F M S O Foreign Military Studies Office 731 McClellan Ave Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027

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1 F M S O Foreign Military Studies Office 731 McClellan Ave Fort Leavenworth, KS fmsoborder.watch@fmso.osis.gov Use of these articles does not reflect official endorsement. Reproduction for private use or gain is subject to original copyright restrictions. This report is a compilation of extract translations of Spanish language open source information and not evaluated intelligence. The complete articles in Spanish are available from FMSO. This briefing is FOUO and must be protected and controlled in accordance with U.S. standards. Latin America Military and Security Watch Table of Contents MEXICO SPECIAL INTEREST Mexican Drug Traffickers and Instability in Guatemala 19 October 2011 CHIHUAHUA Hitmen Attack Police Officers and Kill One in Chihuahua, Chihuahua 17 October 2011 GUERRERO Results of Operation Guerrero Seguro 17 October 2011 Banner Signed by La Sociedad Atterrada Posted in Acapulco, Guerrero 17 October 2011 MEXICO STATE Leader of La Barredora Criminal Group Arrested in Mexico State 18 October 2011 SINALOA Soldiers Dismantle Drug Lab and Seize 280 Kilograms of Methamphetamine in Culiacan, Sinaloa 14 October Kilograms of Cocaine Seized from Drug Lab in Mocorito, Sinaloa 15 October 2011 NUEVO LEON 25 Individuals Murdered Over a Three Day Time Period in Vallecillo, Nuevo Leon 18 October 2011 Gunmen Attack Family along Agualeguas- Parás Highway in Nuevo Leon 18 October 2011 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 1

2 Narco Messages Directed to President Calderon Posted in Areas Throughout Monterrey, Nuevo Leon 17 October 2011 COAHUILA Unknown Assailants Murder Three Men in Torreon, Coahuila 18 October 2011 CENTRAL AMERICA National Police Seize 488 Kilograms of Cocaine in Panama City, Panama 18 October 2011 National Police Seize 39 Kilograms of Cocaine near Rio Mar Beach, Panama 18 October 2011 Authorities Dismantle Marijuana Green House in Heredia, Costa Rica 18 October 2011 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 2

3 MEXICO SPECIAL INTEREST Mexican Drug Traffickers and Instability in Guatemala When Mexican drug traffickers arrived in Guatemala, what they found there was an abundance of demobilized soldiers (many of which were already participating in criminal activities) and thousands of Mara Salvatrucha gang members. In addition to an ample criminal base, they also discovered a large market dedicated to illegal weapons trafficking, a prosperous industry dedicated to providing hitmen for hire, and an advanced infrastructure that promoted violence. All of these factors are believed to be directly related to internal institutional fragility coupled by budget cuts within the Guatemalan military and police force. These cuts have left border regions surrounding Guatemala without protection, while decades of war have effectively served to establish a culture based on violence. According to the Director of the Pro-Justice Movement in Guatemala, Carmen Aida Ibarra, criminal groups from outside the country now constitute one of the most serious threats to internal security. These groups are coming to the country not because they are untouchables, but instead, because Guatemala is currently in a tenuous situation, and although the current state of affairs is not promising, Guatemala is not a failed state. Instead, one of the problems lies in the fact that sufficient time has not been allocated to create strong institutions. To add to this situation, groups of drug traffickers represent an additional problem that must be dealt with by an already weak system. In terms of Departments (States), Peten is just one of the regions within Guatemala without sufficient governance due to restructuring and budget cuts within military and police forces. Following cuts, high ranking military officials chose to allocate available funds to keep high-ranking Officers on board. As a direct result, the Guatemalan military virtually converted itself into an army of Officers. These same Officers were then given the responsibility to select the zones they wanted to work in and provide services to. Those areas not chosen have been left without governance and are prime areas in which drug traffickers and criminal groups choose to operate. Additionally, budget cuts did not allow for investments in the Air Force or Navy; a factor that has left Guatemala without external defenses and border regions without protection. In terms of improving the situation in Guatemala, the only option is to strengthen State governance and those institutions that oversee security measures. There are no other choices. If this does not happen, the probability is that the country could convert into a prime setting for a mass chaos. FMSO Commentary: Gangs to include Las Mara Salvatruchas, unsecured borders, ungoverned regions, thousands of demobilized soldiers without jobs, and decades of violence within Guatemala pose serious security risks to the country. When discussing drug trafficking violence, Mexico is the country that comes to mind, and indeed, Mexico has experienced unprecedented levels of violence directly related to drug trafficking activity since the end of Current figures estimate that at least 50,000 individuals have been killed UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 3

4 as a direct result of this violence. At the same time, increased pressure by the Mexican government on organized crime factions has pushed groups to include the Sinaloa Cartel and Los Zetas into ungoverned territories along the Guatemalan border. Within Guatemala, Mexican Cartels have found a haven of sorts. In terms of weapons and personnel availability, there are an estimated 4.5 million weapons in circulation. In terms of personnel, there are at least 900 Mara Salvatrucha gang members in addition to an undetermined number of demobilized soldiers who fought in civil wars that plagued Guatemala for 36 years who are willing and ready to work at the service of drug trafficking organizations. Finally, throughout Central America, there are an estimated 70,000 Mara Salvatrucha gang members that could provide additional forces if necessary. Apart from providing ungoverned territories, Guatemala is also a popular pick for organized crime groups because it is a transit nation for the estimated 560 metric tons of cocaine that pass through Central America on a yearly basis. Of this quantity, it is a certainty that large amounts pass through Guatemala before being sent to the United States or areas in Mexico. These 560 metric tons of cocaine represent earnings for cartels in the billions; an idea that is evidenced by that fact that organized crime activity alone represented 10.1% of the Guatemalan GPD in This number represents stark differences when comparing the resources available to the forces contracted to counteract drug trafficking. The current military budget in Guatemala is 33% of the GPD; a number that has been fixed very firmly since To further add complications to a lacking budget in the face of the bottomless budget afforded to drug trafficking organizations, impunity allows for question free operations for these same groups in many sectors of the country. Putting all the pieces together, the problems that are brewing in Guatemala are not the result of a singular phenomenon. Instead, there is currently a large workforce to include demobilized soldiers and gang members who are willing and ready to work at the service of organized crime groups from Mexico at a moment s notice. Secondly, large quantities of weapons circulating throughout the country facilitate violence. Finally, military budget stagnation combined with impunity and the allowance of operations in ungoverned areas stand to pose enormous security problems in Guatemala if changes are not taken to combat criminality and weak institutions immediately. Spanish Source: Jaramillo, Velia. Centroamerica, propensa y contaminada. Proceso, 05 June CHIHUAHUA Hitmen Attack Police Officers and Kill One in Chihuahua, Chihuahua 17 October 2011 Early on 17 October 2011, a group of hitmen attacked three state police officers while they were traveling in police patrol car 299 along Nogales Avenue [ , ] in Ciudad Chihuahua, Chihuahua. Killed during this attack was an officer identified as Jose Juan Vargas Ramirez. The other two officers were wounded, but survived the attack. UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 4

5 Spanish Source: GUERRERO Results of Operation Guerrero Seguro 17 October 2011 Results generated during the first 10 days of Operation Guerrero Seguro were reported as follows: Recovered 49 stolen vehicles Rescued 7 kidnapping victims Arrested 23 individuals Seized: o 3 shotguns o 50 rounds of ammunition o 2 magazines o 1 grenade o 62 baggies of cocaine o 9.7 kilograms of marijuana o 1 radio o 4 sets of vehicles plates Comment: Operation Guerrero Seguro started on 10 October 2011 and is supported by more than 2,000 federal police officers, 1,500 municipal police officers, and 600 state police officers. Spanish Source: Banner Signed by La Sociedad Atterrada Posted in Acapulco, Guerrero 17 October 2011 On 15 October 2011, a banner signed by La Sociedad Atterrada (The Terrified Society) was posted on the Bicentenario Bridge along Cuauhtemoc Avenue [ , ] in the Marroquin neighborhood of Acapulco, Guerrero. The message contained in the banner read as follows: Warning to UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 5

6 SEMAR and SEDENA: If you want to bring a stop to this war, you need to start by investigating preventive police officers working at the service of the CIDA cartel. These individuals include Commanders Victor Hugo Laina Pino, Victor Araiza, Juan Cervin Cazares, Juan Avila Dominguez, known as El Calucha, and Francisco Ramirez Ruiz, known as El Pancho. These officers work as lookouts, and take advantage of their position to kidnap innocent people for Victor Aguirre. Okay, do something about this information. Spanish Source: MEXICO STATE Leader of La Barredora Criminal Group Arrested in Mexico State 18 October 2011 An operation conducted by federal police led to the arrest of four individuals to include the leader of La Barredora criminal group, Christian Arturo HERNANDEZ Tarin, aka El Cris, in Mexico State [ , ]. The three other individuals arrested during this operation were identified as: Jose Carlos Espinoza Moreno Jorge Humberto Silva Gonzalez Jose David Sanchez Delgado At the time of their arrests, these men were in possession of one vehicle, five weapons, six magazines, and communication equipment. Additional information regarding Christian Arturo Hernandez Tarin and La Barredora criminal group was reported as follows in this article: The leaders of La Barredora group are Christian Arturo Hernandez Tarin and Eder Jair Sosa Carbajal, aka El Cremas. La Barredora utilizes Acapulco, Guerrero, as its principal base of operations, and is known to have presence within areas of the city to include Punta Diamante, Puerto Márquez, Bonfil, Barra Vieja, El Cayaco, Tres Palos, La Sábana, Llano Largo, El Coloso and Colosio. La Barredora is battling the CIDA Cartel for control of the Acapulco Plaza. Hernandez Tarin is the son of Arturo Hernandez Gonzalez, aka El Chaky. This individual has been identified as a former Lieutenant for Amado and Vicente Carrillo Fuentes. Arturo Hernandez is currently serving a sentence at a maximum security prison in Mexico. Hernandez Tarin began working for Arturo Beltran Leyva, aka El Barbas, in After the death of El Barbas, Hernandez Tarin began working as a security guard for Gamaliel Aguirre Tabira, aka El Guero Huetamo, until Aguirre was arrested in July UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 6

7 After the arrest of Edgar Valdez Villarreal, aka La Barbie, La Barredora split, and Carlos Montemayor Gonzalez, aka El Charro, assumed leadership of the group. A direct result of this split is the increased violence in Acapulco. At least 100 individuals work within the ranks of Hernandez Tarin s group. Spanish Source: SINALOA Soldiers Dismantle Drug Lab and Seize 280 Kilograms of Methamphetamine in Culiacan, Sinaloa 14 October 2011 Soldiers assigned to the III Military Region and 9 th Military Zone dismantled a drug lab while conducting land reconnaissance in La Higuera village of Culiacan [ , ], Sinaloa. Items seized from this drug lab included: 280 kilograms of solid methamphetamine 65 liters of liquid methamphetamine 100 kilograms of tartaric acid 20 liters of an unknown liquid substance 5 kilograms of ammonium chloride 2 organic rectors No arrests were made in conjunction with the dismantling of this drug lab. Spanish Source: 75 Kilograms of Cocaine Seized from Drug Lab in Mocorito, Sinaloa 15 October 2011 On 14 October 2011, soldiers from the III Military Region and 9 th Military Zone discovered a synthetic drug lab in the Bacamori village of Mocorito [ , ], Sinaloa. While searching this lab, soldiers seized 75 kilograms of cocaine and 125 kilograms of caustic soda. No arrests were made in conjunction with the dismantling of this drug lab. Spanish Source: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 7

8 NUEVO LEON 25 Individuals Murdered Over a Three Day Time Period in Vallecillo, Nuevo Leon 18 October 2011 From October 2011, at least six confrontations led to the deaths of 25 individuals in Vallecillo, Nuevo Leon. Of those individuals killed, one was identified as a soldier, while two others were identified as federal police officers. It is highly likely that the recent confrontations stemmed from the arrest of La Rana (on 14 October), a prominent Los Zetas leader, and the arrests of nine other Los Zetas operators on 16 October. In response to these confrontations, City Clerk Amado Mata is requesting an additional 10 State Police officers to provide security in the area due to the fact that following these violent incident, all but six municipal police officers have resigned from their positions. Mata also clarified that the violence in the entity is generated by outside organized crime groups primarily from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas. These same individuals utilize ranches surrounding Vallecillo as safe havens. Comment: Vallencillo is a small community comprised of approximately 2,500 residents, and is located 180 kilometers north of Monterrey. Spanish Source: Gunmen Attack Family along Agualeguas- Parás Highway in Nuevo Leon 18 October 2011 Authorities in Nuevo Leon reported that a group of unknown gunmen attacked the Garza García family at the 11 kilometer mark along the [approximate location , ] Agualeguas-Parás Highway in Nuevo Leon. At the time of the attack, the family was returning to their residence in Parás after having attended a party in Agualeguas. Killed as a consequence of this attack were both parents and a six-yearold girl. Two other siblings (ages two and three) survived the attack as they were riding in the luggage compartment of the SUV. The young children who managed to survive this attack were in the vehicle for five hours before authorities responded to this incident. Spanish Source: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 8

9 Narco Messages Directed to President Calderon Posted in Areas Throughout Monterrey, Nuevo Leon 17 October 2011 On 17 October 2011, multiple narco banners directed to President Calderon were posted on pedestrian bridges throughout Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. At 0900 hours, banners were left at the intersections of Padre Mier and Constitución [ , ] Streets and on Garza Sada and Luis Elizondo Streets [ , ]. The messages in these banners read as follows: Mr. President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa: Carlos Oliva Castillo, aka La Rana, is the individual who provided Los Zetas with money in San Fernando, Méndez, and Ciudad Victoria. If this is the case, who is responsible for the massacre in San Fernando? Tamaulipas wants to know who it is. You have it (the answer) in your hands. Spanish Source: COAHUILA Unknown Assailants Murder Three Men in Torreon, Coahuila 18 October 2011 During the afternoon hours on 17 October 2011, gunmen opened fire on three men who were talking on a street corner in the Magdalenas neighborhood [ , ] of Torreon, Coahuila. A young boy in the area was also shot and killed as he ran for cover. Spanish Source: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 9

10 CENTRAL AMERICA National Police Seize 488 Kilograms of Cocaine in Panama City, Panama 18 October 2011 On 17 October 2011, a joint operation between National Police DIP agents and the Drug Prosecutor s Officer resulted in the seizure of 488 kilograms of cocaine along the coast of Panama Viejo [ , ] in the Parque Lefevre sector of Panama City, Panama. The cocaine in question was seized from a boat as it arrived on shore, and following the seizure, was identified as having belonged to the 57 th FARC Front. Arrested in conjunction with the seizure were three Colombian nationals and three Panamanian nationals. One of the suspects detained was identified as the head of the criminal organization responsible for trafficking drugs into Central America, then through the land bridge up through Mexico and into the United States. It is also suspected that tumbadores (individuals dedicated to stealing drug shipments) operating in Panama have made pacts with FARC operators and their collaborators to move their shipments along Panamanian coasts. These groups are known to operate in areas within Panama City to include Juan Díaz, Pacora, Panamá Viejo, Boca La Caja, Río Abajo, and Panamá Oeste. The principal roles of these tumbadores include providing security and transporting shipments inbound from Colombia. It is also a possibility that these same groups are aided by authorities operating within the above-mentioned sectors in Panama City. Comment: Javier Carabello, Panama s lead drug prosecutor, reported that Panamanian nationals are taking a more active role in supporting criminal organizations in providing support in moving drugs shipments. Spanish Source: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 10

11 National Police Seize 39 Kilograms of Cocaine near Rio Mar Beach, Panama 18 October 2011 During the early morning hours on 17 October 2011, National Police operating in La Chorrera arrested a male suspect after he was caught transporting 39 kilograms of cocaine near Rio Mar Beach [ , ] in Panama. This location is in the Panama province. The shipment in question was seized from the trunk of a vehicle, and had been placed inside of sacks and within the interior of a plastic gasoline container. The packages of cocaine contained traces of sand and wet soil consistent with that in the San Carlos district. For this reason, authorities presume that the shipment was unloaded moments before it was seized. Spanish Source: na Authorities Dismantle Marijuana Green House in Heredia, Costa Rica 18 October 2011 A joint operation between OIJ officers and public force officers led to the dismantling of a marijuana green house located inside a rental property in La Asuncion de Belen community of Heredia [ , ], Costa Rica. Items seized from the green house included: 174 marijuana plants 6 air conditioners ½ kilogram of processed marijuana Various lamps and other items According to a preliminary report, the green house was equipped with an irrigation system. Regarding the home, the owner was identified as a Costa Rican national while the renter was identified as U.S. citizen (no names provided). At this point, no arrests have been made in conjunction with the dismantled green house. UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 11

12 Spanish Source: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 12