By “El Huaso” for Borderland Beat
Tamaulipas state authorities announced they have destroyed 14 captured Improvised Armored Fighting Vehicles (IAFVs), or “narco tanks”, seized in operations against organized crime groups in the state.
On June 19, the Attorney Generals Office (FGR) released a video and photos on their Twitter account of the destruction, which happened in the FGR compound in Reynosa, Tamaulipas.
Since 2018, 630 armored vehicles were captured by Mexican authorities from organized crime groups across Mexico, revealed an Army press release in July 2022. Usually, about 80% of armored vehicles seized in Mexico are professionally armored, while the remaining 20%, like those shown here, are “homemade” in clandestine workshops. The highest number of these vehicles were found in Tamaulipas state with 231, just about a third of the nationwide total.
Narco tanks, also known as “narco blindajes” or “monstruos” are Improvised Armored Fighting Vehicles (IAFVs) intended to act as moveable cover when engaging in combat. They are constructed in clandestine workshops, where large trucks, often stolen, are stripped and fitted with metal plates to offer protection in gun fights. The most common automobiles forming the base for these narco tanks are large 4×4 trucks.
According to the Mexican military, narco tanks are “not very maneuverable in urban areas or on soft or sandy ground”, due to the large metal panels that are often welded on the vehicles frame for protection. This added weight makes them incredibly heavy, but does provide some protection from small arms fire.
Aside from their advantages in a gunfight, narco tanks are important tools for intimidation. They are frequently shown off in photos and videos by cartel members.
According to Héctor Romero Sánchez, a security sector representative interviewed by Foro TV, organized crime groups have started to kidnap technicians and mechanics to up armor their vehicles in clandestine workshops.
Sources: Comunicado FGR 319/23, Small Wars Journal Tactical Note #3, Milenio, Borderland Beat Archives
You can follow me on Twitter @HuasoBB.
I tweet about organized crime in Latin America and security in Mexico.