12-05-2009, 01:18 PM
(This post was last modified: 12-05-2009, 01:24 PM by Tosh Plumlee.)
We don't hear much about this flu epidemic... everday many die of this type of the border flu from the Mexican cartels... Its already here in the USA Columbus New Mexico is a good example; six dead two Americans died last week.
Mexican Drug Trafficking by Air in Costa Rica
Authorities in Costa Rica released information this past week regarding the investigation of a May 1 helicopter crash in which nearly 900 pounds of cocaine were recovered. The cause of the crash is still undetermined, but government officials have identified the two bodies found at the scene as a Mexican passenger reportedly from Sinaloa state and the Costa Rican pilot, who flew for Costa Rica’s Public Security Ministry for 15 years before reportedly working as a private pilot for various hotels and businesses.
At the crash scene, investigators recovered three cellular phones, a briefcase, documents and the cocaine. Noticeably absent were the aircraft’s global positioning system and a small amount of cocaine, which led investigators to suspect that a third passenger may have been on board and survived the crash. Officials said that the removal of the navigational equipment has made it very difficult to trace the aircraft’s path before the crash, although there are reports that it took off from San Isidro and was headed to Turrialba, a town some 50 miles away, where the pilot was expected at a hotel.
Authorities have also said that they suspect the drug shipment was intended for the Sinaloa cartel, though it is unclear what evidence is being used as the basis for that assessment. Costa Rican immigration authorities have confirmed that three weeks before the crash, the pilot had spent a week in Mexico, though it is not known where he went or whom he met with. However, there are reports that several Mexican nationals — described as “investment partners” of the pilot — had been waiting at the hotel for the helicopter’s arrival.
While this appears to be the first documented case of Central American drug trafficking involving a helicopter, it matches many of the other characteristics of narcotics trafficking in the region. More specifically, the smuggling route appears to be composed of several short legs that employ a variety of vehicles and are apparently managed or coordinated by a Mexican national who has secured logistical support from locals. As more information is uncovered during this investigation, it may ultimately be possible to trace more closely the helicopter’s point of origin and ultimate destination, as well as the various actors involved along the way. Such information will be key to better understanding the new role that Central America is playing in the Western Hemisphere drug trade.
[URL="http://www1.stratfor.com/images/interactive/Mexico_Weekly_05_11_09.htm"]
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May 4
Mexican Drug Trafficking by Air in Costa Rica
Authorities in Costa Rica released information this past week regarding the investigation of a May 1 helicopter crash in which nearly 900 pounds of cocaine were recovered. The cause of the crash is still undetermined, but government officials have identified the two bodies found at the scene as a Mexican passenger reportedly from Sinaloa state and the Costa Rican pilot, who flew for Costa Rica’s Public Security Ministry for 15 years before reportedly working as a private pilot for various hotels and businesses.
At the crash scene, investigators recovered three cellular phones, a briefcase, documents and the cocaine. Noticeably absent were the aircraft’s global positioning system and a small amount of cocaine, which led investigators to suspect that a third passenger may have been on board and survived the crash. Officials said that the removal of the navigational equipment has made it very difficult to trace the aircraft’s path before the crash, although there are reports that it took off from San Isidro and was headed to Turrialba, a town some 50 miles away, where the pilot was expected at a hotel.
Authorities have also said that they suspect the drug shipment was intended for the Sinaloa cartel, though it is unclear what evidence is being used as the basis for that assessment. Costa Rican immigration authorities have confirmed that three weeks before the crash, the pilot had spent a week in Mexico, though it is not known where he went or whom he met with. However, there are reports that several Mexican nationals — described as “investment partners” of the pilot — had been waiting at the hotel for the helicopter’s arrival.
While this appears to be the first documented case of Central American drug trafficking involving a helicopter, it matches many of the other characteristics of narcotics trafficking in the region. More specifically, the smuggling route appears to be composed of several short legs that employ a variety of vehicles and are apparently managed or coordinated by a Mexican national who has secured logistical support from locals. As more information is uncovered during this investigation, it may ultimately be possible to trace more closely the helicopter’s point of origin and ultimate destination, as well as the various actors involved along the way. Such information will be key to better understanding the new role that Central America is playing in the Western Hemisphere drug trade.
[URL="http://www1.stratfor.com/images/interactive/Mexico_Weekly_05_11_09.htm"]
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May 4
- Authorities in Queretaro, Queretaro state, found the body of a former police chief and another police officer, each with a gunshot wound in the head.
- A firefight between police and alleged kidnappers left three people dead, including one officer, in Tequila, Jalisco state.
- Police in Santa Ana, Sonora state, found the body of an unidentified man in a trash receptacle with a single gunshot wound in the head.
- Authorities in Jesus Maria, Jalisco state, discovered a medium-sized methamphetamine production facility and recovered barrels of various chemicals and assorted weapons and ammunition.
- Authorities in Pilcaya, Guerrero state, reported recovering at least 11 bodies from a river. The bodies had been placed in plastic bags and were presumed to have been thrown into the river from a bridge.
- A federal police officer died in Mexico City when he was shot multiple times by two men in what appears to have been a targeted killing.
- One soldier died and six were wounded while pursuing a vehicle that failed to stop at a checkpoint and attempted to evade the military patrol. A second suspect vehicle joined the chase and opened fire on the military vehicle, causing its driver to lose control and crash into another vehicle.
- A soldier assigned to a battalion in Veracruz state was kidnapped in Culiacan, Sinaloa state, where he was reportedly on vacation. Authorities found the soldier’s body two days later.
- Police in Veracruz, Veracruz state, found the bodies of a former Petroleos Mexicanos spokesman and his wife in the couple’s apartment. Police are investigating a possible motive.
- An attorney and newspaper journalist in Santa Maria del Oro, Durango state, was reported to have been killed by being shot three times in the head.
- Authorities in Maravatio, Michoacan state, found the body of an unidentified man who appeared to have been tortured and castrated alive before being shot once in the head at close range.
- The body of an unidentified man was found in Acambaro, Michoacan state. Next to the body was a note, presumably from organized crime group La Familia, that read in part, “This is what happens to soldiers and rapists, there are still more, take care or get out, avoid this happening to you.”
- Police in Tijuana, Baja California state, found the bodies of two men, one of whom had been beheaded and wrapped in a plastic bag.
- Seven suspects were arrested in Las Choapas, Veracruz state, when they clashed briefly with police officers. The arrests occurred after police responded to a kidnapping attempt in which the suspects, presumed members of Los Zetas, reportedly entered the wrong home.
- Soldiers and federal police in Yucatan state arrested Rafael del Angel “El Fayo” Velez Morales, who allegedly is a Gulf cartel member in charge of activities in Cancun, Quintana Roo state. Five of Velez’s accomplices also were arrested.
- One man died in Arteaga, Michoacan state, when he was shot several times in what appeared to be a drive-by shooting.
- Gunmen traveling in two vehicles attacked a police building with fragmentation grenades in Lazaro Cardenas, Michoacan state. This is the second attack against the building in 2009.