Forums > General > Traveling Mexico

Brian

Feb 26, 2010, 6:48 AM

Post #1 of 9 (4007 views)

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Border alert this weekend

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Folks planning to cross at Laredo or McAllen should be aware of
heightened concern for violent activity in the areas. Both the
Mexican and US governments have taken precautionary steps. Schools
have been closed in Nuevo Laredo and the US consulate in Reynosa has
been closed until at least Monday for the protection of employees and
the public.

http://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/...docid&sortby=ASC

Brian

Dollie

Feb 27, 2010, 12:46 PM

Post #2 of 9 (3885 views)

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Re: [Brian] Border alert this weekend

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Thanks Brian, we were planning on going down this week but we are not very comfortable crossing in Laredo but we need to cross there.

Judy in Ags

Feb 27, 2010, 2:51 PM

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Re: [Dollie] Border alert this weekend

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Any way you can cross as Piedras Negras?

Camille

Feb 27, 2010, 3:41 PM

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Re: [Dollie] Border alert this weekend

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Or can you avoid both Laredos by crossing at Colombia?

Brian

Mar 3, 2010, 5:46 PM

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Re: [Camille] Border alert this weekend

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Here is an updated report and, unfortunately, it is not good. Four men were killed in a shootout in the town of Anahuac which lies on the Monterrey-Colombia road. Until and unless either the Zetas or the Gulf Cartel assumes dominance, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas will be the stage of more of these events. Of course, most people will cross uneventfully even during times of heightened tension. Wait times will be reduced because the local Mexicans are keeping a low profile. That was always my experience in Tijuana during the heyday of the Arellano-Felix cartel. If you have to cross "al otro lado", there really isn't any other choice.

http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/663187.html

The death toll has been updated to 10 with two of them being Mexican soldiers.

Brian

(This post was edited by Brian on Mar 3, 2010, 6:24 PM)

Altahabana

Mar 4, 2010, 3:07 PM

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Re: [Camille] Border alert this weekend

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In Reply To

Or can you avoid both Laredos by crossing at Colombia?

Unknown I'm sure to most people there has been a heavy Zeta presence around the Columbia bridge and Highway 2 for years. That is where most of the commercial truck highjackings take place. There was a shootout between the Army and Zetas near the Oxxo on the road from the bridge to Highway 2 a couple of years ago that left several people dead.

There is alot of turmoil in all Tamaulipas right now. There was quite a bit of violence in Valle Hermosa last week and a couple of shootouts on highways leading to the interior from Matamoros and Reynosa. There is apparantly some in fighting between factions of the Zetas, the remnants of the Gulf cartel and the army. The incident in Anahuac was pretty serious and occured right in the town.

http://impreso.milenio.com/node/8729396

I would recommend people avoid crossing and traveling to the interior if they can for the time being. Nuevo Laredo is inundated by rumors spread by internet, text and twitter so it is hard to tell what is really happening but it has the city in a mild panic. Very little of this is reported in the local media so it is impossible to tell the rumors from the truth but there is definately something unusual going on.

(This post was edited by Altahabana on Mar 4, 2010, 3:15 PM)

Altahabana

Mar 5, 2010, 5:06 PM

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Re: [Altahabana] Border alert this weekend

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This story in today's Milenio de Monterrey has an explanation for what is occurring. I saw a communique today (dated 03/01) from the commanding general of this military zone addressed to the governors of Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon stating that the army is also mounting a campaign to eradicate the Zetas and that the civil authorities need to alert people to the possibility of public violence. I posted it as an attachment on one of the Lake Chapala forums but it is too large to attach here. The shootout in Anahuac on Wednesday apparantly was one of the first steps in the eradication campaign.

Again there are lots of unsubstantiated rumors going around here, but I have heard several times that the government is not going to intervene in any infighting that takes place between the cartels if it doesn't get too open. The Zetas have really expanded their criminal activities beyond drug trafficking and those activities (extortion-hijacking--kidnapping) are starting to affect more and more people. It looks like they are getting it from all sides now.

http://www.milenio.com/node/394953

(This post was edited by Altahabana on Mar 6, 2010, 4:35 AM)

jm95

Mar 11, 2010, 7:39 AM

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Re: [Altahabana] Border alert this weekend

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A previous post suggested using the Piedras Negras crossing as an option to Nuevo Laredo or Colombia.

We need to return to the U.S. soon and Piedras Negras is a possiblility. Would this actually be safer? Haven't checked the map, but I'm wondering if the northbound route would also allow us to avoid the Monterrey-Nuevo Laredo highway(s) that the U.S. consulate in Monterrey is advising people not to use.

Would appreciate any suggestions.

Reefhound

Mar 11, 2010, 8:27 AM

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Re: [jackiem] Border alert this weekend

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It would let you avoid Monterrey but I think these gangs roam from Piedras Negras to Brownsville. I haven't heard of as much violence in PN but there has been some - last month a woman was killed in a driveby outside a restaurant where a mayor from Texas was meeting with the mayor of PN.

Maybe someone needs to start a business - Armored Carrier Transport to provide passage through the border zone.