Mexican Cartel Threats to US Law Enforcement – D. Cook 12/05/2011 Page 1

Prepared by Don Cook, December 5, 2011

There have been recent assaults on Coastal Bend Peace Officers and elsewhere in Texas with the assailants allegedly tied to Mexican Cartels. These will be briefly addressed in this report. Following, however, is an open source report on a threat by Los Zetas against Mexican and U. S. Law Enforcement.

Zetas Issue Open Challenge to US and Mexico Governments By Andrew O'Reilly Published December 02, 2011 | Fox News Latino Source: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2011/12/02/zetas-send-challenge-to-us-and-mexico/

Mexico's ultra-violent Zetas drug cartel released a communiqué challenging Mexico and the United States. (NOTE: the communiqué was in the form of a publicly hung banner which has been a common means of communication of threats by the cartels).

"Message to the nation, the government, and all of Mexico and to public opinion: The special forces of Los Zetas challenge the government of Mexico and its federal forces," said the communiqué, which was signed by Zetas leader Miguel Angel Trevino Morales, also known as Z-40.

OFFICER SAFETY

MEXICAN CARTEL THREATS TO U.S. LAW

ENFORCEMENT AND COASTAL BEND PEACE OFFICERS

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The Zetas were formed in 1999 Heriberto Lazcano Lazcano, known as "El Lazca," who along with three other soldiers (NOTE: actually more like 30+) deserted an elite special operations unit within the Mexican army to become the armed wing of the Gulf drug cartel.

The Zetas are now one of the most violent and powerful cartels operating in Mexico. The former paramilitary group is considered to be one of two dominant cartels in Mexico, along with Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman’s Sinaloa cartel.

The group is believed to be responsible for the attack on a casino in Monterrey earlier this year that left 52 people dead.

"Not the Army, not the Marines nor the security and anti-drug agencies of the United States government can resist us. Mexico lives and will continue under the regime of Los Zetas," the communiqué went on to state.

While most of the violence related to the Zetas has remained in Mexico, the group has made headway into the U.S. with recent attacks and the capture of cartel members highlighting this infiltration. Last month, a botched drug bust outside of Houston left a U.S. secret operative dead and a sheriff's deputy injured after Zetas gunmen surprised the operation.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents also deported last week Donis Ruiz a suspected Zetas member wanted for kidnappings in Mexico.

"Let it be clear that we are in control here and although the federal government controls other cartels, they cannot take our plazas. You want proof?" the communiqué asked. "Look at what happened in Sinaloa and Guadalajara. If we can get all the way into their kitchen we are not going to lose control of our territory."

The Zetas are considered the second most powerful cartel in Mexico behind Guzman’s Sinaloa cartel, with one or the other group present in almost every Mexican state. As they battle for lucrative smuggling routes, the two cartels have recently ramped up attacks on one another.

Back in September in the Gulf coast city of Veracruz, Mexican authorities discovered the bound and tortured bodies of 35 alleged Zetas members dumped by the Sinaloa cartel onto a main thoroughfare in the city. In May, over two dozen people, most of them Zetas, were killed as they attempted to infiltrate the Sinaloa cartel's territory in the state of Nayarit.

Since President Felipe Calderon declared war on the country's drug cartels shortly after taking office in 2006, an estimated 35,000 to 40,000 people have been killed in Mexico's ensuring violence.

Following is a photo of the banner and Spanish language report.

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Z-40′s challenge to Mexico

Un comunicado de las fuerzas especiales de los ZETAS. Mensaje a la nación, al gobierno y a todo México y a la opinión publica. Las Fuerzas especiales de los ZETAS reta al gobierno de México, y a sus fuerzas federales Ni el EJERCITO, ni la MARINA, ni las AGENCIAS DE SEGURIDAD y ANTIDROGAS DEL GOBERBIERNO DE ESTADOS UNIDOS, pueden contra nosotros, México vive y seguirá bajo el régimen de los ZETAS, Que quede claro que aquí mandamos nosotros y aunque el gobierno federal apoye a otros carteles, no nos podrán desplazar, quieren mas muestras: ahí esta lo que ocurrió en SINALOA y GUADALAJARA, si nos metemos hasta en la cocina no vamos a perder el control de nuestro territorio. att: Miguel Angel Treviño Morales Z 40

A comunique from the special forces of Los Zetas

Message to the nation, the government, and all of Mexico and to public opinion: The special forces of Los Zetas challenges the government of Mexico and its federal forces.

Not the Army, not the Marines nor the security and antidrug agencies of the United States government can resist us. Mexico lives and will continue under the regime of Los Zetas. Let it be clear that we are in control here and although the federal government controls other cartels, they cannot take our plazas. You want proof? Look at what happened in Sinaloa and Guadalajara. If we can get all the way into their kitchen we are not going to lose control of our territory.

Sincerely, Miguel Angel Trevino Morales Z-40

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DHS CBP issued an Intelligence Alert over this past weekend advising that since mid-November, the Los Zetas leader, Heriberto Lazcano-Lazcano was reportedly preparing to enter the United States along the Rio Grande Valley to escape the violence in Mexico. Lazcano has been the target of Mexican Military operations as well as other cartels. Reportedly he will have a security detail and will engage U. S. Law Enforcement if approached.

Heriberto Lazcano-Lazcano AKA El Lazca

(Photo is several years old)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The following infomation has been previously reported out but included as a brief reminder tied to the additional information in this report. Three incidents involving assaults on officers occuring in the immediate Coastal Bend area earlier in November. Whether or not there were direct ties to Mexican Cartels the incidents shared three common elements:

• The incidents occurred in rural areas, • The initial stops were by solo units manned by one or two partnered officers, and • The initially interedicted vehicles were either traveling in a convoy or had a cover stealth

vehicle following the interdicted vehicle. Full sized SUV’s were primarily the vehicles of choice by the criminal element.

- On 11/03/2011 in San Patricio County, TX an Undocumented Alien was shot after attempting to

drive a vehicle at US Border Patrol agents following the end of a short vehicle pursuit.

- On 11/02/2011, near Dinero, TX, a motorist driving a pickup deliberately backed up and struck a DPS Trooper who was examining a separate stolen vehicle. Troopers commenced a pursuit that ended when the pickup crashed into a ravine and the driver and other occupants escaped on foot.

- On 11/01/2011, During a high-speed pursuit of a three-vehicle caravan carrying Undocumented Aliens and suspected Tango Blast gang members, one vehicle was used to aggressively block a

Mexican Cartel Threats to US Law Enforcement – D. Cook 12/05/2011 Page 5

Victoria County Sheriff’s Deputy. One suspect arrested was later linked to a cartel homicide in Mexico.

Mexican Cartel linked violence against law enforcement officers has been occurring for the past few years. The following two incidents were recently reported at the end of October, 2011:

- On 10/30/2011, McAllen Police Department officers detained three drug suspects after responding to a suspicious vehicle report. One suspect, who admitted association with the Gulf Cartel, reported that the other suspects would have fired on the officers had not additional McAllen Police Department units arrived. Two weapons were seized from the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

- On 10/30/2011, a Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Deputy was shot several times responding to a

possible kidnapping in progress involving suspects in a vehicle. The suspects are believed to be PRM (Partido Revolucionario Mexicano) gang members contracted by the Gulf Cartel.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The use of cover vehicles to protect a narcotics load has been a decades old technique utilized by drug trafficking organizations. During a multi-agency intelligence meeting last week, Border Patrol Intelligence Agents reported that a recent emerging threat, as shown by the above incidents is the use of cover vehicles aggressively assaulting law enforcement officers on stops of illegal alien cargo.

You are probably aware of the alleged ZETA backed attack in Harris County which resulted in the death of a cooperating informant and wounding of an undercover Harris County Deputy:

Los Zetas Three Vehicle (SUV) Commando Engages in Offensive Action in Northwest Harris County, Texas: Ensuing Fire Fight with US Law Enforcement.

November 28, 2011 by Robert Bunker

The mission was supposed to be a textbook 'controlled delivery' – a routine trap by law enforcement officers using a secret operative posing as a truck driver to bust drug traffickers when their narcotics are delivered to a rendezvous point. Instead, things spun out of control. Shortly before the marijuana delivery was to be made Monday afternoon, three sport-utility vehicles carrying Zetas cartel gunmen seemingly came out of nowhere and cut off the tanker truck as it rumbled through northwest Harris County, sources told the Chronicle.

They sprayed the cab with bullets, killing the civilian driver, who was secretly working with the government. A sheriff's deputy, who was driving nearby in another vehicle, was wounded, possibly by friendly fire.

Sources discussed aspects of the shoot-out on the condition that they not be identified publicly due to the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation.

A contingent of law-enforcement officers had been covertly shadowing the truck as it eased its way through the Houston area to deliver a load of marijuana fresh from the Rio Grande Valley.

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As the gunmen attacked, officers quickly jumped into the fray and also opened fire on the attackers. The truck kept rolling until it careened off the roadway and came to a halt. Dozens of law-enforcement officers descended on the scene as well as fanned out in the surrounding neighborhoods. Four suspects, all believed to be citizens of Mexico, were arrested and charged Monday with capital murder in connection with the shooting. The sheriff's deputy, who has not yet been identified publicly, was hit in the knee during the melee, which involved several cars and guns.

Authorities would not discuss how the deceased driver, who in addition to being a confidential informant and holding a job as a commercial truck driver, first made contact with the traffickers...While some of the arrested attackers have allegedly admitted to an affiliation with the Mexico-based Zetas, authorities said they are trying to determine why such a bold and risky attack was launched over just 300 pounds of marijuana.

A 3:01 minute news video concerning the incident can be accessed via: http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=8439923

· Who: Los Zetas' personnel (Three Mexican nationals captured-two from Nuevo Laredo; Eric De Luna, 23; Ricardo Ramirez, 35 and Rolando Resendiz, 34; one other individual- Fernando Tavera, 19).

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Following is a bulletin put out by the San Diego Law Enforcement Coordination Center Gang Team and covers “Tactics of the Tijuana Cartel: An Analysis of Ambush Attacks on Tijuana (MX) Law Enforcement”. It is a good situational awareness bulletin on Officer Safety for such incidents. Some key points near the end of the article are:

(U//LES//NOFORN) In the Field: • Keep the vehicle moving, never stop in the “kill zone” • Always turn into the vehicle in the direction of a Blind Side ambush • Keep your front seat clear to lay down or exit either door if under fire • Consider your vehicle an offensive weapon • When possible, travel in the far left lane • Have one car length between you and the car in front of you while stopped in traffic • Check mirrors for surveillance vehicles (especially SUVs and Vans) • Watch for more than one vehicle traveling in tandem • Alternate daily routine and routes • Appoint a ‘counter-surveillance officer’ as part of a team during operations • Conduct random security checks of law enforcement stations • When there is an overt threat, use ‘overwatch’ techniques on calls, stops, and operations For comments or suggestions please feel free to contact writer at DonC@cctexas.com, (361)886-2658

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SAN DIEGO - LAW ENFORCEMENT COORDINATION CENTER GANG TEAM

Intelligence Bulletin 10-002 November 17, 2010

Handling Notice: Recipients are reminded that SD-LECC intelligence and analysis products contain sensitive law enforcement and homeland security information meant for use primarily within the law enforcement and homeland security communities. Such products shall not be released in either written or oral form to the media, the general public, or other personnel who do not have a valid need-to-know without prior approval. For comments or questions on this product, or for approval to further disseminate any of the information contained in this bulletin, please contact the SD-LECC Gang Team at (858) 495-7298.

(U//LES//NOFORN) Tactics of the Tijuana Cartel: An Analysis of Ambush Attacks on Tijuana Law Enforcement (U) Executive Summary (U//FOUO) The intent of this bulletin is to provide Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs) with a general knowledge of ambush tactics used by the Tijuana Cartel against Mexican LEOs in Tijuana, Mexico. The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) Officer Safety Bulletin dated October 3, 2010, outlining Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations’ (DTOs) and San Diego street gangs’ use of Tijuana Cartel tactics in San Diego County, identified a need for a more comprehensive review of cartel tactics used south of the U.S. border.1

Information contained in this bulletin is not to be further disseminated without prior approval from the SD-LECC Gang Team, which can be reached at (858) 495-7298.

(U//LES//NOFORN) Tijuana DTOs and San Diego Street Gang Collaboration (U//LES//NOFORN) Recent incidents in San Diego County involving Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTOs) and San Diego street gangs have highlighted a potential increased threat to law enforcement personnel. A SDPD investigation revealed credible information that Mexican DTOs in collaboration with San Diego street gangs are using sophisticated counter surveillance techniques and are willing to use armed ambush assaults to protect drug shipments.2

(U//LES//NOFORN) In one incident, a Mexican DTO enforcement cell comprised of Tijuana Cartel and San Diego street gang members was assigned to protect narcotics shipments north of the border. The enforcement cell misidentified a SDPD undercover unit as a competing DTO ‘rip crew.’ Rip crews attempt to confront or assault enforcement cells in an effort to steal the narcotics shipments of other DTOs. In this incident, the DTO enforcement cell demonstrated mobile counter-surveillance techniques, such as varying vehicle speeds, switching lanes, and rotating vehicles in the convoy, to identify the vehicles following the drug shipment.3

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(U//LES//NOFORN) SDPD received credible information that the leadership of this DTO enforcement cell mistook the undercover law enforcement personnel for an opposing cartel ‘rip crew.’ Using push-to-talk communications, the enforcement cell called for additional San Diego street gang members to recover automatic weapons from a San Diego stash house and move to a preplanned location in Southeast San Diego. The cartel convoy then attempted to lead the suspected ‘rip crew,’ in this case undercover SDPD Officers, into an ambush at the preplanned location.4

(U//LES) Tijuana Cartel Tactics Used Against Mexican LEOs (U//LES) During 2009, there were 43 documented cases of armed assaults against members of the Tijuana, Mexico law enforcement resulting in homicide. Of the 43 cases, less than 12 percent have been resolved.5

Tactics, techniques, and procedures used by the Tijuana Cartel and presented in this document are derived from open source reporting and Mexican law enforcement homicide cases from 2009. This bulletin attempts to identify commonalities across the large number of successful attacks to determine some base-line tactics used by the Mexican cartels.

(U//FOUO) Preoperational Planning (U//FOUO) In many of the 2009 case studies, the tactics, techniques, and procedures used by the Tijuana Cartel and other DTOs to attack Mexican law enforcement suggests a high level of training and preoperational planning. Although a small percentage of the attacks appear to be randomly targeted LEOs on patrol, the majority of investigations revealed that the attacks, especially complex attacks, were at preplanned locations often targeting specific members of the Tijuana law enforcement community.6 Mexican investigations and interviews of suspects related to these attacks have uncovered the cartel use of former Mexican LEOs and military personnel involved in planning, training, and participating in assaults against current law enforcement and opposition cartels.7

(U//FOUO) The Basics (U//LES//NOFORN) The majority of attacks against LEOs were vehicle borne attacks, either shooting from the vehicle or deploying from multiple vehicles. During 2009, cartels operated in convoys of two to five vehicles and targeted as many as six

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LEOs at a time. The convoys make use of point vehicles and, in several cases, have used a rear security vehicle during an attack. Push-to-talk cellular phones and/or walkie-talkies are used to facilitate communications between vehicles during an operation.8

(U//LES//NOFORN) Several of the attacks analyzed are located on wide streets with two lanes heading in each direction. The wider streets allow the attackers to separate vehicles in the convoy in a variety of roles, such as blocking the streets, restricting target movement, and clearing pre-planned escape routes. The use of blocking vehicles around the attack isolates the victim in the “kill zone.” The attacks employ multiple shooters armed with rifles, pistols, and submachine guns. The most common assault weapons are the AK-47 (7.62X39) and the M4/AR15 (.223) variants. Several cases reported the use of body armor and law enforcement uniforms during the attack. Shot patterns, attack methods, and ultimately the numerous successful attacks against LEOs in Tijuana suggest DTOs have been trained and continue to train in small unit tactics and use of firearms. (U//LES//NOFORN) Types of Ambushes (U//LES//NOFORN) The three recurring types of ambushes used during 2009 were the blind-spot, ‘laying in wait,’ and a complex mobile ambush. All three types of attacks are designed to take the victims by surprise, limit the victim’s mobility, and engage with overwhelming fire-power. These factors isolate victims or drive them into a “kill zone,” decreasing the victim’s ability to respond to the assault. In several cases, the attackers advanced on a downed or injured LEO to ensure the attack resulted in a fatality. (U//LES//NOFORN) The Blind Spot is a vehicle-to-vehicle tactic used in seven attacks during 2009. Attackers attempt to approach the target vehicle from the driver’s side, moving into the drivers ‘blind spot.’ Once in position, multiple shooters from the assault vehicle fire into the target vehicle attempting to incapacitate the vehicle during the initial contact. In several case studies, the shooters left the assault vehicle to deliver a “coup de grace” or final series of shots to the wounded LEO.

Photos: Three successful ‘blind spot’ attacks against Mexican LEOs in 2009. The yellow lines depict the line of fire from the attacker’s vehicles.

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(U//LES//NOFORN) The ‘Laying in Wait’ ambush is a preplanned attack where cartel members are static in a designated location prior to the arrival of the intended victim or victims. This type of tactic requires moderate level pre-operational surveillance and intelligence collection in order to become familiar with routes, identify choke points, and escape routes. The attackers need to have knowledge of when and where law enforcement personnel will be at a specific time in order to organize the assault. (U//LES//NOFORN) The Tijuana law enforcement investigations and open source reporting identify three types of victims of a ‘laying in wait’ attack during 2009. The first are LEOs targeted based on regular patrol routes.9 The second are specific officers targeted for their involvement or their refusal to participate in cartel activities. In several cases, it is suspected that current or former members of Mexican law enforcement provided the information required to successfully target these individual officers.10 Lastly, at least two cases involved the use of the Tijuana emergency 066 telephone number (9-1-1 equivalent in the U.S.) to lure Municipal Police into a waiting ambush.11 One such ambush in the San Antonio de los Buenos precinct of Tijuana resulted in injury to numerous LEOs and bystanders.12

(U//LES//NOFORN) The Complex Mobile Ambush is a small convoy tactic used to create a “kill zone” covered by automatic weapons fire from two interlocking directions. In addition, the cartel members often use point and trail vehicles to block the roads, further isolating the victim. In many cases, the vehicles used in the ambush were found abandoned, along with weapons and body armor, in a nearby neighborhood. Officers targeted with a complex ambush were often in static security positions or had stopped at a location such as a convenience store.13

Complex Mobile Ambush

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(U//LES//NOFORN) Counter Ambush Techniques (U//LES//NOFORN) This bulletin is not intended to provide guidance or training in counter ambush or counter surveillance techniques to U.S. law enforcement. However, certain overarching principals pertaining to officer safety in an ambush situation have been outlined below. (U//LES//NOFORN) In the Field:

• Keep the vehicle moving, never stop in the “kill zone” • Always turn into the vehicle in the direction of a Blind Side ambush • Keep your front seat clear to lay down or exit either door if under fire • Consider your vehicle an offensive weapon • When possible, travel in the far left lane • Have one car length between you and the car in front of you while stopped in traffic • Check mirrors for surveillance vehicles (especially SUVs and Vans) • Watch for more than one vehicle traveling in tandem • Alternate daily routine and routes • Appoint a ‘counter-surveillance officer’ as part of a team during operations • Conduct random security checks of law enforcement stations • When there is an overt threat, use ‘overwatch’ techniques on calls, stops, and operations

(U//LES//NOFORN) In Training and Off-Duty Hours: • Periodically conduct counter-surveillance training • Practice vehicle-based shooting scenarios • Train to respond to multiple ambush scenarios • Develop, implement, and update a security plan for both home and duty hours

(U) Conclusion (U//FOUO) The use of cartel ambush tactics and techniques against San Diego law enforcement is currently assessed low. The potential for San Diego and Imperial county law enforcement being targeted as a case of mistaken identity as a competing cartel or ‘rip crew’ is assessed as moderate based on the recent events in the San Diego region. Considering recent reporting of Mexican DTO and San Diego street gang collaboration, law enforcement operating in an undercover or surveillance capacity should consider increased surveillance and counter-surveillance training. (U) Intelligence Gaps

(U//LES) It is unknown if any other incidents have occurred involving San Diego law enforcement (while performing surveillance or undercover duties) being targeted by criminal organizations because of mistaken identity.

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(U//LES) The extent of the Tijuana Cartel or other Mexican cartels collaborating with San Diego region street gangs is currently unknown. (U//LES) It is unknown whether Mexican Cartels have been or will in the future provide training to San Diego street gangs on subjects such as weapons, ambush tactics, surveillance, and counter surveillance.

(U//FOUO) For comments or questions on this product, or for approval to further disseminate any of the information contained in this bulletin, please contact the SD-LECC Gang Team at (858) 495-7298. To report suspected terrorism-related incidents or suspicious activity, please contact the San Diego Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) at (858) 565-1255.

1 (U//LES//NOFORN) San Diego Police Department, Criminal Intelligence Unit, Intelligence Briefing, “Cartel Counter Assault Operations-tactics, Officer Safety Information,” 03 August 2010. 2 (U//LES//NOFORN) San Diego Police Department, Criminal Intelligence Unit, Intelligence Briefing, “Cartel Counter Assault Operations-tactics, Officer Safety Information,” 03 August 2010. 3 (U//LES//NOFORN) San Diego Police Department, Criminal Intelligence Unit, Intelligence Briefing, “Cartel Counter Assault Operations-tactics, Officer Safety Information,” 03 August 2010. 4 (U//LES//NOFORN) San Diego Police Department, Criminal Intelligence Unit, Intelligence Briefing, “Cartel Counter Assault Operations-tactics, Officer Safety Information,” 03 August 2010. 5 SD-LECC, Articles of Interest in the Mexican Press, “Only 12% of Attacks Against Law Enforcement in Tijuana Resolved,” Frontera, 19 April 2009. 6 SD-LECC, Articles of Interest in the Mexican Press, “Police Official Killed in Playas de Tijuana,” El Sol de Tijuana, 06 April 2009. 7 SD-LECC, Articles of Interest in the Mexican Press, “Police Officers Confess to Murdering Colleagues,” Frontera, 30 August 2009. 8 (U//LES//NOFORN) San Diego Police Department, Criminal Intelligence Unit, Intelligence Briefing, “Cartel Counter Assault Operations-tactics, Officer Safety Information,” 03 August 2010. 9 SD-LECC, Articles of Interest in the Mexican Press, “Armed Attacks Claim the Lives of Two Police Officers,” 2009-005. 10 SD-LECC, Articles of Interest in the Mexican Press, “Police Officers Confess to Murdering Colleagues,” 30 August 2009 11 SD-LECC, Articles of Interest in the Mexican Press, “Tijuana Police Official Killed,” Frontera, 18 December 2009. 12 SD-LECC, Articles of Interest in the Mexican Press, “Brazen Attack Provokes Anger and Outrage,” El Mexicano, 25 October 2009 13 SD-LECC, Articles of Interest in the Mexican Press, “Seven Police Officers Murdered in Tijuana,” 29 April 2009.