UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 15 September 2011

F M S O Foreign Military Studies Office 731 McClellan Ave Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027 Latin America Military and fmso- Security Watch [email protected]

Use of these articles does not Table of Contents reflect official endorsement. Reproduction for private use or gain is subject to original SPECIAL INTEREST copyright restrictions. Mexican Media Source Reporting that the U.S. Denies any Pacts Made with the Cartel – 12 September 2011 This report is a compilation of GUERRERO extract translations of Spanish State Police Commander Murdered in Chilpancingo, Guerrero – 11 language open source September 2011 information and not evaluated JALISCO intelligence. Soldiers Seize Narco Antenna, Drugs, and Weapons in Zapopan, Jalisco – 11 September 2011 The complete articles in MEXICO STATE Spanish are available from Man Arrested with 102 Pellets at the Mexico City International FMSO. Airport – 12 September 2011 SINALOA This briefing is FOUO and Authorities Seize 3.2 Kilograms of Crystal Meth in Escuinapa, Sinaloa must be protected and – 12 September 2011 controlled in accordance with VERACRUZ U.S. standards. Arrested Operator Reveals Details of how His Organization Recruited and Trained - 12 September 2011 Marines Arrest Los Zetas Operators in San Julian, Veracruz – 12 September 2011 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 1

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SEDENA Reports Statistics Regarding Operations Conducted in Veracruz – 12 September 2011 NUEVO LEON Authorities Arrest Two Los Zetas Operators in Santa Catarina, Nuevo Leon – 13 September 2011 Adolescent Girl Stabbed and Burned to Death in San Nicolas, Nuevo Leon – 13 September 2011 ZACATECAS Federal Police Officers Kidnapped and Murdered in Villa González, Zacatecas – 13 September 2011 TAMAULIPAS Los Zetas Get Revenge on Individuals Posting Information About them on Social Networks – 13 September 2011 CENTRAL AMERICA Israeli National Arrested with 19,200 Ecstasy Tablets at the Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, Costa Rica – 12 September 2011 Authorities Seize 100 Kilograms of Cocaine at the Penas Blancas Border – 12 September 2011

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MEXICO SPECIAL INTEREST Mexican Media Source Reporting that the U.S. Denies any Pacts Made with the – 12 September 2011 According the Mexican media source Mundonarco, protected witness Vicente Zambada Niebla of the Sinaloa Cartel has declared before a court in the U.S. that ICE and DEA representatives made a pact with Sinaloa Cartel leaders Joaquin Guzman Loera, aka El Chapo, and Ismael Zambada Garcia, aka El Mayo. In his declaration, he stated that the pact included immunity to El Chapo Guzman in exchange for information he and his counterparts would be willing to provide regarding other cartels.

On 12 September 2011, a second article released by by Mundonarco reported that Prosecutor J. Fitzgerald from the North District Court of Illinois denied the allegations made by Vicente Zambada Niebla. In his response, Prosecutor Fitzgerald allegedly stated the following:  That on several occasions, Vicente Zambada Niebla, asked DEA agents if he could become a protected witness, but that his request was always denied.  That the defense is founding their hopes of immunity based on the fact that all charges filed against Humberto Loya Castro (a lawyer and confidant for Sinaloa Cartel operators) were dropped in 2008 in exchange for his collaboration with DEA agents in San Diego. This same individual was originally arrested in 1995.  That it is a mistake to believe that an agreement made with Humberto Loya Castro would also guarantee immunity to all cartel operators and their leaders.  That even if Zambada Niebla did receive promises regarding immunity by DEA agents during a meeting on 17 March 2009, as stated in the defense, that those DEA agents were not authorized to make them.

Comment: This article is a continuation of the article entitled “Mexican Media Source Reporting that the U.S. Made a Pact with the Sinaloa Cartel – 06 September 2011” reported on the 09 September 2011 newsbriefs.

Spanish Source: http://www.mundonarco.com/2011/09/niega-eu-colaboracion-de-el-vicentillo.html

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GUERRERO State Police Commander Murdered in Chilpancingo, Guerrero – 11 September 2011 Early on 11 September 2011, State Police Commander Agustin Morelos Moctezuma was murdered in the Chutipan community of Chilpancingo [17.551081,-99.500084], Guerrero. According to preliminary reports, a group of gunmen arrived at the Chutipan police station at around 0600 hours, entered, shot him once in the head, and escaped.

Spanish Source: http://www.mundonarco.com/2011/09/ejecutan-un-comandante-en-la-comunidad.html

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JALISCO Soldiers Seize Narco Antenna, Drugs, and Weapons in Zapopan, Jalisco – 11 September 2011 Multiple operations conducted by 15th Military Zone soldiers in Zapopan, Jalisco, led to the seizure of a narco antenna, drugs, and weapons. Details regarding these operations were reported as follows:  Operation One: was conducted in La Lobera village of San Cristobal de la Barranca [21.044613,- 103.427525]. At this location, soldiers seized the following items: o An antenna (most likely used to pick up radio frequencies) o (3) 3 meter AT-29 antenna parts/equipment o 1 solar panel o 1 battery o 2 rifles o 1,369 rounds of ammunition o 24 magazines o 3 vehicles o Tactical uniforms o 8 military type clothing pieces  Operation two: was conducted in the San Juan Espanatica village of Tuxpan [19.555423,- 103.375597], Jalisco. Items seized included the following: o 1 rifle o 4 rounds of ammunition o 1 magazine  Operation three: was conducted in La Garita village of Tamazula de Gordiano [19.680738,- 103.248825]. Items seized included the following: o 1 rifle o 1 handgun o 17 rounds of ammunition o 2 magazines

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 Operation four: was conducted near Lagos de Moreno [21.358775,-101.930294]. Items seized included the following: o 1 shotgun o 7 rounds of ammunition o 1 magazine o 1 gram of crystal meth o 35 grams of marijuana o 1 vehicle  Operation five: was conducted in Los Arcos village of Cuquio [20.929376,-103.021545]. Items seized included the following: o 2 rifles o 110 rounds of ammunition No arrests were reported in conjunction with any of the operations listed above.

Spanish Source: http://www.sedena.gob.mx/index.php/sala-de-prensa/comunicados-de-prensa-de-los- mandos-territoriales/7548-11-de-septiembre-de-2011-zapopan-jal

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MEXICO STATE Man Arrested with 102 Cocaine Pellets at the Mexico City International Airport – 12 September 2011 Federal police operating at the Mexico City International [19.437619,-99.070587] Airport arrested Bernardo Aristoteles BARRAGAN Munoz after x-rays revealed that he had 102 cocaine pellets in his stomach. Barragan arrived in Mexico City on a flight that had departed from Cancun, Quintana Roo and was preparing to board a flight destined to Madrid, Spain. Once in Spain, he was to deliver the cocaine pellets at a location in Vigo. The total weight of the 102 pellets seized was 1.140 kilograms.

Spanish Source: http://www.ssp.gob.mx:80/portalWebApp/appmanager/portal/desk?_nfpb=true&_windowLabel=portlet_ 1_1&portlet_1_1_actionOverride=%2Fboletines%2FDetalleBoletin&portlet_1_1id=910064

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SINALOA Authorities Seize 3.2 Kilograms of Crystal Meth in Escuinapa, Sinaloa – 12 September 2011 Ministerial police officers seized 3.2 kilograms of crystal meth and arrested two individuals at a checkpoint located at the 167th kilometer mark along International highway 15 in the Tecualilla village of

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Escuinapa [22.83307,-105.78289], Sinaloa. The seizure was made after officers stopped a 1996 Mazada for a routine inspection. The identities of the now arrested individuals were not revealed.

Spanish Source: http://www.pgr.gob.mx/prensa/2007/delega11/sin120911DPE378011.shtm

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VERACRUZ Arrested Los Zetas Operator Reveals Details of how His Organization Recruited and Trained - 12 September 2011 Alfonso AGUILA Resensiz, aka El Topo, was arrested a couple of weeks ago in Campeche and is currently serving a sentence in a federal prison. Prior to being arrested, he worked for Los Zetas, and during questioning, he revealed details regarding the training new recruits go through. Some of these details were reported as follows in this article:  He stated that all new recruits undergo a mandatory 15-day training period referred to as La Diestra (from the Spanish verb “adiestrar” which translates to “train”). Aguila graduated from La Diestra boot camp along with 30 other individuals in October of 2010.  La Diestra boot camp is held at an unspecified location in a mountainous zone within Xapala, Veracruz. Aguila said that new recruits do not know where that location is because after accepting to work for Los Zetas, they are picked up early in the morning, blindfolded, and transported to the training camp.  During training, new recruits receive physical and self-defense training, and are taught to use weapons to include AR-15s, an AK-47s, 9mm and .45 caliber pistols.  Trainees sleep in tents, are woken up early, and run two hours daily.  After the 15-day La Diestra boot camp, graduates are taken to another unknown location in Nayarit known as La Guerra (The War).  La Guerra is a three-month training that consists of real life „topones‟ (confrontations) where Los Zetas fight against operators (armed group of the Sinaloa Cartel) in an attempt to take over the Nayarit Plaza. Aguila confessed to having participated in five confrontations but he does not know how many Gente Nueva operators he killed given the fact they were not allowed to stay in the area after confrontations.

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 Those that make it through La Guerra are assigned to plazas throughout country. Aguila was sent to Campeche.

Prior to being recruited by Los Zetas, Alfonso Aguila Resensiz, aka El Topo, worked as a bricklayer in Veracruz. While working in this position, he was approached by an individual identified as El MG and offered $(MXN) 6,000 pesos bi-weekly to work for the group.

Spanish Source: http://www.mundonarco.com/2011/09/los-zetas-crean-sicarios-en-15-dias.html

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Marines Arrest Los Zetas Operators in San Julian, Veracruz – 12 September 2011 On 09 September 2011, an anonymous tip regarding armed individuals led marines to a location in the San Julian sector [19.2500 -96.2500], of Veracruz City. During this operation, soldiers arrested 13 Los Zetas operators to include an individual identified as Hector TEJEDA Vazquez, aka El Pitufo. This same individual was allegedly involved in the murder of a Marine in Playa de Vaca. Those items seized from the Los Zetas operators now in custody included:  12 rifles  1 grenade launcher  25 grenades  17 magazines  2,035 rounds of ammunition  6 weapons belts  24 pieces of equipment (electronics and communications)  1,800 does of marijuana  2,000 doses of crack cocaine  1,000 doses of cocaine  Personal items

Spanish Source: http://www.mundonarco.com/2011/09/caen-13-presuntos-integrantes-de-los.html and http://www.e-consulta.com/veracruz/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=5814:semar-pesca-a-12- zetas-en-san-juli%C3%A1n-ligados-a-muerte-de-un-marino&Itemid=303

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SEDENA Reports Statistics Regarding Operations Conducted in Veracruz – 12 September 2011 Operations conducted to date in 2011 by soldiers assigned to the VI Regional Military Command have resulted in the following successes:  Arrested 498 individuals linked to organized crime activity  Repelled 48 attacks  Seized: o 98,107 doses of illegal drugs seized (cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines) o 429 weapons (331 rifles and 98 pistols) o 59,331 rounds of ammunition o 88 grenades o $(MXN) 451,611 equivalent to $(USD) 35,392.00 dollars The VI Military Region also reported that during this same time period, 2,467 anonymous phone tips were called in which resulted in the rescue of 40 kidnapping victims.

Spanish Source: http://www.mundonarco.com/2011/09/ejercito-ha-detenido-498-presuntos.html

NUEVO LEON Authorities Arrest Two Los Zetas Operators in Santa Catarina, Nuevo Leon – 13 September 2011 During the early morning hours of 13 September 2011, Nuevo Leon State Public Security officers conducting routine patrols arrested two Los Zetas Operators in the Villas del Mirador neighborhood [25.694712,- 100.443492] of Santa Catarina, Nuevo Leon. Those individuals now in police custody were identified as:  Juan MARTÍNEZ López aka El Gordo aka El Virus, 45  José GUTIÉRREZ Galván aka La Cría, 37 Those items seized from the now detained individuals were reported as:  Multiple assault rifles  Gold-plated handgun

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 Multiple magazines  Rounds of ammunition  At least one hand grenade  Jewelry and watches  Cell phones  Communications radios  $(MXN) 10,000 cash/equivalent to $(USD) 777  $(USD) 141 cash

Spanish Source: http://www.blogdelnarco.com/2011/09/caen-dos-integrantes-de-los-zetas-en-nl.html

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Adolescent Girl Stabbed and Burned to Death in San Nicolas, Nuevo Leon – 13 September 2011 Authorities responding to an anonymous citizen‟s tip recovered the body of a 15-year-old female murder victim near the railroad tracks and Mirador Street [25.760184,-100.318458] in the El Mirador neighborhood of San Nicolas de los Garza, Nuevo Leon. The girl had been stabbed at least 15 times before being burned at the scene. The identity of the adolescent girl is currently investigation.

Spanish Source: http://www.blogdelnarco.com/2011/09/caen-dos-integrantes-de-los-zetas-en-nl.html

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ZACATECAS Federal Police Officers Kidnapped and Murdered in Villa González, Zacatecas – 13 September 2011 On 08 September 2011, a group of gunmen kidnapped two police officers identified as Jorge Waldo Reyes and Mario Alberto Adame Villalba in Luis Moya [22.433998,-102.249584], Zacatecas. On 13 September 2011, authorities recovered the bodies of four male murder victims in the Estancia de Ánimas community of [22.488609,-102.000675] Villa González, Zacatecas. Left with the bodies was a note stating that other murder victims had been left in the area. After searching the surrounding vicinity, the bodies of the two kidnapped officers mentioned above were located approximately 600 meters away from the four male murder victims.

Spanish Source: http://www.milenio.com/cdb/doc/noticias2011/75d9bcfb7cba54dfc1973e6f47fcd2b7

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TAMAULIPAS Los Zetas Get Revenge on Individuals Posting Information About them on Social Networks – 13 September 2011

On 13 September 2011 at around 0300 hours, the bodies of a male and female murder victim were hung from a pedestrian bridge [actual bridge location 27.510146,-99.563041] located on Airport Boulevard in the Los Mayas neighborhood of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas. Narco messages left at the scene indicated that the two individuals were killed for having posted information on websites to include Al Rojo Vivo and .

The contents of the two narco messages left with the victims read as follows: “This is what happens to loose lipped individuals who report on incidents via blog sites (Al Rojo Vivo, Blog del Narco, or Citizen Complaints. If you stick your dicks out (anonymously reporting on activities), we‟re going to cut them off. Sincerely, Z (Los Zetas)”.

Comment: The victims were reported only as a 25-year-old male and 28-year-old female.

Spanish Source: http://www.narcoviolencia.com/2011/09/torturan-y-ejecutan-pareja-y-los.html

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CENTRAL AMERICA Israeli National Arrested with 19,200 Ecstasy Tablets at the Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, Costa Rica – 12 September 2011 On 09 September 2011, PCD officers arrested an Israeli national with last name Abi Revach, 52, after discovering he was transporting 19,200 ecstasy tablets in his luggage at the Daniel Oduber International Airport [10.593121,-85.545044] in Liberia, Guanacaste in Costa Rica. This seizure is considered to be the largest of its kind in Costa Rica. Abi Revach had arrived in a plane from Brussels, Belgium. UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 10

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Spanish Source: http://www.prensalibre.cr/pl/suceso/50150-cae-israeli-con-19200-dosis-de-extasis.html

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Authorities Seize 100 Kilograms of Cocaine at the Penas Blancas Border – 12 September 2011 On 11 September 2011, customs officers seized 100 kilograms of cocaine at the Penas Blancas border [11.221847,-85.611649] in La Cruz sector of Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The shipment in question was discovered within the gas tanks of a tractor-trailer that was transporting napkins and paper towels. The cocaine was distributed within 100 packages and had the image of the grim reaper on one side and the number 100 on the other.

Arrested in conjunction with this seizure was the driver of the vehicle, identified with last name RODRIGUEZ. He had departed from San Jose and was traveling to Nicaragua. In addition to the cocaine, he was in possession of $(USD) 33, $(NIO) 420, $(HNL) 15, and $(GTQ) 6. The semi was reported as having Nicaraguan plates 11468, while the trailer was reported as having Nicaraguan plates 163779.

On 09 September 2011 officers seized 45 kilograms of cocaine at the same location. During this incident officers arrested a Guatemalan national with last name ALVARADO. He was also leaving Costa Rica and attempting to enter into Nicaragua.

Spanish Source: http://www.nacion.com/2011-09-13/Sucesos/trailero-cae-con-100-kilos-de-coca-en- penas-blancas-.aspx

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