Cartels attempt to 'discredit' Mexican army with Narco Banners

The Ministry of Defense of Mexico (Sedena) said today that several "criminals and criminal organizations" of the country seek to "discredit" to the Mexican military, accusing them of having links to drug trafficking.

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In a public statement, the Commander of the Ninth Military Zone Sedena announced a number of narco banners were located in different towns in the state of Sinaloa, where soldiers were accused of being allegedly connected with drug cartels.

The cartels are seeking to "inhibit and prevent continued anti-narcotics actions by troops that have dealt heavy blows to criminal activities and thereby discredit the Armed members of the Institute as well as confuse and cause uncertainty within the population and the authorities," the agency said in the note.

The commander of the Ninth Military Zone has not "received any complaints against any actions" of troops deployed in Sinaloa, where Sinaloa cartel, led by drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, one of the men country's most wanted, operates almost exclusively.

So far in 2010, the Mexican soldiers have seized in Sinaloa 1073 kilos of marijuana, 587 kilos of cocaine, 381 grams of the synthetic drug known as "crystal", 120 guns, 3027 rounds, 111 porters, 26 vehicles, 12 homes and 1435 kilos of chemical precursors.

They have also arrested 20 people and destroyed a clandestine airstrip.

These results demonstrate the "righteousness and integrity" of the Mexican soldiers "in the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime, acting in accordance to the law and always respecting human rights," said the military commander.

Finally, Sedena made a "kind invitation" to the Mexican people to "raise any and all complaints with the relevant authorities to clarify" any offense.