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elgatoloco
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Mexico Under Siege - Tecate
http://tinyurl.com/6f44yx
In Mexico, a police victory against smuggling brings deadly revenge
Juan Jose Soriano, deputy commander of the Tecate Police Department, helped U.S. authorities find a drug-smuggling tunnel. The next morning, gunmen
shot him 45 times in his bedroom.
By Richard Marosi
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
September 7, 2008
Tecate, Mexico
Adrug-sniffing dog pulled the U.S. Border Patrol agent to a rusty cargo container in the storage yard just north of the Mexican border. Peeking
inside, he saw stacks of bundled marijuana and a man with a gun tucked in his waistband.
The officer and the man locked eyes for a moment before the smuggler scrambled down a hole and disappeared. By the time backup agents cast their
flashlights into the opening, he was long gone, through a winding tunnel to Mexico.
U.S. authorities called a trusted friend on the other side, Juan Jose Soriano.
The deputy commander of the Tecate Police Department gathered the entire shift of 30 officers at the decrepit police headquarters on Avenida Benito
Juarez. Soriano knew any of them might leak information to the tunnel's gangster operators. So he took their cellphones and sent them away on a ruse
about a car chase near the border.
The veteran officer told only a few trusted aides about the tunnel. Later that day, the officers went into the U.S. and traversed the length of the
passageway to an empty building, where they found computers, ledgers and other key evidence.
For U.S. authorities, it was an encouraging example of cross-border cooperation in the drug war. For Mexico's crime bosses, it was a police victory
that could not go unpunished.
That night last December, while Soriano slept with his wife and baby daughter, two heavily armed men broke into his house and shot him 45 times. The
35-year-old father of three young daughters died in his bedroom. He had lasted two days as the second-in-command of the department.
The death of a police officer is generally greeted in Mexico with a knowing smirk. All too often, it is assumed the cop in question was playing for
both sides in the raging drug war that has claimed at least 2,000 lives in Mexico this year.
But all indications, from U.S. and Mexican sources, suggestthat Soriano was among the good ones, poorly paid but somehow immune to the lure of big
money and the threat of deadly firepower from Mexico's violent drug gangs.
Cooperation with U.S. law enforcement ranges from secretive intelligence sharing to high-profile raids and arrests. It is aggressive police work that
runs the risk of death for honest cops.
An intense, soft-spoken man, Soriano struggled for years to clean up the troubled department. But his corruption-busting ways earned him only contempt
from many cops. At the small shrine to fallen officers in the courtyard at police headquarters, Soriano's image is conspicuously absent.
"It's a shame," said Donald McDermott, a former Border Patrol assistant chief who worked with Soriano. "He was one of the good guys. . . . His
untimely demise was a blow to border enforcement on both sides of the border."
A city of 120,000 tucked in the rugged mountains 40 miles east of Tijuana, Tecate is best known for its tree-lined plaza and beer brewery. But its
tranquil veneer masks its reputation as a hub of organized crime groups that use the surrounding area of boulder-strewn peaks and remote valleys as a
launching pad for smuggling drugs and humans.
The 200-member police department has long been suspected of functioning as an arm of the drug cartels, providing protection and ensuring that
smuggling routes remain open along the 75 miles of border for which the department is responsible.
Soriano stood apart: an aggressive, disciplined lawman who aspired to become police chief, according to law enforcement sources on both sides of the
border. Unlike most Mexican cops, he had a degree in police science. And he spent three years working for Grupo Beta, a federal immigrant-safety force
with whom he once saved 65 immigrants in a snowstorm.
In 2003, Soriano took charge of Tecate's SWAT-like special response team. In a break from past practices, he reached out to U.S. agencies for training
opportunities and cross-border crime fighting.
Soriano's officers arrested border bandits, disrupted smuggling operations and went where cops hadn't gone in years, say U.S. and Mexican sources who
spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing retaliation.
Soriano was a go-to source for the U.S. Border Patrol and other agencies and was a regular at binational meetings, where he shared information with
his U.S. counterparts. "He wanted to do things the right way," said one Mexican law enforcement source. "But that was a problem for many people."
Police brass reassigned Soriano to a desk job in 2005. "They took away his wings. They weren't ready for where he was going," said one U.S. law
enforcement source.
Late last year, Tecate's new mayor salvaged Soriano's career, asking him to take the No. 2 job at the department. Law enforcement contacts across the
border applauded the move and didn't wait long to restore ties.
This time, though, the stakes were higher.
A well-concealed tunnel can generate tens of millions of dollars in drug profits for traffickers, who pay huge amounts of protection money to keep
them open and threaten anyone who talks about their location.
It was crucial to quickly find the opening of the tunnel discovered that December morning. U.S. authorities didn't want the operators to have time to
clear out the drugs and other evidence. In other tunnel cases, Mexican authorities had been slow to respond, allowing crime bosses to abscond with
drugs.
Soriano took immediate action. After confiscating the cops' cellphones, he dispatched them to the four-lane border crossing and told them to look out
for a fugitive trying to flee from California authorities. Then he and several trusted officers started searching for the tunnel in homes and
businesses near the border. He kept a close watch on crooked cops, who he feared would slip away to warn the tunnel operators.
The search failed. Someone would have to traverse the length of the passageway to find the opening.
Soriano volunteered seven officers. They crossed into the U.S. and descended into the tunnel while U.S. and Mexican authorities waited for them to
surface in Mexico. About 45 minutes later, the Mexican team climbed up the 80-foot-deep shaft into a vacant two-story building a block south of the
border.
A Virgin of Guadalupe picture hung near the opening. Nearby were computer monitors and scribbled ledgers. Soriano, alerted by a radio call from his
team, arrived at the building just ahead of the crush of reporters and other police. Mexican federal agents took over the crime scene.
At about 2 a.m. the next morning, a convoy of vehicles drove down the deeply rutted dirt road leading to Soriano's modest house, which was decorated
with a string of Christmas lights. Two men armed with AK-47s broke in. Soriano jumped out of bed, but the men stopped him before he could grab his
weapons in the hallway.
Soriano seemed to recognize his attackers and begged them not to shoot, a source said. But the men opened fire, the spray of bullets coming within
inches of Soriano's year-old daughter sleeping in the crib by his bed.
Since Soriano's death, relations between the Tecate Police Department and U.S. agencies have been almost nonexistent. The force doesn't have a liaison
officer, and the border lands are more lawless than ever, Mexican sources say.
Soriano's slaying sent a message to other cops who would dare cooperate with U.S. authorities.
That was clear at Soriano's funeral, where many cops seemed to be celebrating his death, said one person who attended. Some laughed, while others
chatted loudly in gestures of disrespect.
Mexican authorities suspect police were involved in the slaying, either as the triggermen or the lookouts for hit men. Nobody has been arrested in the
case.
Meanwhile, the tunnel investigation has stalled. There have been no arrests, and it is unknown who was behind the construction and financing of the
passageway.
On the day of the tunnel discovery, Soriano turned over a largely intact crime scene. But soon, dozens of soldiers, police, federal agents and
reporters gathered to marvel at the sophisticated lighting and water pumping system. Other unidentified people seemed to linger for no apparent
reason, said U.S. and Mexican sources.
The computers and other evidence had vanished.
Soriano once wrote on an employment evaluation that he wanted to be a police commander and lead a team of loyal, aggressive cops whom he would treat
as friends. "I want to be surrounded by honest police who would never betray anyone."
[Edited on 9-7-2008 by elgatoloco]
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David K
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JaraHurd
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Hopefully every wise-crackin' poster on Nomad who can't wait to bad-mouth Mexican law enforcement will read this post. It is so easy to talk caca from
the safe sidelines wherein most of us reside, even those who live in Mexico. It must be exceedingly difficult to work in their system as an honest man
or woman. I can't imagine not being able to trust your partner or boss. I, for one, could not fill Juan Jose Soriano's shoes. I salute him and hope
for a better future for Mexico. I know there are more like him out there...
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Mexitron
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| Quote: | Originally posted by JaraHurd
Hopefully every wise-crackin' poster on Nomad who can't wait to bad-mouth Mexican law enforcement will read this post. It is so easy to talk caca from
the safe sidelines wherein most of us reside, even those who live in Mexico. It must be exceedingly difficult to work in their system as an honest man
or woman. I can't imagine not being able to trust your partner or boss. I, for one, could not fill Juan Jose Soriano's shoes. I salute him and hope
for a better future for Mexico. I know there are more like him out there... |
Well said.
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JaraHurd
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I don't blame the clock punchers. I know there are many dishonest cops in Mexico. I believe this from what I have heard and read but I, luckily, have
never actually experienced it. My scant contact with Mexican cops have always been tolerable. I just want it noted that this man, in my opinion, did
not die in vain. I suspect that he is in a much better place and being judged accordingly. I hope that when I leave someday that I will have done all
that I can do to make this place a better place. He, and people like him, serve as a wake up call for all of us in our respective occupations (and
lives), that we can do a little more.
The best partner I have ever worked for, to date, was a person named Jose M. Jose grew up in Oaxaca, Mx. He was adopted and put to work selling fruit
in Mexico City at the age of 8. He immigrated to the US at 12 years old. He went to school and later enlisted in the US Army. After serving (he is
still a reserve) in the Army for a few years (during which he was shot in the face with an AK-47..and somehow survived that...) he joined the LAPD. He
is now on the fast track to promoting after many hard-working years in the field. He is the HARDEST working person I have ever worked with. He is as
humble as the day is long. EVERY time I have ever asked him for anything, including calling him off-duty to assist me on some emergency on-duty, his
words are always the same, "Whatever you need partner." Trust me, most other people are too busy to assist....I won't get into that here.......
We need more people like these two, the are both cut from the same cloth..
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DENNIS
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The link doesn't seem to work but, I thought this article sounded familiar. It should since it's nine months old.
Don't get me wrong...I'm all for keeping the flame burning. People have to know and shouldn't be allowed to forget. I'm only curious as to why it's
being brought up today in the Times.
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Neal Johns
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Jarahurd, thanks for your postings.
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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elgatoloco
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
The link doesn't seem to work but, I thought this article sounded familiar. It should since it's nine months old.
Don't get me wrong...I'm all for keeping the flame burning. People have to know and shouldn't be allowed to forget. I'm only curious as to why it's
being brought up today in the Times. |
The unfortunate incident happened in December 2007 and was likely discussed on this board. The story in today's paper recalls that tragedy and gives
some additional background. Try this link?
http://tinyurl.com/6f44yx
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ELINVESTIG8R
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jeans
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Chilling..and very, very sad
Mom always told me to be different - Now she says...Not THAT different
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Eugenio
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Grover - are you saying that corruption in the US - or the rest of the world - runs about the same level as in Mexico?
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Crusoe
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Aug 22nd 08...SanFrancisco, Ca....United States Coast Gaurd Captain Michael Sullivan.... Pacific Areas Cheif of Resonse... in charge of all Coast
Gaued Cutters involved in drug trafficking... arressted for possession of cocaine, wrongful use of cocaine and obstuction of justice. If convicted
could spend 10 to 20 years in prison. This was never reported on any of our republican run major news networks. WTF....
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BajaGringo
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Crusoe
Aug 22nd 08...SanFrancisco, Ca....United States Coast Gaurd Captain Michael Sullivan.... Pacific Areas Cheif of Resonse... in charge of all Coast
Gaued Cutters involved in drug trafficking... arressted for possession of cocaine, wrongful use of cocaine and obstuction of justice. If convicted
could spend 10 to 20 years in prison. This was never reported on any of our republican run major news networks. WTF....
|
One of the dirty little secrets is that a percentage of what passes the border illegally (drugs / people) happens with border patrol agents looking
the other way while pocketing cash that far exceeds their paycheck for said services. Even when they are caught, most of those stories never make the
press...
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TMW
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Crusoe
Aug 22nd 08...SanFrancisco, Ca....United States Coast Gaurd Captain Michael Sullivan.... Pacific Areas Cheif of Resonse... in charge of all Coast
Gaued Cutters involved in drug trafficking... arressted for possession of cocaine, wrongful use of cocaine and obstuction of justice. If convicted
could spend 10 to 20 years in prison. This was never reported on any of our republican run major news networks. WTF....
|
I looked at several sources in a google search and I didn't see anything about him being involved with drug trafficing, the charge was for possession
and use and was reported in many publications both military and civilian and on blogs. I don't think the major news networks would hold back on the
story. If they didn't run it it would be that the story was not important enough on that day. The owners of the major news networks do not give a hoot
about some CG captain. The news departments pretty much run themselves with the legal department providing the guidence that may involve a lawsuit. I
don't think the president of Disney called the ABC news chief and said don't run the story about this captain. That in itself would cause a stir just
like the 60 minutes story about tobacco did at CBS when Tisch's management team wouldn't let Mike Wallace name Jeffery Wiegand as their source on the
first airing.
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JaraHurd
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Why does it make the Dems/libs so happy when an American fighting Man or Woman falls? It's not like they are in line waiting to serve this country.
Must like throwing rocks I guess..
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greybaby
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When we lived in Cantu, across from the little police station there, I remember talking to one of our favorite policement, Miguel. He was moved to
another location and came back to visit one day. He told me to be careful what we told the police because of the corruption. I'm sorry, and maybe
I'm naive, but I doubt that any corruption in police departments in the US comes even close to what is experienced in Mexico. Are there honest police
there? Definitely!! Are there corrupt cops here (US)? Indeed!! But it goes deep in Mexico and as someone who lived there for six years, we truly
saw that it permeates every facet of the community. We were part of a little evangelical church of locals and an Ensenada policeman who attended
occasionally was afraid to change his ways because of the bribes he would lose. How sad.
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jeans
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| Quote: | Originally posted by JaraHurd
Why does it make the Dems/libs so happy when an American fighting Man or Woman falls? It's not like they are in line waiting to serve this country.
Must like throwing rocks I guess.. |
You are wrong. I am a Democrat and that does not make me happy. What an ignorant thing to say.
Mom always told me to be different - Now she says...Not THAT different
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BajaGringo
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I think it is funny that on the one hand some get so angry here that some piece of Baja negative news doesn't get out and accusations fly of "burying
our heads in the sand". Yet when negative news comes out about north of the border the same talking heads come scurrying about to either downplay the
news or accuse the poster of "bashing" the USA. You can't have it both ways.
The news is just... well, the news. Good, bad or ugly. We all have to deal with it.
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JaraHurd
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BajaGringo I don't have all the answers. I mostly sit on the sidelines and read the posts. I truly think a lot of posters have little to no idea what
they are talking about. I get tired of hearing all of the Baja Bashers. I get tired of the folks that only want the good then once something goes
wrong, they flee or are very quick to judge. I understand that a greater percentage of law enforcement officials in Mexico are corrupt when compare to
the U.S. ..but..I also believe that there are a lot more decent cops in Mexico than some believe. I am fairly certain you and I see eye-to-eye on
this.
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BajaGringo
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| Quote: | | Originally posted by JaraHurdI understand that a greater percentage of law enforcement officials in Mexico are corrupt when compare to the
U.S. ..but..I also believe that there are a lot more decent cops in Mexico than some believe. I am fairly certain you and I see eye-to-eye on this.
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Very well stated. Glad to hear we are on the same page...
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