Blog dedicated to reporting on Mexican drug cartels
on the border line between the US and Mexico
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Thursday, May 27, 2010

Piedras Negras, Coahuila Under Lockdown













"POR ESTE MEDIO QUIERE FELICITAR EL EJERCITO POR DEFENDERNOS SIGAN ASI YA QUE ESTO ES UN PUEBLO SIN LEY."

"Muchas felicidades al ejercito son ustedes muy valientes sigan asi por favor los necesitamos mucho son los unicos que no se han vendido por unos dlls"

"QUE COMIENZE LA GUERRA DE LOS SOLDADOS CONTRA ESTOS PERROS"

"Un aplauso a los valientes del Ejercito Mexicano, han puesto mas en peligro su vida"


These were a sample of many posts on a message board utilized by Piedras Negras citizens as applause and appreciation was showered on the military by the population of this border city after a series of gunfights late Wednesday morning between the Mexican army and drug cartel gunmen in at least 2 locations

Piedras Negras, a city of 200,000 people is located across the Rio Grande from Eagle Pass, Texas. There has been a long simmering discord among the citizens over the ineptness and perceived co-optation of the local municipal police forces and the administration of this city by drug cartels. This state of affairs has allowed the criminals to act with relative impunity.

This drug trafficking corridor, or “plaza” has recently been in flux as members of the Zeta and Golfo/Sinaloa cartels have fought for ownership of this territory. The disappearances of up to 40people connected to organized crime, several shootouts between competing criminal gangs, and the increasing lawlessness associated with extortions and robberies of businesses and citizens has resulted in a high level of insecurity.

On Wednesday, around 10:30 AM, there was a confrontation between gunmen in a white Suburban suv and elements of the military in the “Laguito Mexicano” area of the city. The confrontation continued outside the “Las Barrocas” restaurant a short distance away.

Witnesses who were caught in the crossfire at both locations spoke of the military’s restraint in the confrontations so as to minimize the risk to civilians on the streets. One witness stated that the military only returned fire at the first location after taking casualties from the reckless fusillade of the gunmen.

The citizens also voiced their disdain for the local police who endangered innocent lives by failing to take any measures in blocking traffic into the areas under fire. A chaotic situation arose in the city until the military effectively took control.

Military roadblocks were in effect throughout Piedras Negras throughout the day and evening and all traffic leaving the city was blocked until the early evening.

The casualties as of early Wednesday evening were 1 soldier dead and 1 soldier gravely injured and in intensive care in the local IMSS hospital. 3 gunmen were injured in the altercation, 1 of them in serious condition. 8 other gunmen were captured and were being held in the military garrison.

After the shootings the 2 international bridges on the border with Eagle Pass, Tx were put on full alert on both the Mexican and U.S. sides to prevent the escape of any gunmen into Eagle Pass. In Eagle Pass, the traffic on the bridges was briefly halted as well armed I.C.E., Border Patrol and Sheriff’s Deputies provided security.

In a related event that may signify a new aggressive policy of confronting drug trafficking gangs in the area by the military, the command of the Mexican army detachment in Piedras Negras was transferred to brigadier general Alejandro Pinacho Lopez on Monday of this week.

General Lopez previously served as an advisor and military attaché in the Republic of Nicaragua.

31 comments:

  1. Good show Mexico looks like there is a chance of real improvement stay the course Bravo!!

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  2. mexico has economic inequalities we can see a mansion beside a cardboard house, at least 70% lives in not very good standards of living, a big population segment is hungry and resented against government, society, neighbours, etc, etc
    Money from the drug activity can buy everything, corruption has been accrued since the azteca/malinche times. This situation has deeper roots and connections anybody could imagine. May God bless Mexico and The Guadalupe Virgin cause nobody else is caring about my people.

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  3. Good job Mexico after all this is the year of your Bicentenario and 100 years of independence. Don't let the bad people ruin the country for the good people, fight for the freedoms of the children and elderly. No one needs to live in fear when they are next to the greatest nation on earth.

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  4. Why there's no story about this? What happened?

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  5. This is great news, God be with the loyal men and women who serve in the Mexican Army. But Shame on the Grupo Zocalo which owns the local newspaper and several radio stations, for not reporting any of these heroic activities in Piedras Negras.

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  6. What happened? Why is there no story on this note? I am from piedras and would like to nkow what is happenning

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  7. Gracias a los soldados por su servicio y tambien por exponer sus vidas al peligro. Les estamos agradecidos....gracias!

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  8. Unfortunately, the Mexican police are not capable of dealing with security issues of this nature. For now, the city's only hope to maintain peace will have to rely on the command of General Lopez and his troops. I applaud him for his efforts in this week’s conflict and wish him luck in confronting future cross fires between the cartels.

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  9. Why does the Piedras Negras city government emphasize the safety in the city when there are so many terrorist-related events week after week? Officials constantly claim how safe it is there and accuse U.S. authorities of scare tactics that "hurt business."

    This is like the fictious Mayor in the movie "jaws" who did not want the sheriff alerting people about the gigantic shark that just gulped down a young lady. While this is just a movie, the principle -- and I dare say the motivation -- likely are synonymous.

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  10. Hasta que no mueran inocentes, el gobierno federal no mandara mas refuerzos, al parecer esto apenas comienza en Piedras...

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  11. Empiezen por la caveza en coahuila como por el Gobernador Moreira que ya le apodaron "MUGREIRA"
    por algo

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  12. Mexico continues to have successes. The military are doing a great job! Taking over another police department and testing all personnel is also another great step.

    Now, if someone would post a list of every success in this real war on drugs, people will get a clearer view of the true situation.

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  13. God have mercy on us.

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  14. y es la frontera blanca de mexico, pero poco a poco toda la gente se esta dando cuenta de lo mal que esta nuestra cuidad. ojala se acabe esto pronto y asi evitar la muerte de civiles inocentes.

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  15. teh ZOCALO people are in threat, the cdg pickup several newspaper guys and told them nothing would happen to them if they did not publized anything going on, piedras negras was and is a beautiful friendly community, hopefully the infested will die soon, MUCHAS GRACIAS AL EJERCITO MEXICANO Y nuestras condolencias alas families de los soldados fallecidos que dan su vida por nuestra seguridad

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  16. Imagine, in Piedras Negras and in Coahuila the press was silenced.

    There must be a lot of people that are in the government of the state that are involved with drugs.

    God help us and help the mexican army.

    In Piedras Negras, la Villita, Saucito, San Vicente, Guerrero you can arrive to notice who are the Zetas because they are just there standing, in case the army arrives then they call theirs.

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  17. q hay de la balasera q paso hoy ? saben algo?

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  18. paso hoy serca de una tienda llamada bomer

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  19. POR FAVOR A TODA LA GENTE DE PIEDRAS NEGRAS, NO COMPREN EL PERIODICO ZOCALO. POR QUE AYUDAR A ESOS TIRANOS DE LOS JUARISTI SI NO HACEN NADA POR LA CIUDADANIA, NO COMENTAN LO QUE REALMENTE ESTA SUCEDIENDO, NO SABEMOS LO QUE PASA EN NUESTRA CIUDAD. SOLAMENTE VELAN POR SUS INTERECES, NO AL ZOCALO.

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  20. I believe Mexico is God's land! It's beautiful! Pope John Paul loved it so much, He visited every chance he got! And since his death. all HELL has broken loose! I believe it's up to the people there to do what is right! The devil is out there! AND HE's FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE!!! You read it in the Bible! The end of the world is coming! Which way do you want to go?

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  21. No culpo al zocalo ni ala Rancherita por no publicar cosas como estas ni muchas de las desapariciones como la de Chapa( el del escandalo disco) lo que pasa es que estan amenazados, y comprendamos que tienen familia y esta ca... no creen ustedes?ahora tampoco sabian que en el CBTIS 34 se levantaron a 3 chamacos yo se porque mi hijo estaba cuando a bordo de una suburban negra bajaron varios hombres armados y los levantaron mi hijo se escondio y miro todo, luego les hablaron a los padres para que fueran a levantar a sus hijos mediante una identificacion revisada por el ejercito. No puedo creer que esto este pasando, pero bueno los del cartel quieren la plaza, y todo esto hay que agradecerselo a Calderon porque el es de los mismos.

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  22. Todo esto esta pasando por culpa de todos nosotros, por no quere ver lo que realmente estaba pasando en nuestra ciudad, todos somos responsables ,hemos dejado solo al ejercito, ahora es tiempo de contribuir denunciando, cada uno se deberia convertir en halcon y reportar via cedular al ejercito, hay que hacer contra intiligencia , todos sabemos quienes son no los incubran , ahora que se estan escondiendo, ejercito hay que haer operativos incubiertos en los 5 manantiales desde atras hacia piedras negras por que en la 57 les avizan los mismos poli municipales de nava y demas municipios

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  23. es una lastima que esto este pasando en piedras negras,en 97 yo sali de ahi buscando un futuro mejor en usa 12 anios han pasado ya,y he pensado regresar,pero toda la violencia que hay ahora me ha echo dudar volver,mis hijos son ya adolecentes y no me gustaria que algo malo les pasara ahi,por favor padres de familia eduquen a sus hijos a ser unos buenos ciudadanos ya que depende de sus buenos consejos sera el futuro de ellos,y a nuestras autoridades locales ojala en verdad hicieran su trabajo de protejer al ciudadano honrado y trabajado,y no vendan sus dignidad de persona, el honor de un buen policia vale mucho mas que unos dolares dejen de pensar en el dinero que ganaran si son corruptos,ya que su familia se sentira orgullosa de tener un gran policia honrrado que con valor y buenos ideales,se sentira orgulloso de llebar puesto el uniforme que lo distinge y amerita respeto mas que al ciudadano civil.
    QUE VIVAN LOS POLICIAS HONRADOS, VIVA LA LIBERTAD,VIVA PIEDRAS NEGRAS COAHILA,VIVA MEXICOOO

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  24. No se sorprendan asi esta todo el pais no solo coahuila o la frontera o zacatecas o sinaloa, etc esta es corrupcion nacional a su maxima expresion, la cosa no se acabara hasta qque el grupo mas fuerte gane o se maten todos, este es un negocio internacional, con esto $$$$$$$$$$ se compra todo, lo facil y rapido todos quieren trabajar

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  25. es una desgracia lo que pasa en mexico pero todo por culpa de nosotros los ciudadanos,es muy tarde para tratar de combatir al narco que esta entranado en cada uno de nosotros,apoyandolo con mentir,ignonar,no educarnos,no educar a nuestros hijos,no denunciar,tener miedo,hasta con comprar cd de 'narco corridos'etc.

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  26. Everyone thinks tht Mexico is gonna get better but no one sees how bad it is getting the police were caught there cause they was part of it tht is y Der is military there wat makes u think tht some of the military is not in tht aswell.....its is sad to see ur own race against eachother but only god nos y r.I.p. to all those innocent....

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  27. The end is near! We all have to be Vigilanties on our own" this is our fight and fight we shall till the end my friends. Better them than us!!

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  28. MI COMENTARIO ES CON EL FIN DE PROBOCAR EL QUE LA CIUDADNIA ENFOQUE SU ATENCION ASIA EL ORIGEN DE EL PROBLEMA, QUE A MI ENTENDER SON LOS AMOS DE EL MERCADER DE LAS DROGAS. MI PRIMERA PREGUNTA, ASIA DONDE SE TRASPORTA Y SE CONSUME Y ES MEJOR PAGADA LA DROGA ?la segunda pregunta Quienes fabrican y comercian las armas???y tersera cual es la moneda en que se pagan las drogas ?? pues bien si su respuesta en los ESTADOS UNIDOS BIEN PUES ELLOS SON LOS QUE MANIPULAN EL MERCADO TANTO DE LAS ARMAS COMO DE LAS DROGAS Y ESTO ES SOLAMENTE UNA DISTRACCION PARA LIQUIDAR A LA MALLORIAS DE HOMBRES VALIENTES QUIENES NO PERMITIRAN JAMAS UNA INVACION DE EL GOVIERNO AMERICANO TEN MUCHO CUIDADO CALDERON Y NO PERMITAS Y SE TE TOME EL PELO Y PERMITAS LA INTROMISION DE TROPAS EXTRANGERAS A NUESTRO TERITORIO CON LA PENDEJA EXCUSA DE QUE NO PUEDES CONTROLAR A EL NARCO Y SI NO PUEDES MEJOR RENUNCIA Y DEJEN QUE EL PRI GOVIERNE YA QUE DURANTE MAS DE,, CUNTOS? ANOS CURENTA ?? DE PRI GOVIERNO NUNCA SE VIVIO LO QUE ASTA HO ESTA PASANDO EN MEXICO ESE ES ELGRAN CANBIO DE EL QUE USTEDES LOS QUE VOTARON POR EL CANBIO TOMEN PUES HOY SU CANBIO

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  29. Dejencen de manadas

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  30. mas de 70 años el pri goberno

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