quote:

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MCALLEN, TEXAS (AP) -- Frustrated by a crackdown on South Texas drug smuggling routes, the Mexican Gulf Cartel is stockpiling high-powered weapons and recruiting local gang members on both sides of the border to prepare for possible confrontations with U.S. law enforcement, according to an FBI intelligence report.

The regional leader of the cartel's enforcer group, the Zetas, Jaime "El Hummer" Gonzalez Duran ordered dozens of reinforcements to Reynosa, Mexico, across the river from McAllen, the report said.

"These replacements are believed to be armed with assault rifles, bulletproof vests and grenades and are occupying safe houses throughout the McAllen area," the report obtained by The McAllen Monitor said.

The Monitor reported in today's editions that the local FBI office refused to comment on the report.

Erik Vasys, an FBI spokesman in San Antonio, refused to discuss the details of the report but told The Associated Press, "W acknowledge the Zetas are a significant problem in Mexico and they have the potential to pose a significant problem to law enforcement on this side of the border."

Less than two weeks ago, the Border Patrol, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Hidalgo County sheriff announced that they would not be intimidated by cartel violence.

At the time, they would only say that they felt the smugglers had become increasingly confrontational and the agencies planned to increase their coordination.

Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino said at the time that his deputies patrolling near the Rio Grande would be issued high-powered rifles and authorized to return fire.

U.S. law enforcement has had several recent successes that have likely frustrated the cartel.

In September, "Project Reckoning" nabbed more than 175 cartel members and affiliates in the U.S.

The sheriff of neighboring Starr County was indicted and is being held without bond on conspiracy charges alleging that he shared intelligence with the head of a cartel cell operating in his county.

The Rio Grande Valley and its Mexican sister cities have largely avoided the drug war massacre that has plagued Ciudad Juarez, Mexico across the border from El Paso. More than 1,100 people have died in the violence there this year.

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http://www.kgbt4.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=214074

Laredo hasn't escaped the violence. Nuevo Laredo has become a very violent place and it has spilled over into Laredo. We have been lucky here in the valley that things haven't gotten ugly. They have been shooting at law enforcement across the river for a while.

I would think that a small number of helicopters with mini-guns should do the trick.

[This message has been edited by oldvalleyrat (edited 10/29/2008 2:45p).]

What ever happened to "La Barbie" or whatever name he goes by? Thought I saw a thread on him here a year or more ago, like somebody knew him or some thing like that. Didn't they just arrest one of these cartel people, there are many as I undertand it, somewhere in Tijuana? I grew up in Zapata, used to cross the border all the time, not a safe thing to do anymore! Sad!

WoW, that is serious. Time to close the borders....I have an idea, what about building a fence to keep all the dirt out

i needs to see my peoplessss....

People have been way to afraid to really report on the drug violence here in Laredo. especially after the offices of El Manana were attacked a ways back. hand grenades and everything. We used to at least double the official body counts to get to what was probably closer to the casualty rate. I've spoken to several LEO friends and they say that you can watch shipments coming over being watched from across by the Mexican Army (or at least they're using the equipment and uniforms).

La Barbie hasnt been captured.