The Americas Post » Witness Protection

Mexico signed extradition agreement with Italy and antimafia collaboration.

Carbonero — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 17:58:54 +0000

Mexico and Italy signed agreement on security issues.

Mexico City.- Marisela Morales Ibáñez , attorney general of Mexico, signed an extradition treaty with Italy and a Treaty on Criminal Legal Assistance to fight against organized crime.

The mexican Attorney Gral also held a meeting with the Italian Anti Mafia Director Mr. Piero Grasso. Both parts will collaborate in technical asssistance on Organized Crime, illegal drug trafficking and Witness Program.

The mexican official said that organized crime is a phenomenon of our times that do not recognize borders, and its combat requires international cooperation. Hence the importance of expanding and improving international legal instruments, like the agreements with Italy.

The Minister of Justice of Italy, Francesco Nitto Palma, welcomed the new treaties since, he said, is a top priority of the Italian Government to combat crime, so that international coordination is essential to share experiences and improve processes .

The Mexican official explained that it is precisely the spirit of the Palermo Convention of 2000, which Italy and Mexico are signatories, which inspired the new criminal laws against organized crime in Mexico.

This is the most extensive legal reform in nearly a century. Strengthening the rule of law, the guarantee of the presumption of innocence, respect for human rights and effective protection of people and goods, are the main objectives of this reform, said the Attorney’s Office.

In a press conference in the Italian Ministry of Justice, the Attorney General’s Office of Mexico stressed that the signed Extradition Treaty is a tool that allows mexicans to close the spaces to criminal activities. “With this Extradition Treaty, we may use electronic means to act in real time and accelerate the delivery of justice,” she added.

Money laundering and drug trafficking in small scale, are crimes that are expected, which may occur more often initially, hence the importance of being prepared to act efficiently and promptly.

About the Criminal Legal Assistance Treaty, the Attorney Gral said that it binds both procedural systems to efficiently research, seizures, searches and testimony of witnesses, among others. It provides the possibility of forming a solid barrier between the two countries to address transnational organized crime.

Today it is possible to carry out investigations in which the distances have shortened with the use of new technologies. One example is the use of videoconferencing in cross-examination of witnesses, cross-examination, sufficiency of expert evidence and judicial processes that accelerate results, while protecting the victims.

These treaties are also, said Marisela Morales, a clear and strong message to criminal organizations all over the world that Italy and Mexico are firmly resolved to close their space of action.

Armored VIP Passenger Vehicles

Carbonero — Mon, 24 May 2010 14:10:08 +0000

Full armored Presidential State Car of the United States. Also known as Cadillac One

A civilian armored car is a security vehicle which made by replacing the windows of a standard vehicle (typically a limousine or SUV) with bulletproof glass and inserting layers of

armor plate into the body panels. Unlike a military armored car, which has armor plate mounted on the outside of the vehicle, a civilian armoured car looks no different from a standard vehicle.

Design

Civilian armored cars are either (in only a few cases) factory produced, such as the Audi A6 and A8, Lincoln Town Car BPS, the Hyundai Equus, the BMW High Security series, or (in the majority of cases) retrofitted versions of series cars. A security vehicle is made by replacing the windows with bulletproof glass and inserting layers of armor plate under the outer skin of the car, a labor-intensive process that takes a few weeks and costs over $100,000 USD. The makers usually leave the external appearance of the car unchanged, in order to not look conspicuous. In most cases materials like Aramid (e.g. Twaron), HMPE (e.g. Dyneema), composites or ballistic stainless steel plates are used, and the increased mass is offset by a more powerful engine and brakes and stronger shock absorbers.

Besides the armor itself, many other protective modifications are available: automatic fire extinguishers, run-flat tires, an explosion-resistant fuel tank, remote starting of the car, pressure and temperature control of the tires, a siren or alarm, and an intercom between the exterior and interior of the car, and a PA system, so that the bodyguards inside the car can communicate via a megaphone to individuals outside the car. Sometimes the inside can be sealed or over-pressured, using its own air supply, to protect against poison gas or tear gas attacks. Civilian armored cars may have obvious armor protection, or they may be totally indistinguishable from an unarmored model. There are also armored variants of smaller cars, such as the VW Golf, to further conceal their function and capabilities. Large SUVs such as Suburbans are sometimes used as armored vehicles.

Usage

Armored cars may be provided by governments for elected officials and senior officials who are at risk. In higher-risk areas including Iraq and Afghanistan, even regular officials and public servants may be protected with armoured vehicles. Diplomatic missions and private military contractors typically use armored cars as standard vehicles. As a side benefit, armored cars give occupants added protection from intrusion during a car accident. Due to the substantial weight of an armoured car, drivers of these vehicles typically have specialized training in tactical driving. This training is provided by bodyguard schools and by police and military units (e.g., the US Secret Service).

Gulf Cartel and Zetas are going down: Jailed Mexican Drug Kingpin cooperate with U.S.

Carbonero — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:02:49 +0000

Osiel Cardenas-Guillen

In a court in Houston, Osiel Cárdenas Guillén, the mexican head of the Gulf Cartel and also related to the narco-gang Zetas, was sentenced this week to 25 years in prison during a highly secretive hearing here that was closed to the public. After his extradition, he has been cooperating with prosecutors. The drug kingpin pleaded guilty to five counts in a lengthy indictment, including drug dealing, money laundering and the attempted murder and assault of federal agents. He also forfeited $50 million in assets. Read more here.