A Senior Security Consultant’s Comments On The Need For And Selection Of Armored Vehicles Based On The Current Security Situation In Mexico

Tom Cseh, Deputy Director, Vance International Mexico, an Andrews International company, and Senior Consultant

Overview

Today’s steadily increasing level of threat and violence against innocent civilians in the on-going war between the Mexican Federal Government and several rival narcotics cartels, also known as “organized crime,” and the latter’s intensifying internecine conflict, has caused many of our clients to urgently reassess the security measures they have in place for their expatriate and local national executives and managers. One particular area of concern is the type of armored vehicles suitable for senior staff. The following examines armored vehicles and the requirements clients often have to protect senior managers in Mexico, accompanied by tips on the kinds of vehicles and types of armoring that should be considered.

Necessity

Deciding who among your company’s senior executive staff in Mexico should be entitled to an armored vehicle can often be a highly controversial subject, especially in terms of benefits provided to equally-ranking executives and the overall cost and maintenance of such vehicles. While we do not wish to intrude on individual company policies regarding benefits for senior management, we can offer some general guidelines pertaining to armored vehicles based on our experience.

Guidelines for armored vehicle eligibility:

1. Any senior executive living in and/or working in the northern Mexican Border States with the U.S. This includes Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Sonora and Tamaulipas.
2. Any senior executive living in and/or working in high crime states in the interior of Mexico. This includes Durango, Guerrero, Michoacan, Morelos and Sinaloa. While the Federal District (Mexico City) and the State of Mexico might also be considered, it is suggested that armored vehicles for senior executives in these jurisdictions be considered on a case-by-case basis, evaluating where executives reside and whether or not they have previously been the victim of extortion, kidnapping or other threats.
3. Any company’s senior executive who has already received a warning of violence from a verifiable and/or credible kidnap or extortion threat anywhere in Mexico.
4. Any senior executive in Mexico who has been the victim of an extortion or kidnap.
5. Any senior executive in Mexico whose company already has a policy of providing armored vehicles for its senior executives.

Levels of Protection and Types of Vehicles

The best level of protection recommended for Mexico City, the surrounding municipalities of the State of Mexico and any other large metropolitan area in Mexico -such as Guadalajara, Cuernavaca, Veracruz and Puebla - is National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Level IIIA. This protects against most handguns, automatic and semiautomatic weapons up to and including 9mm caliber.

NIJ Level III protection is recommended for other Mexican cities, including Tijuana, Mexicali, Nogales, Hermosillo, Nuevo Laredo, Ciudad Juarez, Monterrey and Reynosa. The same holds true for most rural areas of Mexico, especially in the states of Coahuila, Durango, Guerrero (including the city of Acapulco), Michoacan and Sinaloa. In these locations, organized crime and freelance criminals openly operate and attack innocent civilians at random, with the police, military and rivals within the drug trade targeted with murderous intent. NIJ Level III protects against military-type weapons up to and including AK-47s and M-16s.

These levels of protection “guarantee” non-penetration of up to three rounds from designated weaponry falling within a circle, square or triangle surface area with a circumference of 122mm. However, if a vehicle does not move while under attack, and more than three bullets hit the same approximate area within a circumference of 122mm, there will probably be penetration inside the vehicle and injury or death to occupants.

It is strongly recommended that operators of armored vehicles undergo a two-day course on surveillance detection and defensive/evasive driving with vehicular impact. This will prepare operators in a “preventive way” to deal with any kind of mobile or static attack while driving. This same training aids immensely in accident prevention as well.

Purchasing an Armored Vehicle

While we cannot recommend a specific armoring company because of liability issues, through our experience in Mexico, we have identified a number of vendors we feel are particularly qualified. We welcome the opportunity to provide clients with private consultations in this matter.

Clients procuring their own vehicle for armoring through automotive retail dealerships should be aware that most armoring companies offer wholesale purchase prices. With this in mind, we advise comparing vehicle pricing through the armoring company against those quoted on the open market.

When Selecting a Vehicle for Armoring

Colors to avoid: White, red, yellow, black, dark blue. White is a favorite color vehicle to steal because it’s easy to cover the original paint. Red and yellow are too attention-getting and might be considered “attractive nuisances” that invite theft or robbery. Black and dark blue should be avoided because these vehicles are often preferred and used by organized crime and freelance criminals.

Makes and Models to Avoid: Chevy Suburban, GMC Denali, Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, Cadillac Escalade, Toyota Land Cruiser, BMW X5 and Nissan Pathfinder. These vehicles are favorite targets for carjackings, especially in rural parts of the country and along the northern border with the U.S. In the latter areas, large pick-up trucks of any make and model should also be avoided.

Another consideration is the original manufacturer’s warranty on the vehicle. Most car manufacturers will invalidate the warranty if the basic vehicle has been altered in any way, which can include an armoring package. Therefore, if you purchase your vehicle through an armoring company, make sure (in writing) that the manufacturer’s original warranty remains valid.

It is not recommended to buy a used armored vehicle, no matter what the seller, including dealerships, guarantees about its condition. Most armoring company warranties on vehicles do not extend beyond 3 years, some not more than one to two years. Read the “fine print!”

Most armoring companies in Mexico promise delivery of a vehicle within 5 to 8 weeks, depending upon the type and level of armoring. Although not an entirely fool-proof remedy in preventing fraud or faulty workmanship, someone from your security, purchasing or administrative staff should schedule at least a once-a-week visit to get a briefing on the actual status of your vehicle’s armoring. They should also be allowed at any time to look at the reconstruction of the interior of the vehicle and take photographs and notes as necessary.

About the contributor:

Tom Cseh, Deputy Director, Vance International Mexico, an Andrews International company, and Senior Consultant, has given numerous defensive/evasive drivers training courses in Mexico and other countries. A former Special Agent with the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Cseh has more than 30 years experience in counterterrorism, counterintelligence and criminal investigations at all levels of operation, not only in the United States but in Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. From 1988 to 1998 and 2004 to 2006, he was responsible for the entire physical security for U.S. Embassies in Honduras (twice), Panama and Guatemala. Since 1998, Cseh has been a certified Defensive/Evasive Drivers Training Instructor (International Training, Inc., Dilley, Texas and West Point, Virginia). He has conducted courses for more than 2,800 executives, their families and security teams. From 1998 to 2001, Cseh was affiliated with O’Gara-Hess & Eisenhardt Armoring Company de Mexico (now Centigon) as chief instructor for defensive/evasive drivers training for owners and operators of armored vehicles.