[HT Voting Female -considers it may be a hoax]
There have been conflicting reports about an alleged takeover of 2 ranches in Laredo, TX by the Los Zetas drug cartel. Nothing can be confirmed by a major news outlet.
The Hispanic News Network has traced the origins of the story that may be found here. They gave determined it is a hoax. One of the prime supporters of the story is featured below as our first blogger with a so-called inside scoop. From the [Examiner]:
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.
The approximate location of the U.S. ranches are10 miles northwest of I-35 off Mines Road and Minerales Annex Road. Just off 1472 (Mines road) near Santa Isabel Creek north of the city of Laredo, Texas.
The Los Zetas drug cartel is an offshoot of the elite Mexican military trained in special ops. The mercenary organization is said to include members of corrupt Mexican Federales, politicians as well as drug traffickers. The group was once part of the Gulf cartel, but has since splintered and now directly competes with the Gulf cartel for premium drug smuggling routes in the Texas region.
The new leader of Los Zetas is Heriberto “El Lazca” Lazcano and is considered the most violent paramilitary group in Mexico by the DEA.
Another site that has been following this story has also been in contact with the Laredo Police and considers the story is a hoax. But it also says the way the Federal government has been behaving over this and other matters relative to homeland security lends credulity to such stories.
I contacted both the Laredo Police Department and the Webb County Sheriff yesterday and debunked claims that Los Zetas gunmen from the Gulf Cartel has crossed the border from Mexico and took over two ranches in Texas. The Laredo Morning News also refuted the claim. Pro 8 News, the NBC affiliate, didn’t think enough of the absurdity to even comment on it… they found the installation of a new traffic light more newsworthy.
Absurdly, the same trio of sites that cried wolf are still sticking by their story, utter lack of credible evidence aside.
Cypress News publisher John G. Winder is sticking with the story, not because any additional evidence has been produced, but because the two sources for his version of the story, blog Digger’s Realm and Examiner.com’s San Diego (CA) County Political Buzz Examiner blogger Kimberly Dvorak are standing by their militiamen and anonymous police sources. [Confederate Yankee]
One blogger claims the AP reported on a fierce gun battle over the border from Laredo on Friday night. [ZTruth] Stay tuned. Bloggers are tireless searchers for the truth. Only a few of us have fallen victim to hoaxes.
Only one thing is certain. It is unsafe in many us border towns and the border is still pretty porous.
“Go back to your lives, citizens. Show’s over.”
©On My Watch…the writings of SamHenry. Registration Pending.
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ON MY WATCH - the writings of SamHenry 
roxannadanna
July 25, 2010
I guess this story bears watching, at least. Nothing that happens on the border would surprise me though. Those particular iMexicans are evil and as cruel as any Middle Eastern terrorists.
samhenry
July 25, 2010
Where there is smoke there is usually more smoke but in this case as one report I read said, they way the President is NOT handling the border situation makes this story plausible. That is just a damn shame. We are weak and the world knows it. Oh, well, we will stick together and get people of competence elected this fall.
samhenry
July 25, 2010
PS Roxi – Middle Eastern terrorists are working with the cartels and helping to train them.
DarcsFalcon
July 26, 2010
I was just reading about this but now I can’t recall if it was American Thinker or Moonbattery. Their feeling was the same, that it was probably a hoax, and that Obama’s current policy was lending credibility to stories like this.
If it is a hoax, well shame on the hoaxers I guess. If it’s not a hoax, we’re in trouble. Either way, I’m saying a prayer.
samhenry
July 26, 2010
I think the people in the border towns can use prayers. They must live in complete fear. With one rancher already killed on his own land, this hoax was too real in ways that made it credible. There was a huge gun battle in the town just across the border in Mexico and residents of Laredo could hear it.