Pubdate: Thu, 26 Jan 2006
Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA)
Copyright: 2006 San Jose Mercury News
Contact:  http://www.mercurynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/390
Author: Mark Stevenson, Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/mexico

MEXICO: SMUGGLERS, NOT MILITARY, CROSSED U.S. BORDER

MEXICO CITY - The men dressed in military garb who crossed the border
and confronted Texas law officers this week were drug smugglers, not
Mexican soldiers, officials said Wednesday, illustrating Mexico's
thorny problem with criminals who masquerade as security forces.

Photos of what appeared to be Mexican troops in U.S. territory during
the incident Monday shocked many Americans, although Mexico quickly
denied its military was involved.

But to most Mexicans it just offered further proof that drug
traffickers run rampant around the border area in military-style
vehicles, wearing uniforms and, in some cases, using military firepower.

``It is known that these are drug traffickers using military uniforms
and they were not even regulation military uniforms,'' Mexican
presidential press secretary Ruben Aguilar told reporters.

A U.S. law enforcement official said the FBI and other agencies found
no evidence the uniformed men were Mexican soldiers. The official
spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Both countries said they were investigating the case, which comes at a
time of rising anger over border security, with Washington considering
extending a wall along its 2,000-mile-long frontier with Mexico -- an
idea Mexicans bitterly resent.

Rick Glancey of the Texas Border Sheriffs' Coalition said the faceoff
began 50 miles east of El Paso when state police tried to stop three
sport-utility vehicles on Interstate 10. The vehicles made a quick
U-turn and headed south toward the border, a few miles away.

Crossing the border, one SUV got stuck in the Rio Grande, and men in a
Humvee tried in vain to tow it out. Then a group of men in civilian
clothes began unloading what appeared to be bundles of marijuana and
torched the SUV before fleeing.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin