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Tamaulipas: Gulf Cartel Leader Escaped Capture Says SEMAR
Google Translate. For a map, click here. Rantburg's version of events can be found here.

This is the heaviest butcher's bill for a Mexican Marine operation I have seen in six months.

Armada de México (SEMAR) confirmed today that the target of a raid in Matamoros, Tamauliapas by Mexican Marines Friday was Ezequiel Cardenas Guillen, leader of the Gulf Cartel in Matamoros.

However, the operation to capture Guillen failed after a five hour firefight.

Reports at the time recounted numerous firefights between drug gangs, and between drug gangs and elements of the Mexican military.

The main operation for a detachment of the Mexican Marines took place at a safe house on calle Londres in the Ríos district. The operation began at around 0930 hrs.

Two marines and one armed suspect died in the firefight, while nine other marines were wounded.

Marines also seized five vehicles, two of them armored and two bags of cocaine once the safe house was secured at about 1400 hrs.
Posted by: badanov 2010-09-22
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=306081