Desertdog
Member
This time it was on the Mexican side. Next time?
Former Mexican police officers murdered within a mile of US/Mexico border
June 15, 2005, 06:08
http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=3474647&nav=HMO5b2Q9
Three former Mexican police officers were murdered a week ago.
The vehicle the three men were riding in is riddled with bullets. It's now evidence of a bloodbath.
The vehicle's owner, Pablo Gracia Noriega, once worked closely with U.S. law enforcement officers, then in 2003, he was convicted in the U.S. on weapons violations.
Mexican authorities say bullet casings found at the scene show high powered weapons were used in the gun battle.
An area known as Las Mariposas is where drug smugglers and people wanting to cross into the U.S. illegally come through. It's where the 3 former Mexican police officers were ambushed.
The area is considered extremely dangerous. In fact, we had to be escorted there by armed state police officers.
The remote location is within a mile of Nogales, Sonora and about the same distance from the U.S./Mexican border.
Mexican state police are investigating the homicides.
Each victim was shot five times.
Officials believe organized crime is behind the murders. They think it's all part of a turf war between drug traffickers.
Sources tell Eyewitness News 4 that assassins were hired to kill these men.
Over 500 pounds of marijuana was found at the murder scene.
Sources believe it was left behind to send some sort of message.
This recent wave of violence is of great concern to Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada.
"I t's very disturbing for us here at the border, and a major concern to authorities on both sides of the border," Estrada says.
Sheriff Estrada is hoping the violence won't spill over onto the U.S.
What kind of message would this send? This is our area, or no drugs on border?
Former Mexican police officers murdered within a mile of US/Mexico border
June 15, 2005, 06:08
http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=3474647&nav=HMO5b2Q9
Three former Mexican police officers were murdered a week ago.
The vehicle the three men were riding in is riddled with bullets. It's now evidence of a bloodbath.
The vehicle's owner, Pablo Gracia Noriega, once worked closely with U.S. law enforcement officers, then in 2003, he was convicted in the U.S. on weapons violations.
Mexican authorities say bullet casings found at the scene show high powered weapons were used in the gun battle.
An area known as Las Mariposas is where drug smugglers and people wanting to cross into the U.S. illegally come through. It's where the 3 former Mexican police officers were ambushed.
The area is considered extremely dangerous. In fact, we had to be escorted there by armed state police officers.
The remote location is within a mile of Nogales, Sonora and about the same distance from the U.S./Mexican border.
Mexican state police are investigating the homicides.
Each victim was shot five times.
Officials believe organized crime is behind the murders. They think it's all part of a turf war between drug traffickers.
Sources tell Eyewitness News 4 that assassins were hired to kill these men.
Over 500 pounds of marijuana was found at the murder scene.
Sources believe it was left behind to send some sort of message.
This recent wave of violence is of great concern to Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada.
"I t's very disturbing for us here at the border, and a major concern to authorities on both sides of the border," Estrada says.
Sheriff Estrada is hoping the violence won't spill over onto the U.S.
