by the El Reportero’s wire services
A tunnel used for transferring drugs from Mexico to the United States has been found near the International Airport of Tijuana, Baja California, the Ministry of State Security confirmed today.
The drug tunnel, located near La Hielera del Aeropuerto company, was found early yesterday.
According to local media, the ice factory was surrounded by preventive state police agents and soldiers, as several packages of drugs were detected inside.
Tijuana is the most populous town in the Mexican state of Baja California, bordering San Diego County (California, United States) to the north and is considered the westernmost city in Latin America.
In Jalisco, army soldiers found a drug lab in El Rodeo delegation, in the Ixtlahuacan de Los Membrillos municipality.
Mexico: López Obrador proposes free zone instead of wall
The leader of the National Regeneration Movement (Morena, in Spanish) and former Mexican presidential candidate, Manuel Lopez Obrador, has proposed creating a free zone on the border with the United States, it emerged today.
Obrador made the proposal in response to Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for the White House, who has promised to isolate Mexico with a border wall.
According to Obrador, the development of the border zone with the United States is fundamental to stopping migration and combatting illegal activities.
He announced a ‘comprehensive plan’ for the border, which includes tax cuts as well as standardized and competitive fuel and electricity prices, among other measures.
‘The vision would be to convince and persuade the authorities of the neighboring nation that for the sake of both countries is more effective and humane to implement a development policy rather than insisting on giving priority to police and military affairs,’ he said during a visit to the USA.
‘The migratory flow will not be stopped by building walls, carrying out raids and deporting or militarizing the border’, said the potential presidential candidate for the elections in 2018.
Costa Rica receives donation of 2 aircrafts from China
President of Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo Solis, received today two aircraft donated by China to be used in the fight against organized crime, drug trafficking, humanitarian and emergency actions.
The planes, type Y12E of two engines, can accommodate up to 17 people and can also carry cargo and carry out patrols and maritime surveillance, as explained in the ceremony to receive the devices, attended by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs Manuel Gonzalez and of Public Security Gustavo Mata.
The president pointed out his government’s decision to strengthen the fight against organized crime and to ensure humanitarian and emergency response actions in this Central American country.
Crews and mechanics to operate the aircraft have received a six-week training in China, who will shortly prepare other members of Air Surveillance.
Panama: 350 gang members arrested in 2016
A report of the Panamanian Prosecution Ministry revealed that more than 350 persons were arrested linked to different gangs, as a result of 15 police operations this year.
According to the prosecutor specialized in organized crime, Nathaniel Murgas, offenses like sale and distribution of drugs, robbery, extortion and kidnappings are included.
Murgas said many of the gang members are hired by organized crime groups or leaders.
He said the actions carried out by the gangs, increased in the provinces of Colon and Chiriqui, but it was gradually being reduced after the operations started.
By applying a resocializing program called BARRIOS SEGUROS (Safe Neighborhhods) Murgas stated that most of the gang members reach a condition and eventually return to society, others get registered, receive economic benefits (200 dollars a month) but they eventually return to crriminal activities.
