Mexico-Security-Summary-2015-February HX-Harary … · Martínez "La Tuta", the supreme leader of...

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HX-HARARY SECURITY

Mexico Security Summary for February 2015 Date of Report: March 16, 2015

Overview February saw the capture of the supreme leader of the Caballeros Templarios. Servando Gómez Martínez "La Tuta" was apprehended in a modest residence in Morelia (Michoacán), and he was infamous not only for his role as the primary leader of that organization, but also for the frequent release of videos of him in consultation with corrupt state and municipal leaders from across Michoacán. He was also the primary target of federal authorities in the state since late 2013. Obviously, his capture was portrayed as a sign of progress by the Peña Nieto administration. While it is certainly good news and it shows that most leaders of criminal organizations end up captured or dead (eventually), it will likely cause an up-surge in violence in Michoacán and Guanajuato in the coming months. Another key arrest occurred in the first week of March and warrants noting as well. It was the capture of Omar Treviño Morales “Z-42”, who was the supreme leader of the Zetas. The implications of his arrest will become more apparent as March progresses and will be discussed in our next report. In contrast to these positive news events, Mexico is still plagued be extremely high levels of organized crime and the Peña Nieto administration is still hounded by bad publicity. It suffers from an overall negative view of Mexico’s security situation, rampant political corruption, and perceived ineptitude of President Peña Nieto. Indeed, in an acceptance speech for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, Alejandro Gonzales Iñárritu, took the opportunity to wish for Mexicans to “find and build a government that we deserve.” It was a very public condemnation of governmental corruption in Mexico. Furthermore, some people in Mexico also took offense when Pope Francis warned Argentinians about violence by saying “hopefully, we’re in time to avoid the fate of Mexico. I hope we are in time to avoid Mexicanization.” While he likely meant no insult, the phrase “Mexicanization” implied a security nightmare that no country would wish for. Also, during February Pemex announced that it would no longer transport refined fuels through pipelines as a result of the 170% increase in the number of illegal taps by organized criminal groups over the last year. Indeed, Pemex lost more than $1.15 billion in such fuel thefts in the first nine months of 2014. More than 3600 illegal taps of pipelines were discovered in 2014, and as a result refined fuels will only be transported by tractor-trailers from this point forward. The announcement is essentially an admission that federal authorities can no longer protect the nation’s primary source of revenue. Also, during February protestors temporarily detained several Coca Cola employees in Chilpancingo, Guerrero. The company had also reported the loss of more than 240 trucks in the state since last September; likely the combined result of the actions of protestors and thieves. As a result of these incidents Coca Cola temporarily suspended operations in the Chilpancingo area. Other businesses have been targeted by the protestors as well, including Bimbo, Comercial Mexicana, and Oxxo. Finally, Jesus Murillo Karam (the Attorney General of Mexico) was re-assigned to the Secretaria de Desarrollo Agrario, Territorial y Urbano (Sedatu). President Peña Nieto will likely recommend the appointment of Arely Gomez Gonzalez, a PRI senator from Mexico City, to replace him. Gomez Gonzalez is also the former head of the Special Office for the Prosecution of Electoral Crimes (Fiscalia Especializada Para la Atencion de Delitos Electorales, Fedape). Attacks against Governmental Authority There were 55 attacks directed against government authorities reported during February. This is the highest number of incidents since June 2013, and it is 130% higher than the average of the last two years. There was also a slight increase in the number of political assassinations, but the greatest jump was in the number of patrol ambushes.



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There were 12 assassinations of elected government officials, or party and union activists this month. Among the victims was Carlos Martínez Villavicencio, the PRD candidate for federal deputy (Distrito Federal Electoral VI) who was ambushed in and killed in Santiago Juxtlahuaca, Oaxaca. A municipal administrator was assassinated in Ciudad Juárez (Chihuahua), and the body of a municipal government official was found floating in a canal in Reynosa, Tamaulipas. The director of the municipal slaughter house was ambushed and killed in Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán. Former mayors and city council members were also assassinated in Acapulco (Guerrero), and Cuapiaxtla de Madero (Puebla). Political party leaders or union activists were killed in six states. For example, the municipal director of the PRI party (Comité Municipal) of Lagunillas (San Luis Potosí) was killed at her home in Pinihuán. The leader of a farmers' association in Villa Ahumada (Chihuahua) was gunned down in Ciudad Juárez. He was also a former city council member. A regional leader of the Popular Revolutionary Front (FPR) in Morelos was kidnapped and decapitated in Ayala, Morelos. He had been actively involved in protests concerning the missing 43 normalistas. A leader of the cane workers' union (Presidenta de la Unión Agrícola Regional) was assassinated in Puente Nacional, Veracruz. Also, a leader of the construction workers' union in southern Mexico (Coalición Obrera, Campesina, Estudiantil del Istmo) was assassinated in Ciudad Ixtepec, Oaxaca. Finally, the leader of a business owners' association was kidnapped and murdered in Veracruz, Veracruz. At least sixteen police officers and military personnel were killed in attacks this month. The majority of these were during ambushes on patrols. Fourteen army and marine patrols were attacked in Tamaulipas (13 ambushes) and Veracruz (1 ambush). This is the largest number of military patrols ambushed since early 2014. The vast majority of attacks were in Río Bravo and Matamoros. Three federal police patrols were also attacked in northern Tamaulipas. Eleven state police patrols were attacked in Coahuila, Michoacán (2 attacks), Oaxaca, Tamaulipas (5 attacks), and Zacatecas (2 attacks). This is the largest number of attacks on state police patrols in more than two years. Four municipal police patrols were attacked in DF, Guanajuato, and Oaxaca (2 attacks). Sicarios (cartel gunmen) also attacked several fixed targets this month, including a toll booth along the Reynosa-Matamoros toll road in Tamaulipas. Two fragmentation grenades were thrown at the municipal palace in Matamoros (Tamaulipas), but they did not detonate. Gunmen also fired at least 50 rounds against the home of a municipal police officer in Huimanguillo (Tabasco), and unknown individuals used arson to destroy vehicles belonging to the mayoral candidate for the Partido Verde Ecologista (PVE) in Tiquicheo, Michoacán. In addition to attacks on patrols, gunmen murdered police and military personnel at other locations (including their homes and shopping areas). For example, a soldier was gunned down in Mexico City. Municipal police officers were gunned down in Oaxaca (Oaxaca), and Tijuana (Baja California). Elsewhere, a municipal police shift commander was murdered in Guanajuato, Guanajuato. Also, a state medical examiner (Servicio Médico Forense, Semefo) was executed in Chihuahua, Chihuahua. Finally, gunmen attempted to kidnap an officer of the Policía Estatal de Caminos (PEC) in Huimanguillo, Tabasco. The families of government officials were also targeted. For example, the son of a city council member was kidnapped and murdered in Hueyapan de Ocampo, Veracruz. The son of PRI party leader was executed in Chihuahua. The son of municipal transit commander was murdered in Navolato, Sinaloa Organized criminal groups continued their assault on media outlets to suppress coverage of their illicit activities. For example, on February 7th two security guards were injured when a fragmentation grenade was detonated at the offices of Televisa in Matamoros. This followed an incident on February 4th when gunmen temporarily kidnapped an editor with the El Mañana newspaper in Matamoros, Tamaulipas. He was beaten and told not to report on cartel violence in the city; he was subsequently released a few hours later. He has since sought refuge in the U.S. following his kidnapping.



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Geographic Pattern of Attacks Attacks against authorities occurred in 16 states (Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, DF, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Michoacán, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, and Zacatecas). This is the highest number of states impacted since January 2014. By far, most of these incidents occurred in Tamaulipas. Table 1: States Hit Hardest by Attacks on Authorities.

States Number of Attacks Tamaulipas 23 Michoacán 4 Veracruz 3

Progress? Federal authorities arrested 13 supreme or regional leaders of the major criminal organizations across Mexico. Four regional leaders were also killed in battles with authorities, or between rival organizations. This is the highest number of arrest of key leaders since March 2014. By far, the most notable arrest was that of Servando Gómez Martínez "La Tuta", the supreme leader of the Caballeros Templarios. He was captured in Morelia, Michoacán. His brother, Flavio Gómez Martínez “El Flavio”, was captured the same day in Mérida, Yucatan. Their arrests likely facilitated the capture of Víctor Jesús Villanueva Izazaga "La Parca", a key operative of the Caballeros Templarios and right-hand man of Servando Gómez Martínez. While not occurring in February, federal authorities captured Omar Treviño Morales "Z-42" (the supreme leader of the Zetas) in San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León. His arrest occurred on March 5th and was likely the result of intelligence gleaned from recent captures of other leaders in that organization during February. During that month, three regional leaders of the Zetas were captured in Ciudad Victoria (Tamaulipas), Guadalupe (Nuevo León), and Monclova (Coahuila). Also, Humberto Dominguez Lara (the primary financial officer of the Zetas in the states of Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas) was captured in Nuevo Laredo. Three key operatives of the Sinaloa Cartel were captured in Ciudad Juárez and Culiacán (Sinaloa). Also, gunmen killed Jorge Osuna Salazar "El Fataché", a nephew of Joaquín El Chapo Guzmán, in Guadalajara. Another regional leader of the Sinaloa Cartel in Chihuahua was found dead in San de Diego de Alcala, Chihuahua. Reynaldo Bedolla Palma, a key leader of the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), was killed in a battle with authorities in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. Two regional leaders of the Familia Michoacana were captured in Tejupilco and Tepetlaoxtox (both are municipalities in Edomex). One regional leader of the Gulf Cartel was captured in Matamoros. A regional leader of the Juarez Cartel was captured in Caborca, Sonora. Several high-ranking municipal and state officials face charges for their involvement in organized crime. For example, an official with the Procuraduría General de la República in Guadalajara was charged for kidnapping several individuals in Jalisco. The former director of the Instituto de Atención a la Juventud in Matamoros was arrested for drug trafficking. On February 2nd federal authorities arrested a regional commander of the state police and 10 officers for involvement with organized crime in María Chichotla, Oaxaca. Federal authorities also arrested the municipal leader of the Movimiento de Regeneración Nacional (Morena) and a candidate for the Distrito Electoral Federal X from Miahuatlán de Porfirio Díaz, Oaxaca. Also, José Luis Abarca, the infamous mayor of Iguala, was formally indicted for crimes relating to the disappearance of the 43 normalistas in September. Federal authorities seized weapons and munitions caches at four locations in Tamaulipas (Matamoros, Miguel Alemán, Nuevo Laredo, Villa Manuel), in Hermosillo (Sonora), and Tlatlaya (Edomex). Grenade launchers and fragmentation grenades were found at the sites in Hermosillo, Matamoros, Tlatlaya, and Villa Manuel, while Barrett 50-caliber sniper rifles were seized at two locations. Eight armored vehicles were seized in Nuevo Laredo, and a



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cloned military vehicle was found in Amatepec, Edomex. The army also seized 50-foot antennas and other Zetas radio communication equipment in Río Bravo, Tamaulipas. Finally, a Zetas training camp was found near Aldama, Tamaulipas. Street Battles (Enfrentamientos) The number of rolling street battles reported in February was 71. This is the highest number reported since March 2013, and it is 182% higher than the average for the last four years. These battles occurred in 12 states (Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacán, Oaxaca, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, and Zacatecas). This the second highest number of states impacted since December 2013. The majority of these occurred in Tamaulipas and Oaxaca. There was a dramatic surge in street battles in northern Tamaulipas this month and the violence appears to be the result of conflict between the two primary factions of the Gulf Cartel (one faction is based in Reynosa and the other in Matamoros). Indeed, at least 30 people were killed in running gun battles across northern Tamaulipas the first week of February. Several bystanders were also killed in battles in Matamoros and Río Bravo. Numerous schools suspended classes due to the uptick in battles. In another case, a 9-year-old was shot in the eye while riding in a vehicle which was involved in a battle with authorities in Loreto, Zacatecas. Members of the child's family (who were part of a kidnapping ring) were apparently collecting a ransom payment when the battle erupted. Also, early in the month, due to a high frequency of battles and road blockades passenger bus service was temporarily suspended between Matamoros and Río Bravo (Tamaulipas). Travelers should also beware of the placement of road stars (devices used to rupture tires) on many streets and highway across the region. Table 2: States Hit Hardest by Street Battles.

States Number of Battles Tamaulipas 45

Oaxaca 4 Veracruz 4 Zacatecas 4 Chihuahua 3

Narcobloqueos (Illegal Street Blockades) • February 1 - Valle Hermoso, Tamaulipas. • February 2 - Reynosa, Tamaulipas. • February 2 - Río Bravo, Tamaulipas. • February 2 - Río Bravo, Tamaulipas. • February 5 - Matamoros, Tamaulipas. • February 6 - Matamoros, Tamaulipas. • February 6 - Valle Hermoso, Tamaulipas. • February 6 - Valle Hermoso, Tamaulipas. • February 19 - Río Bravo, Tamaulipas. Violence Unofficial data indicates that at least 790 people were killed as a result of organized crime during February. This figure is on par with the average of the last six months. At least 56 people were killed in attacks on civilians in public venues such as restaurants, bars, night clubs, and shopping areas. In one attack gunmen opened fire during a soccer match. There were 20 such incidents in February. This figure is 33% lower than the average number of attacks over the last 12 months, and the number of fatalities was considerably lower than the average of the last year. During February such attacks occurred in 13 states (Baja California, Campeche, Chihuahua, Coahuila, DF, Durango,



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Edomex, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Michoacán, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, and Sonora). Most of the attacks were in Guerrero and Michoacán. Aside from attacks on public venues, organized criminal groups killed a wide range of individuals across the country. A musician with the popular music group “Máximo Legado” was executed along a highway outside Apatzingán, Michoacán. In another case, a famous composer (who wrote for well-known musical groups such as the Huracanes del Norte) was gunned down in El Salto, Jalisco. A well-known lucha libre wrestler was gunned down in Irapuato, Guanajuato. The owner of a construction company was murdered in Oaxaca, a while a well-known businessman was killed along with his wife in Veracruz. Other victims include the owner of a hotel in Villahermosa (Tabasco), a businessman in San Pablo Etla (Oaxaca), an attorney in San Luis Potosí, an accountant in Zamora (Michoacán), a teacher in Oaxaca, and pilot in Guamúchil (Sinaloa). A family of five (including several children) was killed when gunmen burst into their home in Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche. In another attack a child was gunned down outside a church in Sinaloa. Ten taxi drivers were also killed this month in Edomex, Guerrero (2), Michoacán (2), Morelos, Oaxaca (2), and Sinaloa (2). A group of gunmen traveling in at least six vehicles attacked the community of San Gerónimo (Guerrero) killing five people and kidnapping at least three others. In another attack, a large group of assailants attacked a small community in José Azueta, Veracruz. They specifically set fire to the homes of several individuals who had been kidnapped a few days earlier. During a similar attack gunmen set fire to a small ranching community in Jacona, Michoacán. Also, the bodies of at least 159 people were deposited in wholesale dumps of three or more during February. The number of victims is slightly higher than the average of the last 12 months. These bodies were found at 56 locations across 17 states (Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacán, Morelos, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, and Veracruz). Most of these locations were in Guerrero, Oaxaca, Sinaloa, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, and Veracruz. The number of states was on par with the last six months. Many of these cases involved the public display of severed body parts. For example, two ice chests containing human remains were found on the International Bridge connecting Matamoros to Brownsville. A severed head was found in an abandoned truck left in front of a venue hosting a concert by "El Komander" in Monterrey. Six people were kidnapped, hacked to death, and left at a makeshift altar dedicated to La Santa Muerte in Veracruz, Veracruz. Elsewhere, two human hearts were found on napkin-adorned platters in a traffic circle in Morelia, Michoacán. Finally, authorities discovered 61 decomposed bodies in an abandoned crematorium in Acapulco, Guerrero. While not likely related to organized crime, the discovery of improperly disposed corpses by a funeral home reflects on the lack of governmental oversight due to corruption that plagues Mexico today. Vigilante Incidents • February 2 - residents temporarily blocked the Mexico City-Acapulco highway in protest of the military disarming a local

autodefensa group from Petaquillas, Guerrero. • February 13 - five federal police officers were injured by gunfire during a standoff with several hundred municipal police in

Santa Maria Coyotopec, Oaxaca. The local police were barricaded in a police station in a protest about unsatisfactory working conditions.

• February 18 - angry protesters also attempted to attack Coca-Cola's offices in Chilpancingo, Guerrero. Two employees were temporarily held hostage during the conflict.

• February 21 - two delivery drivers for Sabritas were temporarily held by residents in San Francisco del Oro, Chihuahua. • February 26 - residents severely beat an accused thief in Salina Cruz, Oaxaca.



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Extortion, Kidnapping, and Armed Robbery Extortion There were just seven confirmed cases of fatal attacks related to extortion operations during February. This is the lowest number of incidents reported since July 2014. However, it does not reflect a decline in extortion operations. These attacks occurred in 5 states (Coahuila, DF, Michoacán, Tabasco, and Veracruz). Most of these incidents were in Veracruz. In one case, gunmen stormed into a restaurant and kidnapped the owner in Piedras Negras, Coahuila. In another, a businessman was kidnapped, tortured, and dismembered in Veracruz, Veracruz. In a non-fatal attack, five buses were torched by arsonists in Altamira, Tamaulipas. Also, 20 vehicles were destroyed by arson in another attack in Reynosa. Furthermore, authorities disrupted three separate extortion operations in San Fernando and Tampico (Tamaulipas). Kidnapping Authorities disrupted 10 kidnapping operations in Baja California, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Tabasco (2 groups), and Tamaulipas (5 groups). This is the highest number since July 2014, but it still falls below the average for the last two years of the Calderón administration. In a well-publicized incident, gunmen kidnapped 15 workers associated with the Media Luna mine (a Canadian mining project by Torex Gold Reserves) near Cocula, Guerrero. At least 10 of the victims were later rescued by community police in Cocula. La Familia Michoacana has been implicated in the kidnapping operation. Torex shares fell during the week following the release of news relating to the kidnapping. Coordination between the FBI and the Policía Estatal Preventiva (PEP) facilitated the rescue of an American businessman who had been kidnapped in El Tepetate de Loreto, Zacatecas. On February 2nd two U.S. citizens were reported missing (and believed kidnapped) in Matamoros, Tamaulipas. A prominent cattle rancher was kidnapped from his ranch near Tres Valles, Veracruz. This incident follows the recent kidnappings of a former city council member and a sugar cane producer in the same area. An attorney was kidnapped in Loma Bonita (Oaxaca), the son of a local Evangelical pastor was kidnapped in Cunduacán (Tabasco), and the owner of a tortilla factory was also in kidnapped Tabasco. Two teachers were kidnapped while driving near Hueyapan de Ocampo, Veracruz. The son of a prominent furniture manufacturer was kidnapped while driving near Alvarado, Veracruz. Several vehicles intercepted and kidnapped an engineer near Huimanguillo, Tabasco. Three municipal administrators were kidnapped in Juan Rodríguez Clara, Veracruz. They were released several days later following a large ransom payment. The secretary of a fruit producing operation (Cítricos Cover) was intercepted while driving and kidnapped by gunmen traveling in two vehicles in Cuitláhuac, Veracruz. She was released following a ransom payment by the company of 150,000 pesos. In another case, the body of a kidnapped Tampico woman was found in a drainage canal a week after her family paid a ransom of 600,000 pesos. There were several failed attempted kidnappings reported this month. In one case, gunmen intercepted a vehicle transporting the director of the Universidad Veracruzana para la zona Centro in Córdoba (Veracruz), but the attempt was a failure. In another case, gunmen stormed a car dealership and attempted to kidnap the owner in Oaxaca. A police officer was injured while one of the assailants was apprehended and the others escaped in the chaos. Armed Robbery We have noticed an increase in the number of assaults on passenger buses over the last few months. In most case, gunmen board buses at regular stations and at some point rob the passengers. However, there have been several



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dramatic cases where the assailants intercept the buses in route; forcing them to the side of the road so that they can board. Many of these incidents have resulted in violence and sexual assaults along with the robberies. For example, on February 11th the driver of a passenger bus (SUR bus line) was killed by robbers as he pulled out of the bus terminal in Juchitan, Oaxaca. The next day passengers on another bus were robbed in Ciudad Ixtepec, Oaxaca. On February 19th gunmen intercepted an Autobus de Oriente (ADO) with 25 passengers near Tierra Blanca (Veracruz). They robbed the passengers and sexually assault several females. A few days later, several gunmen beat and robbed passengers on a bus (Ómnibus de México) traveling from to Zacatecas to Ciudad Juárez near Fresnillo. The driver was shot and a female passenger was sexually assaulted during that incident. Another bus (Autobuses Unidos) was intercepted and passengers robbed along the Loma Bonita-Tuxtepec route near Las Piñas, Oaxaca. Elsewhere, a driver was injured when gunmen fired on a bus in route from Veracruz to Cancún near San Andrés Tuxtla, Veracruz. The assailants had placed logs across the highway, but the driver accelerated past the blockade when they fired through the windshield. In another case, a Tranpais bus was boarded and robbed by gunmen in Matamoros. Passengers later reported their suspicions that the driver was involved in the robbery. Similar attacks have occurred in the past, but this was the first such incident reported in Tamaulipas in 2015. Seven banks were robbed in Reynosa during February, up from three banks in January. There were also bank robberies reported in the cities of Oaxaca and Salina Cruz (both in the state of Oaxaca), Ciudad Pemex and Macuspana (both in Tabasco), and in Río Bravo (Tamaulipas). Elsewhere, gunmen entered the Hospital de Pemex in Tabasco, assaulting doctors, nurses, and other employees while robbing the ATM from the facility. A truck driver was killed during a hijacking in Veracruz, Veracruz. Also, a Pemex tractor-trailer transporting fuel was robbed and subsequently found later abandoned near La Chontalpa, Tabasco. Short-term Forecast In response to the recent capture of high-ranking leaders of the Zetas (Treviño Morales arrested on March 5th) and the Caballeros Templarios (Servando Gómez arrested on February 27th), there will likely be increased infighting within those two criminal organizations. Therefore, we anticipate a surge in violence in regions controlled by these groups. More specifically, we expect increased battles, attacks on authorities, and potentially attacks on public venues in Tamaulipas and Michoacán. Secondary conflict areas could also include Nuevo León, Jalisco, and Zacatecas.



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Attacks on Authorities (February 2015)

Mexico-Security-Summary-2015-February HX-Harary … · Martínez "La Tuta", the supreme leader of...

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