Official: Mexico drug war imagery popping up in US

by Will Weissert / Associated Press
Posted: 12/14/2010 05:55:08 PM MST

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Dark imagery associated with the Mexican drug war, including images of the unofficial patron saints of death and smuggling, are showing up north of the border, a sign of the cartels' growing influence among American smuggling networks, a U.S. marshal said Tuesday.

Images of the skeletal black-robed figure of Santa Muerte, the Death Saint, are showing up in areas that don't have large Mexican populations, said Robert Almonte. He is traveling the country instructing law enforcement officials about Mexican folk icons associated with the drug war, hoping to raise "red flags so they will know that if they see some of this, they will be more cautious."

"This is not just a South Texas or Southwest border phenomenon,"

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said Almonte, who recalled recent cases in New Hampshire. "Mexican drug traffickers do not deal exclusively with other Hispanics. So we're seeing cases where Anglo and black traffickers or criminals are also using this for protection."

Almonte's presentation was closed to the media, but he spoke to reporters beforehand and showed off an exhibit of underworld saint paraphernalia, including a shrine to Santa Muerte - whose image is most commonly found - as well as prayer cards and candles in her honor.

Other common images associated with the traffickers are those of Jesus Malverde, the unofficial patron saint of drug smugglers who was a Robin Hood-like figure executed by Mexican authorities in 1909, and Juan Soldado, the patron saint of illegal immigrants.
Almonte said many traffickers also pray to legitimate Roman Catholic saints and it's not uncommon to find their homes adorned with the likenesses of the Virgin Mary as well as Santa Muerte, a female figure who holds a scythe in her bony hand.

Drug traffickers and even residents of neighborhoods hit hardest by violence implore Santa Muerte to keep them safe, sometimes erecting shrines to her sinister likeness and leaving it pocket change, tequila, cigars and sweets. Not all believers in Santa Muerte are criminals, but those on the wrong side of the law are often her most devout followers, Almonte said.

"They pray for protection and this belief is embedded in their hearts, their souls and their minds ... even if you arrest them and they've been praying, they don't believe, 'Well, it didn't work, I'm not going to pray to these anymore,'" Almonte said.

While Santa Muerte has been a tradition for decades in Mexico, Almonte said Mexican authorities have lately begun seeing cases where brutality is committed in her name: "Some of these beheadings have been offerings or sacrifices."

He said in one case in Tijuana, Mexico, that he investigated about a year and a half ago, a drug smuggling syndicate tortured and cut off one of its own members' arms and legs using an electric saw. A female gang member then used the same saw to sever the victim's head as an offering for protection from Santa Muerte, Almonte said. Mexican authorities eventually arrested those involved and recovered all of the body parts - except the head.

"When they asked her about it, she kept responding 'Santa Muerte has it. I gave it to Santa Muerte,'" Almonte said.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_16857408