19 November 2009
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Security Watch
Table of Contents
MEXICO
ORGANIZED CRIME AND DRUG TRAFFICKING
Former Police Chiefs Arrested in Nuevo Leon in Joint Operation – 19
November 2009
Two PMI Agents Murdered in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua – 19
November 2009
Six Individuals to Include Three Minors Killed in Ciudad Juarez,
Chihuahua – 19 November 2009
Charred Body Found in Morelia, Michoacan – 18 November 2009
MILITARY
Mexican Soldiers Arrest Member of Los Aztecas in Ciudad Juarez,
Chihuahua – 19 November 2009
Proposed Pay Increase for Mexican Soldiers – 19 November 2009
Mexican Soldiers Dismantle Drug Lab Used for the Production of
Heroin in Chilpancingo, Guerrero – 19 November 2009
Four Teodoro Eduardo Garcia Semental Gang Members Captured in
Tijuana, Baja California – 18 November 2009
Mexican Soldiers Seize 12.328 Metric Tons of Marijuana in Choix,
Sinaloa – 18 November 2009
Soldiers Seize Large Quantity of Weapons over Week Time Period in
Sinaloa – 17 November 2009
FEDERAL POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
Police Detain Hitman in Mazatlan, Sinaloa – 18 November 2009
Three Arrested Trying to Collect Ransom Money in Tapachula, Chiapas
– 19 November 2009
PJE Officers Find Body along the Manzanillo-Guadalajara Highway
near Tuxpan, Jalisco – 19 November 2009
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 19 November 2009

State Police Officers Arrest One and Seize 200 Kilograms of Marijuana
in Hostotipaquillo, Jalisco – 19 November 2009
SSPEJ Officers Arrest Six and Seize 1,154 Kilograms of Marijuana in
San Marcos, Jalisco – 19 November 2009
Zitacuaro Police to Receive New Weapons to Bolster Security in
Michoacan – 19 November 2009
SOCIO-ECONOMIC
Economic Recovery for Mexico is Still Two to Three Years Away – 19
November 2009
CENTRAL AMERICA
Guatemalan National Civil Police and Soldiers Locate Burning Aircraft
in Escuintla, Guatemala- 19 November 2009

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 19 November 2009

MEXICO
ORGANIZED CRIME AND DRUG TRAFFICKING
Former Police Chiefs Arrested in Nuevo Leon in Joint Operation – 19 November 2009
Mexican Army soldiers and AEI agents carried out a joint operation in which they arrested three former
Secretaries of Public Security (at the municipal level) and 10 police officers for their alleged ties to the
Gulf Cartel. The operation was carried out in the following municipalities in Nuevo Leon: Allende,
Apodaca, Juarez, Doctor Coss, Escobedo, Guadalupe, Sabinas Hidalgo, Lampazos, Montemorelos,
Salinas, San Nicolas, and Santiago.
The three former Secretaries of Public Security arrested were identified as:
 Jose SANTOS Almaraz, former SSP head in Guadalupe
 Alejandro Arturo ESPARZA Flores, former SSP head in Montemorelos
 Amador MEDINA Flores, former SSP head in Monterrey. The daughter of MEDINA Flores was
the girlfriend of a Zeta leader who was assassinated earlier this year.
The names of other officers arrested are as follows:
 In the municipality of Apodaca: Armandina MENDOZA Gomez and Noe Emmanuel BLANCA
Gallegos
 In the municipality of Juarez: Mario MARTINEZ Luevano and Eric Ivan MORENO Suarez
 In the municipality of Lampazos: Guadalupe CRUZ Ramirez
 In Monterrey: Rafael DOMINGUEZ Sifuentes
 In the municipality of General Trevino: Jose Maria OYERVIDEZ Martinez
 Eduardo Alejandro MORALES Ocanas
 Federico Baldemar TREVINO Rayas
 Raul CAMACHO Vigil

Comment: This article adds to the scanty information provided by an article included in our 18
November 2009 Mexico Newsbriefs.

Spanish Source: http://impreso.milenio.com/node/8675757

Two PMI Agents Murdered in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua – 19 November 2009

Two individuals were killed at the intersection of Estacion Lucero and Neptuno Streets. This intersection
is located in front of the Pascual Ortiz Rubio Elementary School and the Tecnica 40 Middle School in
Ciudad Juarez [30.3167 -108.0833], Chihuahua. According to unofficial reports, the two now deceased
individuals were PMI agents, however; this information has not been confirmed.

Spanish Source: http://www.elagoradechihuahua.com/Matan-a-2-frente-a-primaria,19704.html

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 19 November 2009

Six Individuals to Include Three Minors Killed in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua – 19 November 2009
Hitmen killed six individuals, to include three minors, during separate incidents in Ciudad Juarez
[30.3167 -108.0833], Chihuahua. The incidents were reported as follows:
 Event one: Jolmer Angulo Vargas, 14, Pablo Martinez Lopez, 14, Pablo Martinez Lopez, 40, and
Luis Alberto Delgado, 24, were killed by a group of hitmen when inside a locksmith shop located
on the Jilotepec and Mitla Streets in the Del Real neighborhood.
 Event two: Mario Alberto Grijalva Garcia, 16, was shot 17 times while walking through
Coahuila and Centeno Streets in the Del Real neighborhood.
 Event three: a group of hitmen arrived and killed an individual (name not revealed) while he was
sitting on a sofa inside his house located on Jacinto Benavente and Eduardo Barrios Streets in the
Infonavit Casas Grandes neighborhood. This individual was shot various times in the head.

In a separate incident, two municipal police officers (male and female) were wounded during a
confrontation with a group of hitmen. This confrontation occurred at the intersection of Durango and
Santiago Troncoso Streets in the Ecco 2000 neighborhood.

Spanish Source: http://www.oem.com.mx/elheraldodechihuahua/notas/n1409548.htm

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Charred Body Found in Morelia, Michoacan – 18 November 2009

On 17 November 2009, SSP officers were notified by pedestrians of a dead body found inside a
construction zone in the Ignacio Allende neighborhood of Morelia [19.7000 -101.1167], Michoacan.
Officers responded to the call and found the body of a charred female who had been tied up (most likely
her hands and feet) with a plastic bag covering her head. Because her head was covered, police believe
that she might have been kidnapped prior to being murdered. The now deceased woman has not yet been
identified.

Spanish Source: http://www.cambiodemichoacan.com.mx/vernota.php?id=113088

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MILITARY
Mexican Soldiers Arrest Member of Los Aztecas in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua – 19 November
2009
Mexican soldiers originally stopped Juan BARRIOS
Isidoro, 36, in Ciudad Juarez [30.3167 -108.0833],
Chihuahua. At this time, soldiers found he had a .40
caliber pistol in his possession. After further investigation,
BARRIOS Isidoro was linked to the murder of six
individuals and the attack of an armored bus. He was also
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 19 November 2009

identified as a hitman for the Los Aztecas gang who work with the Juarez Cartel.

Spanish Source: http://www.elagoradechihuahua.com/Capturan-a-sicario-mato-a-6,19703.html

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Proposed Pay Increase for Mexican Soldiers – 19 November 2009

SEDENA, in spite of the economic downturn, is planning an increase in the salaries for basic soldiers
compared to what they received during the previous administration. The hope is that this pay increase
will be implemented by 2012.
Changes in pay since 2006 according to data from SEDENA:
 Up until 01 December 2006, a basic soldier earned $(MXN) 4, 474 per month
 After 01 December 2006, pay was increased to $(MXN) 6,974.14 per month
 By 2012, SEDENA is planning on increasing this amount to $(MXN) 8,948 per month

Comment: Even with the increase in salary to its current level, soldiers are still paid less than police
officers in many states.

Spanish Source: http://impreso.milenio.com/node/8675767

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Mexican Soldiers Dismantle Drug Lab Used for the Production of Heroin in Chilpancingo,
Guerrero – 19 November 2009
Soldiers from the 50th Infantry Battalion dismantled a drug laboratory that was allegedly being used for
the production of opium gum and heroin. The drug lab was located outside the Coapango village in the
mountains of the Chilpancingo municipality [17.5500 -99.5000], of Guerrero. Items seized from this
location were identified as follows:
 4.5 kilograms 260 grams of a substance had the characteristics of pure heroin
 90 liters of a black liquid that smelled like opium gum
 4 kilograms of poppy seed
 1 burner
 1 blender
 (8) 20 liter containers with a transparent liquid; presumably paint solvent
 (3) 200 liter metal empty containers
 (2) 88 liter plastic containers; both contained a black liquid that was presumably opium gum

Spanish Source: http://www.diariodeguerrero.com.mx/CGI-

BIN/diariodegro/notipales/shownotipal.php?idnote=19086

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 19 November 2009

Four Teodoro Eduardo Garcia Semental Gang Members Captured in Tijuana, Baja California – 18
November 2009
On November 18 2009, soldiers assigned to the
2nd Motorized Calvary Regiment and the 2nd
Military Zone’s 5th Special Forces Battalion
responded to an anonymous citizen’s tip regarding
an armed group of men. At this point, they
launched an operation on Cantil Avenue in the
San Antonio division of Tijuana [32.5333 -
117.0167], Baja California. Here, they arrested
four individuals working for Teodoro Eduardo
Garcia Semental. These men were identified as:
 Please see original source article for
name, male, 21, from Los Angeles
California
 Eliu CARLOS Zepeda, 37, from Tijuana,
Baja California
 Ramiro PIMENTAL Quiroz, aka, “El Gordo, 39, from Tijuana, Baja California
 Jose Miguel PEREZ Meza, 32, from Culiacan, Sinaloa
Items seized included:
 2.8 kilograms of methamphetamines
 16 kilograms of marijuana
 5 kilograms of chemicals used for the production of synthetic drugs
 4 AK-47 rifles
 (3) AR-15 rifles
 (2) 12 gauge shotguns
 (1) .380 semi automatic handgun
 (1).22 semi automatic handgun
 (2) .9mm semi automatic handguns
 (2) .38 special handguns
 1 fragmentation grenade
 2,859 rounds of ammunition
 54 magazines
 2 police type uniforms
 3 bullet proof vests
 1 tracksuit with the PGR logo
 4 vehicles

Spanish Source: http://www.oem.com.mx/elsoldetijuana/notas/n1407311.htm

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 19 November 2009

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Mexican Soldiers Seize 12.328 Metric Tons of Marijuana in Choix, Sinaloa – 18 November 2009
On 16 November 2009, Mexican soldiers conducting reconnaissance
operations in Choix [26.7092 -108.3219] Sinaloa, discovered two
abandoned tractor trailers with 700 rectangle bundles of marijuana
along with two pickup trucks loaded with equipment. In total,
12,328 kilograms of marijuana were seized. Other items reported as
seized included:
 1 white 1990 Kenworth tractor trailer with Sonora plates
UT62273
 1 white 2005 Chevrolet Kodiak closed cabin trailer with Sonora plates UW13723
 1 Toyota Tacoma
 1 GMC pickup loaded with equipment

Spanish Source: http://www.informador.com.mx/mexico/2009/154665/6/incautan-12-toneladas-de-

mariguana-en-sinaloa.htm

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Soldiers Seize Large Quantity of Weapons over Week Time Period in Sinaloa – 17 November 2009

The following seizures were carried out by Mexican army soldiers between 08 November 2009 and 15
November 2009 as a part of Operation Conjunto Culiacan-Navolato-Guamuchil-Mazatlan.
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 19 November 2009

In and around Culiacan [24.7994 -107.3897] soldiers seized:

 5 residences
 19 weapons
 92 magazines
 3,799 live rounds
 (26) .50 caliber bandoleers
 7 vehicles, two of which were armored
 56 grams of cocaine
 570 grams of marijuana
In the Emiliano Zapata [25.8667 -109.1167] sector of Culiacan, authorities arrested/seized:
 Victor Alfonso BARAJAS Chaidez
 246 grams of marijuana
 1 handgun
 1 magazine
 $(MXN) 5,100.00
In the Camino sector of Culiacan, authorities arrested/seized:
 Jaime LEAL Valenzuela
 Heriberto GALLARDO Jesus
 Gilberto HUICHO Aviles with 650 grams of marijuana
 1 gram of cocaine
 1 pickup
In the Terranova sector of Culiacan, authorities seized:
 a house
 (1) .50 caliber rifle
 5 AK-47’s
 1,460 live rounds
 2 fragmentation grenades
 1 armored pickup
 tactical equipment
 2 fake license plates
 1 PGJE license plate
In Mocorito [25.4833 -107.9167], Navolato [24.7672 -107.6944], and Culiacan [24.7994 -107.3897]
authorities seized:
 95 weapons
 45 magazines
 976 live rounds
 2 kilograms of marijuana seed
 5 grams of cocaine
 1 four wheeler

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 19 November 2009

In San Ignacio [25.5000 -108.8833] and Badiraguato [25.3667 -1075167] authorities seized:
 200 kilograms of marijuana
 3 vehicles; one of which was reported stolen
 38 grams of cocaine
 340 grams of opium gum
In the Shimizu village of Mazatlan [23.2167 -106.4167] authorities seized:
 410 grams of marijuana
 810 grams of marijuana seed
In municipalities of Sinaloa [25.8333 -108.2333] and Ahome [25.9167 -109.1833] authorities seized:
 11 weapons
 7 magazines
 375 live rounds
 5 magazines
 1 residence
 512 kilograms of marijuana
 4 vehicles; one of which was reported stolen
Spanish Source: http://www.noroeste.com.mx/publicaciones.php?id=530821, and
http://www.informador.com.mx/mexico/2009/154934/6/asegura-ejercito-droga-armas-y-vehiculos-en-
sinaloa.htm

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FEDERAL POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT

Police Detain Hitman in Mazatlan, Sinaloa – 18 November 2009
On 17 November 2009, members of the Specialized
Apprehension Unit arrested Jorge GARCIA Nunez,
aka El Bombero, 29, in Mazatlan [23.2167 -
106.4167], Sinaloa. Garcia Nunez was wanted for
the assassination of Daniel Vargas Ortega, 68, a
retired military officer from Durango. The murder
of the retired officer occurred on the afternoon of 02
April 2009 as Ortega was going to work. At this
point, Nunez and his accomplice, Alan Ortiz
Serrano, drove up alongside of Ortega and shot him
in the head with 9mm weapon.

Spanish Source: http://www.oem.com.mx/elsoldemazatlan/notas/n1407409.htm

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 19 November 2009

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Three Arrested Trying to Collect Ransom Money in Tapachula, Chiapas – 19 November 2009
At 2040 hours on 18 November 2009, police arrested three
people when they tried to collect the ransom from a
kidnapping. Authorities first arrested a female that was parked
in a Dodge Stratus (unknown Federal District plates) on Fidel
Velasquez Boulevard, across from the “24 de Junio” Market.

Minutes after the arrest, two individuals rushed to the scene to

inquire as to why they had been detained the female. At that
time, authorities also arrested these two individuals, identified
as Yeremi Edalí Flores, former State Congresswoman, and
Benigno Salazar Anguiano, an employee of the State Congress
Workers’ Union.

Spanish Source: http://www.oem.com.mx/elheraldodechiapas/notas/n1408749.htm

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PJE Officers Find Body along the Manzanillo-Guadalajara Highway near Tuxpan, Jalisco – 19
November 2009
Jalisco PJE officers discovered the body of an unidentified 20-25 year-old at the bottom of a bridge along
the Guadalajara-Colima stretch of highway near Tuxpan [19.5708 -103.3759], Jalisco. The victim, who
was found without identification, was described as fair-skinned, wearing blue jeans, a lavender shirt, a
black and White cloth belt, Vans tennis shoes, and black socks. It was also noted that Jalisco PJE
officials enlisted the help of Colima PJE officials for help in identifying the body.

Spanish Source:
http://www.correodemanzanillo.com.mx/index.php?seccion=15&id=70880&encabezado=Localizan%20c
adáver%20en%20la%20autopista

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State Police Officers Arrest One and Seize 200 Kilograms of Marijuana in Hostotipaquillo, Jalisco –
19 November 2009
State police officers arrested Armando HERNANDEZ Romero, 36,
for possession of 200 kilograms of marijuana after he was stopped
for a routine search on La Venta del Potrero del Carrizo road in the
Yerba village of Hostotipaquillo [21.0667 -104.0667], Jalisco.

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HERNANDEZ Romero was driving an old model pick up where he was hiding the drug.

Spanish Source: http://www.informador.com.mx/jalisco/2009/155513/6/lo-detienen-tras-encontrarle-

200-kilos-de-marihuana.htm

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SSPEJ Officers Arrest Six and Seize 1,154 Kilograms of Marijuana in San Marcos, Jalisco – 19
November 2009
Jalisco police officers arrested six individuals who were caught packaging marijuana in the San Marcos
municipality [20.7833 -104.1833], of Jalisco. The arrests were carried out after officers detained Jesus
MENDEZ Ramirez, 44, for possession of a .12 caliber pistol and 10 rounds, on a road that leads to San
Marcos al Taray village. MENDEZ Ramirez then confessed to police that he was guarding the farm
known as El Yaqui where others were packaging marijuana. At this location, officers detained six
individuals packaging marijuana. They were identified as:
 Alejandro CUEVAS Lopez, 26, from Michoacan
 Valente RAMIREZ Ruiz, 35
 Jose Manuel LOPEZ Celaya, 42
 Maria RAMOS Gonzalez, 36
 Lucia MORALES Meraz, 48
Seized from this location were 53 sacks of marijuana weighting 1,154.500 kilograms, two large jars, and
one plastic container with 10 kilograms of marijuana.

Spanish Source: http://www.informador.com.mx/jalisco/2009/155383/6/capturan-a-seis-con-mas-de-una-

tonelada-de-mariguana.htm

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Zitacuaro Police to Receive New Weapons to Bolster Security in Michoacan – 19 November 2009
The City Council of Zitacuaro authorized the purchase of $(MXN) 1,500,000 worth of weapons to be
used by the Municipal Public Safety Administration of Zitacuaro [19.4000 -100.3667], Michoacan.
Because of security reasons, neither the type nor the number of weapons that will be bought was revealed.
In addition to weapons, money will be used to buy radio equipment, vehicles, uniforms, bulletproof vests,
special ammunition, and to invest in infrastructure.

Comment: The article does not report a deadline or a timeframe when the weapons and equipment will
be purchased.

Spanish Source: http://www.cambiodemichoacan.com.mx/vernota.php?id=113113

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SOCIO-ECONOMIC
Economic Recovery for Mexico is Still Two to Three Years Away – 19 November 2009
At the Expo Management 2009 conference, former president of Spain, Felipe Gonzalez, stated that it
would take Mexico two to three years to recover from the severe blow it has taken due to the global
economic recession. This is projected even though the country’s GDP is expected to grow by 2% in
2010. The reason that growth will be slow is that by the end of 2009, it is expected that the GDP will
have fallen by 8% over the course of the year. Gonzalez also stated that Mexico would have been less
affected by the recession had been more integrated with Latin America instead of being so dependent on
the U.S. To counteract this type of situation in the future, the suggestion was that Mexico should look to
both the north and the south for opportunities regarding economic growth instead of just to the north.

Spanish Source: http://impreso.milenio.com/node/8675656

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CENTRAL AMERICA
Guatemalan National Civil Police and Soldiers Locate Burning Aircraft in Escuintla, Guatemala-
19 November 2009
At approximately 0100 hours, Guatemalan National Civil
Police, and Guatemalan soldiers located an aircraft that
had been set on fire on the Las Chuscas sugar cane
plantation in Escuintla [14.3050 -90.7850], Guatemala. It
is believed that this plane was used to transport drugs.
However, the only items found in the area were gasoline
containers.

Spanish Source: http://www.prensalibre.com/pl/2009/noviembre/19/357242.html

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