Mexican Government Calling Up Reinforcements

Reported by: Will Ripley
Last Update: 5:51 pm

NORTHERN TAMAULIPAS, MEXICO - The Mexican government has called in federal reinforcements to try to stop a surge in violence between the Gulf Cartel and the Zetas.

The troop surge is happening in northern Tamaulipas, the area right next to the Valley. The Mexican army and federal police are moving in now. The reinforcements are expected to bring the number of federal security forces in the region to nearly 3,000.

The troops have been arriving since Saturday to patrol the areas between Reynosa and Nuevo Laredo. This includes Ciudad Mier, where the Zetas forced about 300 people from their homes earlier this month.

Analysts with the STRATFOR intelligence agency say the Zetas are using Mier, Camargo and Miguel Aleman as staging areas to launch a major assault on Reynosa. They want to take back that territory from the Gulf Cartel, possibly before Christmas.

“There's enough intelligence rumbling through the community of pending violence. I think that has forced the Mexican military to move into that area in an effort to secure the geography. Whether it be successful, time will tell," said Fred Burton, STRATFOR vice president.

The Gulf Cartel is vulnerable to attack right now. One of their leaders, Tony Tormenta, was killed in Matamoros, and their once powerful alliance of three rival cartels has dissolved, leaving them alone to fight off the Zetas.

STRATFOR says the Mexican government may also be sending a special operations unit from Mexico City with the mission to take down high-profile cartel leaders.

Travelers to northern Mexico can expect to see more military checkpoints and the government plans to inspect every vehicle on the road.

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