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Caribbean-Latin America
11 die in shootouts in Tamaulipas state -- UPDATED
2012-10-13

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


By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com

Gunfights and roadblocks in Matamoros and Reynosa in Tamaulipas state has left a toll of nine armed suspects and two soldiers dead, according to Mexican news, narcoboard and Twitter accounts.

An article posted on the website of El Sol de Zacatecas news daily said that shootouts began at 1100 hrs Friday morning on the Reynosa to Tamaulipas highway near the villages of Empalme and Control Ramirez, and continued towards Lauro Villar colony near avenidas Del Niño, 12 de Marzo and Marte R Gomez, Libramiento Emilio Portes Gil and Avenida Lauro Villa until 1330 hrs.

Initially, press reports stated that no one has been hurt in the armed confrontation. However, a later dispatch posted on the website of Proceso news weekly said that unidentified Tamaulipas officials confirmed nine armed suspects and two soldiers had been killed and several Mexican federal security forces effectives have been wounded.

The Proceso report added that a pursuit and subsequent gunfight ended at Playa Bagdad on Kilometer 15 of the Reynosa to Matomoros highway.

According to a separate news report posted on the website of Proceso news weekly, a Mexican federal forces raid on a residence in Modelo colony on Calle Santos Degollado, presumably on Thursday may have sparked the reaction by local drug gangs, to include roadblocks, a favorite tactic of drug gangs in the cities.

The raid has reportedly netted Mexican security force the capture of a local drug gang leader, although the suspect's identity has yet to be released.

Separately, a tweet described a Mexican Naval infantry unit responding to a call at Kilometer 57 of Mexico Federal Highway 2 between Matamoros and Reynosa at around 0130 hrs Friday morning, where three vehicles were found abandoned. One of the vehicles, a Chevrolet Cheyenne pickup truck had a dead body inside. Two other abandoned sedans were also found at the scene.

The marine unit subsequently searched the area, finding two unidentified armed suspects aboard a GMC Yukon SUV. The two suspects surrendered to the marine unit without firing a shot.

Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com
Posted by:badanov

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