WAR BETWEEN CARTELS FLARES WITH A VENGEANCE: SURGE IN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TIJUANA 001275 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR DS/IP/WHA, DS/TIA/PII, AND MEXICO CITY FOR RSO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC KCRM PINS SNAR MX CASC SUBJECT: WAR BETWEEN CARTELS FLARES WITH A VENGEANCE: SURGE IN VIOLENCE AND SHOOTING INCIDENTS IN TIJUANA TIJUANA 00001275 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY AND CG COMMENT: The relative restraint that the two principal organized crime cartels struggling for control in Baja have shown for the past half-year was shattered this month by an apparent breakdown in the truce between "El Teo" and "El Ingeneiro". The renewed wave of grisly assassinations and kidnappings has increasingly dominated the headlines of media both in Tijuana and in southern California, and the mood among the general population has lapsed back into a level of apprehension not seen since 2008. Police and military forces here are visibly tense as they try to keep up with multiple homicides every day, some of which are directed against their own personnel. Below is a synopsis of some of the major developments compiled by Congen Tijuana's Law Enforcement Working Group. END SUMMARY AND CG COMMENT. ¶2. (SBU) U.S. Consulate General Tijuana's Law Enforcement Working Group (LEWG) reports recent increased incidents of shooting and violent homicides during the last month in the Tijuana area. Mission personnel were not involved in the incidents, but some occurred within blocks of Consular facilities and where Mission personnel work and live. Provided are statistics demonstrating increased violence. Following are details of recent incidents either in close proximity to consular facilities and residences, or which indicate challenge to host country authorities providing protection to our staff. ¶3. (SBU) The crime wave that has hit Tijuana in the last month is due to a battle between organized crime cells. This past week's surge in homicides included five decapitated, one hanged from a bridge over a highway, and various narco-messages found with the bodies. Killing by one cartel of a rival cartel's members, then retaliation, may have motivated some of the killings. For example, one narco-message on decapitated bodies indicated that minors should be respected, after prior discovery of two dead minors allegedly related to "El Teo" cartel (led by Teodor GARCIA-Simental). ¶4. (SBU) Tijuana Municipal Police Chief, Gustavo Huerta, asserted that the killings this week are due to a power battle between drug trafficking cells in the city fighting for the `plaza', (control over drug distribution territory of the Baja region). Allegedly, the "El Teo" drug trafficking organization has aligned with "El Chapo Guzman", for support to push "El Teo's" rival, "El Ingeneiro" out of the Baja plaza. "El Chapo Guzman" is from the "El Mayo" Zamboda cartel which is based in the Northeast Mexico region (Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Monterrey). "El Chapo Guzman" has established in eastern Baja California, in Mexicali, and seeks as his ultimate goal to control the Baja region. ¶5. (U) In the last 36 hours there have been 18 violent homicides. Since the start of December 2009, sixty-six (69) violent homicides have occurred, according to the state level attorney's office (PGJE-Procuradurma General de Justicia del Estado). Over the weekend, 12/11-13/2009, there were 26 violent deaths. PGJE reported the violent homicides for the year 2009 so far are 696, compared to the 2008 total of 849. The 2007 year ended with estimated 335 homicides, before the start of the cartel battles in April 2008. ¶6. (SBU) On 11/28/2009, at 1316 hours, a notable shooting attack was aimed at Mexico military officials. Military personnel were attacked by a group of armed men as they were filling up vehicles at a gas station. Although cartels are known for attacking local municipal police and federal preventative police (PFP) periodically in Tijuana in drive-by street shootings, this incident shows increased boldness as they opened-fire on Mexico military in broad daylight. One soldier was injured in the leg, and the attackers withdrew when the soldiers fired back at them. The injured soldier was rushed to the hospital, and then taken back to the military base for better safety, as follow-on attacks at hospitals are common in Tijuana. An impressive deployment of soldiers and police officers raided the surrounding area, and two subjects were detained. Also three vehicles were seized, one of which was camouflaged as a fake military vehicle. ¶7. (SBU) This daylight attack on military was a presumed reprisal as it took place after the detention of six members of the "El Muletas" organized crime cell on 11/27/2009. Six men from the crime cell led by alleged drug-trafficker Raydel Lopez Uriarte, aka "El Muletas," were arrested in Tijuana in possession of a large amount of weapons. On 10/31/2009, Military had also seized several vehicles from this group "El Muletas" which were painted "cloned" to look like military vehicles, foiling an alleged plot to use the fake military vehicles to kill Tijuana Public Safety Security Lt. Col. Leyzaola. ¶8. (U) At 1100 hours on 11/30/2009, local municipal police engaged in a fire-fight near the Centro de Gobierno, Zona Rio within one mile of the Tijuana NIV Annex building, and military responded to assist. Six persons were detained and military continued to search for more, blocking a major road for over an hour. As a possible related reprisal against police, just after TIJUANA 00001275 002.2 OF 002 midnight on 12/1/2009, an armed group of six persons overcame security at a nearby vehicle dealership in Zona Rio, and destroyed 37 new municipal police trucks. The group threw Molotov incendiary devices, exploding and setting fire to the vehicles, causing total damage. The new vehicles had been recently acquired and were being customized by the dealership for the police department, and had already been painted with municipal police signs and logos. The incident was interpreted by the business sector as a challenge and direct threat to police authority by the cartels, as publically announced the next day by the Tijuana Chamber of Commerce president Mario Escobedo who stated, "We are at War". ¶9. (U) On 12/1/2009, the "Secretary Particular" of the anti-kidnapping unit (PGJE-state level attorney's office),Josi Luis Vazquez, was killed as he was leaving his office in Playas de Tijuana. He was shot while driving, from a moving vehicle, and his vehicle went into a ravine in Playas de Tijuana, the impact severing his head. ¶10. (U) On 12/2/2009, Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) union leader in Tijuana, Dr. Iran Cota Cota, was kidnapped by an armed group at 2046 hours, from his home and in the presence of his family. The kidnappers contacted the victim's family demanding a significant ransom for his release. On 12/4/2009, more than 1,000 Social Security Institute (IMSS) union workers marched to the Baja state government building in Zona Rio, demanding the release of their leader. ¶11. (SBU) On 12/13/2009, Dr. Cota was freed by police after being held for eleven days, in good health; and two presumed kidnappers were detained. State Attorney General (PGJE),Rommel Moreno, stated that the Anti-Kidnapping agents raided the safe house where the doctor was being held in Tijuana, Colonia Hipodromo Burocratas. Detainees during their initial testimony claimed to have been hired by two inmates from the `Reclusorio Sur' prison in Mexico City, and telephone records showed calls made from the prison. Baja Attorney General (PGJE),Rommel Moreno, asserted that the ransom demand phone calls made to the victim's family were made from inside Reclusorio Sur in Mexico City. The State Attorney confirmed that the main suspect in planning the kidnapping is Juan Carlos Avitia Bringas, aka "El Software," detained in March 2007 for kidnapping. RSO notes the safe house was in a middle-class neighborhood adjacent to Mission Residences. ¶12. (SBU) On 12/3/2009, the brother of a Tijuana Consulate employee was murdered by gunmen in his law office. The locally employed staff member (LES) in the Consulate's fraud prevention unit (FPU) was notified that gunmen entered the law office as clients seeking a criminal defense attorney, then the receptionist heard arguing and shots fired. This same LES employee's father, who was a well-known lawyer and formerly a federal police officer (PGR),had been killed by drive-by machine-gun fire on 8/8/1986. RSO notes that one month previous, 11/3/2009, another Tijuana LES employee's father, an active PGR officer, was shot and killed while driving. ¶13. (SBU) On 12/7/2009, an anonymous tip led police to a corpse, shot twice in the head, in a parked car within one block of the Consular Mission residence neighborhood. ¶14. (U) On 12/14/2009, in Tijuana's La Mesa district, at 1740 hours, a state Ministerial agent driving his car, was injured after being shot by drive-by shooters with high-caliber rifles. The officer survived and was treated by Red Cross paramedics after he drove himself to the medical facility located a block away from where he was assaulted. Tijuana Red Cross Coordinator, Fernando Esquer, revealed that in the last four days the Red Cross has provided medical assistance to an average of eleven people injured by gunshots every 24 hours. Esquer said that the numbers are similar to those by the end of 2008, when work `was very heavy for paramedics.' ¶15. (U) Today's reporting from the state level attorney's office (PGJE-Procuradurma General de Justicia del Estado)informed that another Ministerial agent was kidnapped from his home in the early hours of 12/17/2009. His whereabouts remain unknown. ¶16. (SBU) Drug cartel or organized crime groups attacks on Mexico municipal level, state, and federal police agencies, and now military, have been increasingly bold and visible in the last six months in Tijuana. RSO and Post's law enforcement representatives (LEWG) plan to monitor local contact information and local law enforcement counterparts for sharing of any details of investigations or future threat information. Post will continue to monitor developments. KASHKETT