Thread: Alert says 5 Mexicans headed to S.F. to sell explosives to I

http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_3445990


Memo warns of threat
Alert says 5 Mexicans headed to S.F. to sell explosives to Iraqi
By Sara A. Carter, Staff Writer


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Despite assurances from government officials that the border with Mexico is secure, a Department of Homeland Security document obtained by the Daily Bulletin reveals that law enforcement officials are seeking five Mexican nationals suspected of bringing explosives into the United States.

The internal "Intelligence Alert" from the Office of Border Patrol -- issued to law enforcement officials Jan. 12 -- stated that the Mexican nationals were heading to San Francisco to sell the explosives.

But Department of Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke said the document is an internal memo and that there are doubts to the credibility of the threat.

"There is no reason to believe at this time that there is any specific threat involved," Knocke said. "Anytime there is specific threat information, we share that information with the parties involved."

The department passes on information to state and local authorities anytime there is specific or credible information, Knocke said.

"The intelligence, however, would be provided to state and local authorities through a completely different channel," he said.

The memo detailed specific information regarding San Francisco.

"The source stated that five individuals would attempt entry by foot with an unknown quantity of plastic explosives hidden in the soles of their shoes. The report indicated the group's final destination is San Francisco. Once in the city, they are to sell the explosives to an unknown Iraqi national," the memo stated.

On Jan. 11, at about 5 p.m., Tucson, Ariz.-sector headquarters received information from a "source of unknown reliability" that the five individuals would travel from Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, en route to Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, according to the document.

The source also stated that the five individuals would be driving in a white Nissan Maxima that has Sonora license plates. The source indicated to law enforcement officials that one of the individuals is named Vicente Banuelos, who is a Mexican citizen from Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico. The intelligence alert asked officials to watch for Banuelos - a photograph and fingerprints of a man by the same name were issued with the alert. But it is uncertain whether those are from the same individual authorities are seeking.

Officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, would not comment on the documents late Friday evening.

"Our primary mission is to deny terrorists and their weapons from entering our border," said Michael Friels, spokesman with the agency. "As well, we continue our other mission of denying contraband from entering the U.S. Our agents on the front line of America's borders are committed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to protecting this country."

The FBI's San Francisco field office could neither confirm nor deny Friday evening that it had received the alert.

"If DHS has that information, I'm sure they would have forwarded that to us," said a duty agent who would not identify himself. The agent referred questions to a media representative who was unavailable.

Border agents interviewed by the Daily Bulletin said security is so lax along Mexico's frontier that almost anybody can get through.

"The alert is highly detailed, and it shows that our borders are not as safe as the government wants us to believe," said a border agent speaking on condition of anonymity.

Earlier this month, the Daily Bulletin obtained an "officer safety alert" memo, dated Dec. 21, that warned agents that drug and human smugglers intend to bring members of the international Mara Salvatrucha street gang, also known as MS-13, into the country to assassinate border agents.

And Monday, U.S. law enforcement officers in Sierra Blanca, Texas, had an armed standoff with what they believe were Mexican soldiers aiding drug smugglers across the Rio Grande, 50 miles east of El Paso.

Officials have called for investigations into Monday's confrontation, which came on the heels of a Daily Bulletin article that more than 200 incursions into the United States by the Mexican military have been documented over the past 10 years.

The Mexican government denied the incursions and on Thursday suggested that it may be American soldiers dressed as Mexican soldiers aiding the cartels.

Peter Gadiel, whose son James Gadiel, 23, died in the World Trade Center terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001, said administration and congressional leaders have abandoned border security.

"The president has said that only migrants are coming over the border to do jobs Americans won't do," Gadiel said. "Smuggling plastic explosives is clearly a job Americans won't do. The situation is so far beyond being absurd, and it looks like it won't change until more American lives are lost."

Gadiel, who testified before the 9/11 commission, said he wants no other family to suffer what he has and that Mexico's border must be secured. "The loss of my son, I can't put that into words," the Connecticut man said. "You simply can't have a border where anybody can cross and expect to have a secure country."

Border-watch activists say they are angry that security has been so lax since the 2001 attacks.

"This same president yesterday morning claimed that his most solemn duty is to protect the American people," said Andy Ramirez, with Friends of the Border Patrol, a Chino-based organization. "Now's his chance."

Staff writer Kenneth Todd Ruiz contributed to this report.

Sara A. Carter can be reached by e-mail at sara.carter@dailybulletin.com or by phone at (909) 483-8552.

"There is no reason to believe at this time that there is any specific threat involved," Knocke said. "Anytime there is specific threat information, we share that information with the parties involved."

What'll it take to make you believe Knocke? Maybe a few buildings blow up would do the trick. The current Department of Homeland Security is one of the biggest jokes ever perpetrated on the public.

"The intelligence, however, would be provided to state and local authorities through a completely different channel," he said.

Is it because the Border Patrol issued this alert (after all they're the ones on the border aren't they?) stepping on your toes? The Office of Homeland Security is so far out in left field they probably wouldn't recognize a bomb if they saw it. After all, they didn't realize Katrina would cause so much devastation even after being warned beforehand.

"If DHS has that information, I'm sure they would have forwarded that to us," said a duty agent who would not identify himself. The agent referred questions to a media representative who was unavailable.

Wanta bet? Just because they know the name of the man, how many people will be in the white car and where it might cross doesn't mean DHS will issue anything until they hear a loud boom.

Earlier this month, the Daily Bulletin obtained an "officer safety alert" memo, dated Dec. 21, that warned agents that drug and human smugglers intend to bring members of the international Mara Salvatrucha street gang, also known as MS-13, into the country to assassinate border agents.

Looks like BP pretty much nailed this one.

"The alert is highly detailed, and it shows that our borders are not as safe as the government wants us to believe," said a border agent speaking on condition of anonymity.

People should listen to the Border Patrol & not the bunch of idiots in DC who for some reason seem oblivious to the southern border.

"This same president yesterday morning claimed that his most solemn duty is to protect the American people," said Andy Ramirez, with Friends of the Border Patrol, a Chino-based organization. "Now's his chance."

Was that the biggest lie he told that day?

People you need to open your eyes. The next person killed by an illegal alien could be somebody you know and love. http://www.alipac.us/ftopic-482-days0-orderasc-0.html

Get on the phones and DEMAND troops be put on the southern border YESTERDAY and that the Senate does not approved the presidents guest worker amnesty! Yours could be the next job "Americans won't do".

I don't know where I read it now and I passed it off as BS but there have been threats issued involving an attack on Houston, TX within the next ten days as well.

Whether or not that nightmare will come home to roost or not became a curiosity for me the other night when a textile factory (one of few we have left) blew up in El Paso TX a couple days ago.

When buildings start blowing up, you think all sorts of things, believe me!

I'll add my personal feeling that the building blew up "accidentally on purpose" so that they have an excuse to move it out of the US and they can collect the insurance money for taking it. But that will never be revealed if it proves to be true.

When buildings start blowing up, you think all sorts of things, believe me!

I certainly hope nothing like this ever happens again on US soil. I also would not have believed the WTC would have been targareted and 2,500 innocent paid with their lives.

had enuf, that is what I was referring to. Every time there is a fire or an explosion, or white powder in the mailbox, or any other suspicious thing, I get really suspicious.

When that refinery in Texas City blew up last fall I couldn't help but wonder if it was an 'accident'. If it wasn't they wouldn't tell us....we're such sheeple we don't deserve to know how to protect ourselves or when.

I would worry only a bit less if we had the border secured. I'll worry full time until we can vote out a buncha those idiots in DC...they're not aware of what's going on at the border because it hasn't yet interfered with a 'power lunch'....or a lobbyiest funded trip...etc..you get the picture.

RR

When that refinery in Texas City blew up last fall I couldn't help but wonder if it was an 'accident'. If it wasn't they wouldn't tell us....we're such sheeple we don't deserve to know how to protect ourselves or when.

RR, I remember the reports of that refinery. It sure made me wonder for awhile. And hasn't that happened more than one time?

We've been told over and over again that it's not if it's when.

How in the world, could the President of the U.S. play these games with our borders and our security at this time ?

Why in the world doesn't he come out and SAY: "DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ENTER THE U.S. ILLEGALLY AND IF YOU ARE IN THIS COUNTRY ILLEGALLY YOU NEED TO LEAVE."

Would someone please give me a legitimate explanation as to WHY he FAILS to say these words ?

Despite assurances from government officials that the border with Mexico is secure,

What are the saying the border is secure? OMG, you can just walk on into the US. The only assurance I have, is that Chertoff needs to be placed behind bars, for his failures in our security, The Katrina fiasco. Do I need to say more, because there is a lot more then just those.

What are the saying the border is secure? OMG, you can just walk on into the US.

I guess things are secure enough if you live in a gated community with an armed guard. They make me sick with these foolish comments. Chertoff was even too scared to let people know he was coming when HE came to the border and he has the gall to call it secure????