Fusion Centers Combat Threats from Terrorist and Criminal Networks

In Arizona, after determining the subjects of an international terrorism case were involved in local criminal activity, the case was referred to local law enforcement. In New Mexico, several individuals linked to FBI investigations-including an MS-13 gang member-were identified. In Tennessee, we developed-with our partners-a formal process for collecting, sharing, and analyzing suspicious activity reports, looking for trends and patterns. Read more

Drug Cartels New Weapons Pushes Mexico Towards Edge

It was a brazen assault, not just because it targeted the city’s police station, but for the choice of weapon: grenades.

The Feb. 21 attack on police headquarters in coastal Zihuatanejo, which injured four people, fit a disturbing trend of Mexico’s drug wars. Traffickers have escalated their arms race, acquiring military-grade weapons, including hand grenades, grenade launchers, armor-piercing munitions and antitank rockets with firepower far beyond the assault rifles and pistols that have dominated their arsenals.

Most of these weapons are being smuggled from Central American countries or by sea, eluding U.S. and Mexican monitors who are focused on the smuggling of semiauto- matic and conventional weapons purchased from dealers in the U.S. border states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.

The proliferation of heavier armaments points to a menacing new stage in the Mexican government’s 2-year-old war against drug organizations, which are evolving into a more militarized force prepared to take on Mexican army troops, deployed by the thousands, as well as to attack each other.

These groups appear to be taking advantage of a robust global black market and porous borders, especially between Mexico and Guatemala. Some of the weapons are left over from the wars that the United States helped fight in Central America, U.S. officials said.

“There is an arms race between the cartels,” said Alberto Islas, a security consultant who advises the Mexican government.

“One group gets rocket-propelled grenades, the other has to have them.”

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Woman Arrested in Arizona On Terrorism Charges

A New Mexico woman has been arrested on terrorism charges after police say she rammed her truck into a fuel tanker and tried to ignite it.

A woman was arrested on terrorism charges in Williams Thursday after police say she rammed her truck into a fuel tanker and tried to blow up the fuel storage tanks.

According to information from the Williams Police Department, officers responded to a Circle K gas station on the 200 block of West Route 66 on a call that a woman had rammed her truck into the tanker. The driver of the tanker had been unloading fuel at the time. Officers and the fuel truck driver wrestled the woman to the ground before she could ignite the fuel storage tanks through the open hatch with a cigarette and a lighter.

Before the incident, the woman had threatened customers and clerks to blow up the business and threatened to kill President Barack Obama.

Staff at the Circle K declined to comment on the incident. The driver of the tanker also declined to comment.

Sheri A. Zulpo, 30, Edgewood, N.M., was booked into the Coconino County jail on charges of terrorism, attempted first-degree murder and endangerment. Possible federal charges may also be filed.

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Man Arrested In Suspicious Powder Mailings

A man apparently upset about losing more than $60,000 when the government took over a failed bank has been arrested on charges alleging he mailed threatening letters containing suspicious powder to banks and federal offices, authorities said Tuesday.

Richard Leon Goyette, who also goes by the name Michael Jurek, was arrested Monday at the Albuquerque airport and is scheduled to make a preliminary court appearance later today. He is charged with a single count of knowingly and intentionally conveying false and misleading information.

The letters, mailed to Chase Bank branches, FDIC offices and the Office of Thrift Supervision, contained white powder and threats warning that whoever opened the letters would die within 10 days, reports CBS News correspondent Bob Orr. Field tests on the letters proved the powder to be non-hazardous.

“Mr. Goyette’s alleged criminal actions caused emergency responders and hazardous response teams immense unnecessary labor and expense, diverted personnel from actual emergencies, completely disrupted business at these financial institutions, and caused untold emotional distress to those who received letters,” said James T. Jacks, acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.

Goyette is accused of mailing 65 threatening letters in October to financial institutions and federal regulatory offices in 12 states. Sixty-four of the letters contained an unidentified white powder. Officials said Tuesday that the powder was calcium carbonate, a major component of blackboard chalk.

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