Joint Operation Nuevo Leon-Tamaulipas

Location: Nuevo León & Tamaulipas, Mexico
Result: Ongoing
Belligerents: Gulf Cartel (CDG), Los Zetas, La Familia, Sinaloa Cartel
Capos: Jorge Eduardo Costilla, Antonio Ezequiel Cárdenas Guillén, Juan Nepomuceno Guerra (deceased), Juan García Abrego (Captured), Salvador "El Chava" Gómez(assassinated), Osiel Cárdenas (Captured), Heriberto Lazcano, Miguel Treviño Morales.

Joint Operation Nuevo León-Tamaulipas is an anti-drug joint operation in two mexican states of Tamaulipas and Nuevo León by Federal Police and the Mexican Armed Forces.

The objective of the joint operation is to eliminate Los Zetas and Gulf Cartel operations in the area, so far a large number of cartel members have been either killed or arrested. Recently Los Zetas and the Gulf Cartel have broken relations and started fighting each other.

The arrest of Osiel Cárdenas

Osiel Cárdenas, leader of the Gulf Cartel at the time was captured by the Mexican Army in a battle between Gulf Cartel gunmen and the Army on March 14, 2003, in Matamoros. Though subsequently incarcerated at Penal del Altiplano (La Palma), México's top security prison, it was widely believed that he continued to have control over Gulf Cartel business from within prison walls.

2007
On April 3, in Tampico, elements of Federal Police, Mexican Navy, and PGR seized a large number of weapons.

On April 12, for the first time in the state of Nuevo León, army soldiers confronted cartel gunmen while searching houses in the municipality of Marín. One gunman was reported killed and two were arrested.

On December 7, In Cadereyta, Nuevo León, army troops fought a gunbattle against gunmen leaving one of them injured and three them in captivity. Two kidnapped civilians were freed.

2008

On January 7, In the city of Río Bravo, Tamaulipas, Federal Police forces spotted and began to pursuit a group of armed men. The pursuit came to an halt, the armed group began shooting at federal police officers, when Army and Federal Police reinforcements came to scene the gunmen sought cover in a building where the Military/Federal police confronted them killing 3 and arresting 10 of the armed group.

In the municipality of Miguel Alemán, Tamaulipas, on February 7 , soldiers from the army's 1st Special Forces Battalion carrying out a recon mission spotted a suspect aboard a grand Cherokee, when the suspected realize he was being under surveillance he attempted to flee but was apprehended. following the arrest the special forces team stormed inside the building arresting another four suspects and seizing 9 tons of marijuana, 89 weapons plus a M1919 Browing machine gun.

The following month on March 5, Army personnel from the 8th Military Zone acting on a tip given to the 15th Infantry Battalion arrested 8 public officials that were receiving bribe money that turned out to be agents of the Ministeral Police (Policia Ministerial), two days later they were handed over to the PGR's SIEDO.

In April 30 acting upon an anymous tip, army pesonnel from the 1st Motorized Cavalry Regiment in the city of Ciudad Mier were fired up by gunmen and fled, consequently one cavalry soldier was killed, while three were injured and transported to there Regional Military Hospital in Monterrey.

2009
Gunbattle in Reynosa
A multiple-hour running gun battle between elements of the Army and unknown attackers (sicarios) resulted in five dead soldiers and 5 dead assailants in a shopping district and several residential neighborhoods of Reynosa, Tamaulipas. Approximately 20 additional people were injured by gunfire and grenades.

Televisa grenade attack
On January 7, gunmen fired on and threw grenades at the Televisa TV station in Monterrey during a nightly newscast, causing no injuries. A note left on the scene read: "Stop reporting just on us. Report on the narco's political leaders."

Confrontations
On April 1, In Tampico, Tamaulipas, three gunmen were killed while in a 10 minute gunfight with army troops.

Arrest of major suspects
On April 10, A lawyer who defends members of the Gulf cartel and Los Zetas was arrested.

An ex Special forces soldier of the Guatelaman Army known as Kaibiles and assumed leader of the Oaxaca state chapter of Los Zetas Israel Nava Cortez aka "El Ostión" was killed in a shootout between Federal Police forces.

On April 30, Federal Police arrest Gregorio Sauceda Gamboa, an influential figure in Los Zetas, was captured in the city of Matamoros.

On May 22, the Secretariat of Defense reported that one of the main lieutenants of the Gulf Cartel —Raymundo Almanza Morales, a.k.a.: "El Gori"— had been arrested by troops in Monterrey, Nuevo León. "El Gori" is among the 37 most wanted drug traffickers in Mexico.

On August 17, In the municipality of San Nicolás de los Garza, a gunbattle between soldiers, police forces and a Los zetas cell of that municipality left three soldiers injured, four members of the Los Zetas (One of the four dead apparently was the cells leader,Refugio Garza Pescador aka "El Rambo") dead and twelve Zeta members captured.

After the gunfight it was discovered that one of the Zeta members is actually the pregnant daughter of a Municipal Police chief of Apodaca. It is suspected that the father of the unborn child is Refugio Pescador aka "El Rambo".

2010
Note: From February 8 to 18 Mexican Naval operations and events are listed below:

February 8 - In Reynosa, During a routine patrol Marines were received gunfire from gunmen inside various vehicles. Marines repelled the attack and captured 3 of the gunmen, 14 trucks, various assault rifles, ammunition, and 26 packages of marijuana. During the firefight 3 marines were killed and 8 were injured, 3 gunmen were also killed.

February 11 - Matamoros, Tamaulipas, two individuals name Adolfo Vázquez Ortiz and José Alberto Ramírez Gaitán were arrested. The two men haved been accused of being link with Organize crime and having a connection with a criminal group that was involved in the attack of marines on February 8 in Reynosa. Both men were sent to the federal authorities in Mexico City.

February 12 - In Méndez, Tamaulipas, Marines raided the ranch of "El Culebreño". Naval personnel discovered and seized: 5 assault rifles, 2 pistols, ammunition, one package of marijuana, and 8 vehicles.

February 15 - In Reynosa, Tamaulipas. Mexican Marines captured Treviño Cardoza “El Trevi” a known member of Los Zetas along with 6 accomplices. "El Trevi" is known for drug smuggling specifically marijuana. During the course of the operation marines received gunfire from the suspects and returned fire which led to his capture.

February 18 - Near Reynosa, PEMEX personnel informed the Military that armed men were present in a PEMEX instalation. A Naval helicopter was dispatch and spotted three suspicious vehicles, marines disembarked the helicopter and were met with gunfire. Marines repeled the attack and captured 5 vehicles, inside them were packages of marijuana with the weight of 4,413 kilos, the gunmen managed to fled.

On the same day, due to the success of Air - Sea patrols, and checkpoints in Valle Hermoso, Tamaulipas, four drug traffickers, 4 trucks, 2 assault rifles, 9 rifle magazines and 186 catridges were seized.

Note: From March 4 - 5 Mexican Naval operations are listed below.

March 4 - In Monterrey, Nuevo León. Naval personnel in a joint operation with Federal Police forces raided a home in the center of the city. The raid disrupted illegal activity such as illegal liquor smuggled into the country, 10 workers were arrested and sent to the custody of SIEDO.

In the same area of the city, Mario Alberto Garcia Ramirez aka "El Galleto" assumed leader of a group of hitmen that belong to Los Zetas was arrested. Four suspects, two assault rifles, three vehicles were also seized.

March 4 - In the Colonia of Corrijo del Rey, Nine members of the Beltrán-Leyva Cartel including 4 state police officers who were collaborating with the cartel were arrested. Assault rifles and ammunition were also seized.

March 19 - In Monterrey, gunmen inside a three vehicle convoy fired upon a military convoy which gave chase. The chase ended in Monterrey's Technological campus when one of the hostile vehicles which consisted of a armoured GMC Yukon stopped and its occupants fled to the entrance of a building but were shot and killed by army troops.

Overall two gunmen were killed and three soldiers were injured by two grenades that were thrown by the other hostile vehicles which escaped presumable aided by the state police. Army troops also seized 3 assault rifles, and several rifle magazines.[

March 25 - 85 kilometers northeast of Monterrey in the municipality of Cerralvo, Nuevo Leon. Naval helicopters intercepted a large convoy made up various trucks and suspects, the convoy were ordered to stop but responded with ground fire. Marines and the suspected convoy clashed leaving 6 gunmen dead and various ammunition and weaponry were also confiscated. Mexican Army troops were ordered to secure the area.

April 24 - Mexican troops and gunmen clashed in the two municipalitys of Benito Juarez and San Nicolás de los Garza. In both firefights 6 gunmen were killed, one captured and one soldier injured. Army air and ground units were mobilized to secure the area.

Later that day, Army and State Investigation Agency (AEI) personnel took control of the Municipal Police Stations in Benito Juarez and Apodaca to investigate police officers in aiding the gunmen. Five police officers were arrested suspected in aiding the gunmen that attacked army troops earlier.

April 25 - The Mexican Army has reported that on April 24 acting on a anynomous tip, Troops were sent to the municipality of General Bravo, Nuevo León to conduct ground surveillance on a ranch that was manned by armed civilians. Upon arriving military personnel were met with ground fire from a convoy of 20 vehicles, soldiers returned fire, killing three of the gunmen.

In seizing the ranch 4 gunmen were captured, 40 assault rifles, 12 trucks and several thousand rounds of ammunition were also seized. Soldiers also discovered 7 alive hostages that were being extorted by a criminal organization to take away there property, the armed group was utilizing the ranch as a based of operations.

April 28 - In Sabinas Hidalgo, Nuevo León. Acting on a anonymous tip, Mexican troops onboard three helicopters flew over a farm were upon arriving armed civilians noticing the military presence opened fire on the helicopters. The airborne troops returned fire killing two gunmen and forcing the rest to disperse to the hills.

After seizing the farm house, troops discovered 16 hostages that were chained. Also seized were 17 assault rifles, 10 handguns, 3 submachine guns, 2 grenades, 1 rocket launcher, and dozens of packages of marijuana inside a truck that weight 2 tons. Army officials said that the gunmen belong to the criminal organization of Los Zetas.

May 4 - In Matamoros, Tamaulipas. After receiving information from Mexican Naval Intelligence, Mexican Marines raided a safe house inside the city. A man was arrested during the raid, presume to be the armed guard of the safehouse, 11 hostages were also discovered. From the same Intelligence report, Marines raided another safe house where another 6 hostages were later found.

Monterrey, Nuevo León - Due to a successful Naval air and land surveillance operation, 5 Monterrey police officers were arrested by Marines. One of the five officers declare himself a "Halcon" (Hawk).

May 6 - Tamaulipas. According to news reports, 1,000 heavily armed Mexican Marines onboard 100 vehicles have been spotted moving into the five municipal border towns of: Ciudad Mier, Guerrero, Miguel Alemán, Camargo, and Gustavo Díaz Ordaz. These municipalitys have been a battle ground between The Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas ever since there split from each other.

June 4 - Mexican marines in a Anti-crime organization operation in San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León, arrested four cartel suspects. One of the cartel suspects is Raúl Amberto Padilla Gómez who the Mexican government says is a financial operative within Los Zetas in San Pedro Garza García.

June 6 - As a result of intelligence sharing by diverse agencys, Mexican marines arrested two drug cartel suspects in Nuevo Laredo. The two suspects were also found with a 9mm pistol, a briefcase with 111,000 dollars in U.S. currency, another case with 18,000 pesos and with various communications equipment.

June 8 - Juan Alberto González, 60, presumably from Brownsville, Texas was arrested by marines in Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Naval Infantry personel spotted the 60 year old brownsville man suspiciously leaving a house running to his vehicle, when marines stopped him and searched his vehicle they found a package of marijuana. After searching the home they also discovered 63 packages of marijuana that weigh 241 kilograms and various communication equipment. Juan Alberto and seized narcotics were sent to the naval installations in Matamoros.

June 9 - Mexican Special Forces troops from the 7th Military Zone acting on military intelligence arrested Hector Raul Luna Luna aka El Tory, who the army says is a Los Zetas leader in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. Hector Raul is said to be responsible for attacks on The U.S. consulate in Monterrey and the execution of six Mexican army soldiers.

Along with Hector Raul Luna, army troops also arrested David Eduardo Fuentes Martinez aka El Chile. Hector Raul Luna admitted that under the orders of Sigifredo Najera Talamantes aka El Canico who was arrested last year on March participated the attacks on the U.S. consulate and the execution of six soldiers due to the crackdown in anti-drug operations by the army.

In the same day, Mexican troops made a surprise inspection in a State police barracks to inspect firearms that are used by the state police in Northern Monterrey.[