Capesize bulker Enterprise Star departs the port of Lazaro Cardenas in August 2013, image via Port of Lazaro Cardenas
MEXICO CITY, March 3 (Reuters) – Mexico seized more than 119,000 tonnes of minerals suspected of being part of illegal export operations in a port where a powerful drug gang allegedly has been shipping iron to China, the government said on Monday.
More than 400 federal agents, police and military personnel raided 11 sites around the Pacific port of Lazaro Cardenas in the state of Michoacan, and troops seized minerals without proper documentation, Alfredo Castillo, the federal government commissioner in the state, said in a statement.
The Mexican Navy took over the port in November to combat an illegal iron ore exporting business to China allegedly run by The Knights Templar drug cartel.
Six Chinese citizens were detained in the raid and 124 heavy machines such as bulldozers were seized, Castillo said, adding that the government was carrying out tests to determine what mine the minerals came from.
Michoacan has been shaken by conflict between The Knights Templar and heavily armed vigilantes. The bloody feud has become one of President Enrique Pena Nieto’s biggest security problems.
The state is Mexico’s top producer of iron ore, and the port has drawn Chinese traders who ship steel to their homeland.
The Knights Templar already had broadened out from the drug trade to extortion, and security experts have said they are hoping to expand their revenue base with more legitimate-looking businesses. (Reporting by Michael O’Boyle; Editing by Ken Wills)
SINGAPORE, April 24 (Reuters) – Demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) to power ships will rise this year on attractive prices, while more dual-fuel vessels join the global fleet, industry executives said....
ROME (Reuters) – An Italian judge on Friday cleared three migrant sea rescue charities that had been accused of abetting irregular immigration in complicity with human traffickers, throwing out a case opened...
(Bloomberg) — The closure of one of the East Coast’s busiest ports after the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge has so far not led to broad price increases,...
April 19, 2024
Total Views: 2194
Why Join the gCaptain Club?
Access exclusive insights, engage in vibrant discussions, and gain perspectives from our CEO.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.