Thread: Dangers higher for federal agents

Dangers higher for federal agents


By Jason Buch

Updated 12:09 a.m., Monday, February 28, 2011

As they cruised the streets of Matamoros, Mexico, with an informant in November 1999, a pair of U.S. federal agents were forced off the road and surrounded by cartel gunmen.

In what has become a legendary showdown between U.S. agents and narcos, Drug Enforcement Administration agent Joe Dubois and FBI agent Daniel Fuentes talked their way out of the jackpot, convincing the gunmen — including Gulf Cartel leader Osiel Cárdenas Guillén — that harming them would bring down the wrath of the United States.

That incident stands in stark contrast to the Feb. 15 attack on two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Presumed cartel gunmen forced Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila off the road in Mexico's San Luis PotosÃ* state. Like Dubois and Fuentes, the two ICE agents reportedly tried to negotiate with the gunmen. But as soon as they cracked the window to parley, one of the gunmen shoved the barrel of his weapon into the car; Zapata was killed, and Avila was wounded.

Alleged members of the Zetas drug gang who have been accused of the killing said that although the agents were traveling in a vehicle with diplomatic license plates, they thought the men were rival cartel members. It was the first time in more than 20 years that a U.S. agent was killed in the line of duty in Mexico.

Those who follow U.S. law enforcement activity in Mexico and on the border say the danger to federal agents has increased since Dubois and Fuentes stood down the gunmen in Matamoros. Criminal organizations have grown beyond their leaders' control, and conflicts between cartels have become more frequent and more violent, raising the stakes for traffickers and making it more dangerous for federal agents.

Zapata's death comes on the heels of a Border Patrol agent's killing in Arizona, a suspected Guatemalan drug trafficker with ties to a Mexican cartel accused of offering money to kill U.S. agents in his country and the home invasion of an ICE agent in San Antonio.

“It is more dangerous now than it was 10 years ago,â€

Just a thought however I believe the cartels understand we have a weaker government that is unwilling to do what is necessary in closing down the border. Cut off the money supply and problem solved.

We need to stop putting agents inside mexico and keep our resources within our borders. Use troops and whatever firepower is needed to secure the border from drug smugglers and also illegals gaining entry to the USA .

Start executing these scumbags. Mexico needs to allow their citizens to arm themselves and bring on the death penalty. Anything less is suicide. The criminals are well armed and the innocent civilians are not. Gun control laws don't work because criminals do not obey laws DUH.

Originally Posted by miguelina

Start executing these scumbags. Mexico needs to allow their citizens to arm themselves and bring on the death penalty. Anything less is suicide. The criminals are well armed and the innocent civilians are not. Gun control laws don't work because criminals do not obey laws DUH.

That will indeed take care of the entire problem!