C05129814 IED U S Department of State Case No F-2012-26105 Doe No C05129814 Date 08 06 2012 UNCLASSIFIED RELEASED IN FULL CDS RAAUZJPYUW RUEHRSA0156 1051641-UUUU--RUZDTPW ZNR UUUUU ZOC STATE ZZH TOQ3599 RRRUEHC DTG 151639Z APR 11 FROM FM AMCONSUL MATAMOROS CONTROLS UNCLAS MATAMOROS 000156 DECONTROLLED SENSITIVE SIPDIS E O 13526 N A TAGS PGOV PREL ASEC SNAR KJUS MX CASC PHUM TillS IS A COMBINED MESSAGE BODY SUBJECT TAMAULIPAS' MASS GRAVES BODY COUNT REACHES 145 REF A 11 MATAMOROS 146 B 11 MATAMOROS 148 C 11 MATAMOROS 106 1 SBU SUMMARY SUMMING UP OFFICIAL SOURCES A TOTAL OF 36 GRA SITES CONTAINING 145 BODIES WERE DISCOVERED IN THE SAN FERNANDO DURING A MEXICAN MILITARY SEDENA OPERATION WillCH TOOK PLACE 1-14 APRIL 1-8 DISCOVERIES WERE REPORTED IN REFTEL S A AND B POST HAS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE APRIL 8 DISCOVERIES AS WEL ABOUT DISCOVERIES MADE APRIL 10 11 AND 12 POST HAS REPORTS OF AT LEAST TWO US CITIZENS KIDNAPPED FROM BUSES IN TillS AREA DURING T S PERIOD AND IS WORKING WITH AUTHORITIES TO VERIFY WHETHER THEY A AMONG THE VICTIMS SEVENTEEN 17 LOS ZETAS TRANSNATIONAL C AL ORGANIZATION TCO MEMBERS AND 16 MEMBERS OF THE SAN FERNANDO POLICE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE DEATHS THE MATAMO S FORENSICS OFFICE SEMEFO WAS OVERWHELMED AND OFFICIALS MOVED 05 BODIES TO FACILITIES IN THE MEXICO CITY AREA DESPITE WIDESPREAD KIDNAPPINGS TAMAULIPAS BUS COMPANIES HAVE MADE NO FORMAL CO TO OFFICIALS AND THE MAJORITY CONTINUES TO RUN ROUTES THROUGH FERNANDO AREA IT IS UNCERTAIN WHETHER STATE AND FEDERAL PRO FOR FURTHER SECURITY COOPERATION WILL YIELD CONCRETE RESULTS SUMMARY NEW NARCOFOSAS DISCOVERED 2 SBU AS A RESULT OF INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM TCO MEMBERS A KIDNAPPING VICTIMS REFTELS A AND B SEDENA FORCES DISCOVERED T REMAINS OF 145 PEOPLE IN 36 GRAVE SITES DURING OPERATIONS CONDUC REVIEW AUTHORITY Steve Blodgett Senior Revieweij UNCLASSIFIED page 63 __ UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2012-26105 Doe No C05129814 pate 08 06 2012 - co 512 9814 IED U S Department of State Case No F-2012-26105 Doc No C05129814 Date 08 06 2012 UNCLASSIFIED ' APRIL 1-14 NEAR THE TOWN OF SAN FERNANDO TAMAULIPAS OFFICIALS BELIEVE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE VICTIMS WERE KIDNAPPED OFF PUB IC BUSES IN THE SAN FERNANDO AREA BY THE LOS ZETAS TCO ONLY THREE VICTIMS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED THUS FAR AND OFFICIALS STATE THAT D A TESTING WILL BE NECESSARY TO IDENTIFY MANY OF THE VICTIMS POST I WORKING WITH OFFICIALS TO DETERMINE WHETHER ANY AMERICAN CIT ENS ARE AMONG THE DEAD THE SEARCH FOR NEW GRAVES WAS HALTED ON APRI 13 BUT OFFICIALS HAVE STATED THAT THEY INTEND TO CONTINUE SEARC FOR BODIES CID IMAGE001 PNG@0ICBFB52 61DICAAO TCO MEMBERS AND SAN FERNANDO POLICE ARRESTED 3 SBU SEVENTEEN 17 LOS ZETAS TCO MEMBERS AND 16 MEMBERS OF T E SAN FERNANDO POLICE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE EATHS THE ARREST OF 14 OF THE TCO MEMBERS WAS REPORTED INREFTEL B ON APRIL 10 SEDENA DETAINED TWO OTHER TCO-MEMBERS ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS ALL OF THE DETAINEES ARE LINKED WITH THE KIDNAPPING AN MURDER OF BUS PASSENGERS IN THE SAN FERNANDO AREA THE PRISONE S ARE NOW IN THE CUSTODY OF THE OFFICE OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS OF ORGANIZED CRIME SIEDO IN MEXICO CITY ATTORNEY GENERAL MORAL S HAS ALSO OFFERED REWARDS RANGING FROM 5 TO 15 MILLION PESOS APPROXIMATELY 425 000-1 3 MILLION USD FOR INFORMATIONLEADING T THE ARREST OF FOUR OTHER LOS ZETAS TCO MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN L D TO THE CRIME 4 SBU SIXTEEN 16 SAN FERNANDO POLICE OFFICERS WERE ARRESTED APRIL 13 THEY ARE BEING CHARGED WITH PROTECTING THE LOS ZETAS T 0 MEMBERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE KIDNAPPING AND MURDER OF BUS PASSE GERS IN THE SAN FERNANDO AREA NOTE SAN FERNANDO WITH A POPULATI N OF APPROXIMATELY 57 000 HAD 36 POLICE OFFICERS END NOTE BODIES MOVED 5 SBU ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS ON APRIL 13 THE FEDERAL ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE pGR WHICH IS IN CHARGE OF THE INVESTIGATION TRANSFERRED 76 OF THE BODIES TO THE FORENSICS CENT R SEMEFO IN MEXICO CITY AND 14 TO THE ONE IN NEIGHBORING TOLUCA OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE CONCERNING THE TRANSFER STATES THAT 70 BO S WERE MOVED BUT OFFICIAL SOURCES HAVE CONFIRMED THAT A TOTAL 0 105 BODIES LEFT MATAMOROS ON APRIL 13 THE REMAINING BODIES REMAIN MATAMOROS THOUGH OFFICIALS INDICATED THAT THE MORE DECOMPOS D BODIES MAYBE SENT TO TAMAULIPAS CAPITAL CIUDAD VICTORIA OFFICIALS SA THE BODIES ARE BEING MOVED BOTH TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BETTER EQ MENT AND FACILITIES IN THE D F AND TO FACILITATE INQUIRIES FOR FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE MISSING FROM GUANAJUATO AND MICHOACAN NOTE SPACE RESTRICTIONS MOST OF THE BODIES WERE BEING HELD IN A UNCLASSIFIED page 64 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2012-26105 Doc No C05129814 Date 08 06 2012 C05129814 IED U S Department of State Case No F-2012-261 05 DocNo C05129814 Date 08 06 2012 UNCLASSIFIED REFRIGERATED TRUCK OUTSIDE TIlE MATAMOROS MORGUE END NOTE START OF SECTION 2 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E O 13526 N A TAGS PGOV PREL ASEC SNAR KmS MX CASC PHUM SUBJECT TAMAULIPAS' MASS GRAVES BODY COUNT REACHES 145 SPEAKING OFF THE RECORD SOME OFFICIALS SAY THAT THE BODIES ARE EING SPLIT UP TO MAKE THE TOTAL NUMBER LESS OBVIOUS AND THUS LESS ALARMING FAMILIES FILE DENOUNCES 6 SBU THE MATAMOROS SEMEFO OFFICES WHERE ALL 145 BODIES WERE HELD UNTIL APRIL 13 HAVE BEEN CROWDED WITH FAMILY MEMBERS SEE INFORMATION SINCE THE DISCOVERY WAS PUBLICALLY ANNOUNCED AP OVER 350 PEOPLE HAVE COME TO THE OFFICES TO SEEK INFORMATION OR A FORMAL MISSING PERSONS REPORT DENUNCIA THE SAN FERNANDO DISCOVERIES HAVE DRAWN OUT MANY FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAD PRE AVOIDED FILING OFFICIAL REPORTS DUE TO FEAR OR TCO THREATS ACCORDING TO STATE OFFICIALS THE LACK OF FORMAL COMPLAINTS BEF THE DISCOVERY OF THE MASS GRAVES PREVENTED AN OFFICIAL STATE INVESTIGATION OF PROBLEMS SUSPECTED IN THE SAN FERNANDO AREA GUSTAVO RODRIGUEZ VEGA BISHOP OF NUEVO LAREDO WHOSE DIOCESE THE FRONTERA CRICA SAID ON APRIL 13 THAT FEDERAL STATE AND LOC AUTHORITIES HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES OF EVIL FOR THEY HAVE ALWAYS HAD KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE EVENTS THAT OCCUR KNOW WHY THEY ACT SO SURPRISED ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING DAIL STATE THEY KNEW THEN AND KNOW NOW THE SITUATION IN THE STATE CONSULATE GENERAL NUEVO LAREDO CONTRIBUTED TO THIS PARAGRAP BUS TRAVEL MANY DISAPPEARANCES FEW COMPLAINTS 7 SBU NONE OF TAMAULIPAS BUS COMPANIES HAS FILED AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT ABOUT TCO ATTACKS ON BUSES OR PASSENGERS DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE KIDNAPPING OF BUS PASSENGERS HAS BEEN A WIDESPREAD NOW WIDELY PUBLICIZED PHENOMENON ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS AUTHORIT S HAVE ONLY RECEIVED TWO UNOFFICIAL REPORTS OF KIDNAPPINGS FROM LIC BUSES THOSE OF THE TWO MASS KIDNAPPINGS ON MARCH 24 REFTEL B THOUGH AUTHORITIES PRIVATELY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT KIDNAPPINGS THE REGIONAL NEWSPAPER EL NORTE REPORTS THAT NINE BUSES HAVB DISAPPEARED FROM THE SAN FERNANDO AREA IN RECENT MONTHS ACCO TO A REPORTER THAT NUMBER WAS COMPILED FROM REPORTS FILED BY F MEMBERS OF MISSING PASSENGERS 8 SBU SOME BUS COMPANIES HAVB CHANGED ROUTES AND SCHEDULES AVOID NIGHTTIME TRAVEL THROUGH SAN FERNANDO OR TO AVOID THE UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2012-26105 Doc No C05129814 page 65 pate 08 06 2012 co 512 9814 IED U S Department of State Case No F-2012-26105 Doc No C05129814 Date 08 06 2012 UNCLASSIFIED ALTOGETHER MOST HOWEVER STILL OFFER-AT LEAST SOME ROUTES WH CH GO THROUGH THE SAN FERNANDO AREA ACCORDING TO COMPANY PERSO EL OF THE FIVE BUS LINES THAT HAD MATAMOROS-CIUDAD VICTORIA BUS ROUT S WHICH PASSED THROUGH SAN FERNANDO TWO OMNIBUS AND ETN ARE 0 LONGER OFFERING THOSE ROUTES AND ONE SENDA TRANSPORTES DEL N RTE LINE IS ONLY RUNNING ONE DAYTIME TRIP THE REMAINING TWO TRANSPAIS AND GRUPO ESTRELLA BLANCA ORIENTE AND FUTURA LINES ARE RUNNING THEIR NORMAL SCHEDULES INCLUDING TRIPS AFTER DARK COMMENT 9 SBU TAMAULIPAS OFFICIALS APPEAR TO BE TRYING TO DOWNPLAY B TH THE SAN FERNANDO DISCOVERIES AND THE STATES RESPONSIBILITY FOR HEM EVEN THOUGH A RECENT TRIP TO CIUDAD VICTORIA REVEALED STATE OFF CIALS FULLY COGNIZANT OF THE HAZARDS OF HIGHWAY TRAVEL IN THIS AREA FTEL C STATE OFFICIALS PROMISE TO WORK WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMEN BUT ARE QUICK TO POINT OUT THAT THE TCOS ARE A FEDERAL PROBLEM AND HAT THE STATE DOES NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DEAL WITH THEM THE TRANSFER OF 105 BODIES FROM THE OVERCROWDED UNDERSTAFFED MAT OROS MORGUE TO THE D F IS UNDERSTANDABLE FROM A PRACTICAL POINT OF V EW BUT WILL ALSO HELP TO LESSEN THE VISIBILITY OF THE TRAGEDY IN TAMAULIPAS ITSELF STATE OFFICIALS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMP TOURISM FOR THE UPCOMING HOLY WEEK VACATION PERIOD AND ARE ADVERTISING SPECIAL PLANS FOR HIGHWAY SECURITY FEDERAL OFFIC ARE ALSO PROMISING INCREASED COOPERATION AND SUPPORT SIMILAR PROMISES WERE MADE FOLLOWING THE DISCOVERY OF THE 72 MURDERED MIGRANTS IN AUGUST 2010 HOWEVER WITH FEW CONCRETE RESULTS WI HOUT A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN MILITARY RESOURCES IT IS UNLIKELY THAT E SAFETY OF TAMAULIPAS HIGHWAYS CAN BE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED BARKIN ADMIN BT #0156 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED page 66 UNCLASSIFIED U S Department of State Case No F-2012-26105 Doc No C05129814 Date 08 06 2012 _ This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu