Gulf Cartel goes public on break-up with former allies Los Zetas

Written by DPA Tuesday, 09 March 2010 16:12

Mexico's Gulf Cartel publicly announced Tuesday its break with Los Zetas, which began as the cartel's armed wing in the 1990s.

Los Zetas, a gang formed by elite soldiers to work in the service of the Gulf Cartel, are now believed to be active not just in drug trafficking but also in kidnapping and extortions involving a large measure of violence. The gang has operated both with the cartel and independently.

The break-up was made public through street banners allegedly signed by the Gulf Cartel, which were displayed over footbridges in the Mexican city of Matamoros, on the US border.

"The Gulf Cartel distances itself from the Z. In our ranks we do not want kidnappers, terrorists, bank-robbers, rapists, child-killers and traitors," read the banners signed "Sincerely, CDG," for the cartel's Spanish initials.

Read more: Gulf Cartel goes public on break-up with former allies Los Zetas

UPDATE: 2 Tons of cocaine seized in Caribbean in multi-country operation

Written by EFE Tuesday, 09 March 2010 16:11

Colombian, U.S., Panamanian and Honduran authorities seized more than two tons of cocaine off Panama and Honduras, and arrested eight suspects, a high-level Colombian drug enforcement official said Tuesday.

The seizure was made during joint interdiction operations conducted by the United States, Panama and Colombia, acting drug enforcement agency director Col. Jose Angel Mendoza said.

The 2.3 tons of cocaine were found Monday afternoon aboard two speedboats on the high seas.

The simultaneous operations, which were carried out in the Atlantic and Pacific, resulted in the arrests of eight Hondurans and Colombians.

The first operation was undertaken in international waters off Honduras, ending with the seizure of a speedboat carrying 1.53 tons of cocaine.

Read more: UPDATE: 2 Tons of cocaine seized in Caribbean in multi-country operation

Cocaine use rise alarms advisers

Written by BBC Tuesday, 09 March 2010 12:38

Drug advisers are to review the effects of cocaine, amid concerns youngsters increasingly take it in the mistaken belief it is "relatively safe".

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs says the five-fold increase in the proportion of users since 1996 is "deeply concerning".

Its head, Prof Les Iversen, told Home Secretary Alan Johnson the drug should remain Class A and was "very harmful".

He took over as chairman after Mr Johnson sacked Professor David Nutt.

The cocaine review is one of the council's first new undertakings since Prof Iversen took over as chairman.

Read more: Cocaine use rise alarms advisers