Time to do a report on a war theater where heavily armored vehicles shoot it out with each other in city streets: Mexico.
(You were thinking Ukraine? Probably an update on that next week.)
Cartel violence waxes and wanes, and regular readers know that the cartels are heavily armed. Even so, it may come as a shock to many that Mexican drug cartels have their own “tanks” (AKA “Monstruo”), i.e. up-armored civilian vehicles more accurately described as technicals or armored cars.
Mexican police recently captured one in Jalisco.
Mexico’s Guardia Nacional in Jalisco have captured a homemade ‘narco tank’ thought to be used by one of the country’s most powerful drug cartels.
The officials shared the news to Twitter after it was found in the area of Jalisco on 12 April.
According to the Mexican police, the vehicle was harbouring 2,000 rounds of ammunition.
In Texas, we call that “a good start.”
The heavy metal plated vehicle is thought to be owned by the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion [CJNG], who operate in the area, as reported by The Star.
Painted green to blend in with surroundings, the tank is heavily armoured, with protective metal casing around the driver’s sider.
Publication Borderland Beat noted that the tank was discovered while being transported inside of a trailer.
The trailer limitation is probably why it seems unusually narrow.
En #Jalisco, la #GuardiaNacional aseguró un vehículo con blindaje artesanal y alrededor de dos mil cartuchos útiles que fueron localizados al interior de un tractocamión, como resultado de los recorridos para inhibir hechos delictivos en el municipio de Jamay. pic.twitter.com/jLgKnf5eqh
— Guardia Nacional (@GN_MEXICO_) April 13, 2022
Here’s a video covering various captured cartel narco tanks (though the voice-over isn’t the best).
Here’s a shorter video from several years ago showing various monstruos, mainly from the 2010-2011 timeframe.
This video shows still more footage, including (about 1:50 in) modern CJNG vehicles that not only look more professionally constructed, but have red-blue flashing lights and a cartel logo on the side, which does rather suggest they’re not trying to keep a low profile. Also includes combat footage of CJNG blowing away Northeast Cartel (CDN) rivals through their own gunholes.
Here’s a tweet that shows video of two other captured Nueva Generacion vehicles in 2019:
"Elements of the Mexican Army, seized several armored vehicles in a workshop allegedly used by members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The events took place in the municipality of Tuxpan, in the state of Jalisco."
A behemoth of a 'narco tank' pic.twitter.com/auzhR6aMXh
— 𝙙00𝙙 (@just_some_d00d) December 21, 2019
And here’s one with a handy diagram:
For context:
The "Narco tank" or monstruo (Monster) is an improvised fighting vehicle used by drug cartels. pic.twitter.com/aFjeKCoLnK— 🔞Cj comms open 1/6 slots (@ShiijeiKun) February 21, 2022
Some enterprising hobby company could probably sell models of these things…
Tags: Crime, drug war, Foreign Policy, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacon, Military, New Generation drug cartel, Northeast Cartel, Tamaulipas, tanks, United Cartels, video
Coming soon!
Girls und Panzer: Narcos!
Yukari: The Nueva Generacion Monstruo is lining up for an attack!
Miho: Their improvised armor is no match for our 75mm cannon! Load a HEAT round!
Next Episode: We Are Having A Drug War
Send in the marines. No, literally, send in the marines and put a dent in the fentanyl and human trafficking.
I’d think it would be easy for a cartel to buy / restore armored wheeled vehicles (Armored Cars, or an Infantry Fighting Vehicles).
Even one from WWII would have better armor and a heavier weapon than what we see here. Modern variants such as Russia’s BMP-2 generally have turrets with 20mm or larger rapid-firing autocannons.
You’d think they just pick up a few MRAPs in Afghanistan.