Three suspects were killed in Reynosa, Tamaulipas on Tuesday and Wednesday, including two armed suspects who were killed in an armed encounter with a Mexican Army unit Tuesday night, according to official Mexican news sources.
The latest report brings the reported death toll in two days of fighting in Reynosa to 17.
According to the news account, a Mexican Army road patrol was fired on Tuesday night by armed suspects who were aboard a Pontiac Torrent SUV near the intersection of Bulevar Del Maestro and Avenida Mozart in Narciso Mendoza colony.
Army return fire killed two of the occupants, one of whom was identified as Fidel Gutierrez Gonzalez, 34. The report hinted that rifles, pistols, one hand grenade, ammunition, tactical gear and the vehicle were seized following the incident.
Meanwhile Mexican Army units conducted four raids in Reynosa stretching out across Tuesday night and into late Wednesday morning, seizing a total of 76 rifles, six each 40mm grenade launchers, 12 each 40mm grenades, drugs and vehicles.
Tuesday night at a residence in Hacienda de las Fuentes colony, Sector 4 near the intersection of calles Quebec and Liverpool, soldiers seized 22 rifles, two each 40mm grenade launchers, four each 40mm grenades, three kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, 415 small packages of cocaine, 714 small packages of marijuana, 3,000 marijuana cigarettes, weapons magazines, ammunition and one vehicle.
Just after midnight Wednesday in Los Caracoles colony, a Mexican Army patrol was fired on by armed suspects who were moving aboard nine vehicles. The suspects immediately fled the scene, apparently abandoning their vehicles.
Following that incident soldiers seized 19 rifles, one pistol, three grenade launchers, three each 40mm grenades, 103 weapons magazines, ammunition, 10 kilograms of marijuana and the nine vehicles.
Eight hours later at 0840 hrs also in Los Caracoles colony, a Mexican Army road patrol found one vehicle abandoned with one suspect dead inside. Soldiers also seized 10 rifles, five grenades and 67 weapons magazines.
At about 1100 hrs in Riberas del Bosque colony, soldiers located an abandoned vehicle which contained 25 rifles, two grenades, two 40mm grenade launchers, 2,100 rounds of ammunition and 12 weapons magazines.
A news story which appeared Wednesday afternoon in the online edition of Milenio news daily said that numerous shootouts had taken place throughout the city, and that local criminal gangs were implementing road blocks in various points in the city.
In one incident, according to the article, armed suspects entered an OXXO convenience store demanding car keys from customers so their vehicles could be used to block roads. The story failed to say where that incident took place or whether it was just one of many.
Another part of the news report said that large convoys were reported moving in Reynosa.
All of these reports were gleaned from Twitter and other social media.
A separate Milenio news report hinted that Reynosa mayor JosĂŠElias Leal had at least discussed asking for either more army reinforcements or a curfew in the municipality, but denied actually making a request for either.
Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com and BorderlandBeat.com. He can be reached at grurkka@gmail.com