Narco tank explained

A narco tank, also called rhino trucks or, is a type of improvised fighting vehicle used by drug cartels.^[1] The vehicles are primarily civilian trucks with improvised vehicle armour, which adds operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities when fighting law enforcement or rivals during drug trafficking activities.

Mexico

In Mexico, narco tanks have been extensively manufactured and operated by drug cartels and other gangs involved in the Mexican Drug War.^{[2] [3] [4] [5]} They are often modified semi-trucks, dump trucks, pickup trucks, or other large vehicles not intended for such a purpose, and come equipped with varying levels of protection and attack capability. Mexican authorities have seized about twenty such armored trucks in the state of Tamaulipas alone, four of which were later destroyed.^[6] Cartels also began to build narco tanks with the armor 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 vehicle belonging to the Sinaloa Cartel was seized in the state of Jalisco. On May 25, that same year, One narco tank was destroyed in a clash between the Sinaloa cartel and the Los Zetas known as the Battle of Ruíz.^[7] In 2015, Mexican authorities found a narco tank factory in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas that had eight vehicles in it, which were in the process of having armor plates with firing ports added to them.^[8] Some narco tanks are equipped with improvised battering rams on the front to break through roadblocks.^[9] Narco Tanks were notably used in the Battle of Culiacán.^{[10] [11]} Five narco tanks were destroyed in the Battle of Doctor Coss between 13 March and 14 March 2021.^{[12] [13]}

See also

• Illegal drug trade
• Los Zetas, drug cartel believed to be responsible for most narco-tanks
• Mexican Drug War
• Narco sub
• Technical (vehicle)
• Killdozer (Bulldozer)
• Armored tornado research vehicle
  • SRV Dominator
  • Tornado Intercept Vehicle

Further reading

• Bunker. Robert J.. Ramirez. Byron. Robert J. Bunker. Narco Armor. March 2013. 19 October 2017. Improvised Armored Fighting Vehicles in Mexico. Foreign Military Studies Office (FMSO). https://web.archive.org/web/20140812123236/http://fmso.leavenworth.army.mil/Collaboration/international/Mexico/Narco-Armor.pdf. 12 August 2014. dead.

External links

• [//www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQc61D_nq5k Narco tanks found by the Mexican authorities]
• [//www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtGoHtYL2LU Earlier version of a narco tank]
• Los "monstruos" del narco
• Tanks Encyclopedia provides an excellent look into Narco Tanks

Notes and References

1. News: McClatchy DC. Tim. Johnson. Mexican drug gangs building own tanks as war intensifies. June 7, 2011. June 7, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110607111652/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/06/06/115327/mexican-drug-gangs-building-own.html.
2. News: Mexico police seize 'narco-tank' used by drug gang. BBC News. May 21, 2010. June 7, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110522112420/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13488620. May 22, 2011. live.
3. News: The Los Angeles Times. 'Narco tank' is latest find in cartels' armored vehicles. May 25, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/laplaza/2011/05/narco-tank-vehicles-cartels-drug-war-mexico.html. June 30, 2009. live. June 7, 2011.
4. News: Mexico soldiers find narco 'tank' factory. Yahoo! News. June 6, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110612112125/http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110606/wl_afp/mexicocrimedrugweapons. June 12, 2011. live. June 7, 2011. AFP.
5. News: January 18, 2012. Fox News. Mexican Cartels Moving Drugs in Armored Vehicles. June 7, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120119210304/http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2012/01/18/mexican-cartels-moving-drugs-in-armored-vehicles/. January 19, 2012. dead.
6. News: June 6, 2011. Mexican army destroys drug cartel 'narco-tanks'. BBC News. April 4, 2014. June 7, 2011. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20110607112643/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13676259.
7. Web site: UCDP - Uppsala Conflict Data Program. 2022-06-23. ucdp.uu.se.
8. Web site: Mexican authorities discovered a 'narco tank' factory near the US border. Jeremy Bender. Business Insider Australia. 18 February 2015.
9. Web site: Most amazing narco tanks - Business Insider. 19 February 2015. Business Insider.
10. Web site: Cartel "Narco Tanks," Heavy Weapons on Full Display During Battle over el Chapo's Son . 18 October 2019 .
11. Web site: ARES team . Weapons used by Sinaloa Cartel sicarios in Culiacán, Mexico . The Hoplite . Armament Research Services . 18 October 2019 . 19 July 2020 . 19 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200719183539/https://armamentresearch.com/weapons-used-by-cartel-sicarios-in-culiacan-mexico/ . live .
12. Web site: UCDP - Uppsala Conflict Data Program. 2022-06-10. ucdp.uu.se.
13. Web site: CDN vs CDG: Six Scorched Monstruos, Two Killed in Dr Coss, Nuevo León .