Narco tank
A narco tank (also called rhino truck, or [monstruo] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help), Error: {{language with name/for}}: missing language tag or language name (help)[1]) is an improvised fighting vehicle made from a civilian truck with improvised vehicle armour, which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities. They are used by the drug cartels and other gangs in the Mexican Drug War.[2][3][4][5] They are often modified semitrucks, SUVs, or other large vehicles not intended for such a purpose. They come equipped with varying levels of protection and attack capability, but even smaller narco tanks are plated with two inches of steel. About twenty such armored trucks have been seized in Tamaulipas state alone, four of which were later destroyed.[6] Recently, armor has been installed on the interior rather than outside the vehicle to draw away suspicion from rival drug cartels and the Mexican government. On May 22, 2011, one such "tank" was seized in Jalisco.[7]
In 2015, Mexican authorities found a narco tank factory in Nuevo Laredo that had eight vehicles in it, which were in the process of having armor plates with gun holes added to them.[8] Some narco tanks have improvised battering rams on the front to break through roadblocks.[9]
See also
References
- ^ Johnson, Tim. "Mexican drug gangs building own tanks as war intensifies". McClatchy DC. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Mexico police seize 'narco-tank' used by drug gang". BBC News. May 21, 2010. Archived from the original on May 22, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "'Narco tank' is latest find in cartels' armored vehicles". The Los Angeles Times. May 25, 2011. Archived from the original on May 28, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
{{cite news}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; June 30, 2009 suggested (help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Mexico soldiers find narco 'tank' factory". Yahoo! News. AFP. June 6, 2011. Archived from the original on June 12, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Mexican Cartels Moving Drugs in Armored Vehicles". Fox News. January 18, 2012. Archived from the original on January 19, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Mexican army destroys drug cartel 'narco-tanks'". BBC News. June 6, 2011. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Mexico police seize 'narco-tank' used by drug gang". BBC News. May 22, 2011. Archived from the original on May 22, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Jeremy Bender. "Mexican authorities discovered a 'narco tank' factory near the US border". Business Insider Australia.
- ^ "Most amazing narco tanks - Business Insider". Business Insider. 19 February 2015.
External links
- Narco tanks found by the Mexican authorities
- Earlier version of a narco tank
- Los "monstruos" del narco
- Tanks Encyclopedia provides an excellent look into Narco Tanks
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