Drug Cartels Flex Muscle In Southwest

CBS Evening News: Explosion Of Kidnappings, Torture Connected To Mexican Drug Rings

(CBS)  It's a phone call few Americans will ever hear: "He's going to lose his finger, don't let him lose his life."

That's the terrifying sound of a kidnapper demanding money in exchange for the life of a loved one. It's hard to believe but calls like these come in virtually every single day in Phoenix, Ariz., which last year set up a special task force to battle back, CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian reports.

"The status of the problem is one that is going to explode across our country," said Lt. Lauri Burgett of the Phoenix Police Department's Violent Crimes Bureau.

Just last weekend a mother and her 3-year-old daughter were kidnapped by Mexican meth dealers seeking money owed by the dad. She was eventually released unharmed.

So was another man, but only after being tortured for three days by smugglers. His wife had to listen to his screams over the phone - as well as field $100,000 for ransom.

"They tried to take out the eyes and the ears and the finger, also," she said.

In fact, law enforcement sources tell CBS News that Phoenix has become ground zero for the explosion in the reported number of kidnappings and home invasions involving drug traffickers and criminals with connections to the Mexican drug cartels.

A CBS News investigation has discovered that as of last weekend, there have been 266 reported kidnappings and 300 home invasions this year alone. Sources say the real figures could run as much as three times higher because so many go unreported.

"It wasn't uncommon to have a new kidnapping case coming into our offices on a daily basis," Burgett said.

Law-enforcement sources say the kidnappings signal the brutal expansion of the raging Mexican drug wars spilling across the border. And one map reveals just how widely Mexican drug organizations have spread across the country - 195 cities in all.

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Check out National Drug Intelligence Center maps and data about Mexican drug operations in the United States. (16 pgs.)

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In June, three Mexican nationals were arrested by Phoenix police after a violent home invasion and murder at a drug "safe house." They were dressed head-to-toe just like the local S.W.A.T. team - and just as heavily armed.

Now CBS News has learned enforcer gangs just south of the Mexican border have added military-grade hand grenades to their arsenal - something special agent Jose Wall expects to see in Phoenix any day.

"There's nothing to make me believe that it won't happen," said Wall, an agent at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

It's not just hand grenades, kidnappings and home invasions that have law enforcement on edge. They say it's only a matter of time before innocent civilians are caught in the crossfire.

[dontexas57]

Then the cops in Phoenix better get armed and ''man-up''. If they get caught flatfooted, like I imagine they will, they''ll forfeit their lives. The cops are a marked and obvious target for the cartels and the biggest threat. The Mexican cartel soldiers will kill and kidnap all the cops and their families first. I guarantee the cartels have the name, home adress and phone number of every LEO who works for ANY agency in Phoenix. They''ll roll right up into their driveway in the middle of the night and shoot a rocket propelled grenade into the bedroom. Who will stop them ? No one.

[janish64]

Right, lovegetpeace.....

It is all about drugs. sarcasm INTENDED!!!

It is all about LAW BREAKING people in our land.
People who use FAKE/STOLEN social security numbers to be - ahem "law abiding, tax paying immigrants"

Just wait until the democrat free cheese voters realize THEY are having to "share the wealth" with the undocumented aliens - they will abandon that arm of the party JUST LIKE THEY DID WITH THE *** in California!!!

[frankinaz]

"Mexico has allowed terrorism onto American soil." I disagree with this statement: Mexico seems to allow this kind of lawlessness with their own country, and now it''s spreading to the US, because this government
is allowing the Southwest US to turn into a northern state of Mexico. President Bush, and all levels of government have all looked the other way while this has happened, and it will probably continue to happen
until this country''s appointed and elected leaders
finally have the courage to start enforcing it''s laws, enacting new ones as needed, and punish lawbreakers for a change.

[roach9703]

Now, we need at least one new military base on the border with Mexico with satellite support, ground based radar ( JSTARS ) and about to 10,000 to 25,000 troops. If anyone crosses the border armed or in armored vehicles, regardless of who it is without permission should be destroyed on site (period). We warn the Mexicans and follow this policy without exception (period).
That strategy will lessen criminal immigration, and protect the people on the border with Mexico.
Then ,we have to work on meaningful immigration reform.

[honestabe8]

If we want prohibition, this is the end result. Our elected leaders will not attempt to argue this, because they are basically spinless cowards. President-Elect Obama has stated that drugs should be treated as a health issue rather than a criminal justice issue, I hope that he backs it up when he is in office. A good start would be to disband the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), as they are just spewers of misinformation. On the other hand, he may just appoint another liar. Time will tell.

[lovegetpeace]

American directly finance the Al-Qaeda and Taliban when they buy all the Opiums and Heroins from Afghanistan.

[lovegetpeace]

To All the Anti-Immigrant Folks,

on Nov 4, 2008, 67% of Legal Hispanics voted for the Democratic Party.

Please continue to be as Racist as the KKK with the Undocumented Aliens so that 100% of Legal Hispanics will vote for the Democratic Party on Nov 11, 2011.

Your understanding will be greatly appreciated. It is incredible to believe that by eliminating the Undocumented Aliens, the Drug War is won. Mr. Capitalism said that you must kill the Huge Demands in order to kill the Suppliers.

[lovegetpeace]

Dear NeoCons,
Spring Break is almost here, please purchase your pound of Opium and Heroin and all the other Narcotic Drugs for your daughter and son so they can have a nice time doing S*e*x and Drugs.

[lovegetpeace]

Posted by buttonjockey at 10:59 AM : Nov 14, 2008

67% of Legal Hispanics voted for the Democratic Party on Nov 4, 2008.

Please continue your Anti-Immigration comments so that 100% of Legal Hispanics will vote for the Democratic Party on Nov 11, 2011.

I greatly appreciate your kind understanding.

[honestabe8]

Aggiekat: Then why not legalize pot here? It seems like it is way less toxic to individuals and to society than either alcohol or tobacco. Keep meth illegal, keep crack illegal, etc.

[buttonjockey]

Once upon a time, President Bush invaded a country that was not a credible threat to the U.S. and its citizens, yet he has ignored the country to the South which is unwilling to control its drug gangs which are now killing U.S. citizens. Mexico has allowed terrorism onto American soil and Bush has looked the other way. Why do we spend $10B a month abroad fighting people who are not a real threat to us when a fraction of that money could be used to save American lives right here at home?

[aggiekat2004]

Oh yeah, his three kids are also being taken care of by Child Protective Services on your dime as well, because mom''s a meth and cocaine addict, and he''s an alcoholic who also uses meth.

He can''t hold a job, she''s living with a drug dealer and pimp in her deceased mother''s house. It''s about to be taken away because she won''t pay the taxes. So she and her pimp boyfriend will be out on the streets, trying to sell meth to YOUR kids so they can become totally dependent on someone else as well.

Me personally...I don''t want to be living in a society where I don''t know who''s whacked out on drugs all the time. So I''m not for legalization. Sure, legalization of pot works in Holland, and could possibly work here, but we''re looking at problems with METH, which has far more issues with destroying the body and mind. Ever met anyone who has open "meth sores?" It''s REALLY disgusting.

[aggiekat2004]

The cartels will go away and those addicted will have treatment options now unavailable due to cost, and we the drug free public will be much safer.

Posted by presjfk at 10:52 AM : Nov 13, 2008
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Anybody can get treatment at no cost if they want it badly enough. There are resources out there. My brother has been through rehab FREE now about 7 times. No, it hasn''t worked, but he''s never paid a dime for it, either. It has been paid for by YOUR tax dollars.

[honestabe8]

"Take away the consequences, make them easier to obtain, imagine the crazies on the streets."

Posted by saratara333

What, as opposed to the drunks?

[spinproof]

Posted by saratara333 at 02:34 AM : Nov 14, 2008

Those who really want drugs can easily get them "now" with very little effort.

[saratara333]

making drugs legal? how will you feel when your daughter doesn''t come home because she''s smoking crack and just quit school because she''s physically addicted after "experimenting" with a dangerous drug. People who aren''t addicts by nature can become physically addicted to drugs. Imagine all the driving while high cases that will increase. All the welfare that will increase. I wish people could just regulate themselves, but they can''t. Many people don''t do drugs because they''re hard to get, because there''s consequences. Take away the consequences, make them easier to obtain, imagine the crazies on the streets.

[lovegetpeace]

To All the Anti-Immigrant Folks,

on Nov 4, 2008, 67% of Legal Hispanics voted for the Democratic Party.

Please continue to be as Racist as the KKK with the Undocumented Aliens so that 100% of Legal Hispanics will vote for the Democratic Party on Nov 11, 2011.

Your understanding will be greatly appreciated. It is incredible to believe that by eliminating the Undocumented Aliens, the Drug War is won. You must kill the Demand in order to kill the Suppliers.

[bhappy2-2]

Get rid of the ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS. If we SHOOT TO KILL when their feet touch American soil we can eliminate most of these ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS and the crimes they import with them.

So, does anyone still think these ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS are only here to do the jobs Americans can''t get?

[deadzone45]

Pictures of the human smuggling operation. Cartels in action.

http://www.borderinvasionpics.com

See these CURRENT videos of ILLEGAL ALIENS pouring across the border day and night. Huge numbers.

[lochlan-2009]

Make it mandatory for all citizens to be armed. Kidnappings will start to stop when the kidnappers start to die off. I want to see these disgusting creatures exterminated, and I don''t want to see American''s rights violated to do it.