| by Michael Webster: Investigative Reporter. Sunday | | | | most drugs smuggled into the United States; more illicit |
| May 18, 2008 3:00 PM PST | | | | drugs are seized along the Southwest Border than in |
| Â | | | | any other arrival zone. Mexican DTOs have developed |
| Mexican drug cartels angered by a nationwide military | | | | sophisticated and expansive drug transportation |
| crackdown on their drug and other criminal actives are | | | | networks extending from the Southwest Border to all |
| striking back. This powerful group of organized | | | | regions of the United States. They smuggle significant |
| criminals and their alliance, also known as the | | | | quantities of illicit drugs through and between ports of |
| Federation, is a cooperating group of the major | | | | entry (POEs) along the Southwest Border and store |
| Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) also | | | | them in communities throughout the region. Most of the |
| known as Mexican drug cartels and their Para-military | | | | region's principal metropolitan areas, including Dallas, El |
| units and gangs that share resources such as | | | | Paso, Houston, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Antonio, |
| smuggling drug, human and terrorist transportation | | | | Tucson and San Diego, are significant storage |
| routes both in Mexico and on into the United states, | | | | locations as well as regional and national transportation |
| money laundering trained paramilitary personal and | | | | and distribution centers. Mexican DTOs and criminal |
| warring equipment. | | | | gangs transport drug shipments from these locations |
| The Alliance was formed originally to counter the | | | | to destinations throughout the country. |
| powerful Gulf Cartel. DEA agent said. But now with | | | | Homeland Security points out that the threat posed to |
| the Mexican army operating along their trafficking | | | | the nation by Mexican DTOs that operate in Mexico |
| routes its having a negative effect on their business | | | | and the Southwest Border Region extends well |
| and costing them billions. According to Mexican drug | | | | beyond drug trafficking to other criminal activities, |
| enforcement agents who want to remain anonymous. | | | | including border violence, firearms trafficking, Â |
| This dangerous alliance now coming together includes | | | | alien and terrorist smuggling. |
| organizations headed by some of the most feared | | | | Violence is often associated with drug trafficking along |
| Mexican drug cartel leaders in the country. These | | | | the border; however, law enforcement officials have |
| organizations together will have the manpower and | | | | noted a significant escalation in the level of violence |
| money to wage a real war with the Mexican | | | | since the first of the year. Much of the violence |
| government headed by Mexican President Felipe de | | | | occurring along the Southwest Border has been a |
| Jesus CALDERON Hinojosa. This alliance will now | | | | result of conflict between the Gulf Cartel and the |
| have access to, RPG's, machine guns, bazookas, and | | | | cartels opposing each other. Since Calderon's ordering |
| a whole variety of other cutting edge military arms as | | | | Mexican troops to battle the cartels, drug-related |
| weaponry and communications equipment far more | | | | violence is on an increase and reportedly is shifting |
| advanced than those of the Mexican army. | | | | somewhat from the Mexican interior states to the |
| Ever since the war began, President | | | | states bordering the U.S. According to recent law |
| Calderón has continually appealed to the | | | | enforcement and open source reporting indicates that |
| United States for support. He is quoted as saying "I | | | | cartel-related violence is still prevalent in a few |
| think the American government must do its part in this | | | | Mexican cities such as Manzanillo, Monterrey and |
| terrible battle" and has made several appeals to U.S. | | | | others. |
| President George W. Bush directly for aid against the | | | | The escalation of drug-related violence occurring along |
| drug cartels. Click or Google: Merida Initiative Will It | | | | the border among DTOs increasingly involves DTO |
| Work? | | | | use of violent paramilitary enforcement groups. |
| On October 22, 2007, Bush pledged US$1.4 billion in | | | | Mexican DTOs use such groups to protect operations |
| funding to Mexico to aid in the drug war. Additionally, it | | | | and drug shipments as well as to target members of |
| was agreed that the United States would supply | | | | rival drug cartels and law enforcement officers. Los |
| Mexico with logistical assistance and equipment, training | | | | Zetas, the enforcement arm of the Gulf Cartel, may |
| for its military and police forces, a number of U.S. | | | | be the most technologically advanced, sophisticated, |
| Military helicopters, and X-ray machines. However, the | | | | and violent of these paramilitary enforcement groups. |
| assistance package did not include any U.S. troops, | | | | Some Los Zetas members are former Mexican |
| and direct military involvement is largely opposed by | | | | Special Forces soldiers and maintain expertise in the |
| the citizenry of both nations. But during a recent closed | | | | use of heavy weaponry, specialized military tactics, |
| door emergency meeting of high level Mexican | | | | sophisticated communications equipment, intelligence |
| government officials of the Mexican National Security | | | | collection, and countersurveillance techniques. Click on |
| Cabinet it was openly discussed and many were | | | | or Google: They're known as "Los Zetas |
| calling for Calderon to ask for U.S. troops and more | | | | Even before the armies arrival much of the violence |
| U.S. training of Mexican soldiers and police. Click or | | | | attributed to conflicts over control of smuggling routes |
| Google: Mexico's National Security Cabinet expected | | | | has remained in Mexico, some has spilled into the |
| to declare a state of emergency | | | | United States. Murders and kidnappings linked to |
| The drug cartel alliance is believed to now include: | | | | Mexican DTOs as well as assaults against U.S. law |
| Juárez, Sinaloa, Los Negros, Tijuana, Gulf, | | | | enforcement officers are becoming increasingly |
| (Los Zetas), Guadalajara, Sonora, and Colima drug | | | | common along the Southwest Border. Violence |
| cartels. And other cartels are being invited to join. | | | | directed at law enforcement officers along the |
| The board of directors of this alliance are believed the | | | | Southwest Border, primarily U.S. Border Patrol agents, |
| heads of the member cartels: Juan José | | | | often is intended to deter agents from seizing illicit drug |
| Esparragosa-Moreno, JoaquÃÂn | | | | shipments or as a diversion during drug smuggling |
| Guzmán-Loera, Carrillo family,Arellano | | | | operations. In addition, drug-related violence has |
| Félix brothers, Ismael | | | | expanded from Tijuana, Baja California Norte; Ciudad |
| Zambada-GarcÃÂa, , Arturo and Hector | | | | Juárez, Chihuahua; and Nuevo Laredo, |
| Beltrán-Leyva, Edgar Valdez-Villareal, | | | | Tamaulipas, into other geographic areas along the |
| Armando Valencia-Cornelio, and Ignazio | | | | border, including Agua Prieta and Cananea, Sonora, |
| Coronel-Villareal. And unknown others. | | | | and Palomas, Chihuahua. American kidnappings, and |
| Â | | | | hostage situations attributed to this conflict are |
| Even though some of the police chief's and sheriff's of | | | | increasing, particularly in Dallas, El Paso, Tucson, |
| U.S. Cities and County's bordering Mexico say publicly | | | | Phoenix, San Diego and other U.S. border cities and |
| they are not very concerned and claim they are well | | | | towns. Click or Google: Americans Being Kidnapped, |
| prepared for any type of event that may spill over into | | | | Held and killed in Mexico |
| their communities. Even they recognize that the | | | | Sources: |
| Southwest Border Region is the most significant | | | | DEA |
| national-level storage, transportation, and transshipment | | | | Mexican Federal Police |
| area for illicit drug shipments that are destined for drug | | | | Mexican Officials |
| markets throughout the United States. The DEA | | | | Juarez, Palomas, Tijuana and Mexico City police |
| reports that the region is the principal arrival zone for | | | | Dept's. |