WESLACO – A new report from the global intelligence agency STRATFOR says the ongoing struggle between the Gulf Cartel and Zetas will likely lead to escalating violence in the city of Reynosa in the coming months.
The report says the Sinaloa Cartel continues to grow, while many other cartels are weakening.
With the breakdown in the structure of organizations, it will make gangs like the Zetas even more dangerous in the coming months.
“Fragmented cells of the basic command structure of the organization are now pretty much running amok. As you look at that, it’s a very dangerous environment to be in simply because the bosses have no command and control over their shooters,” says Fred Burton.
STRATFOR says the Gulf Cartel maintains control of the city of Reynosa for now, but the Zetas will likely make an effort to retake it in the coming months.
The report also predicts a few sporadic attacks on U.S. Government Agents in the coming months.
“We have seen intelligence of threats against law enforcement not only in Mexico but across the border too, and that’s very problematic. Not only is that a public safety concern, but it’s also a threat to the general welfare of anybody operating in these environments or attempting to travel down the roads,” says Burton.
Rio Grande Valley Congressman Ruben Hinojosa says he supports a continuation of the 2008 Merida Initiative, in which the U.S. supplies $400,000,000 in financial and material support to the Mexican government for the war on drugs.
“We did this for Colombia and were able to help them in what took many years, but certainly has shown tremendous improvement,” says Congressman Hinojosa.
While Congressman Hinojosa and others in the government put their faith in long term strategy in Mexico, Fred Burton says Mexican President Felipe Calderon has realized his government can not eliminate all the cartels.
STRATFOR says Mexican Federal Officials will likely to agree to some kind of co-existence with the Sinaloa Cartel so they can focus on weakening more violent cartels such as the Zetas.
Reported by: Kirk Chaisson
