Mexican police score some victories

by Betty McMahon    October 23, 2008

Recent shootouts in Mexican cities between police and drug cartel members suggest the police are getting the upper hand – despite the hefty arsenals attributed to the criminals.

Police officers killed several cartel suspects after a wild chase through the border town of Nogales on Thursday morning. When Sonora police officers stopped an SUV for inspection, another vehicle pulled up and passengers began shooting at the officers. In return fire, they killed one and wounded another.

Then began a high-speed chase through the early morning streets as the two vehicles raced away with the officers in pursuit. When the police shot out the SUV's tires, it crashed into a wall, killing four men inside and severely injuring two. One died later in the hospital.

As the other vehicle sped through a neighborhood, state police shot and killed three suspects and wounded another. Three officers were injured, none severely. The dead have not yet been identified.

On Monday, Jesus Zambada Garcia, aka El Rey, was one of 16 drug traffickers arrested after a shootout in Mexico City. Zambada, the brother of a Sinaloa cartel kingpin, commanded one of four branches of the cartel. He was responsible for cocaine smuggling through Mexico City's airport and is suspected of some gruesome killings.

"The arrest of Jesus Zambada Garcia, the King, stands out, without a doubt, as one of the most significant by President Calderon's government to date," said Atty. Gen. Eduardo Medina Mora. "It is not the only one in recent months, nor will it be the last in the months to come."

Taking these 25 drug traffickers off the streets gives the Mexican government a boost in its continuing battle against the violence plaguing the country.
 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Rate It:

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5