VZCZCXRO1209
PP RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM
DE RUEHHO #0166/01 1120020
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 220020Z APR 06
FM AMCONSUL HERMOSILLO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1388
INFO RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 0433
RUEHHO/AMCONSUL HERMOSILLO 1758

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HERMOSILLO 000166 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/MEX; EMBASSY MEXICO FOR CMMA, DEA, DHS/ICE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV SNAR ASEC CASC MX
SUBJECT: SPIKE IN DRUG VIOLENCE IN HERMOSILLO 
 
REF: HERMOSILLO 0055 
 
HERMOSILLO 00000166  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: Over the past several months there appears to be 
a trend of increasing violence in the area in and around 
Hermosillo, Sonora, culminating with several events during Holy 
Week. The violence appears to be largely confined to rival drug 
trafficking groups.  Although there is no element of targeting 
AMCITS or Consulate personnel whatsoever, Post is concerned 
about the general increase in violence and the very public 
nature that is part and parcel of this phenomenon.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) Hermosillo experienced an outbreak of drug-related 
violence earlier this year, as reported by Post in February and 
March (reftel).  On March 20, unknown assailants also attacked a 
suspected major drug trafficker and his wife driving on Highway 
15 (to Nogales) 83 kilometers north of Hermosillo.  The couple 
survived AK-47 gunfire but were hospitalized after being run off 
the road and rolling their vehicle.  Their attackers escaped. 
 
RAID NEAR CONSULATE FAMILY'S HOME 
 
¶3. (SBU) During the week of 11-18 April another major spike in 
violence-related activities occurred. On April 11, a house next 
door to a Consulate family was raided by individuals in plain 
clothes, apparently from an undetermined agency and assisted by 
Hermosillo municipal police. Information acquired by ICE 
suggests that the home was the suspected holding location for 
money, drugs and, possibly, an arms cache. All available 
information suggests that none of these were found and that no 
arrests resulted from the raid. The Consulate checked with 
police regarding this incident, but no police agency has 
admitted involvement. 
 
MAJOR SHOOTOUT IN SHOPPING CENTER 
 
¶4. (U) On April 13, there was a shootout between two groups in 
the parking lot in front of the MM Cinemas, which is in the 
popular Soriana Shopping Center at the corner of Boulevard 
Encinas and Boulevard Solidaridad. This attack involved five 
vehicles, one armored. One had been hit more than 30 times. Five 
other vehicles belonging to movie-goers received collateral 
damaged. There were a total of over 300 rounds fired from AR15 
and AK47 assault weapons. The theater was evacuated as one of 
the suspects took cover within the theater. 
 
¶5. (SBU) DEA Hermosillo has developed information suggesting 
that this shootout involved two drug trafficking organizations 
(the Salazar-Zambrano and the Enriquez -Parra groups) vying for 
control of drug routes between the coast of the Gulf of 
California around Navojoa, Sonora and the U.S border. There is 
also speculation that a principal of one of the drug trafficking 
groups was the actual target of the attack. 
 
¶6. (SBU) According to the local newspaper El Imparcial, police 
recovered several firearms (including AK-47s) and one grenade 
from four vehicles that were involved in the incident. Also 
according to El Imparcial, five suspected participants were 
apprehended and later released. Sonora Governor Eduardo Bours 
said in a public statement that "it is possible that there were 
ex-agents of the state judicial police involved who left the 
service more than nine years ago." He rejected the idea that any 
current police officials were responsible.  He acknowledged that 
the public perception of general security was affected by these 
incidents, but promised to reinforce security measures to ensure 
community safety.  Post sources claim that detained suspects 
were indeed released and that, among them, one is a corrupted 
former chief of the anti-kidnapping unit of the state judicial 
police and nephew of a current PJGE deputy attorney general in 
Sonora.  They also claim that another former state judicial 
police commander was among the five. 
 
¶7. (U) Two people remain in custody in relation to this 
incident. One was caught at the scene carrying a weapon and 
reportedly was under the influence of drugs. The other is a taxi 
driver who claims that he unknowingly drove one of the 
assailants away from the scene. Upon inspecting his vehicle the 
following day, he discovered two grenades. According to reports, 
he voluntarily turned the ordinance over to police and was 
subsequently arrested for his efforts. The irony of this 
scenario has not been lost on the local media and this aspect of 
the incident has been the subject of several editorials and 
political cartoons.  Other taxi drivers staged a protest in 
Hermosillo over the unjust nature of this arrest. 
 
RANDOM KILLING OF POLICE OFFICER? 
 
¶8. (U) Also on April 14, two police officers were shot outside 
of a police station on Ortiz Tirado street. The police were 
fired at from a passing car. Seven 9mm rounds hit officer Victor 
Alonso Mora Acuna and one hit officer Ivan de Jesus Velarde 
 
HERMOSILLO 00000166  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
Ramirez. Officer Mora Acuna died at the scene and officer 
Velarde Ramirez, as of April 20, remains in intensive care. The 
shooting suspects were not captured and local police state that 
the motive for the shooting is unknown. 
 
¶9. (U) Finally, on April 18, the armed robbery of two customers 
outside of the Santander Bank branch on Colosio Boulevard, one 
of Hermosillo's main avenues, ended after a police chase and gun 
battle nearby.  One of the suspected robbers died from his 
injuries and the other was taken into custody. 
 
¶10. (SBU) Comment:  Local media are giving heavy play to the 
jump in violent incidents and calling for government action to 
restore public security.  They are handling the matter of the 
release of the suspects more gingerly, through satire and 
indirect comment.  Federal Investigation Agency (AFI) 
checkpoints have started to appear on some major thoroughfares 
in Hermosillo. 
 
¶11. (SBU) Virtually all these incidents of violence occurred in 
locations close to and/or frequented by Consulate personnel and 
their families, however, AMCITS or members of the Consulate 
community are not the target.  Nevertheless, Post is very 
concerned over the public nature of these shootings, during 
daylight hours, and in areas where Consulate personnel and their 
families may be conducting their daily activities.  DEA 
Hermosillo believes that the violence we have seen this year 
could continue to escalate as rival groups in the area compete 
for control of lucrative drug routes into the US.  The 
Hermosillo Emergency Action Committee (EAC) has met to discuss 
appropriate ways to sensitize the Consulate and wider American 
community to this danger.  End Comment. 
CLARKE