A new banner threatening the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and allegedly signed by members of the Juárez cartel appeared Tuesday morning in Juárez.

"Take care because the real war has begun," said the "narco manta," which was removed by authorities after they found the message in an empty lot on Camino a Ortiz Rubio Street, on the city's east side.

The banner was signed by an individual who identified himself as "El Gato" and claimed to be the new leader of the Juárez cartel's enforcement arm La Línea.

On July 15, the U.S. Consulate issued an emergency alert cautioning U.S. citizens about recent threats against U.S. officials and possible drug-cartel attacks to U.S. ports of entry, the consulate and the public in general.
"That was after the first set of 'narco mantas,' " U.S. Consulate spokeswoman Olga Bashbush said. "Those emergency messages for U.S. citizens don't have an expiration date, are still valid and cover the new threats."
On July 27, two banners found in Chihuahua City and Juárez signed by La Línea's former leader, José Antonio "El Diego" Acosta, threatened DEA and U.S. Consulate employees with death or dismemberment if they did not stop meddling.

Two days later, Acosta was arrested in Chihuahua City by federal authorities. Acosta took responsibility for the "narco mantas" in a recent confession.

Security analysts believe direct threats or actions against U.S. officials in Mexico are not in the best interest of criminal
organizations. According to a global intelligence company, Stratfor, such provocations risk U.S. involvement in investigations and operations in Mexico. 
 
"It is also important to recognize that in the past couple of years, when the United States has become heavily interested in attacks linked to the Mexican cartels, the cartel figures believed to be responsible for these actions have been arrested or killed," wrote Scott Stewart, Stratfor's vice president of tactical intelligence.

Alejandro Martínez-Cabrera may be reached at a.martinez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6129.