Mexican Border Residents Wary of Giving Anonymous Info Over Cartels Fears

A Mexican marine participates in a joint patrol with army, ministerial policemen and relat
FILE PHOTO: YURI CORTEZ/AFP/Getty Images

Breitbart Texas traveled to the Mexican States of Tamaulipas and Coahuila to recruit citizen journalists willing to risk their lives and expose the cartels silencing their communities.  The writers would face certain death at the hands of the various cartels that operate in those areas including the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas if a pseudonym were not used. Breitbart Texas’ Cartel Chronicles are published in both English and in their original Spanish. This article was written by “J.A. Espinoza,” from Matamoros

MATAMOROS, Tamaulipas — Military authorities are looking to increase the participation of border residents in providing anonymous tips targeting organized crime. The fear of reprisal by criminals and the decrease of trust due to the rampant corruption throughout the country presents a large obstacle for authorities.

Amid the increase in cartel violence along the border, authorities have once again sought one of the easiest and most effective tools — anonymous tips — to fight organized crime.

Emeterio Velazquez Vazquez,  the Brigadier General of the troops in Matamoros recently spoke with Breitbart Texas where he pointed out the importance of calling in tips in order to face off against criminal activity that remains in this border region.

“We’re looking for the public to come forward, that is why were are making public phone numbers and safe electronic mails accounts so they can provide information,” Velazquez Vazquez said.

With the ongoing situation, it is necessary for the public to help in the fight against organized crime, due to the limitations of the federal forces, the general explained.

Recently Breitbart Texas reported the detention of various military officers from the border city of Reynosa. While most of the information in the case has not been released, the detentions were tied to the alleged corruption of some officers who may have been collaborating with organized crime.

Cases like these present difficulties when trying to make the case for increasing anonymous tips because of the weariness they cause among the people of this city where the fighting between cartel members and authorities appears to have no end.

Federal authorities acknowledge that the public is also a victim of organized crime and as such they are pushing for them to come forward and help them by providing information in a safe manner.

Hoping for citizens to come forward, military authorities released various phone numbers and email accounts that give border residents a new way of contacting military personnel.

In Matamoros citizens can call 0186880002 for the downtown military installation, or they can call the 8th Motorized Cavalry Regiment at 01868680009. Additionally citizens can send emails to denuncia.gmmatamoros@mail.sedena.gob.mx to the downtown military installation, or to the cavalry regiment at 8rcm@sedena.gob.mx.

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