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UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF VIOLENT GROUPS (www.isvg.org)
DAILY BORDER NEWS REPORT FOR 17 NOVEMBER 2011
COMPILER, INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF VIOLENT GROUPS (www.isvg.org)
EDITOR, JOINT TASK FORCE NORTH (www.facebook.com/USA.JTFN)
(U) This document is UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY and portions may be exempt from mandatory disclosure under FOIA. DoD 5400.7R, "DoD Freedom of Information Act Program", DoD Directive 5230.9, "Clearance of DoD Information for Public Release", and DoD Instruction 5230.29, "Security and Policy Review of DoD Information for Public Release" apply.
(U) FAIR USE NOTICE. This document may contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making it available to recipients who have expressed an interest in receiving information to advance their understanding of threat activities in the interest of protecting the United States. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
(U) Use of these news items does not reflect official endorsement by Joint Task Force North or the Department of Defense.
For further information on any item, please contact JTF-North Knowledge Management (KM).
Compiled By: Mr. Tom Davidson, Institute for the Study of Violent Groups
Edited by: Mr. Jonathan Kaupp
Approved for Release by: Dr. Rodler Morris
CONTENTS: (Note: All active EXTERNAL hyperlinks have been removed)
Table of Contents
CONTENTS 1
1. CANADA AND NORTHERN BORDER STATES 3
A. Truck Driver Caught with Cocaine (CA) 3
B. Five People Were Arrested in Three Separate Incidents by Police on the West Coast of the Province Monday Night. (NL) 3
C. Man Arrested after Attempting to Smuggle Pot into U.S. (MI) 4
2. INNER UNITED STATES 5
A. Jacksonville Drug Ring with Ties to California and Southeastern U.S. Busted (FL) 5
B. Utah Authorities Bust Drug Operation with Ties to Mexico (UT) 6
C. ATF Offers Reward of Up to $10K in Gun-Shop Burglary (PA) 7
3. MEXICO AND SOUTHERN BORDER STATES 8
A. Eleven Zetas Captured (NL) 8
B. Summary of Events 9
C. Border Patrol Agents Seize Nearly 4 Tons of Marijuana in 2 Days (TX) 11
D. Nogales CBP Officers Seize Cocaine Worth More than $500,000 (AZ) 12
E. Mexican National Sent to Prison after Pharr Kidnapping (TX) 12
F. Mexico Arrests a Leader of Knights Templar Drug Cartel (MICH) 13
G. Mexican Daily Offices Attacked by Gunmen (COAH) 13
H. Feds Probe Suspected Drug Tunnel between US-Mexico (CA) 14
I. 3 Arrested, Pot Seized after Boat Washes Ashore (CA) 15
J. Mexican Marines Arrest Zetas Cartel Boss (NL) 16
K. PGR Obtains Convictions for 16 Members of Various Criminal Organizations 17
L. Beheaded Man Was Not One of Us, Say Anti-Drug Cartel Bloggers (TAMPS) 19
4. CARRIBEAN, CENTRAL, AND SOUTH AMERICA 20
A. Chile Says One of Its Diplomats Shot by Robbers in Venezuela (VE/CL) 20
B. FARC Choose Military Rather than Political Leader (CO) 21
C. Nicaraguan Navy Kills Four 'Drug Dealers' in Boat Chase (NI) 23
D. Puerto Rico Arrests Territory's 'Most Dangerous' Drug Trafficker (PR) 23
E. Peruvian Vice-President Suspended from Congress over Corruption Allegations (PE) 24
F. Colombian Arrested for Running Drug Operations in Ecuador (CO) 25
G. Colombia, Peru Collaborate To End Coca Production at Borders (CO/PE) 26
5. OPINION AND ANALYSIS 27
A. Human Trafficking Is World's 2nd Most Profitable Crime: Report (PR) 27
B. Central American Governments Agree on Regional Security Plan 27
C. Mexican Drug Cartels Accused of Greater Aggression against U.S. (US) 28
D. U.S.-Mexico Crackdown on Cross-Border Drug Trafficking Bears Fruit (US/MX) 30
E. No Drugs in Plane Wreck (UK) 32
F. New Study on Mexico’s Drug Cartels and the Global War on Drugs (CO) 33
G. Mexico's Drug War: Billions of Dollars, Thousands of Deaths (MX) 34
H. Battle for the Border: Drug Cartels Operating Out of Dallas (TX) 36
1. CANADA AND NORTHERN BORDER STATES
A. Truck Driver Caught with Cocaine (CA)
15 November 2011
Corning Observer
A police K-9's success has turned into an eight-year prison sentence for a big-rig truck driver busted with 25 pounds of cocaine in Tehama County.
The California Highway Patrol dog alerted on the big rig's cab of Baljinder Singh Gill, 29, of Canada, on Aug. 1, as it was parked at the CHP Cottonwood Inspection Facility on Interstate 5.
Inside the cab, Tehama Interagency Drug Enforcement task force agents and CHP officers confiscated 25 pounds of cocaine.
The commander of the drug task force said the big rig, hauling corn and melons, was seized pending asset forfeiture proceedings.
Gill was arrested and charged with transportation and possession for sale of a controlled substance and two special allegations. He was held in jail on $500,000 bail.
In a plea agreement with the Tehama County District Attorney's Office on Oct. 4, Gill pleaded guilty to the transportation charge and its special allegation.
He was sentenced in Tehama County Superior Court last week.
Maher said the northbound driver's destination was British Columbia, and the street value of the drugs was estimated at nearly $1 million.
Source: [www.corning-observer.com/news/tehama-10856-cocaine-big.html]
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B. Five People Were Arrested in Three Separate Incidents by Police on the West Coast of the Province Monday Night. (NL)
15 November 2011
The Telegram
Members of the Corner Brook RCMP/RNC Joint Forces Drug Section arrested a 29-year-old man and a 17-year-old female from the Corner Brook area for drug-related offences.
Police team seized three kilograms of cocaine and $620 cash from a vehicle on the Trans-Canada Highway just west of Corner Brook.
The accused were arrested for trafficking in cocaine, possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, and conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance.
The man was held to appear in provincial court in Corner Brook today. The female youth was released and will appear in Youth Court on Jan. 25.
In a second incident, a 35-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman, both from Ontario, were arrested on the TCH just west of Corner Brook.
Police seized 10 kilograms of marijuana, four kilograms of cannabis resin (oil) and three kilograms of cannabis resin (hash).
Charges laid include: one count of trafficking in cannabis marijuana over three kilos; one count of trafficking in cannabis resin (oil) over three kilos; one count of trafficking in cannabis resin (hash) over three kilos; one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking in cannabis marijuana over three kilos; one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking in cannabis resin (oil), over three kilos; and one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking in cannabis resin (hash) over three kilos.
Both accused are held in custody and are scheduled to appear in provincial court in Corner Brook on Wednesday.
In a third incident, Raymond Kirby, a 58-year-old man from the Burin Peninsula, was arrested east of Corner Brook, near Deer Lake, and had his transport truck seized.
This occurred when the RCMP St. John's, Burin and Corner Brook Customs and Excise Sections stopped and searched a tractor trailer locating 2,000 cartons of illegal contraband cigarettes destined for the province. It was a privately owned tractor trailer that was seized by police.
Kirby was expected to appear in provincial court today on charges under the Excise Act and the Revenue Administration Act.
Source: [www.thetelegram.com/News/Local/2011-11-15/article-2805554/Five-people-arrested-in-three-drug-and-tobacco-police-operations/1]
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C. Man Arrested after Attempting to Smuggle Pot into U.S. (MI)
16 November 2011
Times Herald
A man was arrested Friday morning after U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents found more than 33 pounds of marijuana in a hockey bag in the van he was driving.
Information on the arrest was not released until this morning.
Remote Video Surveillance System cameras on the St. Clair River detected a boat coming from Canada, entering U.S. waters and landing near the Port Seaway Inn in Cottrellville Township, according to a news release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The boat stayed in the United States for a brief time before heading back to Canada, the news release stated. A van was spotted leaving the area at a high rate of speed after the boat began heading back to Canada.
Border Patrol agents initiated a traffic stop and saw a large duffel bag in the van. The marijuana was discovered after agents searched the vehicle, and the driver was arrested, the news release stated.
The marijuana and the man were turned over to the St. Clair County Sheriff Department. Additional information was unavailable.
Source: [www.thetimesherald.com/article/20111116/NEWS05/111116006/Man-arrested-after-attempting-smuggle-pot-into-U-S-?odyssey=nav|head]
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2. INNER UNITED STATES
A. Jacksonville Drug Ring with Ties to California and Southeastern U.S. Busted (FL)
15 November 2011
Jacksonville News
Seventeen people have been arrested in a Jacksonville-based drug ring that was dealing in an estimated 200 kilos of cocaine annually, police said.
Drugs were brought to Jacksonville from Mexico by mail and parcel service and money was taken back to the West Coast by women acting as couriers, the Jacksonville Sheriff said.
Those arrested include a man identified as the Jacksonville ringleader who was found with $72,000 cash hidden in a rental car in June. Four people are still wanted by police, including one who is believed to have fled to Jamaica.
The ring began to unravel in June when the ringleader, 29, was stopped in a car carrying the cash. He was not arrested but the seizure was a tip that a multi-agency investigation that began earlier in the year was on the right track, investigators said. He was arrested Sept. 29 on two counts of conspiring to traffic in cocaine.
The sheriff said cocaine and marijuana was brought to Jacksonville and distributed to other parts of Florida as well as into Georgia and South Carolina. Money was taken back to California and Arizona.
Arrests in the case began in late summer and were continuing late last month. Three of those still being sought are believed to be in the Jacksonville area.
Seizures include $330,000 in cash, nine vehicles and nine firearms.
In addition to the ringleader, 15 others are being charged.
Four suspects are being sought by police and one is believed to have fled to Jamaica.
Source: [jacksonville.com/news/crime/2011-11-15/story/jacksonville-drug-ring-ties-california-and-southeastern-us-busted]
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B. Utah Authorities Bust Drug Operation with Ties to Mexico (UT)
15 November 2011
KSL
PROVO — Members of a group that police believe had been making more than $300,000 a month in heroin and cocaine trafficking in Utah were rounded up by numerous county, state and federal officers Tuesday.
Eight search warrants were served simultaneously early Tuesday by more than 75 law enforcers from the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force, Unified Police Department, Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office, FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Fourteen people had been arrested as of Tuesday afternoon and booked into the Utah County Jail, mainly for investigation of drug possession with intent to distribute.
"This investigation's been going on a little under a year," said a Lieutenant with the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force. "This particular group we've known about, we've targeted them, been watching them; so it was a fairly lengthy joint investigation with multiple agencies."
The take from the bust was more than 5 pounds of heroin, 2 1/2 pounds of cocaine, $173,000 in cash, four guns and 8 vehicles.
"With guns, cash, cars and suspects, it's a very entrenched organization," the officer said.
Investigators say the arrests have "resulted in the disruption of a multi-state drug trafficking organization operating along the Wasatch Front."
The investigation started when detectives conducted surveillance on the ongoing problem of people driving from Utah County to Salt Lake County to buy drugs.
Source: [www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=18103149&autostart=y]
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C. ATF Offers Reward of Up to $10K in Gun-Shop Burglary (PA)
15 November 2011
The York Dispatch
A reward of up to $10,000 is now being offered for tips about the burglary of a Shrewsbury Township gun shop Sunday.
An inventory done Monday by federal agents at the Gun Bunker, 60 E. Forrest Ave., determined 90 firearms were stolen from the store, according to the spokesman for the federal bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
State police originally reported that 50 guns were stolen, as well as $900 cash.
On Tuesday, the ATF announced it will pay up to $10,000 to the person whose information helps authorities arrest and convict the burglar or burglars.
The amount of the reward will depend on how valuable the tip is, he said.
The number of weapons stolen is a threat to public safety, he said.
"(They) may fall into the hands of criminals and are a threat to our community," he said. "That's why we're offering this reward now - (to) arrest those responsible as soon as possible."
What happened: Someone burglarized the Gun Bunker between 3 and 6 a.m. Sunday, police said.
The burglar or burglars first tried to break in by using a chisel to remove cinder blocks from the rear wall of the store, state police have said.
But when that attempt failed, they used a chisel to remove the steel cover blocking a side window, police said.
At least five of the stolen handguns are fully automatic, according to police.
"Obviously, it's imperative that anyone who has information brings it to our attention," said state police. "There are a high number of dangerous weapons on the street that are unaccounted for at this point."
ATF is now leading the investigation into the stolen guns and state police are assisting, according to Wise.
"We have local knowledge of the area," he said.
A man who answered the phone at the Gun Bunker Tuesday morning said the shop has no immediate comment.
Source: [www.yorkdispatch.com/news/ci_19338987]
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3. MEXICO AND SOUTHERN BORDER STATES
A. Eleven Zetas Captured (NL)
15 November 2011
Borderland Beat
Authorities of the Ministry of National Defense reported that they managed to capture 11 members of organized crime Los Zetas, who were intercepted in the town of Cadereyta, Nuevo Leon.