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The bloodbath continues along our southern border and now word is coming in that Los Zetas, the highly trained killers formerly with the Gulf Cartel, have crossed into the United States and taken over at least two ranches in the Laredo, Texas area. I am receiving word that the owners of the ranches have evacuated without being harmed. As of this hour I cannot confirm 100% on the situation (I am at around 90%) – though the source is law enforcement in the area.

The ranches are said to be “near Mines Rd. and Minerales Rd. about 10 miles NW of I-35″.

Whether it is lone members or squads is not certain.

Anonymous sources in law enforcement in the Laredo area tonight have passed on word that US law enforcement agencies are in the area and are weighing their options regarding the ranches. The media has been silent on this incident and some law enforcement in the area says that they are furious that the media is not reporting the whole story of the continued violence along the border. Their frustrations are understandable because keeping the truth suppressed continues to hamper law enforcement from receiving the true support they need along the border.

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Seizure of US Ranches in Laredo TX by Los Zetas Narco-Trafficers Untrue, Laredo City Official Hector Garcia Affirms.

July 24 2010: MT Hector Garcia, a city council member of the City of Laredo TX, has returned my phone call and absolutely denied that any armed conflict has occured with the Laredo PD. He is quoting the Chief of Police, Carlos Maldonado. Mr Garcia went on to say that it appears two ranchers had a disagreement.

Original reports of sources inside Laredo PD go unsubstantiated.

July 25, 2010: Texas residents have confirmed with me that no “invasion” by Los Zetas has occured in the last 48 hours in Laredo Texas. The Rio Grande is swelled at this moment and patrolling is done by airboat. It is unlikely that any armed contingent of Los Zetas crossed the river for the purposes of an armed seige of ranches. The reports of local law enforcement involved in armed conflict with the narco-trafficers is false. What the residents have told me is that if Los Zetas wants a ranch, they do not take it by force, they buy it. Texas Monthly has a great article on the kinds of things happening with Texas real estate and the drug cartels at http://www.texasmonthly.com/2010-08-01/feature3.php.

So if, and that is a big if, there was shooting at the reported two ranches off of Mines Rd and I-35, it was as Hector Garcia said, “a disagreement.” If Laredo PD or Webb County Sheriffs office responded to the call, then it would be approriate for law enforcement to take a number of officers with them and be prepared for the worst.

1. Is there a 911 call that exists reporting shots fired?

2. Which Law Enforcement agency responded, if there was an incident?

3. Are the reported ranches in disagreemnt known or suspected members of the criminal enterprise known as Los Zetas?

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Laredo Mayor, Raul Salinas says “It’s time for action” He went on to say,”There’s an increase [of violence], but it’s happening throughout the country of Mexico, and that violence is contained within Mexico,” Salinas said. “On the U.S. side, Laredo side, we have been able to use our resources that we have to ensure that we don’t have a spillover of that violence on our side of the border.But more resources are needed for this ongoing effort.” “I would like to see for the government to really give us a helping hand, because we need it,” Salinas said.

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Normally I wouldn't dignify a story like this with a post, but it's making enough rounds across the Internet that I feel compelled to dispel the rumors and set Ms. Dvorak straight. First of all, the story is completely untrue. I've confirmed that through the Webb County Sheriff and US Northern Command. A US government spokesperson has also dismissed the story as false. It's unfortunate that Ms. Dvorak insists on sticking to her story, which is based on anonymous and circular information.

I won't make an exception just because the story is "hogwash," to quote the Sheriff in Laredo.

Let's go beyond the fact the story has been discounted by several local and national law enforcement and government authorities for a minute. Why would Los Zetas try to seize two ranches in Laredo? They already have homes and properties and cars in various cities in the southwest border states, and with all the money they have to burn, they can just buy any ranch they want. Why expose themselves to US law enforcement with such reckless behavior? The story says the ranch owners escaped without incident; that in and of itself is odd. It throws the possibility of the seizure as DTO retribution against the owners out the window. It also implies that the ranch owners either had some kind of warning about the intrusion or were let go by the intruders. Neither of those theories fit with Los Zetas modus operandi; they're extremely stealthy, and generally don't let witnesses just wander off.

Either way, the important takeaway is that Los Zetas have NOT taken over two ranches in Laredo, and always remember to ask critical questions when you read a story like this that seems too sensational to be true. One of these days it might be, but chances are there's less to it.

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Sheriff's Dept. addresses rumors about Zetas taking over ranches
By KGNS News

Story Created: Jul 29, 2010

(Story Updated: Jul 30, 2010 )

Throughout the weekend and this week viewers and those living in other cities have called the Pro 8 newsroom regarding reports about Zetas taking over two ranches in the outskirts of Laredo.

Thursday the Sheriff's department held a press conference to address the issue, they said the rumors are not true.

Officials told Pro 8 News people have also been calling the county jail, Laredo police and Webb County Sheriff's department.

"We were having issues with our daily operations because of the numerous amount of calls,” said Asst. Chief Pete Arredondo with the Webb County Sheriff's department.

In midst of the bloody drug war across the border that's turned Nuevo Laredo into a ghost town, allegations indicating Zetas had seized ranches began circulating through different media outlets.

"This whole ordeal with the rumors have taken on a form all of it's own,” Laredo Police department Inv. Joe Baeza said.

An article from a Houston newspaper online posted the allegations as breaking news, indicating the writer spoke with sources confirming the rumors were true. It even stated there was a media blackout about this matter. "This is probably a good case study as how far reaching instant media is and how quickly it can spin out of control,” added Baeza.

The Webb County Sheriff's department said it was ranches in this northwest area of Laredo off Mines Road which had been supposedly seized.

"We went and exhausted that avenue checked the locations, ranches talked to property owners, their neighbors and searched other ranches in that area just to be safe,” Arredondo said.

Though the rumors instilled fear among some people Arredondo said Laredoans living in the area didn't know much about the allegations in the first place.

“Most didn't know what we were talking about,” Arredondo told Pro 8 News.

Bottom line is local law enforcement agencies are working together taking extra safety measures to ensure those living on this side of the border are safe.

"We're prepared, we're prepared as a law enforcement community to react to anything that may happen,” said Deputy Chief Gabriel Martinez from the Laredo Police Department.

Officials also said the rumors grabbed national attention.

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In what could be deemed an act of war against the sovereign borders of the United States, Mexican drug cartels have seized control of at least two American ranches inside the U.S. territory near Laredo, Texas.

Two sources inside the Laredo Police Department confirmed the incident is unfolding and they would continue to coordinate with U.S. Border Patrol today. “We consider this an act of war,” said one police officer on the ground near the scene. There is a news blackout of this incident at this time and the sources inside Laredo PD spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Word broke late last night that Laredo police have requested help from the federal government regarding the incursion by the Los Zetas. It appears that the ranch owners have escaped without incident but their ranches remain in the hands of the blood thirsty cartels.

Laredo Border Patrol is conducting aerial surveillance over the ranches to determine the best way to regain control of the U.S. ranches, according to the Laredo Police department.

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