Note: "It was such (a) heavy firefight that police were actually calling for reinforcements . . . and asking for ammunition from the American side," said Wells.
Mexican drug wars may cross into Ariz.
Police warn lawmakers about cartel gunbattles
by Dennis Wagner - Feb. 24, 2009 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
Violence involving Mexican narcotics cartels threatens to bleed across the border into Arizona and other states already coping with an epidemic of drug-related murders and kidnappings, law-enforcement officials told an Arizona Senate subcommittee on Monday.
During their testimony, the experts described recent gunbattles just south of the border where Mexican gangs fought rival cartels as well as police, blasting away with machine guns and lobbing hand grenades.
"This is organized crime," said Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard. "The enemy we are combating is extremely well organized, extremely disciplined and extremely well trained."
Goddard joined federal, state and local police leaders in a state Judiciary Committee session convened to evaluate the effects and perils of border-related violence.
Smugglers have used Arizona's mostly isolated border to funnel drugs and humans during the past five years. But the state's southern neighbor, Sonora, is emerging as a new battleground in the power struggles among cartels and police.
Dan Wells, Intelligence Bureau commander at the state Department of Public Safety, listed a series of brazen gunfights just below the border during the past two years:
• In April 2007, 70 paramilitary enforcers known as Los Zetas, working for the Gulf Cartel, attacked a police station in Cananea, leaving 22 dead, including five officers. Afterward, about 40 percent of the local police force resigned.
• In October 2008, a convoy of Los Zetas was intercepted in Nogales by Sonoran state police. Ten gangsters were killed and three officers wounded during the shootout.
• On Nov. 1, 2008, armed gunmen attacked the police station in Nogales. The next day, the state police commander was assassinated by a sniper during an ambush outside a hotel. Then, on Nov. 3, police exchanged fire for three hours with gang members.
"It was such (a) heavy firefight that police were actually calling for reinforcements . . . and asking for ammunition from the American side," said Wells.
Law-enforcement officials took turns explaining the link between Mexico's drug conflicts and crime in the United States. The gist of their testimony is an old story: Drugs and immigrants are smuggled north; cash and guns are moved south.
But the officials said bloodshed that historically has been confined to Mexico is escalating and migrating. Phoenix now ranks second in the world in kidnappings for ransom, behind Mexico City. In 2008, Phoenix reported 366 abductions, mostly tied to Mexican human smugglers and narcotics gangs.
"The violence associated with drug cartels is also reaching into Arizona," Wells said. "This is a new and rising phenomenon that is very alarming."
During Monday's hearing, law officers described how various task forces strive to combat the crime wave and mentioned the importance of funding, but offered no novel solutions.
The Legislature is expected to consider several related bills this year. One would make it a felony to harbor or conceal illegal immigrants; another would impose more severe penalties on smugglers who use or threaten violence.
Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, used the forum to criticize former Gov. Janet Napolitano, now the nation's Homeland Security director, saying she does not seem to appreciate the danger. And during a recess, he complained that Napolitano "did nothing" as governor to combat border-related crime. He subsequently acknowledged that she had declared a state of emergency, pressed for more enforcement funding and beefed up DPS crime-fighting along the border.
Outside the hearing, Goddard noted that Napolitano prosecuted countless violent drug violators as the former attorney general and U.S. attorney for Arizona.
"She mobilized the National Guard along the . . . border," he added, responding to Pearce's comments. "Excuse me, but that shows some understanding that we're in an armed confrontation."
Goddard said the U.S. has not experienced the open gunbattles seen in Mexico because the cartels have sought to avoid violence on the U.S. side of the border.
"But, frankly, I'm not sure they're going to be able to stop it," he said. "The fight between cartels is to dominate certain drug-smuggling corridors, but those exist on the north side of the border as well as the south."
The ASR&PA has provided the following archived articles, information, and data for informational and research purposes; the content, comments, opinions and reports are those of the various authors or organizations, and do not necessarily reflect the positions, beliefs or views of ASR&PA.
The situation in Mexico has serious consequences for our Rights, and even our lives here in AZ and all along the Mexican border. We cannot emphasize enough how much it is in our interest to have a free, safe and prosperous Mexico as our neighbor. Many of us have family, friends there and they are our neighbor.
We strongly support the Human Rights of the Mexican people to be able to defend themselves. That means the Mexican people should once again have the rights and resources to possess, bear and use modern and effective firearms. As over 70 years of corrupt federal government and it's attending gun control have shown, the bumper sticker is so true. "If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns". Mexico is a textbook example of the failures of gun control. While some very limited firearms are permitted on paper, and in practice, the real effect has been to disarm the good people of Mexico.
That was done by the very corrupt political party that ran a country rich in natural resources and people, into the ground to prevent a revolution, not to "control crime" as was the pretense.
As the archived reports will show, the defenseless people of Mexico have suffered way too much. They deserve much better. We need to help.
Given the gravity of the ongoing drug war in Mexico our neighbor to the south, ASR&PA has been working to monitor the border situation and it's many effects on our state and our members:
Including drug and human trafficking, with related issues of murders, kidnappings, home invasions, extortion, destruction of wildlife habitat, illegal immigration, white slavery, money laundering, expenses of incarceration and medical treatments, the list goes on and on. Also de facto cession of areas of the state to the DTO's; fugitives, cash, firearms and ammunition running south. Most of these issues could be significantly reduced by simply securing the border.
To get it out of the way, ASR&PA does support legal immigration, trade, and travel between our countries. Especially so that we and our Mexican neighbors can once again freely and safely travel to our neighboring countries for competition, training, hunting and just enjoy good company.
We strongly support the Human Rights of the Mexican people to be able to defend themselves. That means the Mexican people should once again have the rights and resources to possess, bear and use modern and effective firearms. As over 70 years of corrupt federal government and it's attending gun control have shown, the bumper sticker is so true. "If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns". Mexico is a textbook example of the failures of gun control. While some very limited firearms are permitted on paper, and in practice, the real effect has been to disarm the good people of Mexico.
That was done by the very corrupt political party that ran a country rich in natural resources and people, into the ground to prevent a revolution, not to "control crime" as was the pretense.
As the archived reports will show, the defenseless people of Mexico have suffered way too much. They deserve much better. We need to help.
Given the gravity of the ongoing drug war in Mexico our neighbor to the south, ASR&PA has been working to monitor the border situation and it's many effects on our state and our members:
Including drug and human trafficking, with related issues of murders, kidnappings, home invasions, extortion, destruction of wildlife habitat, illegal immigration, white slavery, money laundering, expenses of incarceration and medical treatments, the list goes on and on. Also de facto cession of areas of the state to the DTO's; fugitives, cash, firearms and ammunition running south. Most of these issues could be significantly reduced by simply securing the border.
To get it out of the way, ASR&PA does support legal immigration, trade, and travel between our countries. Especially so that we and our Mexican neighbors can once again freely and safely travel to our neighboring countries for competition, training, hunting and just enjoy good company.
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