Foreign Military Advisers Trained Cartel In San Luis Potosí

Two active military troops, a Ukrainian and a Colombian, were arrested in the municipal capital of Santa María del Río by elements of the Investigative Police, yesterday afternoon. At the time of their arrest, they admitted to being advisers in military tactics and intelligence to members of a criminal cell of a cartel from the west of the country.

Police sources close to the case informed this media that last Wednesday the 18th, around 5:40 p.m., elements of the Rural Zone of the Investigative Police (PDI) who were carrying out an operation to detect suspicious vehicles or those reported stolen were circulating on Primo Feliciano Velázquez Avenue in the Linda Vista neighborhood saw a white Toyota Hilux pickup truck with a UCD license plate number, whose occupants, upon seeing the patrol, sped away from the agents.

Upon catching up with them, their plates were checked, the results showed that the pickup truck was stolen. In addition, the vehicle had also been used in the commission of a violent crime in the municipality of Villa de Zaragoza. The PDI elements also found 19 caltrops and various military insignias.

When the occupants of the vehicle were asked to identify themselves, they said they were Shamil “N” aged 39, originally from Ukraine, an active member of the Armed Forces of that country. And John Alexander “N” aged 26, originally from Colombia, who said he was also an active member of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Both claimed they belonged to the French Foreign Legion. Also arrested was Jesús “N” aged 21, originally from the State of Mexico, who claimed to be in the area to provide military and intelligence training to members of an organized crime cartel. 

The detainees threatened the PDI elements to be released, but they weren’t intimidated and continued with the detention protocol. The suspects said they understood the Spanish language well and refused to have translators. All three detainees were placed at the disposal of the State Attorney General’s Office for the crime of vehicle theft and the carrying of caltrops. 

Sources: Pulso, San Luis Hoy