Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06HERMOSILLO166
2006-04-22 00:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Hermosillo
Cable title:  

SPIKE IN DRUG VIOLENCE IN HERMOSILLO

Tags:  PGOV SNAR ASEC CASC MX 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1209
PP RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM
DE RUEHHO #0166/01 1120020
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 220020Z APR 06
FM AMCONSUL HERMOSILLO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1388
INFO RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 0433
RUEHHO/AMCONSUL HERMOSILLO 1758
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HERMOSILLO 000166 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/MEX; EMBASSY MEXICO FOR CMMA, DEA, DHS/ICE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SNAR ASEC CASC MX
SUBJECT: SPIKE IN DRUG VIOLENCE IN HERMOSILLO

REF: HERMOSILLO 0055

HERMOSILLO 00000166 001.2 OF 002


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HERMOSILLO 000166

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/MEX; EMBASSY MEXICO FOR CMMA, DEA, DHS/ICE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SNAR ASEC CASC MX
SUBJECT: SPIKE IN DRUG VIOLENCE IN HERMOSILLO

REF: HERMOSILLO 0055

HERMOSILLO 00000166 001.2 OF 002



1. (U) Summary: Over the past several months there appears to be
a trend of increasing violence in the area in and around
Hermosillo, Sonora, culminating with several events during Holy
Week. The violence appears to be largely confined to rival drug
trafficking groups. Although there is no element of targeting
AMCITS or Consulate personnel whatsoever, Post is concerned
about the general increase in violence and the very public
nature that is part and parcel of this phenomenon. End Summary.


2. (U) Hermosillo experienced an outbreak of drug-related
violence earlier this year, as reported by Post in February and
March (reftel). On March 20, unknown assailants also attacked a
suspected major drug trafficker and his wife driving on Highway
15 (to Nogales) 83 kilometers north of Hermosillo. The couple
survived AK-47 gunfire but were hospitalized after being run off
the road and rolling their vehicle. Their attackers escaped.

RAID NEAR CONSULATE FAMILY'S HOME


3. (SBU) During the week of 11-18 April another major spike in
violence-related activities occurred. On April 11, a house next
door to a Consulate family was raided by individuals in plain
clothes, apparently from an undetermined agency and assisted by
Hermosillo municipal police. Information acquired by ICE
suggests that the home was the suspected holding location for
money, drugs and, possibly, an arms cache. All available
information suggests that none of these were found and that no
arrests resulted from the raid. The Consulate checked with
police regarding this incident, but no police agency has
admitted involvement.

MAJOR SHOOTOUT IN SHOPPING CENTER


4. (U) On April 13, there was a shootout between two groups in
the parking lot in front of the MM Cinemas, which is in the
popular Soriana Shopping Center at the corner of Boulevard
Encinas and Boulevard Solidaridad. This attack involved five
vehicles, one armored. One had been hit more than 30 times. Five
other vehicles belonging to movie-goers received collateral
damaged. There were a total of over 300 rounds fired from AR15

and AK47 assault weapons. The theater was evacuated as one of
the suspects took cover within the theater.


5. (SBU) DEA Hermosillo has developed information suggesting
that this shootout involved two drug trafficking organizations
(the Salazar-Zambrano and the Enriquez -Parra groups) vying for
control of drug routes between the coast of the Gulf of
California around Navojoa, Sonora and the U.S border. There is
also speculation that a principal of one of the drug trafficking
groups was the actual target of the attack.


6. (SBU) According to the local newspaper El Imparcial, police
recovered several firearms (including AK-47s) and one grenade
from four vehicles that were involved in the incident. Also
according to El Imparcial, five suspected participants were
apprehended and later released. Sonora Governor Eduardo Bours
said in a public statement that "it is possible that there were
ex-agents of the state judicial police involved who left the
service more than nine years ago." He rejected the idea that any
current police officials were responsible. He acknowledged that
the public perception of general security was affected by these
incidents, but promised to reinforce security measures to ensure
community safety. Post sources claim that detained suspects
were indeed released and that, among them, one is a corrupted
former chief of the anti-kidnapping unit of the state judicial
police and nephew of a current PJGE deputy attorney general in
Sonora. They also claim that another former state judicial
police commander was among the five.


7. (U) Two people remain in custody in relation to this
incident. One was caught at the scene carrying a weapon and
reportedly was under the influence of drugs. The other is a taxi
driver who claims that he unknowingly drove one of the
assailants away from the scene. Upon inspecting his vehicle the
following day, he discovered two grenades. According to reports,
he voluntarily turned the ordinance over to police and was
subsequently arrested for his efforts. The irony of this
scenario has not been lost on the local media and this aspect of
the incident has been the subject of several editorials and
political cartoons. Other taxi drivers staged a protest in
Hermosillo over the unjust nature of this arrest.

RANDOM KILLING OF POLICE OFFICER?


8. (U) Also on April 14, two police officers were shot outside
of a police station on Ortiz Tirado street. The police were
fired at from a passing car. Seven 9mm rounds hit officer Victor
Alonso Mora Acuna and one hit officer Ivan de Jesus Velarde

HERMOSILLO 00000166 002.2 OF 002


Ramirez. Officer Mora Acuna died at the scene and officer
Velarde Ramirez, as of April 20, remains in intensive care. The
shooting suspects were not captured and local police state that
the motive for the shooting is unknown.


9. (U) Finally, on April 18, the armed robbery of two customers
outside of the Santander Bank branch on Colosio Boulevard, one
of Hermosillo's main avenues, ended after a police chase and gun
battle nearby. One of the suspected robbers died from his
injuries and the other was taken into custody.


10. (SBU) Comment: Local media are giving heavy play to the
jump in violent incidents and calling for government action to
restore public security. They are handling the matter of the
release of the suspects more gingerly, through satire and
indirect comment. Federal Investigation Agency (AFI)
checkpoints have started to appear on some major thoroughfares
in Hermosillo.


11. (SBU) Virtually all these incidents of violence occurred in
locations close to and/or frequented by Consulate personnel and
their families, however, AMCITS or members of the Consulate
community are not the target. Nevertheless, Post is very
concerned over the public nature of these shootings, during
daylight hours, and in areas where Consulate personnel and their
families may be conducting their daily activities. DEA
Hermosillo believes that the violence we have seen this year
could continue to escalate as rival groups in the area compete
for control of lucrative drug routes into the US. The
Hermosillo Emergency Action Committee (EAC) has met to discuss
appropriate ways to sensitize the Consulate and wider American
community to this danger. End Comment.
CLARKE