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Nuevo Laredo has been the site of an ongoing gun battle between Los Zetas and other gangs since Monday. Information has been spotty to non-existent. Most government communication during this time has been through Facebook and Twitter
Elements of the Mexican 1st Motorized Cavalry Regiment arrived in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas Friday towards the end of a multi-day gun battle between gang members and with local security elements, say Mexican press reports.
Information about the fighting has been very hard to get. Most government communications has been through Facebook and Twitter, nearly everyone instructing citizens to remain indoors. Several Tamaulipas governmental websites had been hacked in recent days as well.
The intergang fighting that has taken place since Monday included "narcoblocks", a tactical developed by Los Zetas involving the use of heavy vehicles. The ongoing battle also included the use of stolen vehicles, including some from Texas.
Los Zetas use these tactics to either constrict movement of police and military forces and to cover their withdrawals from an area.
Typically, heavy vehicles, such as tractor trailers or a buses, are hijacked, driven to a location that block traffic and then the vehicles are disabled before the suspect flee.
The tactic was used extensively last month in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon after the Monterrey commander of Los Zetas, Raul Luna Luna, was arrested. The following day 38 blocks were affected across the city.
Thursday evening authorities encouraged citizens with stolen cars to reclaim them, an apparent hint the battle was over for now.