Border Problems, Marshall Serzen

Border Problems

            In the past five years Mexico has been one of the most dangerous countries in the world for police, civilians, and reporters. Mexico is currently battling one of the largest scale drug wars in its countries history. Since 2006, when the drug war officially began, nearly 30,000 people have been killed due to the violence. Mexico’s geographical location makes it a natural staging and choke point for the worldwide drug trade. Another problem is weapon and human trafficking with and estimated 90% of the Cartels weapons being from the United States.

President of Mexico Felipe Calderon was elected in November of 2006. One of his first major actions against the cartels was, on December 11, 2006, to send 6,500 troops in try and end the violence in Michoacán along Mexico’s southern coast. It is considered to be the first major action taken by Mexico against the drug cartels. Up until then violence had been minimal and no real action had been taken against them. The corrupt Mexican military was even used to help traffic some of the cartels drugs.

Before this action by President Calderon the cartels operated fairly quietly and with the corrupt government and military and out of the honest governments way. It started with Mexico transporting locally grown marijuana and heroin. Later when Columbia started its lucrative cocaine trade the Columbians, including Pablo Escobar, needed a way to get their product, cocaine, into the United States. Mexico was the solution to that problem. With the smuggling routes and techniques already underway with the Mexican cartels and their drug trade it was easy for the Columbians to join the cartels and start sending their cocaine into the US. The Columbians ended up paying the cartels up to 50% of the earnings per shipment to transport the cocaine. Over 70% of the foreign narcotics that enter the United States are through Mexico. The number is even higher with cocaine as over 90% of the United States cocaine enters through Mexico with its origins being from Columbia.

2007 saw dramatic rise in violence with over 2,300 people being killed that year. The violence increased exponentially in 2008 when accusations of corruption started emerging. Police, political officials, even judges are being fired and charged with corruption. An anti-kidnapping team in Baja California turned out to be the ones kidnapping for the cartels. Police were working for the cartels and protecting them.

The corruption has been never ending. Even in early August of this year over 3,200 Mexican Federal police, and law enforcement officials were fired and another 450 of them were charged. A member of the Mexican Congress and lawmaker was recorded talking to a leader of one of the local cartels. Cesar Godoy was recorded talking to Servando Gomez, who is the leader of the “La Familia” cartel, which is one of the largest and most powerful cartels in the southern costal state of Michoacán, which is also the state that Godoy represents. Godoy is already in trouble for helping cartels in his state, but because of his lawmaker status his is immune to law and cannot be charged. This is expected to change with the new evidence. When confronted about the conversation Godoy said the accusations were false and these new accusations were part of a smear campaign to remove him from office. He later said that the voice was not his and the nobody could prove that it was his and then went on to deny it.

There are currently nine main cartels that are essentially running the areas they are located in. In certain states cartels are imposing their own laws in certain cities. Recently the Los Zetas cartel drove through a border town and threatened to kill anyone who stayed the night. As a result 300 people fled the town and went to a shelter in a nearby town for an unknown amount of time. They have received a decent amount of aid from the government and have even been promised temporary jobs so they can make a little money. Whether or not the temporary jobs will actually happen is the real question.

In another town the entire police force quit three days after the inauguration of their new station. Their station was shot up with over 1000 rounds of ammunition, a K-9 unit was killed, and all six police vehicles were destroyed in the bold attack by the local cartels.

In October Tijuana had the least amount of violence it had experienced since the drug war initially kicked off. President Calderon called it a success story, there were parades in the street and the government efforts seemed to be working, these successes would prove to be short lived however. Within two weeks of the parade and visit the violence returned and escalated to an all time high. Bodies were hanging from bridges and heads were showing up on people’s doorsteps. This was a sign from the cartels that they were still in the city, operating, and active. They were telling the president that he didn’t do anything and that the cartels are still in control of the city.

Since the majority of the violence is happening along the US border there has been some concern about if and when the violence spills over into US cities. Some of the most violent cities on the border are right next to major US cities. San Diego is right across from Tijuana, which I already mentioned the problems going on there. El Paso is right across from one of the most dangerous and violent cites in the world, Ciudad Juarez. This fall a couple was riding jet skis on Falcon Lake near Brownsville Texas when, apparently, several boats full of armed men shot the man in the head killing him and attemptied to kill the woman. She eventually escaped but the mans body and Jet Ski were never found. Her story is in doubt because she has given out multiple versions. Either way the violence is becoming more prominent around the country. The cartels are getting more daring attacking tourist resorts and kidnapping people from these supposed safe areas.

This violence is having a significant impact on Mexico’s citizens. Traveling anywhere in Mexico is extremely dangerous even in the “safer” parts. The Cartels wear police or military uniforms and create checkpoints and rock blocks and extort people for their money or lives, and some times it is the actual police. They stop passing cars and demand money or shoot the people in the car. It is a problem because the police set up real “safety” roadblocks and the people cant tell the difference. This becomes a problem for the citizens of Mexico who have to commute to work to earn a living. They have a dilemma on their hands: risk their lives on a daily trying to support a family or stay home. Several months ago a man was driving with his family when they came across a roadblock. Not knowing if it was the real police or the cartels and trying to protect his family he sped through and was killed along with another passenger. The checkpoint was real. It is a terrible situation for any person to be put through.

Solutions to this ongoing problem are not simple and there is no easy answer. The problem starts within the own government, military and police force. Like I said earlier even the Congressmen and lawmakers are involved and are on the Cartels’ payroll. One thing that the government has had some recent success is in capturing or killing cartel leaders. This also proves to be a problem. When the leader of a cartel is killed or captured it leaves the cartel in a state of chaos. Top ranking leaders within the cartels are left to battle each other over the top spot. Often times when this happens part of the cartel might split off and start a new one. That happened four times in the past year with four new prominent cartels emerging.

One thing that does need to happen is the US needs to get more involved. Currently we are giving money and trying to help out on the border. It is estimated that upwards of 90% of the cartels weapons are smuggled across the border from the US.

Mexico is in a rough position. There is no easy way out and I believe it will get worse before it gets better. The violence has only gotten worse each year and the Cartels are running certain areas. Police, judges, and even Congressmen are on the Cartels payroll. The people of Mexico live in fear of the Cartels and in fear of the people assigned to protect them. 

Entire Town Displaced, Marshall Serzen

            The Mexican war with the Cartels has taken a new turn this weekend with over 100 families being displaced because of the violence. With this war approaching its 5^th year, this displacement of 100 plus families, totaling around 300 people, is the largest of the war.

            All of the 100 families were located in Ciudad Mier, located along the border, and relocated to Miguel Aleman.

            Recently the leader of the Gulf Cartel, “Tony the Gun” was killed in a near by town and violence has only increased since. The rival cartel, the Zetas, drove through the town of Ciudad Mier shouting that they would kill every resident who remained in the town.

            Miguel Aleman, which is only a few miles away opened up one shelter for the refugees, and is planning on opening up another one due to the huge number of people.

They government has denied knowing anything about what is going on in Ciudad Mier and said that they also denied know that the Zetas had control of the town. They did admit to knowing about the shelters though. They also said that the threats were false and this was the first time they had heard them.

It is not known yet how long the shelters will have to stay open but the displaced families are being given necessary supplies. They is even going to be some temporary employment for the families so they can still try to earn a living.

Battle on the Border, Marshall Serzen

Police and cartels battled in the city of Matamoros, Alejandro Poire in Mexico over the weekend killing a top cartel leader as well as four suspected gang members and two Mexican Navy soldiers.

Top cartel leader Antonio Ezequiel Cardenas Guillen, aka "Tony the Storm", was killed during the battle. Navy soldiers were sent to investigate the house were attacked with grenades and multiple assault weapons. The Mexican government has had some moderate success with either capturing or killing top cartel leaders in the last few months. Sergio Villarreal, leader of the Beltran Leyva cartel and "La Barbie,” Edgar Valdez have been captured.

Located in Tamaulipas, where the bloody battle happened, is where most of the violence has taken place. The Gulf Cartel is one of the largest criminal and smuggling organizations in Mexico and is based south of Brownsville, Texas. The Gulf Cartel and the Zetas have been battling over smuggling operations and control over the area. The Zetas used to be part of the Gulf Cartel until they split off earlier this year.

Also in Brownsville, Texas two college campuses were shut down after suspected gunfire was coming across the Rio Grande and being directed towards the campuses. University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College were the two colleges where classes were canceled and students and faculty were sent home. The university security guard on duty said that it sounded like they were in the middle of the battle.

Mexico's Police, Marshall Serzen

Being a police officer is Mexico is not looked at as a positive thing. Over 61 percent of the state police force makes less than 325 dollars a month. You immediately have a bulls-eye on your head from the drug cartels. And you have a negative stigma in society. They work an extremely dangerous job, make very little money and are not appreciated in society so why do it. That is what the police force of Los Ramores asked themselves as they all resigned on October 28th after their station was attacked by the local cartels.

On October 28^th several armed gunmen drove up and attacked the new station shooting it over 1500 times while throwing grenades. While none of the police were hurt, six police vehicles were destroyed and one k-9 unit was killed by the gunfire and grenade blasts. Reacting out of fear for their lives all 14 police officers quit and even fled the town. This all happened just three days after the inauguration ceremony of the new station. The government has sent the local military to police the town until a new force is trained and hired. However there is speculation that finding a new force will be extremely difficult.

This area of Mexico was considered to be one of the more peaceful areas until recent attacks like this started happening on local police and several mayors have been killed. This happened among three separate massacres that have happened in the past two weeks.

Mexico's Massacre

On Sunday October 24, 2010, four armed men burst into a drug rehabilitation center in Tijuana, Mexico killing thirteen people. A survivor said that the gunmen came in and told everyone to lie down on the floor and started shooting them, with the majority of the victims being high school students. The motives for these attacks are not known but in the past attacks on rehab centers were the cartels targeting rival gang members in rehab. This is the first attack of its kind in Tijuana although it is more common in Juarez where several of these attacks have taken place.

This happened during a relatively quiet period where the city has seen little drug and gang violence in the past few months and has even been called a success story by President Felipe Calderon. The murder rate has steadily gone down since its climax in 2008, but these recent praises of Tijuana have seemingly encouraged the cartels and gangs. Almost to undermine Calderon, violence has spiked in the past two weeks with beheadings, bodies hanging from bridges, and other random acts of violence.

This is the second mass murder of the weekend. On Friday night gunmen attacked the birthday party of a 15-year-old boy killing 14 in Juarez. Around 50 people gathered, at two separate houses, for the teenager’s birthday with the majority of the victims being high school students. Police have not found out who is responsible for the attacks or a motive.

Mexico's Corruption

Since 2006 over 28,000 people have died in Mexico due to drug violence. Corruption is a huge concern in Mexico where so many people have died due to that drug violence. Recently Mexico fired 3200 police officers, ferderalies, and other law enforcement personnel due to corruption and other offences and over 450 are being charged. Now more corruption charges are emerging but this time against Mexican congressman Cesar Godoy.

Recently a Mexican radio show aired tape of Godoy and Servando Gomez, who is the leader of the “La Familia” cartel, engaging in a conversation. The station did not say how they got the tape but they did say that it was recorded more than a year ago in an ongoing investigation into Godoy’s ties with the cartels. Godoy is already in trouble for helping cartels in his state. Unfortunately because of his lawmaker status he is immune to the law, but because of this new evidence, that could change. Godoy also represents the state of Michoacán.

During the conversation, which was rather long, items discussed were the upcoming election, where Gomez told Godoy that he had total support and that he will win. They also talked about a journalist who was troublesome and talked about possible informants.

When asked about the conversation Godoy said that it was part of a smear campaign, that no one could prove that it was his voice, and denied that it was even him. He also said "It all has to do with a political persecution against me,"

The Truth at Falcon Lake

The Truth at Falcon Lake, Marshall Serzen

 On September 30 David and Tiffany Hartley were riding jet skis on Falcon Lake, which is located on the US border with Mexico, when several boats full of armed men drove up and started shooting at the American couple striking David in the back of the head. Initially it looked like another Cartel attack on an innocent couple. Now Mrs. Hartley is the prime suspect. Her account of that day, and the fact that there is no evidence doesn’t help her case.

Hartley’s story is a little confusing. Hartley’s story has changed and it appears she is loving the media attention. First she said there were several boats then she said only three. She gave coordinates of where the events happened but no evidence has been discovered. US law enforcement cannot do anything because the couple was on the Texas side of the lake but she hasn’t contacted Mexican law enforcement that can do something about it. She said that the pirates took the body and the jet ski, which doesn’t seem likely. Another odd part of the story is how these pirates were able to shoot David in the head while bobbing and flying around on a jet ski but were unable to even hit put a scratch on Tiffany’s machine. Overall tiffany’s story doesn’t add up.

Recently Mexico has named two suspects but David’s family doesn’t think anything is really being done or anyone will be arrested. Searches have been called off because of attacks by the Zeta cartel who is thought to be responsible for the attacks. Recently video evidence that confirmed the early part of the couple’s morning before the attack was released adding some validity to Mrs. Hartley story.