Over 700 soldiers, agents patrolling Nuevo Laredo

[Rose Siding]

NUEVO LAREDO, Mexico — More than 700 soldiers and federal and state agents took to the streets of this important city on the Mexico-U.S. border today to help local authorities control an increasing wave of violence believed to be drug-related.
...
Arturo Jimenez, a commander of the Federal Preventative Police, said in addition to the massive mobilization of forces, investigators would begin interviewing Nuevo Laredo municipal police officers and state prosecutors in search of those who may be taking bribes from drug smuggling gangs.

"It's difficult to combat crime when there are a lot of allies of organized crime who block our efforts," said Jimenez, who was sent to oversee the Nuevo Laredo crackdown by Mexico's Public Safety Secretary Ramon Huerta.
...
Around 9 a.m. today, more than 40 vehicles loaded with federal agents rolled into the city, while soldiers arrived to patrol poorer, violent neighborhoods.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/3071224

[babylonsister]

1. What is this about? This is where we

used to go for a day in "Mexico" from Corpus Christi. Now it's a police state?

[bemildred]

2. One of the many benefits of the "Drug War". nt

[Lone_Star_Dem]

6. Here's a couple of links that help explain some of it.

In the past 6 months, 27 Americans have been kidnapped in Mexico.

It's become such a dangerous situation, that the U.S State Department issued a warning to travelers to border cities.
http://cbs11tv.com/investigations/local_story_054225440.html


The U.S. Consulate in Nuevo Laredo cautions all American citizens living and working in the border area around Nuevo Laredo about a recent rise in the number of kidnappings and/or disappearances of U.S. citizens in the Nuevo Laredo area. The Consulate has received information concerning 21 U.S. citizens who have been kidnapped or who have disappeared in the past four months (since mid-August 2004). Nine individuals were released and returned to their families; the remains of two victims have been found and their deaths ruled homicides. No information on the whereabouts of the other 10 individuals reported missing has been discovered.
http://nuevolaredo.usconsulate.gov/nuevolaredo/Warden_Message.html

[UTUSN]

3. HEY!-----O-Reilly Wants the Border Militarized--------He's GOT It!!!! n/t

[sal]

4. 26 Americans have disappeared in NL in last year

A cabi told me to stear clear of Federales in the city. They are trouble. One can innocently be caught up in their net.

[babylonsister]

5. Please prove this to me! nt

[phusion]

7. I'm going to the state of Tamaulipas next week...

Not Nuevo Laredo, but further south in Victoria.

We are going with my friend whose parents live down there...So I think we'll be safer because we have a local coming with us.

Like anywhere, I think you just have to watch your back and keep your wits about you!