The long running war between powerful Mexican drug cartels and the Mexican government rages on, the argument that the cartels are better armed than the police and army seems to be valid with the latest development in the fighting. That development is the emergence of the so-called “narco-tank”, which are homebuilt armored vehicles being built by the cartels to fight each other and the authorities. 

So far, two of these machines have been seized by the Mexican government, the first, called “El Monstruo” was a fairly crude truck that was ultimately done in because the area around the tires was not armored. That truck was able to hold more than 10 men and get down the road at nearly 70mph. It had gun slots and all the other hallmarks of an armored personnel carrier. We’re not sure what type of chassis it was based on.

The most recent capture is a more advanced truck, based on a current Ford truck chassis, (we’re guessing an F-450) that looks far more refined than the Monstruo. This truck could haul 20 men, had bulletproof windows, lots of armored plating and the nefarious designers remembered to encase the tires in steel this time.

Apparently, there are a bunch of these roaming the countryside of Mexico, up to no good. Trucks like these were cool when the A-Team built them, when the bad guys build them, not so much.

Thanks to Robert Martin for the tip! 

(Link: Narcotanks seized by Mexican authorities)