Joint Operation Nuevo León-Tamaulipas is an anti-drug joint operation in two Mexican states of Tamaulipas and Nuevo León by Federal Police and the Mexican Armed Forces. The objective of the joint operation is to eliminate Los Zetas and Gulf Cartel operations in the area. So far, many cartel members have been either killed or arrested. Recently Los Zetas and the Gulf Cartel have broken relations and started fighting each other.
The arrest of Osiel Cárdenas
Osiel Cárdenas, leader of the Gulf Cartel at the time was captured by the Mexican Army in a battle between Gulf Cartel gunmen and the Army on March 14, 2003, in Matamoros. Though subsequently incarcerated at Penal del Altiplano (La Palma), México's top security prison, it was widely believed that he continued to have control over Gulf Cartel business from within prison walls.
2007
- On April 3, in Tampico, elements of Federal Police, Mexican Navy, and Attorney General of Mexico (PGR) seized many weapons.
- On April 12, for the first time in the state of Nuevo León, army soldiers confronted cartel gunmen while searching houses in the municipality of Marín. One gunman was reported killed and two were arrested.
- On December 7, In Cadereyta, Nuevo León, army troops fought a gunbattle against gunmen leaving one of them injured and three them in captivity. Two kidnapped civilians were freed.
2008
On January 7, In the city of Río Bravo, Tamaulipas, Federal Police forces spotted and began to pursuit a group of armed men. The pursuit came to a halt, the armed group began shooting at federal police officers, when Army and Federal Police reinforcements came to scene the gunmen sought cover in a building where the Military/Federal police confronted them killing 3 and arresting 10 of the armed group.
In the municipality of Miguel Alemán, Tamaulipas, on February 7, soldiers from the army's 1st Special Forces Battalion carrying out a recon mission spotted a suspect aboard a Grand Cherokee. When the suspect realized he was under surveillance he attempted to flee but was apprehended. Following the arrest the Special Forces team stormed a building arresting another four suspects and seizing nine tons of marijuana, 89 weapons plus a M1919 Browing machine gun.
On March 5, Army personnel from the 8th Military Zone acting on a tip given to the 15th Infantry Battalion arrested eight public officials that were receiving bribe money from undercover agents working for the Policia Ministerial (Ministerial Police). The public officials were subsequently handed over to the PGR's SIEDO.
On April 30, acting on an anonymous tip, Army personnel from the 1st Motorized Cavalry Regiment in the city of Ciudad Mier were fired upon by gunmen who fled. Subsequently, one cavalry soldier died while three others were injured and transported to the Regional Military Hospital in Monterrey.
2009
Gunbattle in Reynosa
A multiple-hour running gun battle between elements of the Army and unknown attackers (sicarios) resulted in five dead soldiers and 5 dead assailants in a shopping district and several residential neighborhoods of Reynosa, Tamaulipas. Approximately 20 additional people were injured by gunfire and grenades.
Televisa grenade attack
On January 7, gunmen fired on and threw grenades at the Televisa TV station in Monterrey during a nightly newscast, causing no injuries. A note left on the scene read: "Stop reporting just on us. Report on the narco's political leaders."
Confrontations
On April 1, in Tampico, Tamaulipas, three gunmen were killed while in a 10‑minute gunfight with army troops.
Arrest of major suspects
On April 10, a lawyer who defends members of the Gulf cartel and Los Zetas was arrested.
An ex-Special Forces soldier of the Guatemalan Army known as Kaibiles and assumed leader of the Oaxaca state chapter of Los Zetas Israel Nava Cortez a.k.a. "El Ostión" was killed in a shootout between Federal Police forces.
On April 30, Federal Police captured Gregorio Sauceda Gamboa, an influential figure in Los Zetas, in the city of Matamoros.
On May 22, the Secretariat of Defense reported that one of the main lieutenants of the Gulf Cartel —Raymundo Almanza Morales, a.k.a.: "El Gori"— had been arrested by troops in Monterrey, Nuevo León. "El Gori" is among the 37 most wanted drug traffickers in Mexico.
On August 17, in the municipality of San Nicolás de los Garza, a gunbattle between soldiers, police forces and a Los Zetas cell in that municipality left three soldiers injured, four members of Los Zetas dead and twelve captured. One of the four dead was apparently the cell's leader, Refugio Garza Pescador, a.k.a. "El Rambo". After the gunfight it was discovered that one of the Zeta members was the daughter of a Municipal Police chief of Apodaca. The woman was pregnant at the time. It is suspected that the father of the unborn child is Refugio Garza Pescador.
2010
Note: From February 8 to 18, Mexican Naval operations and events are listed below:
- February 8, – during a routine patrol in Reynosa, Marines received gunfire from inside several vehicles. Marines repelled the attack and captured three of the gunmen, 14 trucks, various assault rifles, ammunition, and 26 packages of marijuana. During the firefight three marines were killed and eight were injured. Three of the gunmen were also killed.
- February 11, – Matamoros, Tamaulipas, two individuals name Adolfo Vázquez Ortiz and José Alberto Ramírez Gaitán were arrested. The two men have been accused of being linked with organized crime and having a connection with a criminal group that was involved in the attack of marines on February 8, in Reynosa. Both men were sent to the federal authorities in Mexico City.
- February 12, – In Méndez, Tamaulipas, Marines raided the ranch of "El Culebreño". Naval personnel discovered and seized: 5 assault rifles, 2 pistols, ammunition, one package of marijuana, and 8 vehicles.
- February 15, – In Reynosa, Tamaulipas. Mexican Marines captured Treviño Cardoza “El Trevi” a known member of Los Zetas along with 6 accomplices. "El Trevi" is known for drug smuggling specifically marijuana. During the course of the operation marines received gunfire from the suspects and returned fire which led to his capture.
- February 18, – Near Reynosa, PEMEX personnel informed the Military that armed men were present in a PEMEX installation. A Naval helicopter was dispatched and spotted three suspicious vehicles. Marines disembarked the helicopter and were met with gunfire. Marines repelled the attack and captured 5 vehicles, inside them were packages of marijuana weighing 4,413 kilos. The gunmen managed to flee.
- On the same day, due to the success of air-sea patrols, and checkpoints in Valle Hermoso, Tamaulipas, four drug traffickers, 4 trucks, 2 assault rifles, 9 rifle magazines and 186 cartridges were seized.
Note: From March 4–5 Mexican Naval operations are listed below: