Mother's day dawns and with it, the discovery of 49 bodies dumped at the entrance to San Juan NL
Sunday morning, Mother’s Day in the US, 49 bodies, most decapitated, some missing limbs and others in an advanced state of decomposition, were found on a highway east of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, according to various news sources.
The grisly find was made at Kilometer 47 on Mexico Federal Highway 40,which leads to Reynosa, Tamaulipas. Police were dispatched to the area based on a telephone call. Mexican Policia Federal agents were the first on the scene and found several black garbage bags containing the remains of 49 individuals. The actual location is 10 kilometers east of Cadereyta, near the village of San Juan. Cadereyta itself is about seven kilometers east of Monterrey.
It is being reported that six women and 43 men were among the dead. Some reports have said a narcomanta was left at the scene but had been removed, reportedly said “100 percent Zetas”
At this point in time, authorities still don’t know who the victims are and rumors are flying. Some are saying that the victims were migrants heading to the United States because some of the victims had the facial features of individuals from South America. The report also said the narcomanta had the symbol of Los Zetas only, probably the letter Z, suggesting Los Zetas likely committed the crime.
Jorge Domene, spokesman for the Nuevo Leon state Secretaria de Seguridad Pública (SSP)
Jorge Domene, spokesman for the Nuevo Leon state Secretaria de Seguridad Pública (SSP), also that some of the victims had gang tattoos, suggesting the deaths were a settling of accounts between gangs. He also said that most of the victims had been killed two days prior to their discovery. Due to the arrangement of the bodies, it appears the bodies were transported and dumped by a large dump truck in the early dawn hours when traffic was light.
Mexico Highway 40 is the “free road” used by motorist and truckers that want to avoid the toll road between Monterrey and Reynosa.
Let’s keep in mind as we explore this story, that very little official information is forthcoming from the agencies investigating this crime due to the blackout on releases from government agencies during the 90 days prior to the voting July 1, for Mexico’s next President. However, due to the nature of this crime, the large number of victims, some in government are ignoring the mandate of Article 41, and speaking out, such as Jorge DOmene. Last night, the government of Mexico announced a $30,000,000.00 mxn reward for information leading to the capture of those responsible. In US dollars, that comes to $2,201,446.12. (Hell for that amount of money, I’d turn my own mother in and give them a map showing where she’s buried.)
Anyone having information on this crime and possible claim the reward can do so by calling 01 800 831 3196 or by email denunciapgr@pgr.gob.mx
People are assuming that members of Los Zetas are responsible for this because of grafitti featuring the letter “Z” found on the gateway into the city and the narco banners which were removed. Others are saying the victims are in fact members of Los Zetas, murdered by the Sinoloa TCO. And some are also saying it could be retaliation against the government for their recent arrest of Marco Jesus Hernandez Rodriguez aka Jesus Ruiz Marcos Rodriguez, nicknamed “El Chilango”, jefe of sicarios (boss of Zetas’s assassins), who is credited with masterminding the kidnapping, torture and killing at least four Mexican Marines on April 18, 2012. For those of you who are not aware, Mexican Marines are the baddest of the bad in this country, and like our Special Forces troops, they take care of their own.
Personally, I think the scenario that this was a planned statement by Los Zetas for Mother’s Day is more believable as reported by Borderland Beat.
It just makes sense. Whatever it is, it’s a scouring of the gene pool from the bottom up.
There’s several reasons I’m writing this on a blog that generally has to do with trucking. First of all, James P. Hoffa’s Teamsters are using this as yet another reason that Mexican trucks should not be allowed into the US. Although no American’s were involved nor truckers, either Mexican or US, the truth doesn’t matter to Hoffa in the least.
In an article titled “49 more reasons not to open the border to Mexican trucks” an unidentified Teamster, thought to be Hoffa himself writes;
Trade deals are supposed to be two-way streets. The U.S. is supposed to give Mexican truckers access to our highways, Mexico is supposed to give U.S. truckers access to its highways.
But if the Mexican government can’t guarantee the safety of U.S. citizens, then Mexico isn’t giving the U.S. equal access to its highways. Mexico isn’t living up to its part of the deal.
The good news is that only a handful of Mexican carriers are allowed to travel beyond the border zone as part of the second cross-border trucking pilot program. And even fewer trucks are actually using our highways.
How sad is it that people like James P. Hoffa feel the need to use the deaths of 49 individual human beings to continue to push their isolationist agenda.
Units from Mexico Federal Police seal of crime scene where 49 bodies were discovered outside of Cadereyta, Nuevo Leon
The second and perhaps most important reason, for me anyhow, is that this story is being picked up internationally, and some in the mainstream media, thousands of miles from Mexico continue to portray Mexico as a crime ridden wild west 24/7 shootout which of course it’s not. Only a small fractions of Mexico’s municipalites (counties) have been effected by the ongoing was between the TCO’s (Trans-National Criminal Organizations) And civilians for the most part, are not the targets. Most of the victims in this period of violence have been found to have some connection, however minor to the bad guys.
A heightened presence of military units is seen in Cadereyta after the Mother's Day massacre that claimed 49 lives
People in the locales where the violence has been occurring continue with their lives as usual. What else is there to do. In Cadereyta, where the latest occurred, people haven’t lost faith in the military or the belief that their city and country will return to the safety it has known in the past.
One day after the slaughter which shocked this town and the nation, the main square of Cadereyta lived another day.
The park opposite the town hall was full of people, couples with their children enjoying a snack from street vendors or just talking.
Street vendors, clothing store owners, elderly people and even the street sweepers talk of the fear they feel about the violence.
Still others said nothing, just calmly observing the movement of people and vehicles around the main square of Cadereyta.
Because of this latest incident and others, the army has stepped up its presence in and around Cadereyta, with military patrols more frequently patroling the outskirts of the city.
And on Monday, the military took up positions opposite the town hall and around the square, watching and giving the citizens a feeling of security with their presence
Some of the troops got down from from their units and entered some of the businesses to interact with the owners and make purchases. Just another day as life continues in Mexico as it has for a 1000 years.
Los Pino – Mexican President Felipe Calderón just announced the arrest and detention of Sigifrido Nájera Talamantes, alias “El Canicón”, who is identified as responsible for attacks against U.S. Consulate in Monterrey, the grenade attack against the facilities at Televisa and for being responsible for the torture and death of nine soldiers in the State of Nuevo Leon, where Monterrey is located.
The information was released during a speech by José Luis Soberanes, head of the National Commission on Human Rights, held at the official residence of Los Pinos.
President Calderon said that the arrest took place in Saltillo, Coahuila, by units of the Mexican military
Calderon said that Nájera Talamantes is the leader of a gang that has committed terrorist attacks against Mexican Civil and Political institutions.
Calderon said that the arrest would not have been possible without the valuable assistance of the Army. “I do not deny that we have a serious security problem we face with determination, but we want to put it in it’s proper dimension. “
Unknown gunmen shot at the US Consulate in Monterrey and threw a grenade at the building, which did not explode. No one was injured according to a Consulate spokesman.
Two unidentified men approached the US Consulate General. One of them fired several times hitting the gates and a window. The second man threw a hand grenade which did not explode because the man forgot to pull the pin, according to the statement issued concerning Sunday mornings incident.
Six bullet casings from the pistol were found at the scene.
Local Police and US Federal investigators scoured the scene looking for more evidence, but at this time, no motive had been determined.
Read more
Our friend Sean Mattson, Mexico correspondent for the San Antonio Express News, left this interesting tidbit on his blog this morning, concerning the severed head found on a car in Monterrey this past week.
Honor amongst thieves perhaps? Who knows, but I got a chuckle out of the thing.
Head left on car with warning for wannabe Zetas; reassurance for businessmen
Kidnapping a guy, chopping his head off and leaving it on top of a car is sure one heck of a way to send a message.
Just in case the point wasn’t clear, the suspected killers of a person believed to be Erick Alejandro Alvarado Munãoz left a note with the head of the latest killing to rattle Monterrey.
According to media accounts, the grammatically challenged missive read:
“This is what happens to the people who pass themselves off for Zetas. Swindlers, crooks, kidnappers and people please report them without fear. This is the head of La Gata, attentively Gulf Cartel Nuevo León division. P.S. We don’t do anything to businessmen. Don’t be crybabies.”
The Zetas are the armed wing of the Gulf Cartel, which runs the narcotics business along much of the Texas border. “La Gata” is Alvarado’s nickname. He reportedly led a gang dedicated to large-scale robberies of vehicles from auto agencies in Monterrey, the big city in the border state of Nuevo León.
The note, if authentic, would suggest Alvarado was or passed himself off as a Zeta. It seems the Zetas are worried about their image — beheading enemies, cool; kidnapping and otherwise hassling the private sector, not cool.
Authorities haven’t said much.
I’m not sure if Monterrey’s private sector was reassured by the message.
— Sean Mattson
It is auspicious in light of the fact that several blog, such as THIS ONE or spreading hype and hysteria about Americans being targeted for assassination and kidnapping by the hundreds, which by the way, is not true. If you come to Mexico, or live in Mexico and go about your business without sticking your nose in others affairs, you’ll be fine.
The problems arise from the wannabes, the wannabe drug traffickers, the wannabe tuff boys.
On my days off this week, I needed to get away and relax and not having but a couple of days, headed to Monterrey Nuevo Leon.
It’s a good destination, a world class city that can hold it’s own against any similar city in North America.
It’s good to have friends there, especially those in the travel industry. I don’t recognize the name of the American company I represented, but because of them, I was able to obtain a suite in a 5 star hotel in Monterrey’s Galeria section that normally is $2400 pesos per night and paid only $921.00 pesos. I could get used to this. Smoozing with the movers and shakers of Monterrey business. (Mil gracias carina)
After dinner at Atlantico Oyster Bar and Grill, located on the side of a hill in the Colonia San Jananimo, outside on the patio with an incredible view of Monterrey and its suburbs, took a drive downtown to the Gran Plaza and the new Paseo Santa Lucia riverwalk. A good way to unwind and temporarily set aside the pressures of work.
Total cost of this little adventure? About $150.00 all inclusive of hotel, food and fuel. What did you do with your days off?
I went to Monterrey on the toll road at a cost of $170 pesos for a car and returned on the free road, or “libre” since I was in no hurry. As usual, I had my camera at the ready.
As was reported by other sources, trying to make it sound derogatory towards the Mexican trucking industry, their turnaround cycle appears to be 12 years. Nothing wrong with that. With the proper care and maintenance, these trucks can go 1.5 million miles or more before they begin to show their age.
But it seems like the cycling of the equipment is happening now. Dealers all over Mexico have new units on the ready line for delivery to carriers in Mexico. Freightliner Columbia’s, and Kenworth Kenmex T-660 seem to be the truck of choice again. Aerodynamics are in, the square boxy look of years past is gone.
So once again, here is photographic proof that debunks the critics and know nothings ideas about what a Mexican truck really is. And to be honest, their opinions no longer matter. Nothing I do or say will change their minds. But the minds that are being changed are those of the general public who have absolutely no idea about the issue. And here is where we shine. While others are presenting opinions without facts, Mexico Trucker continues to debunk those misrepresentations with photographic, first person proof
OOIDA’ executive vice president Todd Spencer, continues to try and convince the public, the Courts and Congress that the companies participating in the Cross Border Demonstration Project re using the same trucks as the border shuttle fleet or drayage operators.
He insinuates this fleet is ill maintained, worn out junk rigs that have no place on US highways. But of course, he’s wrong as we’ve proved time and again on this site.
CANACAR, the Mexican equivalent of the ATA, with about 150 member carriers is working to change this perception and encourage member carriers to upgrade their drayage equipment
Whether or not they are having any success or it is simply the life cycle of the trucks, many Mexican carriers with drayage operations are indeed, upgrading their cross border shuttle trucks and retiring the old JB Hunt and Schneider cab overs we’re so used to seeing.
I always have my digital camera at the ready whether I am in the big truck or in my personal vehicle and shot some rigs around Laredo Texas as well as on a recent return from a weekend in Monterrey.
Draw your own conclusions. I’ve seen worse trucks around the US in truck stops and on the road.
MONTERREY, Mexico — Immigration officials arrested two Iraqis at the international airport here Wednesday who were trying to enter the country with Bulgarian passports containing falsified information, officials said. Immigration officers identified the couple as Soleen Poles Pate, 20, and Ramy Gorgeen Markos, 25, from the Iraqi city of Mosul.
Authorities said they were probably Christians fleeing Iraq.
One federal police officer who questioned the pair said they would not be charged unless immigration officials requested a criminal investigation.
Immigration officials said they would remain in custody without charges until their stories checked out and their fingerprints were checked by Interpol.
This is the third time in a little more than a year that Iraqi Christians trying to get to the United States have been detained at the Monterrey airport. Officials arrested 11 in January 2007 and two last August.
In both cases, the detainees were released without being charged or deported after extensive background checks, said officials.
Visibly shaken and tired after hours of questioning in this Mexican city’s immigration headquarters, Pate held back tears and Markos answered questions with limited English.
Clad in new blue denim clothes and cowboy boots, Markos told reporters they were Christians and wanted to go to California. A bagged lunch immigration officials brought them from a Carl’s Jr. restaurant sat untouched on a waiting area table.
The pair arrived on an early morning flight from Madrid, Spain, said Irma María García, the head of Mexico’s immigration office in Monterrey.
Officials contacted Bulgaria’s embassy in Mexico and determined the passports were real but contained falsified information, she said.
Luis Raymundo Robles, another immigration official, said the pair followed the same route as the Iraqi Christians detained last year — through Turkey and Greece before catching a flight in Madrid to Monterrey.
Editor’s Note: I’ve always maintained we report the good and the bad about the trucking industry in Mexico, and this time is no exception. Excessive speed, diminished visibility led to this accident which closed the major connection between Monterrey and Saltillo yesterday.
One person dead. The truck driver is in prison awaiting trial which can take months to happen and for certain, under Mexican law, he will lose his Licencia Federal for a minimum of 10 years, perhaps permanently.
And before the critics begin the outcry about the dangerous Mexican trucks and drivers, think about the fubar in the tunnel in Santa Clarita California last year, caused by a Saia Freight driver and the inattention of those who followed. The 70 car and truck pile up in fog on I-4 in Florida last week. And I could mention dozens of others! Fucking up ain’t reserved or exclusive to any particular nationality of driver. Driving a truck is a skill and a vocation that crosses borders, races and nationalities.
You can read the story in it’s entirety as reported by El Manana
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