Tag: Gangland

Mexican Mayor Assasinated One Day After Taking Office

  
Via ABC News– The mayor of a city south of Mexico’s capital was shot to death on Saturday, less than a day after taking office.

Gunmen opened fire on Mayor Gisela Mota at her house in the city of Temixco, said the government of Morelos state, where Temixco is located. Two presumed assailants were killed and three others detained following a pursuit, said Morelos security commissioner Jesus Alberto Capella. He said the suspects fired on federal police and soldiers from a vehicle.

On his Twitter account, Morelos Gov. Graco Ramirez attributed Mota’s killing to organized crime, without citing a particular drug cartel or gang. Cartels seeking to control communities and towns have often targeted local officials and mayors in Mexico.

Mota’s leftist Democratic Revolution Party released a statement describing her as “a strong and brave woman who on taking office as mayor, declared that her fight against crime would be frontal and direct.”

Temixco is a city of about 100,000 people neighboring Cuernavaca, a resort and industrial city which has been suffering kidnappings and extortion linked to organized crime groups. Though Cuernavaca is the capital of Morelos, Temixco is the seat of several state institutions including the Public Security Commission, which coordinates state and local police forces. Morelos also neighbors drug cartel-plagued Guerrero state.

Mota, who had been a federal congresswoman, was sworn into office on New Year’s Day. She was killed the following day.

Morelos Gov. Ramirez vowed there “would be no impunity” in her killing and promised that state officials would not cede to what he described as a “challenge from criminals.”

Federal and state forces are deployed in Cuernavaca and municipalities near the Guerrero state border in what is called operation “Delta.”

Capella did not provide more details about the attack on Mota, but said that when the suspects were detained, authorities found a 9-millimeter gun, an Uzi, ski masks and an SUV with Mexico State license plates.

Morelos Attorney General Javier Perez Duron said the detained suspects have been tied to other crimes, but declined to provide more details.

Tivoli Enquiry: Bishop Testifies Dudus Coke Was Unarmed When They Met

 

Bishop Herro Blair has testified that drug kingpin Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke was unarmed when they met at his Tivoli Gardens office in May 2010.

When asked how he knew that, the popular elicited laughter at the west Kingston commission of enquiry when he replied: “because of the way I greeted him”.

“You patted (searched) him?” asked chairman of the commission Sir David Simmons.

Blair replied laughing, while demonstrating to the commission how he ran both hands down the drug kingpin’s back.

l said to him ‘can I give you a hug?’

Blair testified that on his way to meet with Coke that day he passed more than 50 men openly carrying handguns.

Jamaican Druglord ‘Dudus’ Coke Refuses To Attend Tivoli Enquiry 

  

Via Jamaica Observer– Efforts by Public Defender Arlene Harrison Henry to have former Tivoli Gardens don Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke testify in the Tivoli Enquiry have hit a brick wall.

Queen’s Counsel Lord Gifford told the enquiry on Monday that the public defender made an attempt, through Coke’s attorney in the United States, to have him return to the island and give evidence but Coke said that he wasn’t interested in participating. 

Former Public Defender Earl Witter had recommended in his interim report that the enquiry hear from Coke.

Coke in serving a 20-year sentence in the US after being extradited in June 2010 to face drugs and gunrunning charges. 

He pleaded guilty to reduced charges.

The enquiry is looking into the deaths of 73 people resulting from the police-military operation to apprehend Coke in May 2010.