Marinas Ambushes in NL, Tamps Leaves 5 Dead 12 Wounded

Translated By Yaqui for Borderland Beat from El Sol de Leon

 By Manrique Gandaria

A Mexican marine and four suspected gunmen were killed during a coordinated series of ambushes against marine patrols in a northern Mexico border city, authorities reported Sunday.

The attacks late Saturday and early Sunday left a total of 12 marines wounded.

Authorities said marines were ambushed three separate times in Nuevo Laredo, a city across the border from Laredo, Texas.

Marines returned fire and killed one gunman in the first attack, but suffered three wounded.

 The first attack occurred during a patrol carried out in the City of Nuevo Laredo, when the Marines received firearm shots from moving vehicles, so based on the Manual of Use of the Common Enforcement Force of the three Armed Forces and in order to reduce the level of aggression and reduce the danger of casualties of civilians and naval personnel, this aggression was repelled.

 After the fray, the Semar reported that three naval elements were seriously wounded, and one alleged criminal was killed.

 

Subsequently, naval elements leaving the Base of Operations, in order to provide support and medical attention to naval personnel who had been attacked, "were ambushed approximately 600 meters from said facility by persons presumably belonging to organized crime, with result of six wounded naval elements and a dead sailor ".

 

The military institute stated that in a third action, naval personnel of another Base of Operations, when going to support the naval elements that were wounded, likewise they were assaulted by presumed offenders of the law. "Result of this event four naval elements injured and three alleged criminals died in the place."

 Given these facts, the high command of the Semar and in order to reduce the level of aggression and reduce the danger of casualties of civilians and naval personnel, ordered the aerial support of a helicopter gunship.

 The final result of the three attacks was the death of one sailor, 12 more wounded and the death of four alleged offenders of the law, presumably belonging to criminal groups responsible for the generation of violence in the state of Tamaulipas.

 

The Semar indicated that uniforms and apocryphal vehicles with the legend "MARINA", armament, ammunition and accoutrements for the exclusive use of the Armed Forces were seized.

The institution stated  that it will not give in to the threat of those who harm society and the safety of families; it will act with firmness in the defense of the peace of Mexico, and it will continue to strengthen the work in favor of citizen security that is entrusted to us to be carried out with honor, duty, loyalty and patriotism, honorary actions that represent the performance of naval personnel and operational units, which is a worthy example to follow.

Nuevo Laredo is dominated by the Northeast Cartel, an offshoot of the Zetas cartel.