'Pipo,' Top Leader of Ecuadorian Gang Los Lobos and Linked to CJNG, Arrested in Spain

“Sol Prendido”for Borderland Beat 

Wilmer Chavarría became Ecuador's most wanted criminal after the recapture of drug trafficker José Adolfo Macías Villamar, alias 'Fito.'

Wilmer Chavarría, alias Pipo, the top leader of Los Lobos, currently Ecuador's largest and most powerful criminal gang, was arrested this Sunday in Spain. He had become the most wanted criminal in the Andean country following the recapture of drug trafficker José Adolfo Macías Villamar, alias Fito, the main leader of Los Choneros, according to an announcement by the Ecuadorian government.

In a message posted on social media, President Daniel Noboa indicated that Pipo was captured in a joint operation between the Ecuadorian and Spanish police forces. Rumors had circulated in recent years that the leader of Los Lobos was directing the criminal organization's operations from Spain.

Pipo's arrest took place on the day of the referendum in Ecuador.

Noboa didn’t specify that the arrest had been made in Spain, a fact later confirmed by Interior Minister John Reimberg.

The Ecuadorian president announced the capture at the same time as the opening of the electoral process in Ecuador for the referendum he had called. The referendum was to decide, among other things, whether to establish a Constituent Assembly to combat organized crime with a "tougher hand," as well as to create more flexibility for investment and job creation.

"Today we captured Pipo Chavarría, the most wanted criminal in the region and top leader of Los Lobos. The criminal who faked his death, changed his identity and hid in Europe while ordering murders in Ecuador, controlling illegal mining operations and moving drug routes alongside the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG)," Noboa said.

"Some presumed him dead; we searched for him in his own personal hell. That's the difference when there's a will to fight for your country. I recognize and appreciate the joint work of the Ecuadorian and Spanish National Police," he added.

After casting his vote in the coastal town of Olón in the province of Santa Elena, where he has his beach residence, Noboa declared that Pipo's capture was possible "thanks to international cooperation with Spain and the United States."

"We carried out a very effective and well-coordinated operation. International cooperation is the best way to combat these groups," Noboa pointed out, who among his proposals for this referendum also proposes allowing the installation of foreign military bases again.

'Pipo', the criminal who faked his death

For his part, Reimberg, who is currently in Spain, detailed that "Chavarría is responsible for at least 400 deaths."

"This individual—for whom Fito is nothing more than an apprentice—faked his death in 2021 and then obtained a new identity in Venezuela. He later registered and obtained a Colombian passport, which he used to travel to Spain in 2022 to evade the law and relocate his base of operations to Europe," the minister stated.

From Spain, according to the minister, Pipo directed a vast drug trafficking and criminal network in the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Mexico, and Colombia, with direct connections to the New Generation Cartel of Ecuador and alliances with Mexican, Colombian, and European cartels.

Reimberg also told TC Televisión that Pipo usually resided in Dubai and frequently traveled to Spain, staying in the most luxurious hotels with money obtained from drug trafficking and illegal mining. He had undergone up to seven cosmetic surgeries to alter his appearance and avoid being recognized.

Drug Trafficking and Illegal Mining

Los Lobos had become the most powerful criminal organization in Ecuador, playing a leading role in the war between criminal groups that has plagued the country since late 2020, causing the unprecedented wave of violence sweeping the nation.

The gang, led by 'Pipo,' sought to break away from Los Choneros and was the most successful, ultimately displacing them by forging an alliance with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) to ship cocaine to Mexico, primarily from Colombia. This contrasts with their rivals, who are allied with the Sinaloa Cartel.

Los Lobos expanded their reach and diversified their activities by also heavily involved in illegal mining and, according to authorities, forming alliances with dissident groups from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to exploit illegal mining sites in border areas of the Amazon.

Sources: Milenio, Círculo de Periodistas Judiciales, Informatech, Borderland Beat Archives, Borderland Beat Archives 

Read More

Generation Z March: Older People, Opposition Politicians, and Partisan Slogans

“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat 

With the participation of thousands of people, marches were held this Saturday by the self-proclaimed Generation Z, referring to people born between 1995 and 2012, and the "Hat March," both departing from the Angel of Independence and ending at the Zócalo. Although both marches proceeded peacefully and reached the Plaza de la Constitución, several protesters began to attack the metal barriers surrounding the National Palace, attempting to tear them down. This prompted police to fire tear gas and fire extinguishers from within the barriers.

Although organized separately, the two demonstrations shared the same schedule and route and have similar demands: rejection of the Morena party and the vindication of the figure of Carlos Manzo, the assassinated mayor of Uruapan, Michoacán.

The march, which proceeded peacefully and has now reached the Zócalo (Plaza de la Constitución), was led by the "Hat Movement," closely linked to Manzo. Behind them was the mobilization organized several days ago by the group known as Generation Z.

Chanting slogans like "Carlos didn't die, the government killed him" and "Out with Morena," the demonstrators marched along Paseo de la Reforma, many dressed in white and wearing hats like the ones Manzo used to wear.

"Carlos Manzo, hero of Mexico," "Hats yes, hugs no," and "Recall of the President" were some of the main slogans they chanted.

The people, mostly adults and some young people, waved Mexican flags, some in black and white and others with a smiling skull.

This image, alluding to the anime 'One Piece', has been taken as the banner of the Generation Z organization, one of the organizers of the march.

Although they share the same schedule and route, the Generation Z march didn’t merge with the March of the Hat, whose main demands revolve around the figure of Carlos Manzo.

A significant number of protesters directed their discontent toward the head of the Executive branch, Claudia Sheinbaum. Another constant chant among the various groups was "Out with Morena!"

Even figures like former senator Emilio Álvarez Icaza and Guadalupe Acosta Naranjo of the now-defunct PRD party attended the demonstration.

The march was monitored by several dozen riot police officers who advanced along the sides of the demonstration.

Liliana Sánchez, from the State of Mexico, stated that she decided to participate in the march to express her discontent because "the government has control of everything" and there are no "checks and balances."

She argued that "there used to be three branches of government, those three branches disappeared, and there's no way to achieve balance." She criticized the Morena party for having recruited figures from the PRI and PAN parties.

“It’s another PRI, but a thousand times worse. It has people from other parties who joined Morena to continue stealing and perpetuate this system that has always been corrupt.”

Upon entering the Zócalo plaza, a group of hooded youths with megaphones called on people not to touch the smiling skull flag displayed on the ground. They threatened to surround anyone who did.

Once in the country's main square, several young people managed to climb the metal barriers protecting the National Palace, while other protesters banged on the barriers amid shouts of “Yes, we can!” There were also shouts of repudiation against those who climbed the barriers, with slogans like “You don’t represent me!” and “Out with the hooded ones!”

From inside the metal barrier, they began throwing gas, apparently from fire extinguishers. Rocket explosions can also be heard.

Several protesters have begun repeatedly banging on the metal barriers with their hands and fists. Meanwhile, another group of hooded youths are using hammers, and five young people have started climbing the three-meter-high barriers. Some of the protesters are even carrying angle grinders, which they are using to try to break the joints between the barriers and open them up.

In response, police officers on the other side of the barriers used fire extinguisher powder to push back the protesters, as the sound of projectiles being thrown by a group of hooded youths dressed in black can be heard. These youths continue to hit the metal barriers and try to break their joints with angle grinders or wire cutters. Other march attendees are urging them not to resort to "acts of violence" that, in their opinion, could undermine today's demonstration.

From inside the barricades, police continue to fire extinguisher spray and even small, circular, flaming objects that emit a lot of smoke. Tear gas is also being used.

Around 12:45 PM, protesters managed to open a gap in the metal fence protecting the plaza, which in turn intensified the police's use of tear gas.

All of this is happening amidst chants and even with people playing Molotov's song "Gimme the Power" through loudspeakers. In the already tense atmosphere, a person was accused of stealing a cell phone and was beaten by several protesters.

The violent acts in front of the National Palace have now lasted for nearly an hour.

Intermittently, a group of hooded individuals continues to strike the barriers with hammers and other objects, and they are also throwing explosive devices.

They even used an electric saw on the welded-on sections of the barriers to try to bring them down. On the other side of the barriers, police have fired tear gas at least three times, causing eye irritation.

The Generation Z contingents and the Hat March, which have mingled, are retreating intermittently, moving away from the metal barriers.

After several attempts, those dressed in black managed to knock down one of the three-meter-high barriers, but police blocked that point with their access points to prevent the protesters from entering. Five minutes later, the demonstrators removed two more metal plates on the right side of the National Palace.

This intensified the throwing of tear gas, stones, and flaming spheres from inside the police barricade.

After the three barriers were torn down, dozens of police officers emerged from inside to form a second wall with their shields, as the protesters were about to topple more metal blocks.

This led to a standoff where the officers threatened the crowd, causing the protesters to retreat, but then they regrouped and moved closer to the area where the metal 

Sources: La Jornada, Plaza de la Constitución Street View,  Eric Daugherty,   Borderland Beat Archives

Read More

There’s Something Rotten In Baja California

"Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat 

In seven months, on three occasions—in March, September, and November of 2025—the U.S. Treasury Department, through OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) and FinCEN (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network), issued three sanctions against criminal organizations based in Baja California, but which are not under investigation in Mexico.

The first alert, issued in March, was titled by the U.S. government as “The Sinaloa Cartel Money Laundering Network.” It named 11 individuals, headed by the four Guzmán brothers: Iván Archivaldo, Jesús Alfredo, Joaquín, and Ovidio, all sons of Joaquín Guzmán Loera. It also named six individuals responsible for money laundering and at least seven companies. A supplementary document from the money laundering network directly implicated Christopher Ortega Lomelí and others in crimes of conspiracy to import controlled substances, to distribute those substances, and to launder money.

The issue is that Ortega Lomelí appeared on the National Transparency Platform as an official of the Baja California State Penitentiary System Commission until April 2025, when he resigned from his position as an analyst on the commission chaired by Attorney General Elena Andrade, following his inclusion in the Sinaloa Cartel's money laundering network by the Treasury Department.

On September 18, 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department issued sanctions and asset freezes against members of what it called “The Smuggling Empire: The Rosarito Beach Network.” This included the Los Mayos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, headed by Juan José Ponce Félix, alias “El Ruso,” and brothers Alfonso and René Arzate García, as well as six other individuals, among them two businessmen, Candelario Arcega and Jesús González Lomelí, and the former mayor of Rosarito, Araceli Brown, a member of the Morena party. However, neither the Attorney General's Office (FGR) nor local authorities in Mexico are investigating them, although the Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF) did freeze the assets of the 15 companies included in the OFAC sanctions, some of which are owned by Arcega and González Lomelí, along with other partners from Baja California.

Arcega, González, and Brown are not under investigation in Mexico, nor is Ortega Lomelí, and they continue to engage in commercial, political, or legislative activities despite the freezing of their accounts. In fact, federal deputy Araceli Brown attended Governor Marina del Pilar Avila's state address and took photographs with other local political figures in complete freedom.

On November 12, the Treasury Department, through FinCEN, issued new sanctions and special measures against ten gambling establishments in Mexico, two of which are located in Baja California: one in Ensenada and the other in Rosarito.

Specifically, in coordination with the Mexican government, the Treasury Department issued the special measures against what it identified as the “Hysa Organized Crime Group” (GDOH), which “has used its influence, through investments or control over various businesses in Mexico—including casinos and restaurants—to launder drug money. It is believed that GDOH operates with the consent of the Sinaloa Cartel, which maintains criminal control over much of the territory where the group conducts its activities.”

Twenty-seven individuals were sanctioned by OFAC, and ten casinos were subject to special measures by FinCEN, restricting their access to the U.S. financial system. The sanctioned casinos, according to the list released on November 13, were: Emine Casino, located in San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora; Casino Mirage, in Culiacán, Sinaloa; Midas Casino, in Agua Prieta, Sonora; Midas Casino, in Los Mochis, Sinaloa; Midas Casino, in Guamúchil, Sinaloa; Midas Casino, in Mazatlán, Sinaloa; Midas Casino, in Rosarito, Baja California; Casino Palermo, in Nogales, Sonora; Casino Skampa, in Ensenada, Baja California; and Casino Skampa, located in Villahermosa, Tabasco.

The Mexican government also announced the suspension of operations at thirteen land-based and online casinos for alleged money laundering and tax evasion activities.

For the Sinaloa Cartel, on any of its fronts—whether Los Chapitos, Los Mayos, or intermediate cells—Baja California has been fertile ground for the expansion of its illicit drug business, its real estate cartel, and money laundering. These activities are not properly investigated at either the state or federal level, or are only superficially addressed when, as in March, September, and November, the Treasury Department issues sanctions, alerts, or special measures.

In fact, only in the last two cases has the federal government acted in a consistent manner: first, it froze the accounts of Araceli Brown, Candelario Arcega, and Jesús González Lomelí, as well as those of their companies and partnerships, and now it is doing so with thirteen casinos, limiting their financial activities and apparently initiating an investigation into money laundering and tax evasion.

The individuals named, however, continue to enjoy total impunity, socializing, engaging in politics, business, forming new partnerships, supporting governments and campaigns, in a political, governmental and criminal environment that reeks of corruption; although the stench is only noticeable north of the border.

Source: Zeta Tijuana

Read More

"US Will Not Send Armed Forces to Mexico," Says Marco Rubio; Rules Out Unilateral Action

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat 

However, the Secretary of State affirmed that the Mexican government will receive "all possible assistance" if it requests it.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the United States will not send US forces to Mexico, nor will they act "unilaterally" regarding the public security crisis affecting the neighboring country. He also emphasized that support for the Mexican government will only be given if "they request it."

Upon his arrival at Hamilton International Airport in Canada to participate in the G7 summit, Rubio was approached by the press, to whom he responded that he is committed to eradicating the cartels that "have more power than the federal forces" and that have claimed the lives of Mexicans, including the late mayor of Uruapan, Carlos Manzo.

What did the Secretary of State declare?

Rubio was questioned about how concerned the United States government was about the public security situation in Mexico, and how much it might intervene to "help combat the scourge of cartels and violence."

In response, the secretary said they are willing to provide "all the help they need," but without crossing the line into unilateral intervention, a measure stipulated by the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum.

"Obviously, they don't want us to take unilateral measures or send U.S. forces to Mexico, but we can help them with equipment, training, and intelligence sharing."

However, Rubio conditioned the assistance on a request from the neighboring administration.

"We will provide all kinds of help we can offer if they request it. They have to ask for it," the official emphasized.

Cartels Control Regions of Mexico, Rubio Declared

Regarding the murder of Carlos Manzo on November 1,  Rubio stated that it was not an isolated incident, as organized crime was also responsible for the deaths of other mayors, journalists, politicians, and judges, according to his statement.

Therefore, he reiterated the power of the cartels in the region, which the United States has designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).

"One of the things no one is talking about is the rise of these Foreign Terrorist Organizations."

Regarding the designation, Rubio explained that they are given this name not because they necessarily adhere to an ideology. "You don't have to be ideological to be a terrorist," he said. Rather, it's because in many cases "they possess more weapons, better training, better intelligence, and greater capabilities" than the governments themselves.

The Secretary of State asserted that there are areas of Mexico "controlled by cartels," which become "more powerful" than local and even national forces.

"This represents a concern throughout the hemisphere."

However, Rubio concluded that cooperation between the United States and Mexico is at its "highest level in history."

"It is growing and is positive, driven by what they ask for, what they need, and by helping them improve their own capabilities if they request it," he mentioned.

The progress that both governments have made is enormous, but Rubio emphasized the fact that the problem of cartels and insecurity is "long-standing," therefore, it will take time to perceive the results "tangibly."

"In some cases, we have already seen them. For example, we are achieving the extradition of drug traffickers faster than ever; not always, but in many cases," he emphasized regarding the recent transfers of Mexican criminals requested by the U.S. government. "We have no complaints about the level of cooperation we have received from Mexico, and the work we are doing with them is historic," he concluded to the press.

Sources: Milenio, Borderland Beat Archives, Borderland Beat Archives

Read More

Alfredo Olivas Denies Alleged Attack Against Him in Tamaulipas

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat 

With a Photo on Instagram, He Calms Rumors of an Armed Attack

Alfredo Olivas performed at the Coliseo Centenario in Torreón on September 20.

On November 12, 2025, news of an alleged armed attack against the regional Mexican singer, Alfredo Olivas, on a highway in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, circulated widely on social media.

Unofficial reports detailed that the attack occurred while the singer was traveling to an event accompanied by his security team. They also indicated that the artist had been seriously wounded in the abdomen and that a bodyguard had been killed during the attack.

However, in a move that quickly silenced the rumors, Alfredo Olivas denied the alleged attack using his social media.

The singer of corridos and rancheras shared a photo of his face on his official Instagram account.

Although the image wasn’t accompanied by any caption, his apparent good health was enough to reassure his followers. The photo quickly garnered more than 21,000 reactions and comments from fans expressing well wishes and relief.

“I was already very sad about the attack. Thank goodness it's a lie,” “They were already taking me to the hospital after seeing the news,” and “You scared me, sweetheart,” read some of the comments.

Hours later, Start Media Consulting, the singer's publicity agency, shared a statement denying the attack.

"Alfredo Olivas is fine, continuing with his scheduled activities as normal, and isn’t in or hasn’t visited the state mentioned in recent hours," they stated.

Authorities deny attack

In a brief statement on social media, the Tamaulipas Security Spokesperson's Office reported that the report of an attack on Alfredo Olivas is false.

They indicated that, to date, security institutions hadn’t received any reports of incidents or risky situations on Tamaulipas highways.

Source: El Siglo de Torreon

Read More

Demoralizing The Opposition With A Blazing Fire

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat 

An all too familiar sequence unfolds like many others before it in the ongoing Sinaloa civil war. 

A hapless young man has been captured this time around by assassins from the Fuerzas Especiales Unión. The enforcers are part of an alliance between Los Chapitos and the CJNG. 

What little could be heard from the lousy audio is that the captive’s name is Oscar. He’s twenty-four years old and currently lives in the town of Pueblos Unidos. 

The Mayiza faction hired him to do their bidding. Needless to say, that job came with deadly risks. His captors are going to light him on fire as a reminder of those perils. 

Pueblos Unidos, Sinaloa

Source: Ivan’s Daily News

Read More

Organized Crime Uses 'Suicide Hitmen' to Commit Homicides in Mexico

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat 

Criminal groups have opted to employ kamikaze hitmen, that is, people who don't care about dying as long as they commit the crime.

On at least three occasions in recent years, criminal groups have opted to employ kamikaze hitmen, who commit their crimes knowing that the possibility of surviving is very low.

The recent assassination of the mayor of Uruapan, Carlos Manzo, could be seen as an example of this new strategy by criminals to impose their rule despite the strong protection that security forces provide to officials.

Minor Responsible for the Murder of Carlos Manzo

Víctor Manuel ‘N’, the 17-year-old identified as the murderer of Mayor Manzo, was not deterred even by the risk of being killed himself.

The minor took advantage of the revelry of the Day of the Dead celebrations (Saturday, October 1st) to blend in with the attendees and approach within a few meters of the victim, whom he shot at least seven times with a 9mm handgun, leaving him practically dead at the scene.

This occurred despite the fact that, according to the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), Omar García Harfuch, the mayor had security details that were reinforced in May.

The federal official revealed that the seized weapon is linked to two violent incidents between rival criminal groups operating in the region, where local cells act in alliance with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), and others operate in opposition.

Carlos Manzo was murdered by a minor.

In September, the mayor of Uruapan, Carlos Manzo, defended his coordination with Governor Bedolla on Carlos Marín's program.

Other hitmen killed

Another case of these hitmen committing suicide occurred last year in Coyuca de Benítez, Guerrero, where, after evading security, a man murdered the then-candidate for mayor, José Alfredo Cabrera, during his campaign closing rally.

The candidate for the PRI-PAN-PRD coalition was about to begin his closing speech and, as he approached the stage, was greeting his supporters, unaware that an individual was pointing a gun at his head from behind and firing at least twice, killing him instantly.

Despite evading the security provided by the National Guard, the assailant, identified as Abel 'N', was also neutralized by members of that security institution in the town square after being killed in his attempt to flee.

Cabrera also had six private bodyguards, whom he paid for himself, after surviving an assassination attempt a year earlier, as well as the murder of his running mate, Aníbal Zúñiga, a few days prior.

José Alfredo Cabrera

The murderer of José Alfredo Cabrera died after committing the crime.

In November 2021, individuals carrying assault rifles and grenades attacked the Guaymas City Hall in Sonora, killing a bodyguard and a feminist activist, although one of the gunmen was also killed.

That day, the Feminist Collective of the Sea, led by Marisol Cuadras, symbolically occupied the building for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The occupation was attended by the Secretary of Public Security, Andrés Humberto Cano, and the mayor, Karla Córdova, according to the then-head of the Navy, Rafael Ojeda Durán.

“The two men got out to talk to them, and that's when the attack occurred, but they were after the captain, the Secretary of Public Security,” Ojeda Durán explained.

According to Governor Alfonso Durazo, the investigation focused on an attack against the Guaymas police chief, Andrés Humberto Cano.

Kamikaze hitmen

Kamikaze hitmen have been on the rise in recent years.

Federal forces vs. hitmen

So far in the current federal administration, federal security forces have had to resort to confrontations with hitmen in the face of constant direct attacks, mainly in states permeated by organized crime.

As a result of clashes between criminal groups and their infiltration into various criminal activities ranging from drug trafficking to extortion, illegal deprivation of liberty, and even political acts, among others, federal authorities have resorted to constant operations and protection for officials at various levels who have been threatened.

Sources: Milenio, Borderland Beat Archives

Read More

The Young Face of Drug Trafficking: Up To 250,000 Children and Adolescents Are Recruited in Mexico

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat 

In Mexico, it is estimated that up to 250,000 children and adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15 are at risk of being recruited by organized crime, primarily in the states of Chihuahua, Colima, Baja California, and Mexico City, according to the civil organization Reinserta. The organization pointed out that children are currently being recruited through digital means.

Therefore, it called on federal authorities to classify child recruitment as a crime and to promote state-level prevention plans that address the root causes within the specific context of each state.

"Children and adolescents in Mexico cannot continue to be the youngest faces of the war. We must act with laws, public policies, education, but also with empathy. Abandoning optimism will not solve this problem. It is important to make it clear that political will is urgently needed, but so is social will," stated Saskia Niño de Rivera, co-founder of Reinserta.

The civil group presented the book "How Not to Be a Hitman?" where he indicated that 6 out of 10 adolescents in juvenile detention who were recruited by organized crime began using drugs between the ages of 11 and 15, and 5 out of 10 adolescents in detention who were recruited by organized crime joined a cartel between the ages of 14 and 16.

Furthermore, 7 out of 10 adolescents who have had problems with the law had already had contact with criminal groups in their neighborhoods.

He also emphasized that 81 percent of the country's territory has a presence of some criminal group, which is why this is a nationwide problem.

José Pablo, operations director of Reinserta, explained that the report arose from research they conducted on this topic between 2020 and 2021, when they interviewed 70 children and adolescents involved with organized crime in seven states.

The book contains some of these testimonies, including that of Braulio, recruited by organized crime as a teenager, who recounted how he was always in contact with criminals because his cousins ​​sold drugs or were hitmen.

The book also includes the testimony of Tito, who grew up in an environment where violence was commonplace, as his father introduced him to the world of crime without his knowledge.

"This book is based on stories like Raúl's and Susana's; we didn't invent them. It's the result of Reinserta's work, taking a team and listening to these stories. The text addresses the facts and risks involved. It's about understanding that we live in a country that normalizes violence, a country that is violent towards its children," stated the operations director.

Furthermore, she reiterated that children in Mexico "face vulnerabilities that are reflected in the factors at risk, in abandonment or neglect, in exposure to violence, in the lack of educational and employment opportunities, which ultimately leads to marginalization across all social structures."

Reinserta recommended that authorities create an information system to track the number of minors who have been recruited, as well as develop specialized mechanisms for the care, recovery, and reintegration of children and adolescents who have been recruited.

Source: La Jornada

Read More

The Hearing for Joaquín Guzmán López, Son of 'El Chapo,' Has Been Postponed for the Third Time in the US

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat 

The hearing for Joaquín Guzmán López, known as "El Güero," originally scheduled for Thursday, November 13, 2025, in Chicago, has been postponed again.

The hearing for drug trafficker Joaquín Guzmán López, leader of Los Chapitos and son of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, has been postponed from November 13 to December 1.

The judge overseeing the case, Sharon Johnson Coleman, indicated in a document published this Monday that she is postponing Guzmán's hearing again, which was to have taken place this Thursday in a federal court in Chicago.

This is the third time this hearing has been postponed, having previously been rescheduled from July 15 to September 15 and from September 15 to November 13.

Last July, Ovidio Guzmán López, another of El Chapo's sons and brother of Joaquín, pleaded guilty to four drug trafficking-related charges in a Chicago court as part of an agreement with U.S. authorities, the terms of which were not disclosed.

Similarly, in August, Mexican drug trafficker Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, co-founder and longtime leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, formally pleaded guilty to two counts of drug trafficking, money laundering, and weapons charges in a federal court in New York.

Source: Milenio

Read More

China Finally Places Controls on Fentanyl Precursor Chemicals Shipping to US, Mexico & Canada

"Socalj" for Borderland Beat

On November 10, 2025, Beijing will require a permit to export 13 specific chemicals to Mexico, the United States, and Canada, including those used to manufacture the synthetic opioid fentanyl.

China’s National Narcotics Commission issued a notice on Monday directing Chinese companies to adhere to the country’s laws, including the newly tightened controls. The notice urged Chinese firms to verify overseas buyers and immediately stop transactions if buyers requested falsified packaging or information.

The Ministry of Commerce announced on Monday that China will adjust its list of chemical precursors related to pharmaceuticals and require export licenses for certain chemicals to the United States, Canada, and Mexico, according to a report by the SCMP, written by journalist Fan Chen.

Read More

Iran Planned to Assassinate Israel’s Ambassador to Mexico

"Socalj" for Borderland Beat

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps plotted to assassinate Israel's ambassador to Mexico, starting late last year, but the effort was contained and there is no current threat a U.S. official said on Friday.

The U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the plot against the ambassador, Einat Kranz Neiger, had been active through the first half of this year. 

Israel says Mexico thwarted the attempt said to be part of Iran's revenge in the aftermath of the deadly 2024 Israeli bombing of Iranian embassy in Syria.

Read More

Attorney General's Office (FGR) Arrests Former Agent in Tijuana Implicated in Colosio Case

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat 

The Attorney General's Office (FGR) arrested Jorge Antonio Sánchez Ortega, a former agent of the now-defunct Center for Investigation and National Security (CISEN), in Tijuana. He has been identified for nearly three decades as the suspected second shooter in the assassination of Luis Donaldo Colosio Murrieta, which occurred in 1994 in Lomas Taurinas.

This is the second time he has been arrested in connection with the same case. No further details about the arrest have been released.

Unofficially, a source within the Attorney General's Office confirmed that he was arrested pursuant to a federal warrant.

Sánchez Ortega was one of the first people arrested after the assassination of the then-PRI presidential candidate, because he was wearing a jacket stained with the victim's blood and tested positive for gunshot residue using sodium rhodizonate.

Despite this evidence, the former agent was released shortly afterward, citing a lack of evidence.

His name resurfaced in 2024, when the Attorney General's Office (FGR) identified him as the alleged second shooter and requested his arrest.

FGR identifies him as alleged second shooter

According to the Attorney General's Office, the accused was the CISEN agent assigned to protect the presidential candidate, who was released at the time in a clear cover-up involving Genaro García Luna, who was the operational subdirector at CISEN and who rescued him in Tijuana, Baja California.

The evidence presented by the Attorney General's Office (FGR) against Jorge Antonio demonstrates his presence at the scene of the crime, at the exact moment of the shooting, just seconds apart.

"All the evidence provided by the FGR, and especially the blood tests, demonstrate that the victim's blood type was found on the accused's clothing.

"The rhodizonate tests indicate that the accused fired a weapon during that time, and none of the exculpatory evidence has been able to support his claim," he stated. 

Furthermore, it was asserted that numerous witness testimonies place the accused at the scene of the crime at the time of the shooting, from which he fled; and he denies having helped transport Luis Donaldo Colosio when he was wounded.

Sources: Milenio, Borderland Beat Archives

Read More

Sheinbaum Reiterates: There Will Be No US Intervention in Mexico

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat 

President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo reiterated this Thursday that there will be no U.S. intervention in Mexican territory, asserting that Mexico is a free, independent, and sovereign country, and that her government maintains a relationship of collaboration and respect with Washington.

In her morning press conference at the National Palace, the president downplayed reports circulating in international media about alleged leaks related to security issues, and assured that the country will know how to respond to any real threat.

“If there were a real threat unrelated to these leaks or alleged leaks—because they aren't even leaks in any international media outlet—well, we have the national anthem, as I've already said: 'A soldier in every son,'” she affirmed.

Sheinbaum Pardo emphasized that any form of interference is rejected by Mexican society and that her government maintains a framework of understanding with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump based on cooperation, not intervention.

“The reality is that there will be no intervention from the United States. There simply won't be any, because the Mexican people are united against any interference or intervention, because no Mexican man or woman, except for a very few who are the absolute exception, wants any intervention,” Sheinbaum Pardo stated.

She added that her government's principles are based on the defense of national sovereignty and mutual respect between nations. “Mexico is a free, independent, and sovereign country, and so it should be. The principles under which we negotiate with any foreign government, in our movement and for those we represent—the people of Mexico—are always based on non-intervention,” she noted.

The President also emphasized that the relationship with the United States is developed within a framework of understanding that prioritizes dialogue and cooperation. “We have prioritized dialogue, and we have a framework of understanding with the United States government that, under no circumstances, includes interference or intervention, but rather collaboration and cooperation,” she maintained.

Source: La Jornada

Read More

Daniel Silvestre Manjarrez, aka El Dany, is Arrested

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat

In Culiacán, Sinaloa, federal security forces arrested Daniel Silvestre Manjarrez, alias “El Dany,” one of the most wanted individuals by U.S. authorities, on Wednesday.

The Mexican government's Security Cabinet reported that Daniel Manjarrez, is a U.S. citizen and is wanted on a U.S. arrest warrant for his involvement in conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. He was also the subject of an FBI Red Notice.

Omar García Harfuch, head of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), emphasized on social media that “the arrest is the result of the coordinated work of the @GabSeguridadMX and international cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking.”

In a press release, the SSPC (Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection) detailed that the arrest was made possible by an operation at a property located in the Infonavit Humaya neighborhood of Culiacán. The operation involved personnel from the SSPC, the Secretariat of National Defense (Defensa), the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar), the Attorney General's Office (FGR), and the National Guard (GN).

"Security agents identified the property where one of the most wanted individuals by U.S. authorities was hiding. During reconnaissance patrols, they detected the presence of the suspect, ordered him to stop, verified his identity, and arrested him," the press release stated.

'El Dany' was turned over to the appropriate Public Prosecutor, who will determine his legal status and compile the case file before handing him over to the authorities who requested his extradition.

Source: La Jornada

Read More

Uruapan Mayor Killed at Día de los Muertos Festival—9th Sitting Mayor Slain in Sheinbaum’s First Year

By "El Huaso" for Borderland Beat

Carlos Manzo, mayor of Uruapan, Michoacán, was murdered at a public event on November 1st. His killing is the most recent in an accelerating trend of high level politicians being murdered by organized crime groups.

Read More