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Zacatecas: Fighting Erupts in Fresnillo, 15 Die -- UPDATED
For a map, click here. Zacatecas state is considered a Los Zetas stronghold in Mexico. Los Zetas just got hammered hard by Mexican Naval Infantry. Link to a photo of what I assume is the Los Zetas safe house or what is left of it, here..By Chris Covert Mexican Marines killed 17 armed suspect presumed to be Los Zetas operatives and detained 17 more, according to Mexican news reports. Elements of a Mexican Marine unit left the village of San José de Lourdes in Fresnillo municipality mid Friday afternoon after conducting sweeps in the area following the early morning firefight. Official reports say the gun battle in Fresnillo started around 0600 hrs and ended around 1200 hrs. The marine unit was on patrol on Mexican Federal highway 45 when they were attacked by armed suspects aboard several vehicles. Several suspects fled the scene to a safe house where the main part of the battle took place. Weapons and vehicles were seized in the aftermath. A total of 15 armed suspects died in gun battles around the area of San José de Lourdes. Seventeen were detained. Six marines were wounded in the firefights. Later in the morning several roads around San José de Lourdes were blocked using heavy vehicles presumably hijacked by armed suspects. Some were set afire. Blocked roads included Paseo del Mineral, and Avenida Plateros and Bulevar Hombres Ilustres, and near a grocery store. Streets in the area were emptied, and schools and other institutions were closed. Mexican Marines began house to house searches in the area following the battle at the safe house and seized a number of vehicles. Confirmed reports as of 1743 hrs say fighting continues near the western border with Durango state, near Jerez north of Fresnillo and in Plateros in the south. Last May, Mexican press reported as many as 200 Marine effectives were deployed along the main road between Durango city and Zacatecas state and had set up checkpoints. To read the Rantburg report detailing Mexican Marine deployments, click here. Although Zacatecas is considered a Los Zetas stronghold, the criminal gang has suffered a number of setbacks from Mexican security forces counternarcotic operations and from shootouts with rival gangs. For example in Florencia de Benito Juarez municipality May 18th, as many as 20 Los Zetas died in a firefight with Carteles Unidos. With the Los Zetas practice of retrieving their dead it is likely the death toll was much higher. Carteles Unidor is a criminal group which included members of the Gulf, Sinaloa and La Familia Michoacana cartels, all of which have major beefs with Los Zetas. A subsequent firefight between Los Zetas and the Los Valencias Sinaloa faction in San Cristobal de la Barranca municipality in nearby Jalisco state cost Los Zetas 20 more and probably more dead. To read Rantburg reports on counternarcotics operations in Zacatecas and Jalisco click here (fourth item) and here. Posted by: badanov 2011-07-02 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=325593 |
