Sinaloa and Gulf Cartels Joining Forces?

As the violence in Mexico spikes, four major drug cartels that are fighting each other for territory and smuggling routes may be forming alliances with each other.Currently three cartels control most of the border region between the U.S. and Mexico.

But the federation, or Sinaloa cartel, is fighting for a larger area of the border and may be negotiating a truce with the Gulf cartel.

Fred Burton, vice president for counterterrorism and corporate security at Stratfor Global Security says it's not surprising these groups are trying to join forces.

"We've seen reports coming out of Mexico that cartels have set down and tried to do business together because of, let's face it, pressure. Whether that be law enforcement pressure or military pressure, (it) is bad for business."

The drugs cartels are now claiming they have as many as 100,000 foot soldiers at their disposal — which include a growing number of deserters from the Mexican military. This has turned this conflict into what some experts call an evenly-matched fight. Others describe it as a propaganda battle."It's not particularly surprising to see them claiming thousands and thousands of people in their employ, so that they can try and frighten the population, intimidate people including the security forces against whom they are operating," Jackson said.But Burton, who studies the unrest daily, said more disturbing than the sheer number of foot soldiers, is the cartels' firepower.

"I think the most frightening aspect of this, if you look at this, are not so much the numbers of 100,000. It's the tactical capabilities that the cartels have, for example in places like Reynosa when they are able to muster RPG's and law rockets."

The Rest From The Whistle Stopper

7 Gulf Cartel Pistaleros Captured by Authorities After Gun Battle

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- A Mexican judge ordered seven men who allegedly took part in a shootout with army troops in the northern city of Reynosa that left five dead and seven others wounded to be held for 40 days, the Attorney General's Office said Sunday.

The AG's SIEDO organized crime unit is investigating the suspects' role in the two-hour running shootout last Tuesday in broad daylight with soldiers and federal agents that featured rifles and grenades, terrifying residents of Reynosa, which is across the border from McAllen, Texas.

Five suspected gunmen were killed and seven federal agents were wounded in the shootout.
The judge's order will give prosecutors time to gather evidence against the suspects ahead of the next court appearance.

The security forces seized a 60 mm mortar, five rifle grenades, two fragmentation grenades, bullet-proof vests and two SUVs from the suspects.

The clash coincided with protests staged by hundreds of people - and allegedly paid for by the Gulf drug cartel - against the army's presence in the border city.

Reynosa is in Tamaulipas state, home to the powerful and violent Gulf cartel, which has been battling the Sinaloa cartel for control of the illegal drug trade.


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