The top security official in Tamaulipas, a state on the border with Mexico, has confirmed that drug cartels are planting landmines along rural roads in the northern part of the state, confirming an earlier report in Breitbart, Texas.
Tamaulipas State Public Security Secretary Sergio Hernando Chávez acknowledged at a press conference this week that cartel gunmen had planted multiple landmines in the northern part of the state. The official insisted that the incident was not a terrorist attack because it was part of a conflict between criminal organizations rather than an attack on civilians. The official also insisted that the landmines were not aimed at innocent civilians.
Breitbart Texas exclusively reported on the mine appearance in Tamaulipas last week. Cartel gunmen planted landmines along dirt roads near the cities of San Fernando and Rio Blabo. Initially, Tamaulipas state spokesman Jorge Cuellar tried to deny the incident, claiming it was fake news. This week, President Chávez acknowledged the problem and claimed he had enlisted the help of the Mexican military, which had since disabled the device.
The use of landmines by drug cartels in Tamaulipas comes amid a fierce turf war between rival factions of the Gulf Cartel for control of lucrative drug and human trafficking routes into Texas.
Despite Mr. Cuellar and Mr. Chávez’s efforts to minimize outbreaks of violence and maintain that the area is safe, the Gulf Cartel’s armed groups are using armored vehicles, armed convoys, and several types of He participates in gunfights almost every day, using explosives. Government officials do not count the number of gunmen killed or abducted, downplaying the violence and claiming crime statistics are low despite the turf war.
Ildefonso Ortiz is an award-winning journalist at Breitbart Texas. He co-founded the Breitbart, Texas Cartel Chronicles project with Brandon Darby and Breitbart’s senior management team.you can follow him twitter And even more Facebook. He can be contacted at: iortiz@breitbart.com.
Brandon Darby is managing director and editor-in-chief of Breitbart Texas. He co-founded the Breitbart Texas Cartel His Chronicles project with Ildefonso Ortiz and Breitbart’s senior management team.follow him twitter and Facebook. He can be contacted at: bdarby@breitbart.com.
