Reports look at chances for drug-war spillover into El Paso
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EL PASO -- Drug traffickers could be more prone to confront U.S. law enforcement as they come under pressure and the cartel war continues to rage in the Juárez region, an analysis issued by the National Drug Intelligence Center states.
The possibility that the cartel war could cross the border was raised last week when it was revealed that El Paso authorities had received unconfirmed information stating that Mexican drug cartels had approved sending hit men into the United States to kill targets here.
More than 900 people have been slain so far this year in Juárez -- killings thought to be due to a war between the Juárez and Sinaloa drug cartels. Juárez has also seen a jump in kidnappings for ransom and in bank robberies, which total more than 50 this year.
"Once a dominant cartel is established in the El Paso-Juárez plaza, stability will return to the area and the flow of drugs most likely will increase," states an annual analysis of the West Texas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, or HIDTA, released in May by the National Drug Intelligence Center.
The potential for spillover
of cartel violence into West Texas was mentioned in the analysis, which included information from earlier this year.
"This violence could spill into the HIDTA region, since DTOs (drug trafficking organizations) may more readily confront law enforcement officers in the United States who seek to disrupt these DTOs' smuggling operations," the report states. "Violence has extended into the HIDTA region in the past when traffickers felt pressure from U.S. law enforcement."
The West Texas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area covers 12 counties near the border and includes the cities of El Paso, Midland and Odessa.
But police and sheriff's officials in the El Paso-Las Cruces area have said it is unlikely that violence will cross the border. Still, officers are prepared in case in happens, officials said.
"I don't think the Mexican cartels will confront U.S law enforcement directly. Any confrontation will be the result of them coming after targets in the United States," said Robert Almonte, a retired El Paso police deputy chief who is executive director of the Texas Narcotics Officers Association.
"The last thing they want to do is confront U.S. law enforcement, either local or federal," Almonte said. A confrontation with law enforcement in the U.S. would raise the ire of authorities.
EL PASO -- Drug traffickers could be more prone to confront U.S. law enforcement as they come under pressure and the cartel war continues to rage in the Juárez region, an analysis issued by the National Drug Intelligence Center states.
The possibility that the cartel war could cross the border was raised last week when it was revealed that El Paso authorities had received unconfirmed information stating that Mexican drug cartels had approved sending hit men into the United States to kill targets here.
More than 900 people have been slain so far this year in Juárez -- killings thought to be due to a war between the Juárez and Sinaloa drug cartels. Juárez has also seen a jump in kidnappings for ransom and in bank robberies, which total more than 50 this year.
"Once a dominant cartel is established in the El Paso-Juárez plaza, stability will return to the area and the flow of drugs most likely will increase," states an annual analysis of the West Texas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, or HIDTA, released in May by the National Drug Intelligence Center.
The potential for spillover
of cartel violence into West Texas was mentioned in the analysis, which included information from earlier this year.
"This violence could spill into the HIDTA region, since DTOs (drug trafficking organizations) may more readily confront law enforcement officers in the United States who seek to disrupt these DTOs' smuggling operations," the report states. "Violence has extended into the HIDTA region in the past when traffickers felt pressure from U.S. law enforcement."
The West Texas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area covers 12 counties near the border and includes the cities of El Paso, Midland and Odessa.
But police and sheriff's officials in the El Paso-Las Cruces area have said it is unlikely that violence will cross the border. Still, officers are prepared in case in happens, officials said.
"I don't think the Mexican cartels will confront U.S law enforcement directly. Any confrontation will be the result of them coming after targets in the United States," said Robert Almonte, a retired El Paso police deputy chief who is executive director of the Texas Narcotics Officers Association.
"The last thing they want to do is confront U.S. law enforcement, either local or federal," Almonte said. A confrontation with law enforcement in the U.S. would raise the ire of authorities.
Almonte said cartel enforcers prefer to lure targets into Mexico or kidnap victims in El Paso to take them to Juárez.
"They have been doing it over there (in Mexico) because they stand a much better chance of getting away with murder in Juárez," Almonte said.
The National Drug Intelligence Center analysis says six major Mexican drug organizations plus 120 multistate groups and 606 local drug trafficking rings are operating in West Texas. The groups range in size from five to dozens of members.
The Mexican cartels also have distribution cells in dozens of cities across the United States, and have formed alliances with prison gangs, street gangs and outlaw motorcycle gangs, stated a Congressional Research Service report issued in February, titled "Mexico's Drug Cartels."
The Dallas Morning News has reported that the Zetas, the notorious Gulf Cartel enforcers, are behind murders in Laredo and Dallas. The Zetas are also known to operate in Juárez.
The National Drug Intelligence Center report stated that law enforcement is up against a sophisticated opponent with extensive financial resources, including those of "corrupt Mexican businessmen," capable of paying for high-tech equipment, including satellite phones.
Cartel gatekeepers are in charge of collecting "taxes" on drug shipments moving through their turfs. Such "tolls" were behind a drop last year in cocaine distribution in the El Paso region, the intelligence center's report states.
"Law enforcement reporting indicated the temporary suspension of cocaine shipments by a cartel operating in the El Paso/Juárez plaza occurred in 2007," the report states. "This suspension is believed to have occurred because the organization implementing the suspension wanted to make sure that all cocaine shipments were being 'taxed.' "
In Juárez, authorities unable to control the crime wave are making changes to Joint Operation Chihuahua, the federal anti-crime offensive that has been renamed Operation Juárez. More federal police officers arrived Friday, and the Mexican army is expected to begin anti-crime street patrols this week, city officials said.
Mexican President Felipe Calderón said recently in his equivalent to the U.S. State of the Union Address that crime is Mexico's biggest challenge.
"I know Mexico faces a great security problem. This is a cancer that incubated for years and it wasn't given the attention it deserves, but it is a cancer we will eradicate," Calderón said.
Calderón said more than 100 federal police officers, 72 soldiers and five sailors have been killed in Mexico this year as federal forces fight drug traffickers, kidnappers and other criminals.
"It is a difficult battle," Calderón said. "It is a battle that will take time, resources and, sadly, human lives. But you can be sure it is a battle we will win with the support of the people of Mexico."
Calderón's annual televised report can be viewed at www.presidencia.gob.mx.
Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com; 546-6102.
"They have been doing it over there (in Mexico) because they stand a much better chance of getting away with murder in Juárez," Almonte said.
The National Drug Intelligence Center analysis says six major Mexican drug organizations plus 120 multistate groups and 606 local drug trafficking rings are operating in West Texas. The groups range in size from five to dozens of members.
The Mexican cartels also have distribution cells in dozens of cities across the United States, and have formed alliances with prison gangs, street gangs and outlaw motorcycle gangs, stated a Congressional Research Service report issued in February, titled "Mexico's Drug Cartels."
The Dallas Morning News has reported that the Zetas, the notorious Gulf Cartel enforcers, are behind murders in Laredo and Dallas. The Zetas are also known to operate in Juárez.
The National Drug Intelligence Center report stated that law enforcement is up against a sophisticated opponent with extensive financial resources, including those of "corrupt Mexican businessmen," capable of paying for high-tech equipment, including satellite phones.
Cartel gatekeepers are in charge of collecting "taxes" on drug shipments moving through their turfs. Such "tolls" were behind a drop last year in cocaine distribution in the El Paso region, the intelligence center's report states.
"Law enforcement reporting indicated the temporary suspension of cocaine shipments by a cartel operating in the El Paso/Juárez plaza occurred in 2007," the report states. "This suspension is believed to have occurred because the organization implementing the suspension wanted to make sure that all cocaine shipments were being 'taxed.' "
In Juárez, authorities unable to control the crime wave are making changes to Joint Operation Chihuahua, the federal anti-crime offensive that has been renamed Operation Juárez. More federal police officers arrived Friday, and the Mexican army is expected to begin anti-crime street patrols this week, city officials said.
Mexican President Felipe Calderón said recently in his equivalent to the U.S. State of the Union Address that crime is Mexico's biggest challenge.
"I know Mexico faces a great security problem. This is a cancer that incubated for years and it wasn't given the attention it deserves, but it is a cancer we will eradicate," Calderón said.
Calderón said more than 100 federal police officers, 72 soldiers and five sailors have been killed in Mexico this year as federal forces fight drug traffickers, kidnappers and other criminals.
"It is a difficult battle," Calderón said. "It is a battle that will take time, resources and, sadly, human lives. But you can be sure it is a battle we will win with the support of the people of Mexico."
Calderón's annual televised report can be viewed at www.presidencia.gob.mx.
Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com; 546-6102.
**
Related Juarez Violence
Aug 28:
El Pasoans say treat wounded in Juárez
Aug 27:
Agents find $56,000 in 2 incidents at El Paso bridges
Aug 24:
Juárez violence boosts quests for El Paso homes
Aug 23:
Police chief of town near Juárez is slain
Aug 21:
4 men shot multiple times in Juárez shootout die
Aug 20:
Mexican motocross champion slain with two others in Juárez
Aug 19:
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Aug 4:
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**
Video Related stories
Related Juarez Violence
Aug 28:
El Pasoans say treat wounded in Juárez
Aug 27:
Agents find $56,000 in 2 incidents at El Paso bridges
Aug 24:
Juárez violence boosts quests for El Paso homes
Aug 23:
Police chief of town near Juárez is slain
Aug 21:
4 men shot multiple times in Juárez shootout die
Aug 20:
Mexican motocross champion slain with two others in Juárez
Aug 19:
3 people shot in Juárez taken to Thomason
Aug 4:
2 U.S. citizens are shot in Juárez during weekend
**
Video Related stories
posted by jillosophy at 9/01/2008 01:09:00 PM
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