Workshop Used to Make Narco Tanks Raided in Sinaloa Cartel Territory in Sonora

"El Lic" for Borderland Beat

The following is a translation of an article published by Milenio newspaper

A workshop in Sonoyta, Sonora, that was used to armor “monstruo” type vehicles was raided by security forces. 

Sonora’s state Security Bureau reported they had raided and seized a warehouse in the municipality of Sonoyta, Sonora. It was being used as a welding workshop which focused on the repair and assembly of armored vehicles for cartel groups. 

Three of these armored vehicles, known as “monstruos”, were found on site, along with two long barrel firearms and drugs. 

They stated the raid was carried out by soldiers from the Army (SEDENA) and agents from the Agency Ministerial Investigation Criminal (AMIC) as part of a search warrant for locations within the regions of Desierto de Sonora and La Nariz.

Inside the warehouse, the soldiers found an armored RAM pickup truck with a custom built machine gun turret, as well as an armored Hummer H2 SUV and an armored Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck. 

Additional ballistic steel plates, welding machines, welding electrodes, angle grinders, plus 78 ponchallantas (tire spikes). 

After the raid, Army soldiers found two other armored vehicles at a secondary location which is presumed to be connected with the workshop. Firearms and “other evidence” was found at this secondary location 

Investigators will have access to the seized evidence and try to determine who owns the workshop. 

Source: Milenio