Posted on 03/19/2008 5:56:47 PM PDT by kiriath_jearim
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican soldiers battling a violent drug gang and corrupt local police confiscated a sport utility vehicle decked out with extras worthy of a James Bond movie.
Cartel members rammed their SUV into a military truck patrolling in the state of Tamaulipas and threw a hand grenade before making their escape with the help of local police, the army said in a statement late Tuesday.
Following a shootout with the gang, soldiers said they arrested four municipal police and confiscated an armored Jeep Grand Cherokee equipped with a smoke machine and spike sprayer meant to deter pursuers.
Soldiers also confiscated dozens of rifles, pistols and hand grenades, 3,000 of rounds of ammunition and $20,000 in cash, the army said.
President Felipe Calderon has deployed thousands of soldiers and federal police to hot-spots across Mexico, where cartel violence has killed more than 300 people so far this year and left more than 2,500 dead in 2007.
Soldiers busting drug smugglers in Mexico often uncover federal police uniforms, sophisticated radio equipment and even gold-plated pistols and assault rifles.
Tuesday, police arrested a woman on suspicion of overseeing a network of spies that tracked police for the powerful Gulf drug cartel, which dominates smuggling in the state of Tamaulipas.
In the long run, this has an impact on border security. It could be coming here eventually.
it has been spilling over for quite some time.
it all stems from dangling-testicalled-furrydice on a windshield in the early 70’s with thoughts of grandeur, low self esteem, and a hydraulic kit.
Check out “Thunder Road” starring Robert Mitchum, some gorgeous 17-year-old gal, and more 1957 Fords than you can shake a stick at. His “tanker” moonshine hauler had oil slick dispensers and all kinds of gadgets for defeating the law.
I loved that flick. Those Fords were neat...
Ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
They'll take action when it hurts tourism.
Tough situation when the police are part of the cartel and willing to go toe-to-toe with the army.
Just a soccer mom’s vehicle. Nothing to see. Move along.
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