Mexican Authorities Bust Communications Tower Used by Drug Cartel

[Ed Jewett]

Mexican Authorities Bust Communication Tower Used by Cartel

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[TD]Reported by: Polo Sandoval
Last Update: 11/08 7:06 pm[/TD]
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REYNOSA, MEXICO - Technology used to transmit your voice over a cell phone or the programming to your TV is in the hands of the cartel. The Mexican government busted a narco-communications system just across the border in Reynosa.

Pictures taken by Mexican soldiers detail the level of sophistication. They're narco-towers, communication equipment set up by the cartel and busted by the Mexican government in Reynosa.

"It's obviously been done by professionals," says Claude Copeland, a communications expert.

Copeland and his staff at Tri-County Communications work with these kinds of towers all the time. He recognizes much of the technology in the photos.

"There's some microwaves that are obviously sending data to some distant points, and then there's some two-way antennas that would be used similar to what police would use for car to car voice traffic," says Copeland.

The same types of microwave transmitters are fitted on TV stations.

"Obviously there's a lot of money to be made in the drug business, and I think a site built this well is an indication of the type of money that they have backing up this kind of organization," says Copeland.

It's proof that the cartels' pockets run deep. A total of nine antennas were busted by Mexican officials during last week's operation. Experts believe the cartel is having to create its own network because the government controls much of Mexico's infrastructure.

http://www.krgv.com/news/local/story/Mex...1eyrw.cspx


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