A chilling message from the cartels: Billboards with hanging mannequins warning cops to choose ‘silver over lead’ appear in Texas

Scary: A mannequin wearing a suit and tie was seen hanging from a noose from the El Paso billboardThe Daily Mail – by MEGHAN KENEALLY

Two frightening incidents of vandalism in El Paso near the Mexican border in Texas have been interpreted as warnings from drug cartels.

In both instances, a mannequin wearing a suit and tie was tied to a billboard with a noose and messages were scrawled over the placards.

Local station KHOU reports that one of the signs reads ‘Plata o Plombo’ which translates to ‘silver or lead’, a threat used commonly against police officers effectively warning that if they do not accept the cartel’s bribes then they will be shot.  

Threat: The translation of the painted vandalism means 'silver or lead' which is meant to mean that police officers and business owners should either accept bribes or expect gunshots

Threat: The translation of the painted vandalism means ‘silver or lead’ which is meant to mean that police officers and business owners should either accept bribes or expect gunshots

Scary: A mannequin wearing a suit and tie was seen hanging from a noose from the El Paso billboard

Scary: A mannequin wearing a suit and tie was seen hanging from a noose from the El Paso billboard

‘This symbol has historically been used by Mexican drug cartels to threaten or intimidate Mexican citizens, business owners and government officials; however, we have never experienced this in El Paso,’ local police said in a press release about the vandalism.

The fear now for many is that the ‘warnings’ shows that the drug cartels- which have not been identified by name- are willing to bring the violence from Mexican border towns into Texas.

‘Maybe the problems in Juarez are coming over here,’ El Paso resident Javier Padilla told KHOU.

Mr Padilla and his wife Maria Ramos know the terror of drug cartels on a personal level after two relatives were murdered in the area of Juarez in 2009.

Second incident: The second message was written over an existing Drug Enforcement Agency billboard calling for the capture of drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero

Second incident: The second message was written over an existing Drug Enforcement Agency billboard calling for the capture of drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero

The second instance of vandalism had a more obtuse warning, but the theme ran through since the message was written on an existing Drug Enforcement Agency billboard.

The message was different this time, as the paint read: ‘Dying for drugs’ was written over a wanted poster calling for the capture of drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero.

This second mannequin was dressed in jeans rather than the suit and tie from the other instance.

The mannequins were a particularly jarring image for many familiar with the drug war, as some of the most violent drug lords south of the border regularly hang offenders off highway overpasses.

While a warning from drug lords seems like one of the most likely prospects, KHOU reports that prosecutors have another theory that the vandalism also could have been caused by activist groups working against the war on drugs.

Police investigate hanging mannequins and mysterious messages on border billboards vandalized in El Paso. view full article

  • Border residents fear message on mysterious billboards
  • Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2637789/Threatening-cartel-billboards-warning-police-choose-silver-lead-come-complete-hanging-mannequins-appearing-Texas.html#ixzz32aBcgl00
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    4 thoughts on “A chilling message from the cartels: Billboards with hanging mannequins warning cops to choose ‘silver over lead’ appear in Texas

    1. No need to secure the borders, of course.

      How much do they need to worry, the cops are too busy roughing up & shoting the citizenry to be concerned with criminals.

    2. End the lost war on drugs,starve the drug/police/court/prison cartels.Take say 5% of the money wasted and for those who want it have treatment available as non junkies can actually be productive for their families and communities,those that want to die,let it be cheap so they do not deal/steal ect. for their habits and we do not waste taxpayer monies keeping em imprisoned.I feel bad for those who are addicted and want help but am not willing to die to feed their habits,let em die cheaply if that is their desire .

    3. But…but…I thought El Paso was one of the safest cities in America, so saith Democratic Florida Rep. Joe Garcia:

      ““Let me give you an example, the kind of money we’ve poured in,” he said. “So the most dangerous — sorry, the safest city in America is El Paso, Texas. It happens to be across the border from the most dangerous city in the Americas, which is Juarez. Right?”

      “And two of the safest cities in America, two of them are on the border with Mexico,” Garcia continued. “And of course, the reason is we’ve proved that Communism works. If you give everybody a good government job, there’s no crime.””

      http://www.fromthetrenchesworldreport.com/dem-congressman-weve-proved-that-communism-works/89098

      Unfrigginbelievable.

    4. “‘Maybe the problems in Juarez are coming over here,’ El Paso resident Javier Padilla told KHOU.”

      Gee…ya think!

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