Drug traffickers killed in shootout near US-Mexico border

Publish date: 2024-06-02

Two top drug traffickers have been killed in pre-dawn shootouts Saturday with federal forces in the northern Mexico border state of Tamaulipas, authorities reported.

The Tamaulipas security spokesman's office said the men were killed in separate confrontations, which left highways littered with burned-out vehicles.

Julian Loisa Salinas, better known as 'Comandante Toro' and also known as Juan Manuel Loisa Salinas, was killed in a clash with marines in Reynosa, a city across the border from McAllen, Texas.

Alleged drug trafficker Julian Loisa Salinas was fatally shot by police Saturday in the northern Mexico border state of Tamaulipas Alleged drug trafficker Francisco 'Pancho' Carreon was fatally shot by police Saturday in the northern Mexico border state of Tamaulipas

Alleged drug traffickers Julian Loisa Salinas (L) and Francisco 'Pancho' Carreon (R) were fatally shot by police Saturday in different clashes in the northern Mexico border state of Tamaulipas

Loisa Salinas reportedly was the Gulf cartel's local leader in Reynosa. Authorities had tried to capture him a number of times, leading to gunbattles with his gang. In early April, two US citizens were reported wounded in one such gunfight.

On Saturday, photos showed burned-out cars, trucks and buses littering streets in Reynosa. State authorities said his supporters had set fires and tried to block roads in an unsuccessful effort to help him escape.

Luis Alberto Rodriguez, the state security spokesman, said there were a total of 32 highway and street blockades, 11 of which were erected using burning vehicles. Such vehicles are usually hijacked from their owners by armed men and then set on fire.

Nine businesses were burned and 18 vacant lots were set on fire.

Salinas's supporters reportedly set fires (pictured) and tried to block roads to help him escape 

Salinas's supporters reportedly set fires (pictured) and tried to block roads to help him escape 

Cars were torched in Reynosa, Mexico, on April 17 in reaction to a drug cartel leader's arrest

Cars were torched in Reynosa, Mexico, on April 17 in reaction to a drug cartel leader's arrest

There were a total of 32 highway and street blockades, 11 of which were erected using burning vehicles, said state security spokesman Luis Alberto Rodriguez 

There were a total of 32 highway and street blockades, 11 of which were erected using burning vehicles, said state security spokesman Luis Alberto Rodriguez 

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Also Saturday, the local leader for the rival Zetas cartel in Tamaulipas' capital, Ciudad Victoria, was killed in a similar shootout farther south. He was tentatively identified as Francisco 'Pancho' Carreon.

The two were believed to be behind much of the recent violence in Tamaulipas.  

America renewed warnings against unnecessary travel to certain parts of Mexico because of gang violence. 

US citizens have been the victims of violent crimes, including homicide, kidnapping, carjacking and robbery in various Mexican states.

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