News New Mexico: Border

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23 Dead Bodies Found on Border

Fox – The bodies of 23 people were found hanging from a bridge or decapitated and dumped near city hall Friday in the border city of Nuevo Laredo, where drug cartels are fighting a bloody and escalating turf war. Authorities found nine of the victims, including four women, hanging from an overpass leading to a main highway, said a Tamaulipas state official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to provide information on the case.

Hours later, police found 14 human heads inside coolers outside city hall along with a threatening note. The 14 bodies were found in black plastic bags inside a car abandoned near an international bridge, the official said.

The official didn't release the contents of the note, or give a motive for the killings. But the city across the border from Laredo, Texas has recently been torn by a renewed turf war between the Zetas cartel, a gang of former Mexican special-forces soldiers, and the powerful Sinaloa cartel, which has joined forces with the Gulf cartel, former allies of the Zetas. Read full story here: News New Mexico

3 Photographers Found Dead in Mexico

From nytimes.com -The bodies of three photojournalists were found dismembered on Thursday in the eastern state of Veracruz, days after a crime reporter for a national magazine was killed in her house there. The motives for the killings were not immediately known, and few such cases in Mexico are ever solved. But human rights groups condemned the deaths as another worrying sign of the vulnerability of journalists reporting on the wave of drug and organized crime violence that has rocked Mexico in the past six years and left more than 50,000 people dead.“What we have seen in Mexico in the last years is a systematic attempt to muzzle the press that has been successful in various parts of the country, where the press has been effectively censored,” said Rosental Alves, director of the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas, in Austin, Tex. “This unprecedented blood bath is fueled by a certainty of impunity, as the cases of crimes against the press usually don’t even reach a court of law.” More here

Another Murder Linked to Operation Fast and Furious

From Gateway Pundit -On December 14, 2010, Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was shot dead by a group of suspected drug cartel along the Mexican border in Peck Canyon, northwest of Nogales, Arizona. The guns used to kill Brian Terry were traced back to Operation Fast and Furious. In September 2011 the Attorney General of Mexico confirmed 200 murders happened in Mexico as a direct result of Operation Fast and Furious. Now another murder connected to Operation Fast and Furious has surfaced. According to a congressional report released, Mario González Rodríguez, brother of the state attorney general of Chihuahua at the time, was also murdered by guns traced back to Operation Fast and Furious. The U.S. withheld this information from Mexican authorities for eight months. Read more here.

New Mayor of Sunland Park Resigns

From krqe.com -The new mayor of the troubled southern New Mexico city of Sunland Park has resigned but hopes to be reappointed next week. Javier Perea's resignation on Friday came a day after Attorney General Gary King issued an opinion saying the City Council violated state open meetings law when they appointed him less than two weeks ago. The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that Perea immediately asked the Council to reappoint him in a way that meets King's requirements. "The city has the option to appeal the opinion and ask for a stay, but that is not the right thing to do for the people of Sunland Park," Perea said in a statement. "As such, I will accept the conclusion of the opinion and relinquish my title and the ability to perform in the official capacity as the mayor." More here

Feds Nab 28 NM Gang Members Linked to Trafficking

From Arizona Daily Star -Federal agents and local police have arrested 28 suspected gang members and associates in New Mexico as part of a national roundup of gang members linked to drug and human trafficking. Officials with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations announced Wednesday that members and associates affiliated with the South Side Locos and Brown Pride gangs in Albuquerque, southern New Mexico and the Four Corner's region were in federal custody following a quick probe of the area.Authorities also seized heroin, cocaine and meth with a street value of close to $300,000. In addition, federal agents and local authorities seized more than a dozen or so illegal firearms and two expensive vehicles."This was a coordinated effort that resulted in the arrests of a number of high ranking gang members," said Dennis Ulrich, Homeland Security Investigations Acting Special Agent in Charge of West Texas and New Mexico. "We believe they were involved in drug trafficking and human smuggling." The roundup was part of a national operation known as "Project Nefarious" which nabbed more than 600 gang members with outstanding warrants across the country. Read more

US Cracks Down on Border Corruption

From foxnews.com -US state and federal agencies are cracking down on border town corruption as part of the larger effort to battle Mexican drug cartels. That's a relatively new idea for Sunland Park, New Mexico, a small dusty city reeling from their latest scandal involving their mayor-elect, a topless dancer, and extortion. The only U.S. city on the Mexico side of the Rio Grande shed light on corruption that seems endemic to border towns thanks to a mix of small-town politics, an influx of corrupt government practices from across the border, and, of course, the rise of the cartels and their endless supply of cash. While much of New Mexico is west of the Rio Grande, this dusty enclave of 14,000 residents is the only U.S. city located on the Mexico side of the river, on the same side as — and just across the border fence from — Juárez. Read more

AZ Illegals Moving to NM Because of SB1070

From npr.org -. Arizona's Legislature passed SB 1070 two years ago, but much of it has been put on hold pending the court's decision. Still, supporters say the law has achieved one of its stated goals: Thousands of illegal immigrants have self-deported, leaving the state on their own. The real reason — and consequence — of such a demographic shift may be more complex, however. Jossie was one of those illegal workers who decided to leave. When police cars drove behind her in traffic, she says, she would start shaking and wouldn't be able to breathe. Jossie is still afraid of getting deported, so she asked that her last name be withheld. The summer that SB 1070 became law, she left the Phoenix area with her husband, two children and a cockatoo, Bernie. The most controversial part of SB 1070 would require police to check the immigration status of those they believe are in the country illegally. A federal judge has blocked that provision, but Jossie was still so nervous driving to work she says she once hyperventilated and lost consciousness on the road. She moved to New Mexico, where illegal immigrants can get driver's licenses. Her husband rekindled his catering business, and Jossie is cleaning houses again. She says there's a "big difference" between Arizona and New Mexico. "New Mexico [offers] me opportunities. ... I am going to do something for New Mexico. I am going to tell my kids to do something good for New Mexico," she says. More here

Walmart Lifts Lid on Mexican Bribery Allegations

From reuters.com - Whether you are the world's No. 1 retailer or a humble street vendor, paying public officials a bribe may be the quickest way to get your business growing in Mexico. The New York Times reported this weekend that Wal-Mart Stores Inc investigators probing its Mexican operations found a paper trail of hundreds of suspect payments worth more than $24 million made to grow its business there, and that the company then quashed the investigation. Wal-Mart said it was "deeply concerned" about the allegations, which have lifted the lid on a culture of corruption in Mexico that many of its residents take for granted. One global study said Mexican firms were perceived to be the third most likely behind those in China and Russia to pay bribes abroad. When 40-year-old market stall owner Adrian Martinez decided to open a second spot to sell his wares in Mexico City, he said he figured it was better to pay a bribe to a "gestor", or intermediary, to get a permit than wait for authorities to process his request. More here

Gary Johnson Attacks Governor Martinez on Immigration

Gary Johnson

From necn.com - Former New Mexico governor and Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson is slamming successor Susana Martinez for being too tough on illegal immigrants. Johnson said this week while campaigning in Las Vegas that Martinez's efforts to make it difficult for immigrants to live illegally in the United States isn't wise policy. Johnson says it would be better to advocate for immigration reform and urged the federal government to offer more temporary employment visas so that immigrants can legally enter the country and work here. Johnson was a longshot candidate for the Republican presidential nomination when he announced in December that he would instead pursue the Libertarian ticket. He served two terms as New Mexico's governor starting in 1994. Martinez became the nation's first Latina governor in 2010.

Border Patrol Agent Charged With Gun Smuggling

From chron.com - Authorities say a West Texas Border Patrol agent and his girlfriend are in custody after they were charged with conspiracy to buy firearms and more than 20,000 rounds of ammunition to be smuggled into Mexico. Ricardo Montalvo and Carla Gonzalez-Ortiz, both of El Paso, Texas, were arrested Monday after a federal grand jury returned a 20-count indictment. They're accused of acting as straw purchasers of at least nine firearms between November 2010 and January 2011, along with more than 100 high-capacity magazines and thousands of high-caliber bullets of the type used by Mexican cartels. They're also accused of knowing the munitions would be exported illegally to Mexico.

Court documents list no attorneys for the pair. Montalvo had been on administrative desk duty since the investigation started in January 2011.

N.M. "Gun Ring" Defendant Gets 4 Years

From reuters.com - The first defendant in a conspiracy involving leaders of a tiny New Mexico border town who ran guns to violent Mexican drug cartels has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison, U.S. Attorney Robert Pitman said on Thursday. Judge Robert Brack sentenced Vicente "Tito" Carreon to 46 months in prison on Wednesday in federal court in Las Cruces, New Mexico, Pitman said. Brack also ordered three years of supervised release for Carreon. Though not a ringleader in the larger conspiracy, Carreon was observed at a stash house concealing 20 9 mm pistols in luggage later taken by village truck to a bus station in El Paso, Texas, in January 2011, according to the indictment. More News New Mexico

Decapitated Bodies Turn Up On Border

From directorblue- Details are still coming, but the bodies were found today by the Army on the highway that connects Matamoros with Ciudad Victoria, according to El Universal, the Mexico City based media company. Authorities have not shared any insight into the killings, but the region has been marked recently by intense fighting between two factions of the Gulf Cartel drug-trafficking organization.

George Noory Narrowly Escapes Kidnap in Mexico

From theblaze.com- Radio talk show host George Noory — host of Coast to Coast — had his vacation plans unexpectedly changed into escape plans when the limousine he was supposed to be taking ended up being driven by a would-be kidnapper. The incident, Noory says, began when a limousine style van picked him up at the airport, purporting to be his transportation to his hotel. On the way, Noory noticed that the van was taking him through a less-than-savory area of Mexico and that the driver was behaving oddly. When Noory tried to exit the van, the door handle broke off in his hand. Only through a real stroke of luck was he able to get away by hailing another car and paying the driver $100 in cash. More News New Mexico

Feds Close Cattle Gate at N.M. Port of Entry

From wisconsinrapidtribune - The livestock gate at one of the international ports of entry in southern New Mexico is closed now that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is restricting its veterinarians from crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. The agency cites safety concerns, but New Mexico's two U.S. senators are urging the Obama administration to find a way for cattle to be moved through the Columbus port. Sens. Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall sent letters to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Wednesday. They say the decision to close the gate places a significant burden on ranchers. New Mexico ranchers buy cattle from Mexico to supplement their herds. Other animals are also transferred through the crossing. Before animals are allowed to come into New Mexico, they are inspected by a federal veterinarian to ensure they are disease-free.

N.M.-Texas Border Drug Smugglers Getting Younger

From star-telegram.com -Border drug smuggling operations have turned to small packs of young, aggressive men who are increasing using the remote Texas-New Mexico desert, federal agents say.
Agents said some of the illegal immigrants carry 50 pounds of drugs for several days, travel in groups of two to five, and evade capture by heading quickly to mountain canyons along the Texas-New Mexico border. The area includes a cavernous maze where the stone ground makes it harder to follow tracks and rocky terrain blocks smugglers from view. More News New Mexico

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/02/27/3765709/feds-nm-texas-border-smuggle-packs.html#storylink=cpy

Second Gun Involved in Murder of ICE Agent Linked to Fast & Furious

Brian Terry

From cbs.com -Prosecutors recently sentenced a Texas man, Manuel Barba, for trafficking a weapon connected to the murder of Immigration and Customs (ICE) Agent Jaime Zapata. Nobody was more astonished to learn of the case than Zapata's parents, who didn't know that Barba had been arrested or linked to their son's murder. "The family was obviously surprised to learn that there was a case involving a weapon linked to the Zapata incident," attorney Trey Martinez told CBS News. Martinez represents Zapata's parents and the surviving ICE agent in the assault, Victor Avila. "They were surprised they had never been contacted in the capacity as victims so they could give a response or some kind of reaction at the time of sentencing." Barba was sentenced to 100 months in prison on January 30th. When we asked why the Zapatas weren't contacted, prosecutors in Houston told CBS News they only handled the weapons charges: conspiracy, false statements and exportation/receipt of firearms. Zapata's actual murder "is being handled by another US Attorney's office and... is separate and apart from the firearms case that was handled by our district," said a spokeswoman. She added the firearms offenses "are crimes that do not involve victims in the legal sense of the word and therefore, notifications are not part of the legal process." In a related development, CBS News has obtained documents showing that Barba was under ATF surveillance for at least six months before a rifle he trafficked was used in Zapata's murder. Zapata's government vehicle was ambushed by suspected cartel thugs in Mexico Feb. 15, 2011. More News New Mexico

DHS Increasing Presence In Four Corners Area

From ktar.com - Homeland Security officials say the federal agency is planning to increase its presence fighting drug cartels in New Mexico's Four Corners region. The Farmington Daily Times reports the federal agency proposes that two agents move to San Juan County full-time and that more agents be dispatched occasionally to the area to assist with serious criminal investigations. The move comes after New Mexico law enforcement agencies around the state have asked federal officials to assist cash strapped departments in battling gangs, drug trafficking and weapons violations. But as federal authorities have moved into places like Roswell and Las Cruces, violent Mexican drug cartels have increased their presence in the remote area of northwest New Mexico that border three other westers states. More News New Mexico

El Paso Woman Shot By Bullet From Juarez

From elpasotimes.com - El Paso Police Chief Greg Allen said the woman was a 48-year-old mother who was pushing a child in a stroller when she was shot in the upper right calf. Allen said the round went through her leg. She was taken to University Medical Center of El Paso. Allen, El Paso Mayor John Cook and El Paso County Sheriff Richard Wiles conducted a press conference late Tuesday afternoon at City Hall. Allen said the woman is a Mexican citizen but has a residency card and lives in El Paso. Allen said that the bullet came from a gunfight between carjackers and law enforcement in Juarez. Cook said that the public should not panic over this incident and that El Paso is still a safe place to live. More News New Mexico

Mexico: Prison Guards Helped Zeta Drug Cartel Escape

From theblaze.com -Nine guards have confessed to helping Zetas drug gangsters escape from prison before other Zetas slaughtered 44 rival inmates, a state official said late Monday, underlining the enormous corruption inside Mexico’s overcrowded, underfunded prisons. The top officials and as many as 18 guards at the Apodaca prison in northern Mexico had been detained under suspicion that they may have helped 30 Zetas escape during the confusion of a riot early Sunday in which 44 members of the rival Gulf cartel were bludgeoned and knifed to death. More News New Mexico

Eric Holder Continues to Withhold Evidence on How DOJ Armed Mexican Drug Cartels

Eric Holder

Daily Caller - On Tuesday Rep. Darrell Issa, chairman of the House committee on Oversight and Government Reform, took a major step toward holding Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress for his failure to provide subpoenaed documents and other information about Operation Fast and Furious.

In a Jan. 31 letter, Issa had threatened Holder with such a move if he failed to provide all the subpoenaed documents relating to the Fast and Furious gunwalking scandal by Feb. 9. That deadline has come and gone, and Holder’s Department of Justice still hasn’t provided most of those documents. Issa’s subpoena dates back to Oct. 12, 2011.

On Tuesday in a seven-page letter, Issa revealed that Deputy Attorney General James Cole begged Congress to extend the Feb. 9 deadline. Issa wrote that the request was “ironic” and “ignores the reality that the Department has unreasonably delayed producing these documents to the Committee.” Read full story here: News New Mexico

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