drugs
By Sandra Dibble
March 3, 2011
Mexico’s Defense Secretariat late Thursday confirmed the detention of 13 soldiers accused of transporting more than a ton of drugs. The statement,
issued from Mexico City, follows news reports in Baja California that soldiers had been detained with drugs in their backpacks as they traveled to
Tijuana.
The statement said that three junior officers and ten enlistees are facing charges of drug trafficking and organized crime. It said that they had been
caught with 2,045 pounds of crystal methamphetamine and 66 pounds of cocaine.
Earlier news reports linking the detentions to Tijuana cited unofficial sources. On Thursday morning, a military general confirmed in Tijuana that a
group involving both civilians and soldiers had been disbanded as a result of military intelligence.
“What I know is that there was a long-term operation carried out with considerable success,” said Gen. Alfonso Duarte Mugica, commander of Mexico’s
Second Military Region, which includes the Baja California peninsula and part of Sonora.
Duarte did not give details of the operation. He said the investigation was not under his command, but had been carried out from central offices.
Mexico's military has been taking a lead role in President Felipe Calderon's fight against drug cartels. The military has been considered more
difficult to corrupt than civilian forces, and the detention of such a large number of soldiers is unusual.
it is so sad.... the govt has us where they want us.
When Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was murdered by drug smugglers in Arizona last December, Tom Tancredo revealed that Terry’s BORTAC unit (the
Border Patrol’s equivalent of a SWAT team) were armed with bean-bag rounds in their weapons:
Here’s the part Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Border Patrol management are trying to hide: Border Patrol Agent Terry and the
BORTAC team were under standing orders to always use (“non-lethal”) bean-bag rounds first before using live ammunition. When the smugglers heard the
first rounds, they returned fire with real bullets, and Agent Terry was killed in that exchange. Real bullets outperform bean bags every time.
At the time, the government denied such “bizarre Internet-fueled rumors”:
“There was no order given to CBP law enforcement personnel – now or in the past – that dictates the use of less-than-lethal devices before using
deadly force,” stated CBP’s Southwest Border Field Branch Office of Public Affairs.
Border Patrol agents shot beanbags at a group of suspected bandits before the men returned fire during a confrontation in a remote canyon, killing
agent Brian Terry with a single gunshot, records show.
And an illegal immigrant wounded in the gunbattle who is now the only person in custody linked to the slaying contends he never fired a shot,
according to FBI search warrant requests filed in the U.S. District Court in Tucson.
The documents provide the most detailed version yet of what happened in the deadly gunbattle Dec. 14 in Peck Canyon, northwest of Nogales.
The documents say the group of illegal border entrants refused commands to drop their weapons after agents confronted them at about 11:15 p.m. Two
agents fired beanbags at the migrants, who responded with gunfire. Two agents returned fire, one with a long gun and one with a pistol, but Terry was
mortally wounded in the gunfight.
Border Patrol officials declined to answer questions about protocol for use of force, citing the ongoing investigation.
But Terry’s brother, Kent Terry, said the other agents who were there that night told him that they were instructed to use the non-lethal beanbags
first. It’s a policy that doesn’t make sense to Kent Terry.
“You go up against a bandit crew that is carrying AKs, and you walk out there with guns loaded with beanbags – I don’t get it,” Terry said in a
phone interview from Michigan. “It’s like going to the Iraqi war with one knife. It boggles my mind. … These guys (Border Patrol agents) are
professionals; they should be able to use their judgment call on their own.”
On the night of the deadly encounter, agents were trying to apprehend at least five suspected illegal immigrants. One agent, using thermal
binoculars, spotted two men carrying rifles. When the group came close, at least one agent identified himself as police and ordered the men to drop
their weapons.
Here’s how the rest of the events are described in the FBI document:
“When the suspected aliens did not drop their weapons, two Border Patrol agents deployed ‘less than lethal’ beanbags at the suspected aliens. At
this time, at least one of the suspected aliens fired at the Border Patrol agents. Two Border Patrol agents returned fire, one with his long gun and
one with his pistol.
“Border Patrol agent Brian Terry was shot with one bullet and died shortly after. One of the suspected illegal aliens, later identified as Manuel
Osorio-Arellanes, was also shot.”Woooosh - 3-4-2011 at 08:28 PM
Coke and Meth in their backpacks? If this was a covert set-up operation- they could have followed them just a bit longer into TJ and see who these
military guys were working for. Or maybe they already knew? Guesses anyone?
BTW: Brian Terry was shot dead by a "fast and Furious" gun- one the ATF had allowed to be purchased by a Mexican cartel. It made it's way across the
border, as expected- and was fired in response to the bean bag rounds fired by Officer Terry. What a sad dance this is...
MEXICO CITY – Thirteen army soldiers were arrested in possession of 30 kilos of cocaine and around a ton of crystal meth, Mexico’s defense department
said Friday.
Three non-commissioned officers and 10 private soldiers are in custody on drug and racketeering charges, the department said in a statement.
The department’s announcement came a day after the commander of Mexico’s 2nd Military Region, Gen. Alfonso Duarte Mujica, told reporters that eight
soldiers were apprehended with cocaine they apparently intended to smuggle into the United States.
The arrests took place in Tijuana, a border metropolis near San Diego, California, and were the fruit of “successful intelligence work,” Duarte said,
denouncing the suspects as “traitors.”
The troops’ alleged criminal activity was detected through “established programs of supervision and oversight,” the defense department said Friday.
Within days of taking office in December 2006, President Felipe Calderon entrusted the army – seen as less corrupt than the police – with the leading
role in Mexico’s battle against drug cartels.
Since then, conflict among the cartels and between criminals and the security forces has claimed nearly 35,000 lives.Cypress - 3-6-2011 at 12:34 PM
A ton of crystal meth? Jeez! That had to come from an industrial operation. A refinery! Time to turn the drones loose. Let 'em cruise, target, and destroy.woody with a view - 3-6-2011 at 12:36 PM
Friggin BEANBAGS?
are any of you listening?Woooosh - 3-6-2011 at 12:45 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by woody with a view
Friggin BEANBAGS?
are any of you listening?
Now I'm wondering which country is stuck on stupid. The ATF sells the cartels cases of AK's and we arm our border patrol guys with beanbags? The
enemy is us this time.yellowklr - 3-8-2011 at 02:52 PM
Not suprised my Father in Law was murdered by the Mexican Military and they were hired by the Cartel to do it!!!!!!
True StoryDENNIS - 3-8-2011 at 03:10 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by yellowklr
Not suprised my Father in Law was murdered by the Mexican Military and they were hired by the Cartel to do it!!!!!!
True Story
If you ever feel like telling the story, I'd sure like to hear it.DENNIS - 3-8-2011 at 03:17 PM
Is it possible that our lame government will ever look at what's happening and say we've had enough?
I have no reason to believe they will.
Time to turn the drones loose. Let 'em cruise, target, and destroy.