It’s been a helluva month here on the border in the aftermath of Hurricane Alex and the several tropical storms that followed.
At one point, all roads between Nuevo Laredo and Monterrey were closed for several days resulting in a backup of an estimated 11-22,000 trucks.
Parts of Reynosa are still underwater as the Rio Grande is slow in returning to normal there.
Laredo Texas looks as if a tsunami hit the banks of the Rio Grande where at one point, the water was lapping at the side beams of the international bridge, 60 feet above the river.
Freight in the area is still slow in getting back across the border as the maquillas in Monterrey and elsewhere are slowly recovering and gearing back up to full capacity.
Continue with the post below the break to view photos of the disaster.
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Nuevo Laredo police officer of patrol SC-111 detained after helping pregnant American Citizen
Eight Policemen of the Directorate of Public Safety, (Policia Municipal) were detained last night by US Customs Agents, after giving assistance to an American Citizen who was about to give birth in Nuevo Laredo.
Shortly before 2000 hours last night, officers assigned to patrol unit SC-111 were on routine patrol in the central business district when they observed and American citizen calling for help.
Santa Villegas, 20, was sitting in one of the benches of the Plaza Juarez in the first stages of delivering a baby.
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A bus owned by Autobuses Lucano of Dallas Texas, traveling from San Luis Patosi, SLP to Houston Texas crashed 35 miles south of Nuevo Laredo Thursday morning, killing 2, including a pregnant 19 year old woman whose body was found under the bus and injuring 10.
The injured were taken to hospitals in Sabinas Hidalgo NL and Cruz Roja in Nuevo Laredo.
Juan Carlos Flores Sanchez, Commandander of Federal Police Highways, reported initial investigation and interviews with passengers suggested the driver fell asleep at the wheel shortly before the bus left the highway and overturned.
The driver left the scene and a warrant was issued with the Nuevo Leon State Police for his arrest and detention.
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Ray Stevens (The Streaker) would be proud of this wieney wagger.
It was growing dark as two women, Ana Maria Arredondo and Idalia Mejía, walked by a house lined with shrubs, when the wannabe adonis, Ciro Guadalupe Hernandez Garci’a, 36, jumped out of the bushes and proudly displayed his package to the two shocked and embarrassed women.
They shouted for help and was soon joined by a relative who chased Garcia into his nearby home.
Municipal Police were notified and Garcia was taken into custody without incident.
Can you imagine how popular he was in the city jail, wearing only a T-shirt and a towel? I imagine the cell bosses thought it was Christmas in June.
Hitmen tied to Mexico’s Gulf cartel appear to be boldly seeking recruits by posting help-wanted signs in the border city of Nuevo Laredo, including a giant banner hung across a thoroughfare, a federal anti-drug enforcement official said Monday.
The banner appeared over the weekend in Nuevo Laredo near the border with Texas: “Operative group ‘The Zetas’ wants you, soldier or ex-soldier. We offer a good salary, food and benefits for your family. Don’t suffer anymore mistreatment and don’t go hungry.”
The Zetas is the enforcement arm of the Gulf cartel and is made up of former Mexican soldiers. Photos of the banner were displayed prominently in Mexico’s national media on Monday.
An official of the federal attorney general’s office, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to give his name, told The Associated Press that authorities believe the banner is authentic, although they are still investigating.
He said officials believe the banner may be a response to the government after it posted signs in several cities with the photos of three Zeta members, asking people to call police if they see them.
In Nuevo Laredo, those signs were recently defaced and several had a telephone number written across them, the official said. The same telephone number appeared on the banner. The Associated Press called the number, but a recording said the number does not exist.
Security expert Jose Luis Pineyro said the recruiting effort could be drug traffickers’ way of thumbing their noses at the federal government, but is unlikely to be an effective way of bringing in new blood.
“On the contrary, those who have decided to desert or remain inside the armed forces as spies are already doing that,” Pineyro said.
Earlier this month, law enforcement officials said drug cartels were using classified ads to lure young Mexicans in Ciudad Juarez into unknowingly working as drug couriers.
Mexico City’s El Universal newspaper first reported the trend, citing ads in Ciudad Juarez newspapers that require applicants to have the U.S. visa needed to drive a vehicle across the border but do not mention job experience.
A federal official, not authorized to give his name, said applicants often think they are applying to become messengers, but they end up unwittingly driving vehicles loaded with drugs into neighboring El Paso, Texas.
Chris Mears, a spokesman for the El Paso Police Department, said he was aware of the trend and had seen several teenagers charged after being found with loads of drugs in their cars.
Tighter border security on both sides has forced drug cartels to find creative ways to move their contraband into the U.S.
Mexican authorities say cartels are training new recruits in the face of President Felipe Calderon’s nationwide crackdown. Since taking office in 2006, Calderon has sent more than 20,000 troops to areas plagued by drug violence.
I think this is a more “in your face” type of stunt that a real recruiting effort. But it makes good news for the fear mongers in the media!
A new batch of troops arrived in Nuevo Laredo this weekend to supplement the soldiers already assigned to border security.
Although the authorities did not reveal the exact number of agents and soldiers who arrived, , military sources commented this week that between the 26 and the 29 of February, 2600 additional troops would be added to the states of Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon
According to a report of the Secretariat of the National defense (Sedena), the military will be distributed immediately to the municipalities of Nuevo Laredo, Miguel Aleman, Mier, Diaz Ordaz, Reynosa, Bravo River, Matamoros and the coasts of the Bagdad Beach, in the Gulf of Mexico, to carry out tasks of patrolling, monitoring and interdiction duties.
Yesterday, around the noon, two C-130 Hercules aircraft coming from Sonora, landed in the International Quetzatcóatl International Airport in Nuevo Laredo, with elements of the Special Forces, Fast Intervention, Artillery, Cavalry and Armor.
Included were 150 members of the Aero Movilf Fuerzas Especiales. (GAFES).
“The additional manpower will reinforce with the troopse that we have in this border city, monitoring the Police, within the city, roads coming in and out of the cityas well as the International bridges”, informed Military commanders of the Nuevo Laredo garrison.
Editor Note: A thought occurred to me reading this article. Growing up in Little Rock, close to Little Rock AFB, serving in the Air Force in the 70′s, and knowing several C-130 pilots and crewmen, it takes a high level of skill to fly one of the babies; If Mexican’s can fly the C-130 or any other aircraft for that matter, then why can they not drive and operate commercial vehicles properly and safely? Ehhhhh?
25 Mexican cross border operators gathered at the local offices of CANACAR to protest new rules issued by Gerardo Madrazo, head of the Nuevo Laredo Transito or Traffic division, prohibiting tractors within residential areas within the city.
In additions, Transito officers have been instructed to watch the most heavily traveled areas for the shuttle operators, Hwy 2 which come in from the Colombia Bridge and the Bridge III commercial crossing.
Transit officers seem to be demanding $50 pesos or about $5.00 US from operators for the privilege of taking their bob tail tractors home. When there is more than one officer in the car, the amounts increase proportionately.
But I wonder. It appears the new Transito chief is instructing his officers to enforce the laws for a change.
Numerous complaints from residents of Colonia Juarez, next to the terminals of a major trucking company, Transportes Especializados de Nuevo Laredo (TENL). Of course in all fairness, this trucking company has occupied the premises and the neighborhood has grown up around it.
Residents are complaining of trucks entering and leaving the compound at all hours of the day and night and parking outside the compound without regard to spaces for the residents autos. Sound familiar?
But back to the transitos. The members of CANACAR seem to be upset because the Transito are being more diligent in enforcing motor carrier laws in Nuevo Laredo. Over dimension loads without proper permits.
Nuevo Laredo Transito are also authorized to make equipment inspections and cite or place Out of Service as deemed necessary.
And I bet you guys really believed the bullshit spoken by the Trucking Bozo, OOIDA and others that there is no commercial vehicle enforcement in Mexico.
To the contrary, the Mexican Enforcement Regulations are aligned with the USDOT regs in many ways. In the case of the crackdown, the appropriate sections of the code are quoted.
So what do the Mexican truckers find so unfair about the enforcement?
Los artículos 103, 104, 105, 106, 107 y 108 del Reglamento de Tránsito y Transporte Público, señalan lo siguiente:
Artículo 103.-
En los casos que dicte el interés público, la Secretaría está facultada para restringir la circulación, horarios y maniobras de los vehículos de transporte de carga, y en general de aquellos considerados en este Reglamento, como pesados.
(In cases that the public interest dictates, the Secretariat is empowered to restrict the movement, schedules and movement of vehicles for transporting cargo, and in general for those considered in this regulation, such as heavy haul.)
Artículo 104.-
Se prohíbe la circulación los vehículos de carga cuando ésta:
They can prohibit the movement of vehicles when:
I.-Sobresalga de la parte delantera del vehículo.
When the cargo exceeds the front limits of the vehicle
II.-Sobresalga de la parte posterior en más de un tercio de la longitud de la plataforma.
When it hangs over the back in access of 1/3 total length of the trailer
III.-Ponga en peligro a personas o bienes.
When it puts the public and others in danger
IV.-Estorbe la visibilidad del conductor o dificulte la conducción del vehículo.
When it obstructs the operators view or impedes operation of the vehicle
V.-Oculte las luces del vehículo, sus espejos retrovisores o sus placas de circulación; y When it hides the lights, blocks the mirrors or covers the license plates of the vehicle
VI.-Se trate de materias a granel que no vayan debidamente cubiertas.
In the case of bulk materials which are not properly covered or tarped
Artículo 105.-
Cuando se vaya a transportar carga que no se ajuste a lo dispuesto en el Artículo anterior, la Secretaría podrá conceder permiso especial y señalará las medidas de protección que deban adoptarse.
When you go to transport cargo that does not conform to the provisions of Article earlier, the Ministry may grant special permission and give the protective measures to be taken. In other words, issue a permit for the movement.
Artículo 106.-
Los vehículos de carga solamente transportarán la autorizada y sus conductores deberán portar la nota de remisión correspondiente.
Permit is valid for that truck and that cargo, and driver must have permit in his possession
Artículo 107.-
Los vehículos que transporten artículos susceptibles de esparcirse o derramarse, deberán cubrirlos y sujetarlos para que la carga quede debidamente asegurada.
If the truck is carrying a bulk load or a load which can be scattered or spilled, it must be adequately covered, secured and adequate insurance must be maintained.
Artículo 108.-
Cuando la carga de un vehículo sobresalga longitudinalmente en más de 0-50 metros de un extremo posterior, deberá colocarse una bandera roja durante el día y una reflejante o lámpara roja durante la noche, colocada en el extremo posterior de la carga, y que sean visibles a una distancia mínima de 150 metros.
When the length of the cargo exceeds more than 0-50 meters from the rear of the trailer, red flags must be displayed during the day and red lamps during the night at the extreme end of the overhang. These must be visible from a minimum distance of 150 meters.
Este Reglamento de Tránsito y Transporte Público, puede ser consultado en la misma página de internet del Gobierno Municipal de Nuevo Laredo que es www.nuevolaredo.gob.mx en el apartado de Gobierno donde aparece una pestaña de Leyes y Reglamentos.
You can find all the rules and regs of transit at this website
So I wonder with the recent purge of the law enforcement community in Nuevo Laredo, if these Transito officers are actually asking for the “merdida” to look the other way for minor violations, or if they are in fact, doing their jobs, and this has made the transportistas angry.
Considering in all the years I have lived in this country and traveled unrestricted with no problems from law enforcement in Mexico, I am thinking the latter is the case.
The photo to the left shows a Transito officer inspecting the truck, the load and actually enforcing Mexico’s DOT laws.
In this case, a load of structural steel, properly flagged.
Although I think I would have used belly straps on this load in addition to top straps. But keeping in mind, this is a cross border shipment.
This last photo is the same scene. As you can see, our law enforcement is well equipped, part of the cities plan to instill pride and professionalism
And in other news from south of the border, CANACAR is looking for ways to help operators upgrade their border fleets. They want the old cabovers gone.
So you see people, there is not so much difference in the enforcement of commercial vehicle laws in Mexico as opposed to the US. In Mexico, the officers don’t seem to be as “anal” as some US DOT officers who will write you a citation when a simple word of caution would suffice.
NUEVO LAREDO – Kidnappers demanding a $10 million ransom for the release of a Dallas man were captured by city police Sunday.The victim, Sergio Diaz de Leon Rivera, was rescued after family members called police to tell of the ransom demand.
The five suspects snatched Diaz de Leon Rivera in the downtown historical district Saturday.
The suspects appeared at a hearing Monday before a state court on federal charges of illegal deprivation of liberty and criminal association, among others.
According to court documents, Emeregildo Diaz De Leon of Dallas told Nuevo Laredo police that Sergio had been taken by men he could not identify.
“We received a call at 11:45 p.m. Saturday at our home in Dallas and it was Sergio. He told us that he was being held after a traffic accident,” Emeregildo reportedly told police. “Afterwards a man came on the line demanding $10 million in order to pay for the damages to a 2002 Suburban.”
The suspects were arrested Sunday morning at a residence in the 1000 block of Lauro del Villar street, between Gutierrez and Mina streets on the city’s west side.
In custody are Alejandro Bautista Velásquez, 18; Miguel Rosas Muñoz, 18; Jesús Antonio Aguilar Gómez, 25; Jesús Espinoza Fuentes, 28 and Alejandro Rosas Muñoz, 23.
All five men declared their innocence at Monday’s hearing.
Police allege Rosas Muñoz had demanded money from victim’s family in Dallas. Police allege he was in possession of a .45 caliber pistol when arrested.
Sergio Díaz De León Rivera reportedly told police he was involved in a traffic accident, and that his vehicle had rear-ended the Suburban.
According to police, the victim was taken by two of the accused to the Lauro del Villar location.
Díaz De León Rivera claimed the men psychologically abused him by holding the pistol to his head and demanding that he pay for damages to the Suburban.
Family members reportedly told police the men told them to bring money to the Lauro del Villar house, where they would be reunited with Díaz De León Rivera.
It was after family members called city police the rescue operation carried out.
Mayor Ramon Garza Barrios said criminal activity would not be tolerated.
“Police officers arrested the kidnapping suspects, as well as another group we believe are robbing businesses,” Garza Barrios said. “We are working to regain the confidence the community has lacked for so many years.”
Members of a downtown business association were happy with the police action taken against the accused.
“We urge the authorities to continue to clean up the area,” the group said in a statement Monday
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