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By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
A Mexican Army road patrol unit seized a total of 2.2 metric tons of marijuana and a quantity of weapons and munitions in Zacatecas state Friday, according to Mexican news reports.
According to a story posted on the website of El Sol de Zacatecas news daily, the road patrol was near the village of Lobatos in Valpraiso municipality when soldiers observed two vehicles travelling in convoy. The driver and passengers immediately abandoned the vehicles without firing a shot as the unit closed. No detentions were reported.
Seized contraband included 2.258 metric tons of marijuana in 150 packages. Weapons and munitions seized included two AK-47 rifles, one 12 gauge shotgun, one .45 caliber submachine gun, two explosives detonators, weapons magazines and more than 200 rounds of ammunition.
An unrelated seizure of marijuana took place the day before in Zacatecas municipality when Policia Federal agents executed a search warrant at a residence near the intersection of calle Igualdad and Valores de la Democracia in Zacatecana colony.
A total of 760 grams of marijuana wrapped in 81 packages, presumably for retail sale, was seized. No one was reported detained in the raid.
Meanwhile, in Jerez de Garcia Salina municipality two armed suspects were killed in an intergang firefight Thursday afternoon, according to a news story posted on the website of El Sol de Zacatecas news daily
The gunfight took place in the parking lot of Plaza de Toros, and apparently continued into an adjacent village.
Jerez de Garcia Salina has been the scene of a number of recent gunfights between Mexican security forces and criminal gangs operating in the area. Since the start of the year, 25 individuals, all reportedly armed suspects, have been killed in three separate firefights with Mexican security forces. A total of five shooting incidents have been recorded in the municipality.
According to the article, unidentified officials refused to speculate as to the cartel affiliations of the gunfight's participants. However, a May 4th gunfight was reportedly between a Los Zetas criminal gang and Gulf Cartel members.
Jerez de Garcia Salina sits astride Mexico Federal Highway 23, roughly 40 kilometers south of Fresnillo and 25 kilometers southwest of Zacatecas, the capital of Zacatecas state.
Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com
© Copyright 2012 by Chris Covert
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