Mexican Cartel Tactical Note #23

Mexican Cartel Tactical Note #23: Firefights
Below the Border?Cartel del Golfo (CDG)
Ciclones vs. Metros
By Robert Bunker
Journal Article | Mar 22 2015 - 8:25pm
Mexican Cartel Tactical Note #23: Firefights Below the Border—Cartel del Golfo (CDG) Ciclones
vs. Metros
Robert J. Bunker
Key Information: “Splinter Gulf Cartel drug groups fight for control of Matamoros/Reynosa.”
Mexico DailyReview. 14 February 2015, http://mexicodailyreview.com.mx/mdr014/splinter-gulf-carteldrug-groups-fight-control-matamorosreynosa/.
Recent violence in the cities of Matamoros, Reynosa in the state of Tamaulipas is related to an
ongoing dispute for territorial control between two splinter groups linked to the Gulf Cartel,
CDG. The cells call The Ciclones, with control of Matamoros and Los Metros, located in the Rio
Bravo-Reynosa apparently are engaged in a bloody fight for control of the region. About a
thousand military officers have been deployed to the northern state.
The head of the Ciclones is Ángel Prado Rodríguez, alias Ciclon Siete or Orejon. The head of the
other splinter group is Juan Francisco Carrizales, alias El 98, who has been identified by the
Attorney General’s Office and theDrug Enforcement Agency, DEA, as one of the most
importman gunmen working for the CDG. At one point he was assigned to fight against the Zetas
who had challenged the leadership of the CDG in the state. Los Metros right now operate in Rio
Bravo and wants to expand into Matamoros, according to police. They move around in huge
vehicle caravans and bullet proof vehicles.
Key Information: Ildefonso Ortiz, “Mexican Army Kills Four Gunmen and Seizes Belt-fed Machine
Guns Near Texas Border.” Breitbart. 24 February 2015,
http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2015/02/24/mexican-army-kills-four-gunmen-and-seizes-belt-fedmachine-guns-near-texas-border/.
MCALLEN, Texas – The Mexican military killed four gunmen in two separate shootouts near the
Texas border and managed to seize .50 caliber rifles, two belt-fed machine guns and three assault
rifles.
Both shootouts took place in the Mexican border city of Rio Bravo which is just south of Donna,
Texas, information provided to Breitbart Texas by the Tamaulipas government revealed.
In the first shootout, a military convoy was conducting routine patrols in the Los Fresnos
neighborhood when the occupants of a light blue Pontiac Grand Prix began firing at the convoy.
The soldiers fought of the attack killing one of the gunmen who was only identified as a man
between 25 and 30-years old, the other gunmen were able to get away. In the second shootout,
another military convoy was patrolling the rural town of Portes Gil just outside of Rio Bravo,
Texas, when a group of gunmen in Jeep Cherokee began firing at the convoy as they tried to get
away. The soldiers fought back killing the three gunmen in the vehicle.
Since the beginning of February, two factions of the Gulf Cartel went to war turning various cities
along the Texas border into a war zone. The war has led to large scale gun battles between cartel
members as well as with Mexican authorities.
Figure 1. Narco-blockade
Valle Hermoso 6 February 2015
Source: http://www.valorportamaulipas.info/2015/02/en-balacera-ejercito-abate-civil-armado.html
Figure 2. Weapons from Vehicle Belonging to CDG Faction
La Colonia Cumbres del municipio de Reynosa, 3 March 2015
Source: http://www.valorportamaulipas.info/2015/03/decomisan-vehiculo-y-poderoso-arsenal.html
Who: Competing factions of the Cartel del Golfo (CDG). The Ciclones out of Matamoros against Los
Metros out of Reynosa and Rio Bravo.
What: Firefights and tactical actions including the closure of highways and city streets via vehicle
blockades and the use of caltrops.
When: Starting in early February 2015 and continuing on while writing this tactical note.
Where: Anahuac, Matamoros, Miguel Aleman, Nuevo Progreso, Rio Bravo, the highway between
Anahauc and Valle Hermoso, and the highway between Reynosa and Rio Bravo within the state of
Tamaulipas, Mexico. Much of this fighting is taking place within miles of the Texas border.
Why: An attempted takeover of the Matamoros plaza (controlled by Los Ciclones) by Los Metros (who
control Reynosa and Rio Bravo). Matamoros, the plaza across from Brownsville, Texas, is a valuable
gateway for smuggling illicit narcotics into the United States and for bringing money, weaponry, stolen
cars and other products back into Mexico.
Synopsis: The top leadership of Cartel del Golfo has either been killed or captured resulting in a power
vacuum and the splintering of this cartel into factions based on local plaza chiefs and lieutenants
controlling smaller groups of gunmen. While this power vacuum has existed for some years now—with
limited strife between the various factions—this has recently changed with the attempted takeover of
Matamoros by the Los Metros faction.
Large convoys (sometimes 10+ vehicles with some of them armor-plated) of cartel operatives and smaller
units—single and small groups of vehicles—carrying gunmen (some with body armor) utilizing infantry
small arms, including launched and thrown fragmentation grenades, are involved in the tactical actions
between the opposing factions. Destroyed and burned-out vehicles (typically SUVs) have been evident.
To limit fratricide, vehicles have window markings such as Escorpíon, M3, Los Metros, XX, and 900 to
designate which CDG faction that they belong to. Opposing CDG faction personnel are also now
increasingly being brutally tortured prior to execution and then left for the opposing faction to find as part
of ongoing psychological operations (narco terrorism) taking place. Other recent narco terrorist activities
have included bomb threats, arson, and attempted political assassinations in this area of operations. This
includes an attack on an armored SUV convoy carrying Mayor Leticia Salazar of Matamoros, who
survived the incident, by cartel gunmen on 9 March 2015.
Note—overwatch positions with heavy sniper rifles (.50 cal) and machine guns at blockade and
channeling (kill zone) points have not reported—but this would fall into past CDG tactical patterns. Given
the weight of these weapons, they would be logistically tied to an SUV or truck for transport and/or
mounting.
In addition to the opposing CDG factions, the Mexican government has deployed about 1,000 troops to
this region as well as federal police in support of state and local policing units. Such Mexican government
troops and law enforcement groups have been fired upon by the narco commando (convoy) units, with
cartel losses reported at 25 dead and 16 captured. These are reported figures but it is presumed much
higher cartel losses have taken place as they remove their dead. Offensive operations against these cartel
fragments are also ongoing as part of Plan Tamaulipas. Governmental losses have not been disclosed.
To add ambiguity to this conflict environment, large numbers of Mexican law enforcement officers in the
state of Tamaulipas, Mexico have in the past been corrupted by the cartels and placed on their payrolls.
This corruption extends to Mexican federal police with 14 of them arrested in early March 2015 for
running a kidnapping crew in this area with possible CDG factional ties.
The following listing represents what the Mexican government has recovered from the opposing CDG
factions since early February 2015:
Recovered Weaponry and Materiel
• 110
Road Spikes
•1
Bullet Proof Vest
•2
Radios
• 11
Vehicles
• 16
Assault Rifles
•1
Submachine Gun
•3
.50 Cal Sniper Rifles
• 112
Magazines
• 1000+ Rounds
•2
Belt Fed Machine Guns
•2
Grenade Launchers
•1
Rocket Launcher
Note: See Robert J. Bunker and Byron Ramirez, “Mexican Cartel Tactical Note #22: Narco Tank Factory
Discovered in Nuevo Laredo.” Small Wars Journal. 13 February 2015,
http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/mexican-cartel-tactical-note-22-narco-tank-factory-discovered-innuevo-laredo
for information on the armored vehicles being used in this conflict in Tamaulipas by the CDG factions.
The four rounds of .50 seized in that incident appear to be for heavy sniper rifles.
Significance: Cartel del Golfo (CDG), Infighting, Tamaulipas, Weaponry
References
Arturo Angel y Jonathan Nácar, “Dos células desatan guerra en Tamaulipas.” 24 Horas. 5 de Febrero de
2015, http://www.24-horas.mx/dos-celulas-desatan-guerra-en-tamaulipas/.
Otis B Fly-Wheel (Blogger), “CDG and its Different Factions.” Borderland Beat. 17 February 2015,
http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2015/02/cdg-and-its-different-factions.html. Translated from
Valor Por Tamaulipas.
Gia (Blogger), “En Balacera Ejército Abate Civil Aamado en Matamoros.” Valor Por Tamaulpas. 6 de
Febrero de 2015, http://www.valorportamaulipas.info/2015/02/en-balacera-ejercito-abate-civilarmado.html.
Itzil (Blogger), “Blockades & Shootouts Errupt in Northern Tamaulipas.” Borderland Beat. 2 February
2015, http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2015/02/blockades-shootouts-errupt-in-northern.html.
Itzil (Blogger), “The Gulf Cartel Through the Lens of Río Bravo.” Borderland Beat. 11 February 2015,
http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2015/02/the-gulf-cartel-through-lense-of-rio.html.
“Mexican Officials Confiscate Weapons Cache: Rifles and rocket launcher seized in Miguel Aleman.”
KRGV Channel 5 News ABC. 6 March 2015, http://www.krgv.com/news/local-news/Mexican-OfficialsConfiscate-Weapons-Cache/31662320. Text and Video (3:41 minues).
Lucio (Blogger), “Tamaulipas conflict continues, death toll now 21.” Borderland Beat. 11 February 2015,
http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2015/02/tamaulipas-conflict-continues-death.html. Translated and
republished from Milenio.
“Splinter Gulf Cartel drug groups fight for control of Matamoros/Reynosa.” Mexico Daily Review. 14
February 2015, http://mexicodailyreview.com.mx/mdr014/splinter-gulf-cartel-drug-groups-fightcontrol-matamorosreynosa/.
Aaron Nelsen, “Violence in Tamaulipas, Mexico, raises concerns over security plan.” San Antonio
Express News. 16 March 2015, http://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Violence-inTamaulipas-Mexico-raises-concerns-6137816.php?t=b3dd248881.
Ildefonso Ortiz, “Confirmed: 14 Dead in Cartel War Raging at Texas Border.” Breitbart. 4 February 2015,
http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2015/02/04/confirmed-14-dead-in-cartel-war-raging-at-texas-border/
.
Ildefonso Ortiz, “Extremely Graphic: Mexican Cartel Execution Photos Indicate Shift in War Tactics.”
Breitbart. 24 February 2015, http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2015/02/24/extremely-graphic-mexicancartel-execution-photos-indicate-shift-in-war-tactics/.
Ildefonso Ortiz, “Mexican Army Kills Four Gunmen and Seizes Belt-fed Machine Guns Near Texas
Border.” Breitbart. 24 February 2015, http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2015/02/24/mexican-army-killsfour-gunmen-and-seizes-belt-fed-machine-guns-near-texas-border/.
Ildefonso Ortiz, “14 Mexican Federales Arrested for Running Kidnapping Crew Near Texas Border.”
Breitbart. 7 March 2015, http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2015/03/07/14-mexican-cops-arrested-forrunning-kidnapping-crew-near-texas-border/
.
“Caen en Tamaulipas sicarios del grupo criminal Los Ciclones de Matamoros.” Processo. 10 de Febrero
de 2015, http://www.proceso.com.mx/?p=395586.
Justin J. Reyes, “Mayor of Matamoros ambushed.” KGNS.tv. 9 March 2015,
http://www.kgns.tv/home/headlines/Mayor-of-Matamoros-ambushed-295700731.html.
“Decomisan Vehículo y Poderoso Arsenal en Reynosa.” Valor Por Tamaulpas. 3 de Marzo de 2015,
http://www.valorportamaulipas.info/2015/03/decomisan-vehiculo-y-poderoso-arsenal.html.
About the Author
Robert Bunker
Dr. Robert J. Bunker is an Adjunct Research Professor, Strategic Studies Institute, US
Army War College and Adjunct Faculty, Division of Politics and Economics,
Claremont Graduate University. He holds university degrees in political science,
government, social science, anthropology-geography, behavioral science, and history
and has undertaken hundreds of hours of counterterrorism training. Past professional
associations include Distinguished Visiting Professor and Minerva Chair at the
Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College; Futurist in Residence, Training
and Development Division, Behavioral Science Unit, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Academy, Quantico, VA; Staff Member (Consultant), Counter-OPFOR Program,
National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center-West; and Adjunct
Faculty, National Security Studies M.A. Program and Political Science Department,
California State University, San Bernardino, CA. Dr. Bunker has hundreds of
publications including Studies in Gangs and Cartels, with John Sullivan (Routledge,
2013), Red Teams and Counterterrorism Training, with Stephen Sloan (University of
Oklahoma, 2011), and edited works, including Global Criminal and Sovereign Free
Economies and the Demise of the Western Democracies: Dark Renaissance
(Routledge, 2014), co-edited with Pamela Ligouri Bunker; Criminal Insurgencies in
Mexico and the Americas: The Gangs and Cartels Wage War (Routledge, 2012);
Narcos Over the Border: Gangs, Cartels and Mercenaries (Routledge, 2011);
Criminal-States and Criminal-Soldiers (Routledge, 2008); Networks, Terrorism and
Global Insurgency (Routledge, 2005); and Non-State Threats and Future Wars
(Routledge, 2002).
Available online at : http://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/mexican-cartel-tactical-note-23firefights-below-the-border%E2%80%94cartel-del-golfo-cdg-ciclones-v
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{3} http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2015/02/24/mexican-army-kills-four-gunmen-and-seizes-belt-fedmachine-guns-near-texas-border/
{4} http://www.valorportamaulipas.info/2015/02/en-balacera-ejercito-abate-civil-armado.html
{5} http://www.valorportamaulipas.info/2015/03/decomisan-vehiculo-y-poderoso-arsenal.html
{6} http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/mexican-cartel-tactical-note-22-narco-tank-factory-discovered-innuevo-laredo
{7} http://www.24-horas.mx/dos-celulas-desatan-guerra-en-tamaulipas/
{8} http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2015/02/cdg-and-its-different-factions.html
{9} http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2015/02/blockades-shootouts-errupt-in-northern.html
{10} http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2015/02/the-gulf-cartel-through-lense-of-rio.html
{11} http://www.krgv.com/news/local-news/Mexican-Officials-Confiscate-Weapons-Cache/31662320
{12} http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2015/02/tamaulipas-conflict-continues-death.html
{13} http://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Violence-in-Tamaulipas-Mexico-raises-concerns6137816.php?t=b3dd248881
{14} http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2015/02/04/confirmed-14-dead-in-cartel-war-raging-at-texas-border/
{15} http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2015/02/24/extremely-graphic-mexican-cartel-execution-photosindicate-shift-in-war-tactics/
{16} http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2015/03/07/14-mexican-cops-arrested-for-running-kidnapping-crewnear-texas-border/
{17} http://www.proceso.com.mx/?p=395586
{18} http://www.kgns.tv/home/headlines/Mayor-of-Matamoros-ambushed-295700731.html
{19} http://smallwarsjournal.com/comment/reply/22796#comment-form
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