AMLO has plans to make his country safer – but could they make things worse?

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat republished from "The Conversation"

"Removing the army from the streets without capable police officers to replace them could strengthen organised crime groups and make the situation worse."

Mexican voters upended their country’s political establishment this summer when they elected Andres Manuel López Obrador – the left-wing former mayor of Mexico City known as AMLO – by an overwhelming margin. His impressive victory owed a lot to his personal charisma and populist rhetoric, but it also reflected the public’s weariness with Mexico’s current state of affairs – and in particular, with criminal violence.

Long a problem for Mexico, deadly violence is now at an all time high. There were more than 31,000 murders in 2017, the highest number on record, and this year is shaping up to be even deadlier.

López Obrador’s term begins on December 1, but his incoming government has already pledged to reduce violent crime by between 30-50% within three years, and to bring crime rates in line with those in OECD countries within six years. To achieve this, it has come up with three strategies: tackling the “root causes” of crime through social policy, ending the war against organised crime, and restructuring security institutions.

The Acosta Family Massacre

Translated by El Profe for Borderland Beat from Zeta Tijuana

Photo: Archivo.- Jorge Humberto Acosta Gallegos, “El Güero Leches”

The Acosta Family knows who is behind the deaths of the mother, youngest son, and uncle of the family, that's why they left Baja California. Authorities warn that the perpetrators could be former criminal partners of the Father, Jorge Humberto Acosta Gallego "El Güero Leches", imprisoned for two years and seven months. The murderers shot their victims and took the shells.

Jorge Humberto Acosta Gallegos "El Güero Leches", in prison since December 31, 2015. Theoretically, due to his confinement, it wouldn’t be possible for him to exert his criminal influence and operation,  but even inside prison his enemies want him dead and gone, so on August 5, 2018 they killed his wife, his 7-year-old son, and his brother-in-law.

"El Güero Leches" was included by Baja California authorities to be in the Arellano Félix Cartel (CAF) criminal organization chart starting in 2007. As of September 2008, his name was recorded as cell leader, and intellectual author in several homicide cases. In the same year he was considered responsible for the control of drug trafficking and crimes in the Valle de Guadalupe and Tecate, as criminal lieutenant of Eduardo García Simental "El Teo", who split off from the CAF and allied with Sinaloa. After the capture of Garcia, Acosta was grouped with the Alfonso and René Arzate Brothers, on the side of the Sinaloa Cartel. 

Guerrero Congress approves decriminalization of poppy cultivation

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat  from ElFinanciero and Mexico Daily

The Guerrero Congress has approved — almost unanimously — a legislative proposal to decriminalize the cultivation of opium poppies for medicinal purposes.

The proposal, which passed by 43 votes to one, will now go to the Senate, which must also approve the bill in order for it to become law.

Guerrero Governor Héctor Astudillo first raised the idea of legalizing opium poppy cultivation for medical use in early 2016, just months after he took office. Later that year a proposal to do so was taken to the state Congress but rejected.

Now, just two weeks before the current legislature finishes its term, lawmakers have reached consensus on the issue.

El Chapo legal update and Jefferey Lichtman, Gotti's son's attorney, says he will join the Chapo team

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat

update: On Monday Lichtman was in court where he entered a formal notice to appear as Chapo’s attorney in Brooklyn court

The attorney that represented John Gotto Jr., in a 2009 securities fraud case, Jeffrey Lichtman says he will officially be joining the El Chapo defense team on Monday.

Lichtman dropped out a year ago, after it seemed there was a dream team compiled to represent Chapo. The issues were guarantee of payment.

Eduardo Balarezo was carrying the load until a few months ago when William Purpura joined the defense, and now Lichtman may round out the team. Reportedly Lichtman said to the NY Post,  “We had to make sure it was done correctly”, in reference about payment.

Funds for any defense payment must be “clean money” and the government has made it clear it will be focused on the origins of any money used for payment.

Lichtman says, “The jury and the public will be stunned when they see the types of cooperators being used in this case,” he said. “I’ve been on many cases where all sorts of questionable characters have been used, but this dwarfs them all. There are so many mercenary, dishonest people being tapped in an attempt to bring down Mr. Guzman.”

With respect to conditions Guzman has been subjected to, “The conditions are obscene, I’ve represented infamous people over the years,” Lichtman told The Post. “He’s being held in the most harsh conditions I’ve seen in 27 years of practice.”

Lichtman represented Margarito Flores, twin of Pedro Flores, who operated the Sinaloa Cartel trafficking hub in Chicago. This will be an issue, since the twins are expected to be on the witness list.

Mencho's daughter files for amparo to avoid detainment

North for Borderland Beat material from Milenio

 

Jessica at age 9-

Jessica Johanna Oseguera Gonzalez, daughter of El Mencho, leader of CJNG, filed a writ of  amparo against the arrest warrant that exists against her.

The arrest warrant, issued by a judge of the State of Mexico, could not be completed on the same day that the Navy detained her mother, Rosalinda González Valencia, since she was not with her.

On May 27, marines detained El Mencho's wife in the vicinity of a shopping plaza in Zapopan when she was in the company of other women. That night, one of the sailors asked her who she was, to which Rosalinda responded and seconds later questioned her about which of her companions was Jessica, to which she replied that Jessica wasn’t there.

It will be this Thursday, August 23when  a hearing will be held in which it will be determined if the amparo is granted against the arrest warrant.

Ensenada, BC: Soldiers find 750 kilos of crystal, fentanyl and marijuana in the undergrowth

Chivis Martinez for Borderland Beat material from Jornada BC and twitter

Soldiers of the Mexican Army seized apx 750 kilos of Crystal, fentanyl and marijuana, hidden in the undergrowth on the municipality of Ensenada, Baja California.

The drugs were found on a dirt road that begins at kilometer 78 of the trans peninsular federal highway number 1. 

The soldiers seized 35 black plastic bags, secured with tape, containing various drugs.

There were also 468 plastic packages weighing 600 grams each of crystal.  In addition to 30 other plastic bags of crystal.

Seven plastic containers of one kilo each of fentanyl each; two plastic containers with 4 thousand fentanyl pills, and 46 of 10 kilo each of marijuana. 

Reynosa: Shootout and chase ends with 6 killed

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat from Reforma/El Diario

A chase by Tamaulipas state police officers and an armed group in Reynosa, ended with six people killed.

The events occurred minutes after 2:00 pm when anonymous calls reported that there was a shootout between the southbound gaps, apparently between rival criminal cells.

The commanders mobilized agents of the sector in that area and when they were travelling through the Reynosa Viaduct, they came face to face with an armed group and the confrontation took place on the Puerta del Sol avenue crossing.

4 Killed 9 injured during attacks at 6 Monterrey bars

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat from Reforma

At least 4 people were  killed, and 9 wounded, in a series of attacks against 6 bars in different parts of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon.

The bars attacked simultaneously were El Mansao, Woman and Black, located on Lincoln Avenue, in Colonia San Jorge.  The bars were  no more than 200 meters away from each other.

According to a police source, a valet at a  parking lot at El Mansao, was executed in the parking lot of a shopping plaza located on Lincoln Avenue and Graciano Bortoni, in the Graciano Bortoni neighborhood.

It was there that a woman of South American origin was wounded.

Mexican Marina seize drug lab with 50 tons of the synthetic drug crystal belonging to El Mayo

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat from La Jornada and  Diario de Juarez, source Excelsior

Translation for Borderland Beat by "Un Vato"

The Department of the Marines disclosed the videos that show the moment when a 50 ton mega-load of drug known as "crystal" is discovered.

It appears the drug belonged to one of the biggest drug s traffickers in the country, "El Mayo" Zambada.

It is one of the the biggest loads of synthetic load in Mexico's history.

Information indicates that it was stored in two rooms of 10 and 7 meters long and 4 meters deep. The place is protected with only a rustic roof, covered with plants and herbs so it will not be detected during aerial patrols.

Guanajuato: Fierce clash between SEDENA Mexican Army against CJNG hitmen

Posted by Char for Borderland Beat

Fierce clash between SEDENA Mexican Army against CJNG hitmen who were very well equipped in terms of weapons. Reading comments on twitter cjng members where chased from San Francisco del Rincón, Guanajuato, all the way to San Julian, Jalisco, where the shootout ended in what appears to be a safe house, and inside this house a great amount of high caliber weapons where, grenade launchers, etc.

These hit-men where CJNG heavy hitters fighting in Guanajuato.

Photos below:

El Cholo dominates drug sales in metro Guadalajara, as Jalisco experiences its most violent year

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat-posted by ESLiero from La Silla Rota

38 bodies discovered in 6 graves since June 6th-10 in the building above

If the uptick in murders continues, of 6 homicides per day, Jalisco will break records.

Robert Lopez Lara, General Secretary and Raul Sánchez Jiménez, Jalisco Attorney General, say the resurgence of violence in the state is due to the split of the powerful Jalisco Cartel New Generation or CJNG.

The group known as La Nueva Plaza, Cartel del 2 or Cartel del Cholo, dominates the sale of drugs in the Metropolitan area in Guadalajara, mainly in the municipalities of; Tlaquepaque, Tonalá, El Salto and Tlajomulco, where   the bodies of 24 were recently discovered in clandestine graves..  [The total from June 6th, in Guadalajara Metro is 38 bodies were discovered in 6 graves]

Mexico offers 30M pesos reward for the capture of CJNG Leader "El Mencho"

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat-Thank you Char from GOB-Mex

The Attorney General of the Republic (PGR) offers 30 million pesos (1.575 M USD) to anyone who provides accurate and useful information for the location and arrest or apprehension of Rubén Oseguera Cervantes and / or Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes and / or Nemesio Oseguera Ramos, Alias ​​"El Mencho", probable responsible and/or imputed of the crimes of organized crime and others.

In the Agreement, signed by the Deputy Attorney General and International Affairs, in substitution of the Attorney General of the Republic, and published today in the Official Gazette of the Federation, the unit calls on the society to provide truthful information that lead to know the whereabouts of the person mentioned, for his arrest.

Chihuahua:: Leader of La Linea "El Sexto" confirmed captured

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat from La Jornada

In a joint operation, members of the National Defense Secretariat and Federal Police personnel detained Julio César Oliva Torres, El Sexto or El Sixto in the state of Chihuahua.  He is  identified as one of the leaders of the La Línea criminal group, considered the enforcement  arm of the Juarez Cartel.

Sources of the federal government indicated that El Sexto worked under the orders of Carlos Arturo Quintana, "El Ochenta" "80", who was arrested months ago and who was the head of La Línea in the Chihuahua highlands.

US, Mexico to announce new plans on cartels

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat Thank you BB follower from SFGate

Donahue

CHICAGO (AP) — Top U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration officials will unveil new plans to combat Mexican drug cartels Wednesday in Chicago alongside members of the Mexican government, military and federal police, DEA officials told The Associated Press.

"The new game plan is ... pick up the speed and arrest more people, faster,

The announcement at a joint news conference will be a public display of bilateral cooperation amid ongoing tensions over President Donald Trump's trade and immigration policies, including over his vow to build a wall along the nearly 2,000-mile (3,218-kilometer) U.S.-Mexican border.

The new plans include putting greater emphasis on attacking cartels' financial infrastructure. Plans also call for a new enforcement group based in Chicago that will concentrate on international investigations of cartels.

Tijuana: War in the North Zone, Los Monitos vs Sinaloa

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat From eta Tijuana

 Marcos Rafael Toscano Rodríguez
 

Translation by "Cruz for Borderland Beat

After the murder of Marcos Rafael Toscano Rodriguez, one "Los Monitos"; (little monkeys); the Sinaloa cartel, represented in the north by "El Aguacate"(the Avocado), tries to take control of the turf that until this day the CAF still holds, yet have been unable to fully dominate. A message towards "El Chacal" (the Jackal) and his sisters. "El Pelon"(baldy) and the son of "El Mono"(the ape) harden the dispute.

With the murder of Marcos Rafael Toscano Rodríguez, one of the twins nicknamed "Los Monitos"(the apes), who is a cell of the Arellano Felix Cartel(CAF) in the North, faces a new battle against the Sinaloa Carte for the control of drug sales in that neighborhood and its vicinity.

Truth be told: Elba Ester Gordillo never spent a day behind bars in 5.5 years of being "imprisoned", here's how

Chivis Martinez for Borderland Beat  from Reforma 

Even by Mexico's high level of corruption, the "justice" for the Mexican elite is stunning....read to the end

Elba Ester: History of  her arrest and charges

In addition to never being in a cell, in five years Gordillo won each of three amparo trials, obtained a house arrest, got the electronic bracelet removed, and prevented federal agents from searching her apartment.

February 26, 2013

Elba Esther Gordillo is arrested at the Toluca International Airport, for an arrest warrant charging organized crime, money laundering and diversion of resources from the SNTE (Teachers Union). She is admitted to Santa Martha Acatitla; but  as soon as she arrived, she was taken to the prison's medical service, where she spent that night and the next.

February 27, 2013

In a message transmitted by national media, President Enrique Peña Nieto affirms that "nobody is above the law".

Juarez: 7 killed in a clandestine palenque plus 5 other killings

Chivis Martinez for Borderland Beat from Milenio

Seven people were killed in a clandestine Palenque located in Juarez. 

According to information gathered at the site, armed men entered and began firing at people who were in the Palenque located between Zumpango and Coyuca streets in colonia Hermenegildo Galeana.

Five died at the scene, while two others died at the hospital they were transferred to.

The number of assassins was not made public, and the group they belonged to is unknown.

Five other killings reported

Two other men were killed early this morning wen they were travelling aboard a Malibu on the streets of Sabalo and Arenque in the Rancho Anapra neighborhood.

In another incident, a commando broke into a home and took the head of the household and later executed him away from the home.

In another incident, a corpse of a male was found in the Bellavista neighborhood.

One more body was discovered in the Mineral Los Arenales neighborhood.   

Where is Yaqui???

Chivis Martinez

We have received comments asking about BB contributor Yaqui.  I have asked Yaqui for permission to give BB followers a little update.

The truth is, Yaqui, her husband and their gaggle of animals were caught in the throes of the largest fire in California history.

High in the mountains of the Northern California, the so called “Ranch Fire” and “River Fire” united, becoming the Mendocino Complex Fire, which cut across a massive area leaving     hundreds of thousands acres scorched and destroyed in its path.

As of Saturday, California's Mendocino Complex Fire, the largest wildfire recorded in state history at 325,226 acres. It was 67 percent contained Saturday.

Yaqui and her husband, who I refer to as “Superman”, prepared and awaited each day, unsure if they were having to evacuate.  I encouraged her to “go”.  My son fights these massive fires in three states, so I have more knowledge than most people and I was fearful.  My son was fighting the Ferguson Fire at the time, another huge fire, that one in  in Yosemite.  The third big one is the Carr fire.  The Carr fire was the most unpredictable.  Firefighters witness fire behavior  unlike anything experience before.  Such as the “fire tornado” created by the fires falling on itself, whipping winds into a frenzy.