Thread: Rumor mill inflames border debate (Zetas Ranch Story)

Rumor mill inflames border debate

82 comments by Alfredo Corchado - Aug. 16, 2010 01:02 PM
Dallas Morning News

EL PASO, Texas - The ominous reports have zinged around the Internet for weeks, raising fresh fears about border security: Armed members of the notorious Mexican criminal group, the Zetas, seized two ranches near Laredo, Texas.

But law enforcement officials say the reports are false.

The latest incident, officials say, is one more cautionary tale of how bloggers are trying to influence the agenda over border security by fanning fears based on stories that are going viral without first being thoroughly reported or confirmed.

The latest rumor began swirling the weekend of July 24, when editors and others received reports that the Zetas had invaded U.S. territory. The story was based on a law enforcement bulletin stating that officers were looking into a tip that the Zetas had invaded the two ranches.

The bulletin was leaked to freelancer Kimberly Dvorak, a conservative writer who lives in San Diego. On her blog, she describes herself as journalist dedicated to writing "fair free and balanced stories" about local, national and international news stories for more than 15 years. She could not be reached for comment.

The Internet report was picked up by other bloggers, and reporters made inquiries.

Laredo Police Department spokesman Joe Baeza told KGNS-TV in Laredo that the story is "just one of many unconfirmed rumors and threats that we get here on a daily basis."

One police investigator, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: "We're swamped with so many rumors that this takes away from us doing our jobs. The fears out there are unreal, and the ability of these bloggers to penetrate society is out of control."

As part of their illegal smuggling operations, criminal groups do control ranches on the Mexican side of the border, having either bought the land or intimidated ranchers into giving them access. This is possible because corruption in Mexico is endemic, and the rule of law is weak.

Many criminals hold dual nationality, and operating on both sides of the border is common. But the idea that they would try the same tactic on the U.S. side is unlikely, authorities say. Seizing land would be too risky because it would expose criminals to U.S. law enforcement.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... z0xnNQv1KX

The story was based on a law enforcement bulletin stating that officers were looking into a tip that the Zetas had invaded the two ranches.

So the story was true after all, based on a law enforcement bulletin.

Laredo Police Department spokesman Joe Baeza told KGNS-TV in Laredo that the story is "just one of many unconfirmed rumors and threats that we get here on a daily basis."

So, why is it still unconfirmed. Either they did or they didn't seize the two ranches. Did authorities run them off and don't want to tell us? Or was the tip a lie and the bulletin false?

what Surprised me is that this story is in the Phoenix Newspaper

no the story is saying everything is not true

Originally Posted by jamesw62

no the story is saying everything is not true

Where does it say it's not true? It says law enforcement got a tip. It says law enforcement put out a bulletin to investigate it. Where does it say it's not true? Unless I'm missing something, all it says is that it's unconfirmed.

the second line says this

But law enforcement officials say the reports are false.

Originally Posted by jamesw62

the second line says this

But law enforcement officials say the reports are false.

But that isn't what the law enforcement officials the reporter interviewed actually said.

The story is false, but someone did make a call to the Laredo police alleging that this happened and police investigated. (the area is not in the jurisdiction of the Laredo police, btw, but rather the Webb County sheriff) The call turned out to be an apparent hoax. No one could find any evidence of any dislodged ranchers in the area. My dark suspicion is that someone wanted to place a call on the record to bolster a hoax they were going to spread - lots of politics in the background here. Or, it could have been just bored local kids stirring up some excitement.

Originally Posted by BetsyRoss

The story is false, but someone did make a call to the Laredo police alleging that this happened and police investigated. (the area is not in the jurisdiction of the Laredo police, btw, but rather the Webb County sheriff) The call turned out to be an apparent hoax. No one could find any evidence of any dislodged ranchers in the area. My dark suspicion is that someone wanted to place a call on the record to bolster a hoax they were going to spread - lots of politics in the background here. Or, it could have been just bored local kids stirring up some excitement.

I think something happened which triggered the call and the bulletin, but the local authorities don't want to report it because when the feds intervened they told them to put a lid on it.