Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MONTERREY62
2009-02-06 22:35:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Monterrey
Cable title:  

2009 MONTERREY OSAC CRIME AND SAFETY REPORT

Tags:  ASEC CASC MX 
pdf how-to read a cable
R 062235Z FEB 09
FM AMCONSUL MONTERREY
INFO AMEMBASSY MEXICO 
AMCONSUL MONTERREY 
SECSTATE WASHDC 3501
UNCLAS MONTERREY 000062


FOR DS/OSAC, DS/IP/WHA AND RSO MEXICO CITY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC CASC MX
SUBJECT: 2009 MONTERREY OSAC CRIME AND SAFETY REPORT

REF: 08 STATE 168473


I. (U) OVERALL CRIME AND SAFETY SITUATION:

The year 2008 has seen a marked and worrisome increase in the
overall level and brazen nature of violence throughout
northeastern Mexico. The American Consulate General in
Monterrey covers five states in northern Mexico: Nuevo Leon, San
Luis Potosi, Zacatecas, Coahuila and Durango. The geographical
distances, lack of accurate local reporting, and inherent
security concerns for travel, combine to make it extremely
difficult to discern a clear picture of what is going in some
areas of the consular district. Conservative estimates place
the countrywide 2008 narco-trafficking related death toll at
about 6,000. This is a significant up-tick from a death toll of
approximately 2,500 in 2007. On October 11, 2008, Organized
Crime (OC) elements carried the fight to the doorsteps of the
U.S. Government by lobbing an unexploded hand grenade and firing
small arms against the US Consulate in Monterrey. Federal,
state and local law enforcement responded quickly and forcefully
to the incident but have yet to make any arrests in the case.
OC elements and drug cartels continue to attack and harass law
enforcement institutions at all levels of the Mexican
government, hampering its goals to stabilize the region.

While proactive efforts against the cartels are ongoing, these
policies are often stymied due to corruption at different levels
of government. The arrest of several high level Mexican law
enforcement officials during 2008, including the Mexican
director of Interpol, highlights this point. Those that do not
cave in to cartel influence are seen as obstacles and removed
from the equation, as was the case in July 2008 with
assassinations of the Federal Police Chief and his Deputy who
were in charge of Monterrey airport security. In the recent
past, the violence targeted members of drug trafficking
organizations and Mexican law enforcement officials. However
the cartels have shown few qualms in targeting rival cartel
family members and risking the lives of innocent bystanders. In
November 2008, the Mexican military conducted a raid at a local
warehouse; the cartels rapidly responded with a series of random
shootings around the city of Monterrey, designed to distract and
pull the military off its objective. Although no one was killed
or injured, this action placed an incalculable number of
civilians at risk.

There is no evidence to indicate that criminals are specifically

targeting U.S. citizens. However, foreign visitors (including
Americans) have been among the victims of homicides and
kidnappings in the nearby border region; a US passport does not
act as a shield against crimes of opportunity or random
violence. The December 2008 kidnapping of a U.S. citizen in
Saltillo, Coahuila and the sub-par efforts by local law
enforcement to solve the crime, are of particular concern (see
III.C below).


A. Crime Threats

Still fairly uncommon, carjackings in Monterrey dropped slightly
for 2008. Vehicle theft numbers increased again as did thefts
from vehicles. Most vehicle break-ins were due to valuables
being left in plain sight in parked vehicles.

Home invasion robberies are rare in Monterrey but residential
burglaries are common, especially around the holidays when many
homes are left vacant by vacationing families.
Centrally-monitored residential alarms are strongly encouraged.

The level of bank robberies also remained about the same for
2008 along with several reports of robberies at automated teller
machines. Visitors are encouraged to avoid using ATM bank
machines in dark or isolated areas.

Visitors are very vulnerable when visiting local "red-light
districts," particularly if they are departing alone in the
early hours of the morning. Use caution and common sense when
visiting any foreign country.


B. Safety and Road Conditions

If traveling by road, travelers should exercise caution at all
times and avoid traveling at night whenever possible. Drivers
on extended road trips, such as those driving to the interior of
Mexico from the U.S., should make sure to get adequate rest.
Several Americans are killed each year in Monterrey's consular
district in accidents involving driver fatigue. Travelers are
encouraged to use toll ("cuota") roads rather than the less
secure "free" ("libre") roads where available. It's recommended
to travel with at least half a tank of gasoline when traveling
in more remote areas. In addition, travelers should not
hitchhike or offer rides to strangers anywhere in Mexico.
Tourists should not hike alone in backcountry areas, nor walk
alone on lightly frequented trails.

If stranded on the highway due to vehicle malfunction, dial 078
for roadside assistance. This service is provided free of
charge by Mexico's Department of Tourism to all road travelers.
More information on the services offered can be found on their
website:

http://www.sectur.gob.mx/wb2/sectur/sect_9453 _angeles_verdes


II. (U) POLITICAL VIOLENCE:


A. Historical Perspective

American interests in Monterrey are generally not targets of
political violence. There is no history of American businesses
being targeted by demonstrators.


B. Demonstrations

Small peaceful demonstrations occur at the U.S. Consulate
periodically without incident.


C. Terrorism
The threat from international terrorist groups is low.


D. Civil Unrest

Large scale public demonstrations or strikes are rare in
Monterrey. It is recommended that travelers avoid
demonstrations and other activities that might be deemed
political by the Mexican authorities. The Mexican Constitution
prohibits political activities by foreigners, and such actions
may result in detention and/or deportation.

III. (U) POST-SPECIFIC CONCERNS:


A. Earthquakes and Floods

Monterrey is prone to flash floods during the hurricane season.
It is common for streets to flood and for parts of the city to
be completely cut-off from other areas during periods of heavy
rains. Avoid driving or walking in flooded areas. Every year
in Monterrey, a number of deaths are attributed to pedestrians
or vehicles being swept away by rushing water in flooded areas.

Monterrey is not prone to earthquakes.


B. Industrial and Transportation Accidents

Industrial accidents are always a concern in
highly-industrialized areas of the city and along rail lines.
The state of Nuevo Leon has a highly-trained team (Proteccion
Civil) that can handle most industrial accidents, including
Hazmat spills.

Transportation accidents are very common along the highways
leading to and from the city and are often due to aggressive
driving behavior. Monterrey sits on one of the busiest
transportation corridors in Mexico and many of the highways are
crowded with trucks laden with cargo.


C. Kidnappings

In prior reporting, kidnap for ransom crimes had been viewed as
relatively rare in the Monterrey region. This trend is changing
and the area has witnessed a significant rise in kidnappings
during 2008. Since most kidnappings are not reported to local
authorities and are handled directly by the victim's family or
an intermediary, it is almost impossible to determine an
accurate number of actual abductions. OSAC Monterrey strongly
recommends that local authorities be contacted immediately to
help resolve a kidnapping matter. While traditional kidnapping
cases are not as pervasive in Monterrey when compared to other
hot spots, the threat is very real in all parts of Mexico and
should not be taken for granted. Drug-related kidnappings,
commonly called "levantones", increased again in 2008 in the
Monterrey area. Unfortunately, few of these cases have positive
outcomes and the victims are seldom found alive, if found at all.

Local law enforcement has noted a changing trend in the type or
caliber of kidnapping victims. Kidnapping gangs began targeting
mid-level Mexican business executives and entrepreneurs who
could not afford elaborate security measures and would demand a
reduced ransom, commensurate with the perceived victim's status.
Some analysts in Nuevo Leon stated unofficially there were 127
reported kidnappings in 2008. They further advised that local
law enforcement received about two to three criminal complaints
per day for "levantones" or drug debt related abductions.

The U.S. Consulate General Monterrey was apprised of twelve
kidnappings of US citizens in the last half of 2008. Of those
twelve, the status of four victims remains undetermined at this
time. One of the most significant kidnappings for 2008 involved
the abduction of a US businessman and anti-kidnapping
consultant, who was conducting training in Saltillo, Coahuila.
The victim was taken on December 10, 2008 outside of a well
known restaurant while providing assistance to the family of a
Mexican kidnapping victim, who is also a fellow security expert.
The ensuing Coahuila investigative response could be described
as inadequate at best. (Per Mexican law, this case has not been
classified as a kidnapping and as such there is no requirement
by the state attorney general or police to investigate his
disappearance.) At worst, they consciously elected to not
vigorously pursue the investigation. Up to this point, no
ransom demands have been received.

Virtual kidnapping continues to be a common theme. Extortionists
call prospective victims on the telephone, posing as kidnappers,
and demand payments in return for the release of an allegedly
detained family member, usually a child. Persons receiving such
calls should be extremely skeptical; most such demands or
threats are baseless. Persons receiving such calls should
contact the local police immediately by dialing 066.


D. Drugs and Narco-Terrorism

Narco-terrorism related violence continues to dominate much of
the surrounding area. In the wake of the 2007 bloody, public
battles between rival cartel factions for dominance, a tenuous
truce has held for most of 2008 in Monterrey. Mexican military
and federal police elements continue to lead the charge in
furthering the "Not one step back" mandate of Mexican President
Calderon. As a result of this hard line stance, Mexican federal
authorities are often subjects of reprisals by the cartels.
Numerous soldiers and police have suffered brutal deaths at the
hands of cartel enforcers during 2008 for their actions in the
drug war. In October 2008, nine Mexican Army soldiers were
captured, tortured and murdered by Cartels as a direct response
to prior Mexican military counter-narcotics actions. Cartels
also began adopting grotesque terror tactics from other parts of
the world such as beheadings. There are additional concerns as
to what other extraterritorial terror tactics may migrate into
Mexico.

IV. (U) POLICE RESPONSE:

Police response and professionalism varies widely depending on
the municipality in the Monterrey metropolitan area. Some
police departments, such as the San Pedro Police in Monterrey,
are well-trained, well-paid, and professional while police
departments in other areas may not be as efficient or
responsive. Police response can vary widely depending on the
type of emergency and area.

Police corruption, as widely reported by the media, continues to
be a problem. Be aware that offering a bribe to a public
official to avoid a traffic fine or other penalty is a crime in
Mexico.

Although police services may not be equal to those in the U.S.,
visitors are strongly encouraged to contact the police in an
emergency (066). U.S. citizens are advised to cooperate with
the police if stopped or questioned. For information regarding
assistance for American citizens who become victims of a crime,
please contact the American Citizen Services office at (81)
8342-8506.


V. (U) MEDICAL EMERGENCIES:

Monterrey has adequate medical facilities. Facilities outside
of the metropolitan area are more limited. In an emergency,
dial 066 or 065 for an ambulance. Wait times for ambulances can
vary greatly. Permanent residents in Monterrey are encouraged
to contract a private ambulance service in order to ensure
prompt service.

The hospitals used more frequently by Consulate staff are:

San Jose Hospital 8347-1011
Av. Morones Prieto No. 3000 PTE
Monterrey, N.L. 64710

Hospital Santa Engracia 8368-7788
Av. Frida Kahlo #180
San Pedro Garza Garcia, N.L. 66260

VI. (U) TRAVEL PRECAUTIONS:

Although Monterrey is reported to have lower non-drug related
crime rates than other Mexican cities, visitors are urged to
remain vigilant and use common sense during their stay.
Travelers should leave valuables and irreplaceable items in a
safe place or at home. All visitors are encouraged to make use
of hotel safes where available, avoid wearing expensive jewelry,
and carry only the cash or credit cards that will be needed on
each outing.

Because of the increased threat of narco-related violence and
crime, from time to time the US Consulate Monterrey limits
travel of its employees to the states of Durango and the
southern two thirds of Coahuila. When this happens, notices
will be sent by the consulates or Embassy and posted on the web
indicating the nature of the concern and the expected time
period for which the restriction would remain in place.

Visitors should be aware of their surroundings at all times,
even when in areas generally considered safe. Use of street or
gypsy taxis is strongly discouraged. Visitors are recommended
utilize radio taxis or hotel transportation services. Women
traveling alone are especially vulnerable and should exercise
caution, particularly at night. Victims, who are almost always
unaccompanied, have been raped, robbed of personal property, or
abducted and then held while their credit cards were used at
various businesses and Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs). U.S.
citizens should be very cautious in general when using ATMs in
Mexico. If an ATM must be used, it should be accessed only
during the business day at large protected facilities
(preferably inside commercial establishments, rather than at
glass-enclosed, highly visible ATMs on streets). U.S. and
Mexican citizens are sometimes accosted on the street and forced
to withdraw money from their accounts using their ATM cards.

VII. (U) HOW TO CONTACT THE CONSULATE:

U.S. Consulate General Monterrey (81) 8047-3100
Av Constitucion #411 PTE
Monterrey, N.L. 64006

After hours, American Citizens needing emergency assistance from
the Consulate may call the duty officer at 81-8362-9126.

VIII. (U) OSAC COUNTRY COUNCIL:

Monterrey has an active OSAC Council. POC is RSO Michael A.
Murphy, murphyma@state.gov, 52 81 8047-3100 ext. 3281.


WILLIAMSON