GANG ROUNDUP: PRESSURE MUST BE KEPT ON AZTECAS

Law-enforcement personnel in El Paso netted 54 Barrio Azteca members
and associates in a sweep last week.

Now the question is whether any good information can be extracted from
those arrested concerning the recent deaths in Juarez of three people
linked to the U.S. Consulate in that city.

Barrio Azteca members are logical suspects in the murders because,
according to Mexican authorities, Aztecas do the killings for the
Juarez drug cartel. Even if they weren't directly involved, it's a
good bet they know who did the killings.

The operation also should serve as a warning -- if one were needed --
that Barrio Azteca is a target and cannot rest easy. Taking down 54
members and associates isn't going to break up the gang by any means,
but at least it's an inconvenience.

And those 54 who were arrested ... how much information have they
given authorities by now, and how much more will they divulge? That
has to be a concern for other Aztecas.

Keeping the Aztecas off balance is important to both sides of the
border. Aztecas are said to be the biggest gang in the El Paso region.
Eduardo "Tablas" Ravelo, who reportedly runs the Azteca operations in
Juarez, is on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list. Keeping after Aztecas
obviously is vital for security on both sides of the border.

Killings in Juarez are occurring at an accelerated rate over last
year. That's one reason it's important to keep the pressure on Barrio
Azteca as part of the overall strategy to quell border violence.