Wannabe Cartel Hit Squad Included Former U.S. Soldiers

A DEA sting operation targeting a cell of would-be cartel assassins ended in a violent warehouse showdown over the weekend. Among their ranks: one active-duty Army soldier, and one former G.I.

According to a criminal complaint released yesterday in federal court (.pdf), the showdown occured around 12:30 p.m. Saturday as armed federal agents closed in on the group, who had just arrived at a warehouse in the border city of Laredo, Texas; traveling from Colorado Springs and the nearby Fort Carson military base. They believed they were meeting with members of the Zetas — in reality, undercover DEA agents. The assumed plan: Receive instructions before raiding a ranch holding 20 kilos of stolen cartel cocaine, and then killing the (phony) cocaine thief.

[link to www.wired.com]