This has been happening in Western Mexico as far back as 1974.  In the
winter of that year Rolling Stone had an article about fake cops that
would accost young people camping on the beach south of Mazatlan.  Lo
and behold, a couple months later four of us travelled down there in my
66 camper and when we drove to the beach through the head high brush a
quarter mile from the road, we were there only an hour before a rust
bucket 50s era chevy squeaked its way to us.  Three guys got out, one of
which was big and armed with the biggest pistol I'd every seen.  Part of
the story in Rolling Stone was these guys would plant a film cannister
of pot while searching the victims car, find it, demand all their money,
except for enough gas money to get back to the US oddly enough.

One of them had a film cannister in his hand and we crowded him while he
went through our stuff.  He didn't find any pot (couldn't plant it), and
left in a bad mood.  We were scared **itless.  We decided to spend the
night in town and shortened our stay in that part of the country.

Jeff Olson
Martin, SD

Peter T. Owsianowski wrote:
> Maybe the media is pumping this story up a little?
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