A total of two unidentified armed suspects were killed in a confrontation with Mexican security forces in the northern border city of Nuevo Laredo in Tamaulipas state Tuesday, according to official Mexican news accounts.
A news release posted on the state government website of Tamaulipas said that the gunfight took place at about 0255 hrs near the intersection of Bulevar Adolfo Ruiz Cortines y Calle Coahuila in Riberas del Bravo colony.
A Mexican Army Policia Militar unit observed a Mazda Tribute SUV that had been reported as stolen, apparently traveling in convoy with a Chevrolet Malibu sedan. The unit attempted a traffic stop, which ended with gunfire. Two of the shooting victims were left in the vehicle. Presumably other armed suspects fled the scene.
In the sedan, soldiers found five rifles, one semiautomatic handgun, and weapons magazines and ammunition.
Later that evening in Matamoros municipality, according to a separate news release, a Mexican Naval Infantry road patrol detained eight suspects in the village of Control Ramirez presumably at a residence near the intersection of calles Sexta and Panaderos y Jornaleros. The report said that the detainees were behaving suspiciously.
Marines seized eight rifles, 164 weapons magazines, 5,137 rounds of ammunition, four hand grenades, .67 kilograms of marijuana, five radios, and five vehicles.
Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com and BorderlandBeat.com. he can be reached at grurkka@gmail.com