Mexico IDs 12 Slain as Federal Agents

11 Men, 1 Woman Tortured, Killed and Dumped along Road in Drug-plagued Area

(AP)  Twelve people tortured, slain and dumped along a mountain road in a drug-plagued Mexican state were off-duty federal agents, an official said Tuesday. It is one of boldest attacks on federal forces since President Felipe Calderon launched his national war on drugs.

Mexico's national security spokesman Monte Alejandro Rubido said the 11 men and one woman were investigating crime in President Felipe Calderon's home state of Michoacan, which has been a center of his crackdown on organized crime.

They were ambushed by members of the La Familia drug cartel, Rubido said. Their bodies were found piled up along a mountain highway late Monday near the town of La Huacana.

Michoacan state prosecutor J. Jesus Montejano initially said Tuesday that they were soldiers, but the army denied that. His office later acknowledged the mistake.

Initial reports indicated the victims were likely killed over the weekend, when federal agents arrested Arnoldo Rueda Medina, a chief of operations of the Michoacan-based La Familia cartel.

Police say his arrest Saturday set off a string of brazen attacks against federal forces that left six federal police officers and two soldiers dead. Heavily armed gunmen threw grenades and fired on federal police stations and hotels where the agents were staying in three states.

"Without a doubt La Familia is known for its violence ... we shouldn't be surprised by their reaction," Rubido said.

Federal forces arrested politicians in several of those cities, including La Huacana, during an unprecedented sweep in May. Seven mayors, one former mayor and the state prosecutor remain jailed accused of protecting the La Familia cartel.

Since Calderon took office in December 2006, he has sent more than 45,000 troops to drug hot spots. More than 11,000 people have been killed in drug violence.

Michoacan has been wracked by a wave of killings and arrests in recent weeks.

On Tuesday, three bodies were found in the Michoacan town of Nuevo Urecho.

[rhs648]

When the communists took control of China, they rounded up anyone known to use and/or deal in drugs, took them into the woods, and shot them. Few people ever dreamed that the drug problem in China could be fixed. Surprise. When government forces killed enough people, the drug problem decreased.

[South-of-Heaven]

the U.S. Citizen crackhead has a hand in this.
no demand, no supply.....

[andylance1]

Let's try to get our terminology correct. There are several drug cartels in Mexico. Their main business is bringing South American cocaine north to the gringos. They are at war with each other and at war with the cops and the federales.

The Zetas are the Gulf cartel - as in the Gulf of Mexico - in eastern Mexico. Last fall they threw a grenade into a crowd of people in Morelia - the state capital of Michoacan, hoping the cops would blame La Familia cartel, based in Michoacan.

[IKillUwhereUstand]

Ohe yeah, they bring drugs north to gringos. Is that the rhetoric excuse for being BWOB--born w/o a brain? I do not want to hear excuses from some secondhand messageboard. You are a liar. They are bringing drugs into the USA in-order to PUSH them over onto those younger and lacking cognizance. They are well paid by pesos generated from Mexican Oil sales. Mexican oil sales are providing the Cartels with the money to raise/make drugs, arm, and transport drugs to USA in plans to sell and make profit. BOYCOTT MEXICAN OIL! If the USA would send a Groundhog over the Mexican Production operations & shut them down, then the drugs would absolutely HALT. We need to consider bombing & destroying Mexico's oil business in-order to stop the drug financing.
I guarantee if we destroyed JUST ONE production center with a missile or Grounhog, the drug Cartels will shrivel away.

[IKillUwhereUstand]

My friend in Mexico said the Cartel taped paper messages on a couple dozen chihuahuas and released them in the area they had just taken from the Zeta. Imagine a little chihuahua running around w/a sign on it "Run with LaFamilia." So they thought it was a joke until a couple guys showed up brandishing guns, making sure everyone saw.

How stupido. If I was a Zeta I'd be strongly tempted to blow away a Chihuahua or two. Since gang communication is not following any rules of order, and the messages are being sent in such unusual avenues, people are confused, and worried. Who knows what to believe or when to believe it--with the exception of a brandished gun.

[IKillUwhereUstand]

The level of maturity of the Cartels is so low. They actually write signs with spray paint to communicate with the public, and make "public announcement" like they are 'official.' It's hilarious, they really have a sever maturity level--the adults never grow up. They runa around alleys like ferrel cats beginning at 18 years of age up to 50 years or until they get shot. It's like qasi-intelligent ferrel cats who know how to shoot guns.

They'd sure better keep on that side of the border, there's one great many number of people in USA who really wanna snuff-em out, and can do it in two weeks--but are respecting borders. They try any of that here in USA and it's all over.

[mejordelahistoria]

oh, the police can win this war on drugs, all they have to do is put on ski masks and come out at night and basically find out if this druglord has a family, specially full of children and massacre them as retaliation.

[andylance1]

President Nixon came up with the term WAR ON DRUGS after his drug commission reported to him that marijuana should be decriminalized. In the state of Michoacan, Mexico the term is not an empty platitude from the mouth of a disgraced president.

President Calderon has done his best to stop the corruption and killing. The legislature in Mexico City, upon his recommendation, has decriminalized possession of drugs. Every time the government captures a cartel boss, there are reprisals. This is a real war on drugs with casualties on both sides. Mexico has over 100 million in population.

At least in Mexico they are doing something besides just talking about it. Thats more than you can say about the gutless politicians in the USA.

[IKillUwhereUstand]

You see yar problemo is that you mind puts things together that are not necessarily correct. Just because there are attacks the day after an arrest of a drug-dopie doesn't mean they are connected. Yesterday an arrest, todays a whole new day. If someone shoots at you, and if you have a gun you may shoot back. Law is simple. It's the people who believe they are "thinkers" that are sinking in the water rapids.
I see no problem here. The Federal in Mexico failed to carry guns obviously, or someone betrayed them.

Primarily it's necessary to have physical presence to stop the intimidation. So little focus on good food & health. Too bad, because ALA Mexicans dwell on drugs they shall remain fat, sick in the head, and mean spirited. Yah ever hear a Mexican talk about running track--heck no. But they yap about a greasy burrito, and assorted drugs.

Nope, the country is a mass grave, because they have no Surgeon General.

[mljohns00]

I'm just glad to see that somebody is finally winning Nixon's "War on Drugs". Too bad it's the drug dealers.

[rushlimpdrug]

Eventually there will be a REAL story about the

ZETA's.

Until people get a grip on real news and want to
do something real about it we can all watch was
is transpiring on the stage.

Gangs and cops being played by politicians
while the rest of us get pushed around like
mounds of dirt.

Think I'll have a donut or 2 or 12.

[marfly]

It looks like the "war on drugs" has destabilized the Mexican government. Who will eventually be in charge?

The whole thing is sad and scary......what people do for money.