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Latin America Military and
Security Watch
Table of Contents
MEXICO
SPECIAL INTEREST
Death Toll in Mexico – 04 October 2011
BAJA CALIFORNIA
Custom Agents Seize $(USD) 915,319.50 in Tijuana, Baja California –
05 October2011
HIDALGO
Los Zetas Operator Confesses to Having Killed over 60 Individuals
Following his Arrest in Amaxac, Hidalgo – 03 October 2011
Authorities Arrest Three Los Zeta Operators in Huejutla, Hidalgo – 06
October2011
GUERRERO
SSP to Improve Security Measures in Tourist Areas of Acapulco,
Guerrero – 04 October 2011
VERACRUZ
Marines Dismantle Network of Police Officers Working at the Service
of Los Zetas in Veracruz – 04 October 2011
JALISCO
PGJE Officers Arrest Six Los Zetas Operators to Include a 19-Year-
Old Female Sicario in Jalisco – 04 October 2011
MICHOACAN
Results of Operations Conducted against La Familia Michoacana and
Los Caballeros Templarios in Michoacan – 05 October 2011
AGUASCALIENTES
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Thirteen Police Officers Working at the Service of La Oficina Arrested
in Aguascalientes – 04 October2011
Five Los Zetas Operators Arrested in Cosio, Aguascalientes – 06
October 2011
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MEXICO
SPECIAL INTEREST Death Toll in Mexico – 04 October 2011
El Universal media source (citing figures from www.presidencia.gob.mx) reported the following figures
regarding the death toll associated with organized crime violence in Mexico.
Number of murders linked to organized crime between December 2006 and December 2010:
2006: 62
2007: 2,826
2008: 6,837
2009: 9,614
2010: 15,273. Murders by quarter were reported as follows:
First quarter: 3,339
Second quarter: 4,102
Third quarter: 4,142
Fourth quarter: 3,690
States with the highest murder rates between 2006 and 2010 were listed as:
Chihuahua: 10,135
Sonora: 1,258
Baja California: 2,019
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Sinaloa: 4,387
Tamaulipas: 1,475
Jalisco: 1,073
Michoacan: 1,751
Guerrero: 2,739
Mexico State: 1,538
Municipalities with the highest murder rates between December 2006 and December 2010:
Juarez, Chihuahua
Culiacan, Sinaloa
Tijuana, Baja California
Chihuahua, Chihuahua
Acapulco de Juarez, Guerrero
Gomez Palacio, Durango
Torreon, Coahuila
Mazatlan, Sinaloa
Nogales, Sonora
Durango, Durango
Those states with the higherst murder rates between 2006 and 2010 were reported as:
2006: Michoacan, Guerrero, Baja California, Sonora, and Nuevo Leon
2007: Sinaloa, Michoacan, Guerrero, Chihuahua, and Baja California
2008: Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Baja California, Guerrero, and Mexico State
2009: Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Guerrero, Durango, and Michoacan
2010: Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Guerrero, and Durango
Comment: This article is a translation of the image above.
Spanish Source: http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/graficos/pdf11/grafica_seguridad.pdf
BAJA CALIFORNIA Custom Agents Seize $(USD) 915,319.50 in Tijuana, Baja California – 05 October2011
On 05 October 2011, soldiers
and customs agents seized
$(USD) 915,319.50 from a
vehicle at a customs checkpoint
at the Garita Internacional de
Otay in Tijuana [32.533789,-
117.018127], Baja California.
The names of those individuals
arrested have not yet been released.
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Spanish Source: http://noticieroelcirco.blogspot.com/2011/10/efectivos-militares-en-coordinacion-
con.html
Top of the Document
HIDALGO
Los Zetas Operator Confesses to Having Killed over 60 Individuals Following his Arrest in
Amaxac, Hidalgo – 03 October 2011
On 01 October 2011, the
SSP reported the arrest of
four Los Zetas operators in
the Amaxac community
[21.059992,-98.415871] of
Huejutla de Reyes, Hidalgo.
Those individuals arrested
were identified as:
Javier
RODRIGUEZ
Mesa, 21, aka El
Comandante Negro
Arturo GONZALEZ Bautista, aka El Chuco
Pedro MARTINEZ Mendoza, aka El Perico
Daniel GONZALEZ Nuñez. He was arrested on 03 October 2011 near the San Felipe Prizatlan-
Huejutla Highway exit to La Ceiba community in Chililico, Huejutla.
Additional Information Regarding Javier Rodriguez Mesa
He joined the Mexican Army in 2006 and was assigned to the 74th Infantry Battalion in his
hometown of Cerro Azul, Veracruz. While working as a soldier, he also worked for Los Zetas.
In 2009, he deserted his position in the military and began working for Los Zetas on a full-time
basis.
Within the ranks of Los Zetas, he served as a hitman and as a „comandante de estacas‟ (leader of
a small cell composed of no more than seven hitmen) that operated in Poza Rica, Pánuco, Álamo,
Tantoyuca, Veracruz, and Tampico, Tamaulipas.
He confessed to having kidnapped at least 55 individuals and to having killed an estimated 60 (to
include members of rival gangs and Los Zetas deserters). He also stated that he has been
involved in multiple confrontations. Some of the crimes carried out by Javier Rodriguez Mesa
include:
o The kidnapping of 55 Gulf cartel operators. He said that he (and others) kidnapped them
during a three day time period from areas in Panuco, Veracruz, and Tampico,
Tamaulipas. He stated that 50 of these individuals were shot in the head and later
“cooked” (this refers to dissolving murder victims in acid).
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o The kidnapping of El Profesor (nickname) and his wife on 22 September 2011 in
Huejutla. He confessed that he took them to Alamo, Veracruz where he tortured them,
killed them, and dissolved their bodies in acid.
Spanish Source: http://www.historiasdelnarco.com/2011/10/detienen-zeta-que-dice-haber-ejecutado.html,
http://thenarcotimes.blogspot.com/2011/06/cae-el-puma-comandante-zeta-en-tabasco.html
Top of the Document
Authorities Arrest Three Los Zeta Operators in Huejutla, Hidalgo – 06 October2011
Authorities recently arrested three
individuals operating at the service of
Los Zetas after they were caught
driving three stolen vehicles on Central
Boulevard in Huejutla [21.138567,-
98.420012], Hidalgo. Following their
arrests, the now detained individual
stated that they were to deliver the
vehicles to Veracruz. Information regarding the stolen vehicles and those individuals now police custody
was reported as follows:
Fernando ESCOBAR Flores, aka El Nando, was arrested driving a white 2010 Chevrolet
Cheyenne with Tamaulipas plates WJ-06784 (reported stolen on 23 September 2011 from
Tuxpan, Veracruz). Following his arrest, Escobar was identified as a native of Panuco, Veracruz.
He began working for Los Zetas as a lookout, but following the disappearance of a Los Zetas
leader known as „Pay‟, Escobar was promoted to the leader of lookouts in Panuco (a position
known as RT). In December 2010, Escobar was arrested by soldiers, but was released after
authorities could not link him to any organized crime group.
Oscar VALDEZ Flores, aka La Mosca, was arrested driving a tan 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche with
San Luis Potosi plates TN-82662 (reported stolen in Naranjos, Veracruz). Following his arrest,
Valdez was identified as a native of El Higo, Veracruz. He also confessed to working under
Escobar, and informed police that he served as a lookout.
Héctor SÁNCHEZ Robles was arrested driving a white 2009 Chevrolet Silveradowith Veracruz
plates XN-09751 (reported stolen in Tantoyuca, Veracruz). Following his arrest, Sanchez was
identified as a native of El Higo, Veracruz. His role within Los Zetas was to transport and deliver
stolen vehicles.
Comment: Over the course of the last six months, authorities in the state of Hidalgo have arrested 228
individuals linked to organized crime activity.
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Spanish Source:
http://hidalgo.milenio.com/cdb/doc/noticias2011/46f733b722786809300b7917bc97ec2d?quicktabs_1=0;
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GUERRERO
SSP to Improve Security Measures in Tourist Areas of Acapulco, Guerrero – 04 October 2011
The SSP reported that 200 security cameras will be installed
in popular tourist areas within Acapulco [16.864677,-
99.882202], Guerrero. At this point, 70 security cameras
have already been installed, with the end goal of installing
1,000.
Ramon Almonte Borja, the SSP Secretariat, explained that in
addition to increasing the number of security cameras,
images captured by the C-4 security system will be shared
with the IX Military Region, VIII Naval Region, and the
Federal Preventive Police to improve the response time of
authorities.
Spanish Source: http://www.milenio.com/cdb/doc/noticias2011/5bd958fe1809546449f6d0fbb7ee48ab
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VERACRUZ Marines Dismantle Network of Police Officers Working at the Service of Los Zetas in Veracruz –
04 October 2011
Two operations conducted by marines led to the arrest of nine fugitives and the dismantling of a network
of police officers working at the service of Los Zetas in Veracruz. Details regarding these operations
were reported as follows:
Operation One:
On 19 September 2011, a citizen‟s tip led Marines to a location in the Rancho Viejo neighborhood of
[18.783304,-97.204199] Nogales, Veracruz. Once at the location, Marines arrested 14 individuals; nine
of which were identified as inmates that escaped from a Social Rehabilitation Center in Veracruz with the
help of Los Zetas. Investigators speculate that Los Zetas targeted these prisoners in an effort to recruit
them into their criminal organization. Those inmates now police custody were identified as:
Luis EDUARDO Martínez, aka El Beba
José Francisco KURG Ortiz, aka El Javier
Javier CALDERÓN Rodríguez, aka El Kico
Jorge ROMERO García
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Jaime SÁNCHEZ Aguilar, aka El Jimy
Luis Enrique PINEDO Orozco
Mario Elías ROSAS Ortiz, aka El Burra
Carlos BRETÓN Salinas, aka El Panzón
Miguel Ángel CARMONA Román
In addition to the inmates mentioned above, five Los Zetas operators were arrested in the same operation
and identified as:
Silverio BÁEZ Trujillo, aka El Chivo, in charge of taking care of the above listed men
Gerardo BÁEZ Pérez, aka El Gera, in charge of taking care of the above listed men
Juan RAMOS Urena, aka El Chino
Jose Luis PONCE Nava
Armando GUTIERREZ Castillo
Operation Two:
A second operation carried out in five separate municipalities in Veracruz led to the arrest of 18 police
officers allegedly operating at the service of Los Zetas. The arrests were carried out after Víctor OSORIO
Santacruz, aka El Pantera, a Cuidad Mendoza Municipal Police Commander was caught with $(MXN)
10,000 pesos and a payroll ledger containing the names police and commanders from different
municipalities working at the service of Los Zetas. Further investigations revealed that Santacruz served
as a liaison between police and that he directed operations in support of Los Zetas in the region. Those
individuals arrested in during this operation were identified as:
In Ciudad Mendoza [18.803618,-97.179565]
Alberto PAREDES Romero, Second Mobile Group Inspector
In Acultzingo [18.715845,-97.310028]
José Gorgonio LUGO Barojas, Commander
René ÁLVAREZ de la Rosa, Supervisor
José Gavino HERNÁNDEZ Reyes
Juan Gabriel NAVARRO del Campo
Sergio PÉREZ Rivera
Luis Alfonso AGUILAR Mora
In Huiloapan [18.828966,-97.124634]
Bernardo MARÍN Martínez, First Commander
Fabián HERNÁNDEZ Santiago
Alejandro MARÍN Martínez
Vitaliano DE LA CRUZ Rodríguez
Octavio NIEVES Morales
José Domingo RODRÍGUEZ Arenas
Heriberto MARCIAL Mora
In Rafael Delgado [18.811418,-97.073135]
Armando AREDO de Jesús, First Commander
Juan Carlos Gutiérrez Castillo
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In Río Blanco [18.836765,-97.140427]
Víctor Osorio Santacruz, Commander
José Aurelio RÍOS Avendaño, Commander
Following their arrests, these police officers stated that they were paid salaries ranging from $(MXN)
2,000 to $(MXN) 10,000 pesos per month for their services.
Comment: It was reported that Commander Osorio was initially arrested after he was caught consuming
alcohol in uniform in a public domain.
Spanish Source: http://www.historiasdelnarco.com/2011/10/marina-desarticula-red-de-policias-que.html
Top of the Document
JALISCO
PGJE Officers Arrest Six Los Zetas Operators to Include a 19-Year-Old Female Sicario in Jalisco –
04 October 2011
PGJE officers arrested six Los Zetas operators in
Jalisco. The individuals now in police custody were
identified as follows:
Paola Estefania MEDINA Salas, 19, aka La
Chucky. After questioning, she confessed to
having participated in nine murders and
having served as an informant during the
grenade attack conducted against the Butter
Club located on Lopez Mateos Avenue.
This attack left six dead and 30 wounded.
Jesus Alberto GARCIA Fernandez, aka El
Chuy, from Laredo, Tamaulipas
Juan Artemio RICO Saucedo, 29, aka El Nijuas, from Salinas, Coahuila
Estaban GONZALEZ Ortiz, 27, from Leon, Guanajuato
Jessy PEREZ Sanchez, 19, from Coahuila
Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ Ortega, 36, from Fresnillo, Zacatecas
Authorities have linked the above mentioned individuals to the murders of at least 12 individuals. Those
items seized following the conclusion of this operation included 12 weapons (AR-15s and AK-47s),
holsters, and more than 600 rounds of ammunition.
Spanish Source: http://www.proceso.com.mx/?p=283231
Photo Source:
http://www.eldiariodechihuahua.mx/notas.php?f=2011/10/04&id=ba659fe93c67f7fd99ffc1dd045e747c
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Top of the Document
MICHOACAN Results of Operations Conducted against La Familia Michoacana and Los Caballeros Templarios
in Michoacan – 05 October 2011
The following are the results of operations conducted by federal
police against La Familia Michoacana and Los Caballeros
Templarios between December 2006 and September 2011 in
Michoacan:
Arrested 2,825 individuals
Seized:
o More than 15 metric tons of marijuana
o 1,390 weapons
o 163,804 rounds of ammunition
o 1,090 vehicles
o 1,284 stolen vehicles
o 229 fragmentation grenades
o More than 4.7 million counterfeit items
o 3,170 magazines
o More than $(MXN) 5.2 million
o More than $(USD) 1.2 million
Comment: Los Caballeros Templarios became operational in January of 2011.
Spanish Source:
http://www.ssp.gob.mx/portalWebApp/appmanager/portal/desk?_nfpb=true&_windowLabel=portlet_1_1
&portlet_1_1_actionOverride=%2Fboletines%2FDetalleBoletin&portlet_1_1id=922228
Top of the Document
AGUASCALIENTES
Thirteen Police Officers Working at the Service of La Oficina Arrested in Aguascalientes – 04
October2011
On 04 October 2011, 17 individuals to include 13 police officers were
arrested for their role in providing support to the criminal organization
known as La Oficina in Aguascalientes. For their participation in
providing information and carrying out murders, these individuals were
paid a weekly salary of $(MXN) 1,500 pesos. Those active municipal
police now in custody were identified as:
Alfredo ESCOBEDO Azpeitia
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Christian René LEOS Velázquez. In addition to working as an officer, he also served as a
bodyguard for Martin Orozco Sandoval, a PAN Mayoral candidate.
José Alfredo MERCADO Negrete
Roberto Carlos GARCÍA Leyva
José BECERRA Hernández
Daniel DURÓN Durón, aka El Panda
Claudia Verónica CARRILLO Vaquera, aka La Vaquera. At the time of her arrest, she was at her
home listening to police radio frequencies.
Genaro MACÍAS Zapata, aka El Zapata
Juan Miguel MELCHOR Tiscareño
León SERNA González
Javier González Luna
Obed SALINAS Antonio
Juan Carlos ZAMORANO Arena
Those former municipal police officers now in custody were identified as:
Maricela SÁNCHEZ Muñoz, aka La Mary/La Amiga
María Luisa BERMEJO López, arrested with a Motorola radio
Salvador RANGEL Pérez, aka El Hummer
Pablo RÍOS Velázquez, aka El Azul
These individuals are suspected in participating in the murder of the following individuals:
José Luis Marmolejo Díaz, municipal police officer
Jesús Camilo Reyes Gutiérrez, municipal police officer
Jesús Martín Ortiz Arias, municipal police officer
Héctor Alvarez Sandoval, municipal police officer
Antonio Flores Salas, municipal police officer
David Alba Ramírez, municipal police officer
Gerardo Medina Pérez, municipal police officer
Raúl Olvera Medina, municipal police officer
Samuel Servín Díaz, municipal police officer
Dionisio Palos Valadez
Gustavo Adolfo Vera Padilla
José de Jesús Lara de la Cruz
Roberto Nicolás Montoya Espinoza, aka El Grillo
José Eduardo Saucedo Saucedo
Adán Rafael Jiménez Beltrán, aka El Galán
Víctor Dávila Martínez
Oscar David Lomelí Bernal
Josué Chávez Zamorano
Rafael Rodríguez de Alba
Enrique Antonio Torres Martín
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Spanish Source: http://noticieroelcirco.blogspot.com/2011/10/los-policias-municipales-trabajaban.html
Top of the Document
Five Los Zetas Operators Arrested in Cosio, Aguascalientes – 06 October 2011
On 05 October 2011,
authorities set up a
checkpoint after receiving
a report regarding five Los
Zetas operators that had
stolen vehicle from a
family in Cosio,
Aguascalientes. Those
individuals arrested in
conjuction with this
operation were identified as:
Ricardo Nieves VALADEZ Macías, 21. His home address was identified as 122 Paraiso Street in
the Los Cedros neighborhood of Aguascalientes.
Rafael PALOS Ruiz, 27. His home address was identified as 120 Recinto Cactus Street Valle de
los Cactus neighborhood of Aguascalientes.
Adrián VALENZUELA Chavez, 27, native of Zacatecas.
Juan Luis GAYTÁN Romo, 17, native of Trancoso, Zacatecas.
Adán Emmanuel GUERRERO Rodríguez, 19, a native of Monclova, Coahuila.
Those items seized from these individuals following their arrests were identified as:
Three stolen vehicles to include:
o 1 white 2009 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup with Zacatecas plates ZG-89-289
o 1 red 2010 Nissan Frontier pickup with no plates
o 1 red Ford Lobo with Aguascalientes plate AC-94-678
Multiple radio communications sets
Tools to include shovels
After searching the vehicles, authorities discovered two kidnapping victims in the back of the Dodge Ram
that were allegedly kidnapped from Las Plumas near Guadalupe, Zacatecas in a forced recruitment effort.
These same individuals stated that during the kidnapping, the Los Zetas operators were in constant
communication with an individual nicknamed Aries.
Spanish Source: http://www.lapoliciaca.com/nota-roja/intenso-operativo-al-norte-del-estado-para-detener-
a-5-zetas/; http://noticieroelcirco.blogspot.com/2011/10/militares-capturaron-5-zetas.html;
http://www.lapoliciaca.com/nota-roja/ejercito-y-estatales-detienen-a-cinco-zetas-en-cosio/
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