Border cooperation credited in conviction

By JEREMY ROEBUCK/The Monitor

January 27, 2008 - 1:56AM

McALLEN — His family calls him “El Sapo,” the frog — a reference to his wide face and downturned mouth.

His former police colleagues dubbed him “El Puma Uno” for his aggressive pursuit of Tamaulipas’ most wanted criminals.

But in the federal prison system he will be known officially by one name only — Carlos Landi­n-Martinez.

On Wednesday, a jury found the 52-year-old former police commander guilty on drug trafficking, conspiracy and money laundering charges, stemming from his actions as one of the Gulf Cartel’s top bosses.

Federal authorities describe the verdict as one of the most significant drug convictions in the past several years — but one that never would have happened without the cooperation of law enforcement on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.