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Mexican Army detains El Pipo in Zacatecas state

For a map, click here. For a map of Zacatecas state, click here

By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com

Numerous Mexican federal police and army counternarcotics operations taking place in the center of Zacatecas state have yielded the detention of a Gulf Cartel plaza boss, according to an anonymous correspondent for Borderland Beat.

A large police operation took place Thursday night in Zacatecas city in which the plaza boss was detained, said the correspondent.

According to data from AccesoZac supplied by the correspondent, an alleged suspect identified only as El Pipo was formerly a Los Zetas operative before he went over to the Gulf Cartel. He is suspected of several killings in Zacateas city. Clashes occurred which have split some families whose loyalties are divided between Los Zetas and the Gulf Cartel, which have been vying for territory since 2010.

One of those clashes was a kidnapping and shootout in Zacatecas near the local Walmart and Soriana's stores. A female victim was taken from her vehicle.

"There have been shootings almost daily, especially in Guadalupe, not big balaceras (shootouts)... and in the past few days there have been at least 2 nights when you could hear the helicopters up til really late, 2-4 am, which is unusual," said the correspondent.

Policia Federal units have detained since last Sunday a number of suspected drug traffickers in Zacetacas city area.

According to new accounts which appeared on the websites of El Sol de Zacatecas and NTR Zacatecas news dailies, a total of seven suspects were detained in two separate operations, one on Calle Aragon in EspaƱa colony and one on a ranch in Mexico Federal Highway 54, known as El Rancho Milagro.

A total of 14 AK-47 rifles, 47 weapons magazines, 700 rounds of ammunition and tactical gear were seized by Mexican security forces in both operations.

The detainees were identified as Delena Felipe Rocha, 30, Jose Manuel Rodriguez Maldonado, 16, Jesus Rubalcaba Ivan Nava, 19, Raul Rodriguez Mora, 27, Guadalupe Macias Emilio Esquivel, 20, Jairo Reyna Gonzalez, 18 and Hector Manuel Romero Garcia, 38.

Quantities of crack cocaine and powder cocaine packaged for retail sale were seized as well as an undisclosed amount in cash.

Several police actions took place Friday and Saturday, including a shootout on the road between Jerez municipality and Fresnillo between an element of the Mexican Army and armed suspects. According to a post on its Facebook page, AccesoZac claimed dead bodies were left on the road.

Last Tuesday a Mexican Army drug raid took place in Nochistlan municipality where soldiers secured two methamphetamine drug laboratories seizing large quantities of precursor materials.

According to its Facebook posting, a Mexican Army unit two days later detained two municipal police agents for violations of Mexico's Firearms and Explosives Act. The Mexican Army is charged with enforcing Mexico's federal gun laws.

Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com
Posted by: badanov 2013-04-07
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=365718