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Rolly

Jul 4, 2008, 12:18 PM

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The drug gangs strike again in sleepy old Lerdo

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My friend who works in the police department has brought me up to date on the latest in the gang war being fought here.

In my last report I told about the funeral wreath hung on the city hall front door with the police chiefs name on it. He resigned, took his family, and moved out of town. That was followed by several late night shootouts.

A couple of nights ago, 7 truck loads of heavily armed gangsters wearing sky masks burst into police headquarters and delivered an ultimatum. Any policeman, including tránsitos, found on the streets after 11:00 PM will be killed. They went on to say that this was only a war between gangs and that civilians would not be harmed, but the police must not try to interfere. The new chief has issued an order that all cops must return to the station at 10:00 PM; no police on the streets after 10:00.

Of course, none of this gets into the paper because the gangs have ordered the paper not to print anything about them.

If this can happen in a little out of way place like Lerdo, what must be happening across the country that is being kept secret from the public?

Rolly Pirate

(This post was edited by Rolly on Jul 4, 2008, 6:52 PM)

Brian

Jul 4, 2008, 12:40 PM

Post #2 of 22 (4910 views)

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Re: [Rolly] The drug gangs strike again in sleepy old Lerdo

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It is happening elsewhere in Mexico, Rolly. Sometimes it is the cartels and sometimes it is the police that use intimidation to suppress stories being reported in the press. It makes it especially difficult for gringos to know what is actually happening in their communities. They do not have the same informed word-of-mouth networks such as do your Mexican neighbors.

Brian

(This post was edited by Brian on Jul 4, 2008, 12:43 PM)

kwschopf

Jul 4, 2008, 8:20 PM

Post #3 of 22 (4849 views)

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Re: [Brian] The drug gangs strike again in sleepy old Lerdo

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Rolly, do you believe that the lack of police presence after 10 pm creates other opportunities for petty crimes like burglary?

That was my first question when I learned about this. I sort of doubt that it will have an impact on home burglaries, more likely car thefts and business break-ins will increase.

Has your own sense of personal security changed at all?

No, because I don't drive at night, I'm usually home by dark. Not much happens in the daytime. All the shootings and beheadings have happened late at night. I guess that's why the mafia set 11:00 PM as the time for the police to abandon the streets. Anyway, they made it clear to the police that civilians were not targets, and thus far, every person killed has been a known drug dealer.

And most important, do you think there is an end in sight?

No. I don't see how it will end until one gang kills all of the other gang. The mayor has asked for army troops, but they have not come yet.

EEGads, I just realized that I somehow wrote my answers in your post. Sorry for the confusing mess. I guess it is past time for me to go to bed.

(This post was edited by Rolly on Jul 4, 2008, 10:22 PM)

travisdyer

Jul 6, 2008, 8:01 AM

Post #4 of 22 (4743 views)

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Re: [kwschopf] The drug gangs strike again in sleepy old Lerdo

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"and thus far, every person killed has been a known drug dealer."

I wish that were true. Aguascalientes has recently become a hotbed of cartel violence. Less than three weeks ago, these ruthless thugs kidnapped, tortured and murdered a nine year old girl. When the police found her body, the skin on her face had been peeled away, in pieces, with a knife. After they removed her skin, they proceeded to burn her little body with lit cigarettes. She was badly beaten and traumatized. Finally after all of this torture, her life was ended with a bullet to the back of her head.

I frequently travel from Nashville to Aguascalientes, and I always see and hear about thing that have been happening in different parts of the country. This drug war is a very real threat to the national security and even the sovereignty of Mexico.

alex .

Jul 6, 2008, 8:01 AM

Post #5 of 22 (4743 views)

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Re: [Rolly] The drug gangs strike again in sleepy old Lerdo

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Hmm, so far my experience with the 7.62x39 round tells me that it doesn't know who is civilian.
Alex

BajaGringo

Jul 6, 2008, 1:26 PM

Post #6 of 22 (4708 views)

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Re: [Rolly] The drug gangs strike again in sleepy old Lerdo

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Rolly,

I have a close friend here in Tijuana who has family members in high places in the government on both the state and federal level here in Mexico. He always seems to have information long before it reaches the press and I have found that his information proves to be highly reliable. He told me of similar stories in a few cities in Sinaloa that have occurred in the last month. The real eye opener was that it wasn't gang on gang warfare but an "off-duty" force comprised of military-police coalition out to clean up some of the local narco problem in their own way. He said that the groups are comprised of members who were tired of seeing these guys get arrested and later set free by corrupt police, DA's and judges.

The fact that they went into the police station and warned them makes me wonder if this might be a similar situation? I don't generally support vigilante action but if the story is true, you have to respect these guys willing to go to such dangerous and extreme measures to take back their communities.

Time will tell.

Our House Building Project in Mexico...
Lomas de San Martin
Loving Life on the Baja Peninsula

Rolly

Jul 6, 2008, 1:39 PM

Post #7 of 22 (4704 views)

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Re: [BajaGringo] The drug gangs strike again in sleepy old Lerdo

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I heard the same thing yesterday. I have been wondering about one aspect of the gang on gang theory -- the new gang in the big black pickups doesn't seem to selling drugs as one would expect if what we have in Lerdo is really a drug turf war. I am increasingly wondering if this is indeed vigilante action. I hope so.

Rolly Pirate

(This post was edited by Rolly on Jul 6, 2008, 1:40 PM)

Brian

Jul 6, 2008, 7:25 PM

Post #8 of 22 (4665 views)

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Re: [Rolly] The drug gangs strike again in sleepy old Lerdo

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Here's an article in today's paper about the dilemma news journalists face and why the public in Mexico is not being served by a free press:

http://www.latimes.com/...3496.story?track=rss

Brian

(This post was edited by Rolly on Jul 6, 2008, 8:10 PM)

Rolly

Jul 11, 2008, 9:26 PM

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UpDate for Friday 11 July

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This has been an eventful week in sleepy little Lerdo.

First the cast of characters: Nery, Misael and Karla, my English students whom you have met. My friend and chief protector, Enrique, and my friend Johnny who runs the English school where my guys go 4 nights per week. Then there are are the local narcos and the invading gang who call themselves the Zs.

Monday lunch time: Karla's aunt who works in a restaurant, reports that a group of heavily armed men came into the restaurant, ordered the owner to lock the door, took all the cell phones from the diners, and set down to order lunch. After they ate, the paid the bills of everyone in the place, returned the cell phones, and very politely thanked the people for joining them for lunch. They drove off in their big black trucks. No word on how many Tums were needed.

Tuesday in the early morning, Johnny went downtown to the plaza where he found a line of the Zs' black trucks facing a large group of the local police in the streets and on the roof tops with their rifles at the ready. Johnny turned around and peddled his bike as fast as he could back home. Apparently no shots were fired. I'd love to know how the stand-off ended.

Wednesday afternoon in a colonia on the far western side of town, there was a running gun battle between some locals and the Zs. Deaths or wounds, if any, are unknown.

Thursday night all hell broke loose. Nery came to my house early Friday morning to report his eye witness account.

After class at Johnny's school let out at 8:pm, Nery and a friend were walking together when they were stopped by a running gun battle with the Zs in the big black trucks chasing some locals in various vehicles. People on the street were taking cover as best the could behind cars, or laying flat on the sidewalks, or running away as fast as they could. Nery was able to take cover in his aunt's house a couple of blocks away. After about 30 minutes of shooting around a park, the Zs left the scene and headed toward the periférico. Deaths or wounds not known.

Misael and Karla had left Johnny and were waiting for the bus two streets over from the battle street. Just as the bus arrived, a swarm of people came running up to get on the bus to fee the war zone.

Meanwhile, Enrique was at his mother's house, They heard gun shots, so he and his brothers went up on the roof of the two story house. There they had ringside seats to another gun battle happening on the other side of the periférico at a known drug house. They counted 8 local narcos in a shoot out with about 40 Zs. Enrique had the presence of mind to check his watch. The battle started at 8:05pm. At 8:35, the Zs abruptly got back into their trucks and sped away. About 30 minutes later the army arrived.

After things calmed down, Enrique and his brothers went to the scene where they found the ground littered with spent shell cases. He brought home a sack full, including several live rounds. One local narco was killed; the number wounded is unknown. One Z truck was left behind because the tires were shot flat. Inside and around the truck was a very large amount of blood. The Zs had taken their dead with them. Also killed were two of a neighbor's cows.

Friday morning while Nery was here telling me his story, Enrique came out to tell his tale. Neither guy knew of the other's gun fight. I find interesting that both battles started at the same time, ended at the same time, and both groups of Zs fled in the same direction on the periférico shortly before the army arrived. Coincidences? I don't think so.

Friday morning the army had a large presence around the plaza where they went from store to store telling the owners to close early Friday and Saturday nights. Nearly everyone was closed by 5, and the word on the street is that most will not open at all on Sunday.

No shootings on Friday.

Stay tuned for the next chapter in the Lerdo drug wars.

I should add that thus far no civilian blood has been spilled. A lot of folks have been scared half to death, but not injured.

Rolly Pirate

(This post was edited by Rolly on Jul 11, 2008, 9:49 PM)

moonfam5

Jul 11, 2008, 10:13 PM

Post #10 of 22 (4553 views)

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Re: [Rolly] UpDate for Friday 11 July

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It is unfortunate that these things are happening. I am sure that stories like this are impeding Americans from not only traveling, but retiring down south. We have for years had trouble with narcos and corrupt police in the area around our home in Michoacan, but we do what we have to do, stay alert, respect all and pray alot! I hope that things work out in Lerdo.
Peace.
Wink

The more I learn, I less I know.

robrt8

Jul 11, 2008, 10:30 PM

Post #11 of 22 (4551 views)

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Re: [Rolly] UpDate for Friday 11 July

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Get ready for the army, Rolly.
One of the highway stops in Sonora was ready for battle--not just a gunfight.
Looking for a route back north I can see why there's trouble in Lerdo.

Rolly

Jul 13, 2008, 12:30 PM

Post #12 of 22 (4445 views)

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Vigilantes? No.

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I took a cruse downtown this afternoon. Things looked pretty normal -- stores open, lots of people, no place to park.

I received this message on another board from a guy whose knowledge I respect.

The Zetas are well documented as being the enforcement arm for the Gulf Cartel and not a vigilante group. Osiel Cardenas recruited them directly from the Mexican Army's Special Forces. They are currently waging war against Chapo Guzman's Sinaloa Cartel.

It is the same old story except they are better trained and better armed. It will get worse before it gets better. I'm not sure how people can argue legalization would make things worse.

Rolly Pirate

(This post was edited by Rolly on Jul 13, 2008, 12:33 PM)

Brian

Jul 14, 2008, 10:53 AM

Post #13 of 22 (4369 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Vigilantes? No.

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Recently, someone on a San Miguel message board commented on the limited number of civilian casualties during the current conflict. I responded and am including it here since it references your situation in Lerdo:

"I think we have different notions as to who might be considered "casualties" of this war on drugs in Mexico. It is certainly true that the vast majority of those actually killed thus far have either been associated with the government or the narcos. But we are beginning to see a pattern of increasing recklessness both by the cartels and the government which is putting the average resident at extreme risk. The recent slaying of the presumably innocent children in Sinaloa, the taking of forty hostages in the Mazatlan shopping mall and even the careless and illegal raid on the Mexico City nightclub with its disastrous results are evidence of this fact. I think it is important that foreign residents of Mexico should be not only aware of the current events in the country but, also, at least empathetic if they consider themselves personally unaffected.

Many folks who read this message board are familiar with the writings of Rolly Brook who is a retired US citizen living in the small town of Lerdo, Durango. He, like Carol Schmidt, has been responsible for so many people interested in Mexico living being able to find the information they need in a factual and unbiased body of writings. Unfortunately, Rolly's formerly sleepy small town is now undergoing the very same violence that is going on in larger cities. He reported first the rumors and then the facts that the narcos had taken over the city. The narcos brazenly went into the police station, announced that there would be a bloodbath between the competing gangs and that the police would be spared if they remained off the street between 11PM and daybreak. The mayor instructed the police officers to end their shifts at 10PM nightly and, soon, the battles began. Rolly and the other residents of Lerdo are hostages in their own homes. Should they have the need for police assistance during the late night and early morning hours, it is not available to them. I consider them to be "casualties" of the current war on drugs.

If that can happen in Lerdo, it can happen in San Miguel. The Sinaloa and Gulf cartels both claim that part of the state of Guanajuato as their territory. Chief Trujillo has three bodyguards who protect him from whichever gang might want to kill him as they have done to so many other police chiefs. He could be betrayed, an attempt on his life made while he is dining in a local restaurant and other innocent diners both foreign and Mexican killed, wounded or taken hostage. This was unthinkable just six months ago. The violence is spreading rapidly.

My purpose in writing and responding to posts about this current situation is this: I want the war to stop now. Violence begets more violence. The cartels could be put out of business far more effectively with government accountants, rather than military soldiers, by using a strategy not unlike the "Untouchables" used against Capone. I believe that Calderon might be successful (at great cost of more human lives) in acheiving results such as occurred in Columbia. No more bombings, killing of politicians and judges etc. But Columbia did not "win" the war on drugs.

Pablo Escobar is dead.....yet, Columbia is still the largest producing country of cocaine..the Mexicans just transport it. Unless drug use is decriminalized and controlled, the illegal profits will continue to motivate those who would be disposed to acquire them.

"And it's one, two, three...what are we fighting for? Don't tell me I don't give a damn....."

Country Joe MacDonald

(This post was edited by Brian on Jul 14, 2008, 12:59 PM)

esperanza

Jul 28, 2008, 5:01 PM

Post #14 of 22 (4174 views)

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Re: [Rolly] The drug gangs strike again in sleepy old Lerdo

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http://www.jornada.unam.mx/...policias-municipales

Translation:

At around 1:30 PM on Monday an armed group arrived at the headquarters of the Lerdo city police and shot at the police, leaving at least two dead and a third man wounded.

Although there isn't much information available about this situation, it is only known that several people arrived at the police station in pickup trucks, next door to the mayor's office, climbed down from the trucks and shot everything that moved in the office. Off the record, it was said that four city policemen were dead and one was wounded, but this information has not been corroborated by the authorities, although at least two are dead and one wounded.

Carlos Aguilera, mayor of Lerdo, confirmed the facts but asked that the situation not be misinterpreted. He said that he prefers that the information be made known by State government authorities.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Rolly

Jul 28, 2008, 5:09 PM

Post #15 of 22 (4167 views)

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Re: [esperanza] The drug gangs strike again in sleepy old Lerdo

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Yes, it was awful. Latest rumor has 2 police dead and 3 civilians dead. This was the fourth shootout in the area in past 5 days.

The Zetas are heavily armed, the police are not -- assault rifles vs cap guns.

Things are damn tense.

Rolly Pirate

NEOhio1

Jul 28, 2008, 6:23 PM

Post #16 of 22 (4151 views)

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Re: [Rolly] The drug gangs strike again in sleepy old Lerdo

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Rolly, please lay low.

Rolly

Jul 28, 2008, 6:30 PM

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The situation is MUCH worse than previously reported. Nery just came to fill me in. His sister works for the police department. She says at least 8 police have been killed -- 4 in the main station and four on the street in another part of town. Some others are missing -- dead? AWOL? Only the male police have been shot. The lady cops in the station were beaten. The chief and his secretary were kidnapped. The narcos stormed the mayor's office to kill him, but he was not there. The number of civilian dead is not known.

Downtown is locked down tonight. For clean-up I guess.

Everyone is asking Why little Lerdo?

Where the hell is the army?

My guess is we will have no police tomorrow. Probably nobody will show up for work in city hall tomorrow.

Rolly Pirate

husker

Jul 29, 2008, 8:09 AM

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Re: [Rolly] More

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Who locked it down? If the police are missing in action, the Army?

Rolly

Jul 29, 2008, 8:12 AM

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Re: [husker] More

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Army, federal police and what was left of the local force.

The army and the feds arrived about an hour and half after the fireworks.

Rolly Pirate

(This post was edited by Rolly on Jul 29, 2008, 8:15 AM)

Rolly

Jul 29, 2008, 8:54 AM

Post #20 of 22 (4066 views)

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The army is patrolling downtown this morning. There is a reported sighting of Zetas in the area.

I have been searching on-line news reports and have found several. Each seems to have a somewhat different take on the events of yesterday. None of the stories has all the facts (not a surprise), and some of the them have major facts wrong.

I was in Sam's early this morning (7:30). Usually when I go early on Tuesdays (my weekly shopping day) I am the only customer in the store. This morning there were several merchants with huge loads of sodas and other mini-mart items. Strange to see so much on Tuesday.

Several regular employees seemed to be missing. There was only one car boy -- usually 5.

Rolly Pirate

(This post was edited by Rolly on Jul 29, 2008, 8:57 AM)

Oscar2

Jul 29, 2008, 5:09 PM

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Rolly, NEOhio1’s heads-up on cooling the information highway running through parlors, so close to the action, sounds like a good idea at this time. I/we worry about you ol’man. At this time it appears conduits are being spliced.

Buena Suerte

Rolly

Aug 2, 2008, 7:47 AM

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2 Aug Update

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The drug war has been quiet since the big shootout on Monday. We now have a better picture of what happened that morning. Five policemen were shot, not eight as I reported. The Chief and his secretary were not kidnapped as first reported, but a traffic cop was kidnapped. He has been found dead. At least three civilians were killed in the crossfire.

Tuesday morning several policemen resigned. The rest of the force gathered in front of city hall in civilian clothes -- no uniforms -- and said they were on strike for better pay, life insurance, and better equipment. The mayor agreed to their demands. Pay increases between 50% and 100%. The lowest paid officers received 100% increases. More guns, ammo and vests are on the way.

The police chief has resigned. That makes two chiefs gone in two months.

The army has moved in with plans to stay for a while. They have established an armory with a lot of weaponry and men.

Things are looking up in little old Lerdo. And it rained last night, our second rain of the season.

Rolly Pirate

(This post was edited by Rolly on Aug 2, 2008, 7:49 AM)