In southern California there has been significant cooperation between the drug cartels and the gangs there,” said Matthew J. Desarno, acting unit chief of the Safe Streets and Gang Unit at Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters.”We believe that the gangs in Texas are following that (southern California) model to establish links with the cartels to expand their own business operations … Gang members will do what is profitable,” he told Reuters by phone.In other small border towns such as Douglas in Arizona, hardened gangs from Los Angeles are carving out turf as part of a scramble to make money from the tons of illegal drugs pouring north from Mexico each month.NO HONOR AMONG THIEVESInvestigators and police say cross-border links between the cartels and gangs face one obstacle more formidable than the Rio Grande River: trust.The cartels will deal with the U.S gangs on some levels but there are clear lines in the sand. Business stays in the family.”The gangs are a resource for them but not their primary resource. I’ve been working this for 37 years and the Mexican drug dealer is a very parochial individual.

He will rather deal with a family member than someone just entering the business,” said Sheriff Trevino.The FBI’s Desarno says for example that the Mexican drug lords would not entrust an American gang with the task of bringing large quantities of cash — the profits of their trade — back to Mexico.But there are worrying signs of cross-border cooperation.A live hand grenade traced back to a Mexican cartel stash was tossed onto the pool table of a bar frequented by off-duty police officers in January in the Hidalgo town of Pharr. The pin was left in it apparently by mistake so it did not go off.”That grenade shows there is some sort of association between one of our local gangs and the Mexican cartels,” said Sheriff Trevino — though he said the extent remained unclear.One thing that is also clear is that the cartels are running a lot of drugs up through this neck of Texas.At the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Annex building in the town of Edinburg roughly 4,000 pounds of seized marijuana and other drugs lie stacked in tight bundles. They represent hauls from several different operations and seizures and would have a street price of millions of dollars.”All of this is from Mexico,” said Sargeant Aaron Moreno, the head of the gang enforcement unit, as he pointed to the bundles which emitted a heavy and pungent odor.(Editing by Cynthia Osterman) U.S. Lifestyle Mexico. As the last shot rimmed out and the clock reached triple zeroes, you couldn’t help but be a bit defeated, because well, the Lakers did defeat the Jazz and oust them for the playoffs.Before that last shot, there was something I took away from the game that made it a little bit easier to sleep; the almost, so close but yet so far, comeback. If there is one thing a Jerry Sloan-coached team is known for, it is the fact that they fight The Jazz faced the best team in the NBA and put up a fight.

Thanks for the great year, guys, but now comes theoffseason and the look ahead.Before I jump into what the Jazz have to address thisoff-season, I want to take some time and comment on the situation with the fans of Utah. By a fan’s estimation, I am a recent member of the Church of Sloan, and just joined the Jazz fan base, mainly due to Deron Williams, who is formerly of the University of Illinois.I don’t know much Jazz history, but I have always admired Jerry Sloan since he was a Bull. A lot has been said about the Jazz fans and the way they act at the games, and honestly a lot of those negative things deserve warrant.I am downright disgusted at the horrid things said to Derek Fisher, especially that resorting to his daughter, and also the treatment of the Lakers’ players. I really turned away at what I heard last year from the Golden State players about the racist comments they were treated to, because it wasn’t really brought forward much like the recent ordeals with the Lakers and Fisher.I feel that this must be dealt with and must be done by Jazz personnel. I, like all Jazz fans, felt a dagger every time Derek Fisher lit up the scoreboard, but as upset as I would get, I would remind myself he is doing what he is supposed to, and his time with the Jazz was appreciated.I always recall Game 5 against Golden State, and am thankful for the contributions he made.