Hnduran LAWS and 40mm Grenade Launchers in the Hands of Cartels

There is a possibility that 23 LAWS, possibly 40mm grenade launchers are in the hands of Cartels, aquired from the Honduran Military; however, this news is more than three years old....

-Gochoa

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The following is a copy of a confidential cable written by United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the US Embassy in Tegucigalpa on October 2, 2008 regarding the "possible unauthorized diversion, misuse or failure to secure" arms provided to Honduras by the US. According to the cable, the US government "has become aware that light antitank weapons (LAWs) and grenades supplied to Honduras under the Foreign Military Sales program were recovered in Mexico and Colombia". It cites a report by the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) published on July 9, 2008 entitled "Honduras: Military Weapons Fuel Black Arms Market", suggesting that the LAWs and grenades may have been provided to organized crime and specifically drug cartels during the years of the Zelaya administration.

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S E C R E T STATE 105491

SIPDIS

NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2018 TAGS: MASS, MCAP, PARM, HO SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: LAX HONDURAN CONTROLS ON US-SUPPLIED WEAPONS Classified By: Classified by: Christopher W. Webster, Director WHA/CEN Reason(s) 1.4 (a),(b), (c), and (d).

1. (U) Action request contained in paras 2 and 3.

2. (S/NF) Summary: The USG has become aware that light antitank weapons (LAWs) and grenades supplied to Honduras under the Foreign Military Sales program were recovered in Mexico and Colombia. The Department's Bureau of Political Military Affairs is preparing a congressional notification (required by Section 3 of the Arms Export Control Act) regarding the possible unauthorized diversion, misuse or failure to secure such U.S.origin defense articles or defense services by the Government of Honduras (GOH). The Embassy is requested to raise this issue with appropriate GOH officials to ensure that GOH officials understand their legal end-use obligations with respect to control of US-origin defense articles, that USG end-use monitoring is being completed, and that failure to fulfill their obligations may jeopardize certain aspects of future bilateral security cooperation.

OBJECTIVES

3. (SBU) Department requests Embassy pursue the following objectives with appropriate GOH Ministries of Defense (MOD) and Foreign Affairs (MFA) officials

-- To remind GOH that is has retransfer, end-use and security obligations with respect to defense articles or defense services sold or granted by the US.

-- To ensure that the GOH realizes the importance of ensuring especially weapons, supplied under US military assistance programs to prevent unauthorized transfers.

-- To gain GOH commitment to accept responsibility for investigating unauthorized diversions and punish appropriately those held responsible.

-- To obtain GOH action to strengthen controls on import/export of weapons and other military equipment.

-- Reiterate US support for on-going weapons destruction programs or new requests for future programs. Express US willingness to provide physical security and/or stockpile management assistance to the GOH if requested.

BACKGROUND

4. (S/NF) On July 9, 2008, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) published a report entitled "Honduras: Military Weapons Fuel Black Arms Market". According to the DIA report, three light anti-tank weapons (LAWs) were recovered in Mexico City in January 2008, and one was recovered in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico in April 2008. Six more LAWs were recovered on San Andres Island, Colombia in March 2008. Factory markings analysis of lot and serial numbers undertaken by DIA's Military Materiel Identification Division (CHUCKWAGON)/MIO-5 indicates that these LAWs were part of a shipment of fifty sent to the Honduran 2nd Infantry Battalion's TESON training element. The LAWs were originally transferred to Honduras in 1992 as part of a US Foreign Military Sales program. (C/HND) In April 2008, an investigation undertaken by the Honduran military found that the 2nd Infantry Battalion's TESON training element could not account for 26 of these fifty LAWs. (S/NF) In addition, at least two US-produced M433 40-mm grenades have beenrecovered in Colombia and Mexico, according to credible sources with direct access cited in the DIA report. The only foreign military sale of M433 40-mm grenades was to Honduras in 1985.

5. (U) For more information on this issue please contact WHA/CEN: Rebecca M. Valerin (202-647-3482)

The Rest @ Honduras Weekly

Erick Turcios-Lazo of MS-13 and Peru Connection

TBDA suggests that an IP Adress in Peru has repeated and systematic interest in Erick Turcios-Lazo of MS-13. This suggests that the following IP address may be associated with MS-13

Someone at 190.236.242.197 in Lima Peru used a high resolution MAC (1280x1024) USING Operating System X on the isp Telefonica Del Peru.

Most recently, at 19th April 2011 10:05:05 Local time, they used an english language google search for the specific name "Erick Turcios-Lazo"

-Federico Gochoa

< >MS-13 leader indicted in plot to kill witness

An illegal immigrant who led a Fairfax County-based MS-13 cell was indicted late last week for allegedly conspiring to murder a federal witness who helped put a former leader of the group behind bars for life in 2006.

According to court records, Erick Turcios-Lazo, also known as “Scorpion,” attended two general MS-13 meetings in January where he and other gang members discussed killing a fellow member they believed to have been a government witness in the 2006 trial of former clique leader Wilfredo Montoya Baires.

Later that month, Fairfax County police learned from an informant that Turcios-Lazo met with gang members and pushed for the “green light” to murder the “snitch” who court records list only as “L.Q.”

In September 2006, L.Q. was seen by gang members at the Alexandria branch of the U.S. District Court of Eastern Virginia while she was responding to a subpoena to testify in the Baires trial, records said. The January vote taken by cell members in favor of ending L.Q.’s life never played out. But in 2004, Baires orchestrated the death of another gang member, named Jose Escobar.

Baires was convicted of coercing fellow gang members to kill Escobar, who he claimed was a government informant.

But in fact, witnesses said, Baires was trying to keep Escobar from usurping his power. Escobar’s death was among a string of gang-related homicides that led federal and state authorities to pour resources into Northern Virginia to fight the rising tide of gang activity.

Since then, the murders have fallen dramatically.

fklopott@dcexaminer.com

The Rest @ The Washington Post-examiner

FARC Commander Oliver Solarte Killed in Columbia

FARC commander "Oliver Solarte," who was killed Monday by Colombian armed forces in Putumayo, was one of the group's key drugs and arms smugglers and a link to Mexican drug cartels, President Juan Manuel Santos announced late Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters in Bogota, Santos stated that Solarte was a key contact with Mexican drug gangs, adding, "He was a very important part of the FARC ... He handled all the drugs and arms trafficking of the FARC's Southern Bloc. He was among the Central Command and only responded to the Secretariat."

Solarte had been a member of the FARC for 20 years and had three arrest warrants against him in Colombia, for terrorism, extortion, kidnapping, aggravated murder, rebellion and aggravated theft. In addition, he had an extradition request against him from the U.S. for drug trafficking.

Santos described the death of Solarte, who had become leader of the 48th Front last year after the death in January 2010 of its previous leader, "Edgar Tovar," as a "major blow" to the guerrilla group.

Head of the Colombian armed forces Admiral Edgar Cely added to reporters that the same operation that saw Solarte killed saw the seizure of communications equipment, six grenades and eleven phones.

Santos reiterated that should the FARC continue with their terrorist activity, they will fall, one after another, as Solarte did.

The Rest @ Colombiareports

New Mexico Arms Traffickers Arrested

COLUMBUS, NEW MEXICO (BNO NEWS) -- Columbus, New Mexico mayor, the police chief and 9 more on Thursday were indicted in a firearms trafficking case, prosecutors said on Friday.
The indictment charged eleven individuals who are suspected members of a firearms trafficking ring headquartered in Columbus, New Mexico, a small border village across from the Mexican city of Puerto Palomas, on firearms and smuggling charges.

The 11 people charged in the 84-count indictment include Angelo Vega, the Columbus chief of police; Eddie Espinoza, the mayor of Columbus; and Blas Gutierrez, a village trustee in Columbus.

"Gutierrez, Espinoza and Vega were duty sworn to protect and safeguard the people of Columbus, New Mexico," said U.S. Attorney Kenneth Gonzales. "Instead, they increased the risk of harm that the people of Columbus face every day by allegedly using their official positions to facilitate and safeguard the operations of a smuggling ring that was exporting firearms to Mexico."

Ten of them were arrested without incidents on Thursday morning. One defendant, Ignacio Villalobos, is at large. In addition, law enforcement agents executed ten search warrants at eight residences, including the office of the Columbus Police Department.

Between January 2010 and March 2011, the defendants engaged in a conspiracy to purchase firearms for illegal export to Mexico. The trafficking ring allegedly purchased approximately 200 firearms from Chaparral Guns in Chaparral, New Mexico, which is owned and operated by defendant Ian Garland.

The weapons purchased were the ones known to be favored by Mexican drug cartels, such as AK-47-type pistols, weapons resembling AK-47 rifles but with shorter barrels and without rear stocks, and American Tactical 9 mm caliber pistols.

During the investigation, 40 AK-47 type pistols, 1,580 rounds of 7.62 ammunition, and 30 high-capacity magazines were seized from the defendants before they crossed the U.S.-Mexico border.

At least twelve weapons allegedly purchased by the defendants were later found in Mexico. The investigation was initiated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The year-long case was later expanded to include the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The Rest @ BNO News

Man arrested after attempted prison-gang hit (El Paso, TX): An ex-gang member apparently averted a prison gang hit Monday when a gunman hesitated because the victim was with his two young sons outside a bakery in Central El Paso.Source: El Paso Times Date: January 5, 2011http://www.elpasotimes.com/...
By Daniel Borunda \ El Paso Times

Posted: 01/05/2011 12:00:00 AM MST and is afraid for his life and the lives of his family members. The gang was not named.


El Paso police arrested Eric Patrick Gomez, 33, on suspicion of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Gomez is a confirmed member of a prison gang and is nicknamed "Sonny," stated court documents.

The potentially deadly encounter is detailed in a complaint affidavit filed by a detective and obtained by the El Paso Times.

Shortly before 7 p.m. Monday, Oscar Martinez was walking with his family when they were followed by two people to a bakery on North Piedras Street at Sacramento Avenue, the document stated.

A small red car with about four people pulled up. Gomez allegedly met with the group from the car and something was taken out of the trunk.
Martinez was outside with his two small boys while the rest of his family was inside the bakery. Gomez walked up to Martinez, called him by his gang moniker, and identified himself as "Sonny" and as a member of the gang.

The affidavit stated Gomez told Martinez to "move his boys to the side as he knew what this was about," while opening his jacket to show him a handgun.
Martinez got the children out of the way and managed to call 911 on his cell phone. Gomez then ran off and the others fled in the red car. Patrol officers searching the area arrested Gomez nearby.

Martinez, according to the documents, told police that he is a former member of the gang and is afraid for his life and the lives of his family members. The gang was not named.

According to the affidavit, Martinez "felt that he was going to be forced into the vehicle or shot on site. (Martinez) stated that it is common practice for this prison gang to force ex-members into a vehicle and taken to another location and assaulted severely or to be killed."
Gomez, of the 1200 block of Selden Drive, remained jailed Tuesday night in lieu of a $50,000 bond

Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com; 546-6102.

Texas Syndicate Memeber gets 227 years

Texas prison gang members get life sentences without parole (McAllen, TX): Three members of the Texas Syndicate prison gang have been sentenced to life in prison without parole for their roles in separate shooting deaths in South Texas, U.S. Attorney Jose Angel Moreno said Thursday.Source: KWTX 10 News Date: January 6, 2011http://www.kwtx.com/...

Operation Greedy Grove - A followup

Four months after DEA's "Operation Greedy Grove" drugs and gang sweep, a guilty plea (Dallas, TX): Back in September, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced that it had arrested several alleged members of "violent local street gangs," which included the Highland Hills Posse and the NFL Boyz. Source: Dallas Observer Date: January 19, 2011http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/...