Mexican Turf War Moves into Pinal County

Updated: Friday, 15 Oct 2010, 1:02 PM MDT
Published : Friday, 15 Oct 2010, 9:33 AM MDT

PHOENIX - Mexican drug cartels are in a turf war - fighting for territory not south of the border, but in the Pinal County desert!

We've heard about the area as a smuggling corridor, but now we're learning about competing drug cartels setting traps for each other.

A Homeland Security memo states that a group of drug cartels got together in Puerto Penasco, also known as Rocky Point - where many people take vacation - and targeted Arizona.

According to the memo, competing cartels have been sending assassins into Pinal County. Those assassins are supposed to take down so called 'bandits' - people trying to rip off their drug loads.

The confidential memo was sent to law enforcement agencies in Arizona as a warning.

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu claims these assassins have already carried out a hit in his county and believes the Rocky Point resort destination is dangerous for visitors.

The Homeland Security memo cites confidential sources for its information and mentions the shooting of Pinal County Deputy Louie Puroll. It suggests he was shot by men who had just ripped off drug loads.

FOX 10 called the Homeland Security Dept. for a comment, but has not received a response.
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Pinal County Sheriff's Office Statement informing the public about the dangers associated with the drug cartels operating in Pinal County:

“We just received information from a proven credible confidential source who reported that last weekend, a meeting was held in Puerto Penasco in which every smuggling organization who utilized the Vekol Valley was told to attend. This included rival groups within the Guzman cartel.

It was decided that the cartel would send a group of fifteen, very well equipped and armed sicarios complete with bullet proof vests, into the Vekol Valley. The Cartel has a map of where the most bandit activity has been occurring. The group will walk into the valley taking four days to get into LPOP positions and communicate back to Penasco. Penasco will then send groups of simulated backpackers carrying empty boxes covered with burlap into the Vekol Valley to draw out the bandits. Once the bandits have been identified, the sicarios will take out the bandits.

Incidentally, the night of the Vekol Valley shooting, we received information from a source who reported that the scouts in the valley (the Cartel has 23 scout locations with rolling encryption) were reporting that bandits had shot two sheriff’s deputies and the area was covered with cops.â€