“The enemy of my enemy is my friend”: Mexican cartels join forces

AP: reports that long-time rival Sinaloa and Gulf cartels have reportedly joined forces with La Familia to combat the Zetas, a gang of hitmen that has grown into a drug trafficking organization with a reach extending into Central America.

Intelligence reports indicate the Gulf cartel has recruited its former rival, La Familia, to crush the Zetas gang in the Mexican border state of Tamaulipas, said Ramon Pequeno, the head of the anti-narcotics division of Mexico’s federal police.

Why eastern border violence around Nuevo Laredo is increasing

On the heels of my previous post about the increased violence in Tamaulipas and warnings issued by the U.S. Consulate in Monterrey, here’s the cause:

AP: Conflict has disrupted “the Company” -the union between the Zetas and the Gulf Cartel- and is raising questions of whether the tenuous peace under the duopoly is gone for good.

According to Will Glaspy, head of the DEA office in McAllen, Texas, in January a member of the Zetas was killed in Reynosa – Gulf DTO territory- and the Zetas demanded the Gulf Cartel hand over the men responsible.The Gulf Cartel refused to do so after which the violence escalated.

In Mexican border cities stretching from Matamoros near the Gulf to Nuevo Laredo, gunfire has been heard almost daily, and at least 49 people were killed in drug war-related violence in less than six weeks.

Eight journalists were kidnapped in Reynosa between Feb. 18 and March 3, according to the Inter-American Press Association. One was found dead with signs of torture. Two were released alive and five are still missing.