Military siezes 12 tons of marijuana on Mexico-Texas border

A view of some of the 6 tons of marijuana seized in Piedras Negras this week


An ongoing joint operation composed of Mexican Marine and Army special forces paid a surprise visit to Piedras Negras, Coahuila, last Sunday night in an effort to arrest Zeta leaders and disrupt organized criminal activity in the surrounding area.

According to local sources the military has been carrying out continous searches in heavily armed vehicles and 2 helicopters. At least two safe houses in the central area of the city have been raided, one of them two blocks from the city hall.

Five alledged Zeta gangmembers have been taken into custody and flown to the organized crime investigative unit (SIEDO) in Mexico City, and 6 tons of mariguana have been seized. Also seized was an arsenal of several assault type weapons, sidearms and grenades.

Unofficial reports state the top Zeta commanders for Piedras Negras and the surrounding area, “El Celso” and “El Metro” were among those detained in the operation.

Local sources also spoke highly of the professionalism of the Mexican forces involved in the operation and of the gratitude of the city for its efforts in combating organized crime.

Sources:
Vanguardia: http://www.vanguardia.com.mx/decomisandrogayarsenalenpiedrasnegrascoahuila-581706.html



A view of the 6 tons of marijuana seized in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas

The Mexican Army claimed six tons of marijuana were seized on Tuesday, November 2 in the border city of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, according to a Ministry of National Defence (SEDENA) news release.

The marijuana was found at a storage facility for recycled materials located in the Granjas Economicas area of the city. Three vehicles were also seized in the raid.

Sources: SEDENA press release

http://www.sedena.gob.mx/index.php/sala-de-prensa/comunicados-de-prensa/4948-3-de-noviembre-de-2010