Rene Gerardo Garza Santana ("El 300") is the founder of La Empresa, a violent gang in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua.
Rene Gerardo Garza Santana ("El 300"), the leader of La Empresa, one of the deadliest gangs in Ciudad Juarez, is on trial for a triple murder conducted in this city in October 2016. His attorney Miguel Angel Almanza was prepared to represent him but he was murdered last December. El 300 is now under the legal representation of Jorge Humberto Carrillo and Luis Calderon, two prominent criminal defense attorneys from Chihuahua.
The prosecution is looking to prove that El 300, who is currently at the Federal Social Readaptation Center in Oaxaca, masterminded a triple murder at Tres Mentiras bar in Ciudad Juarez. The three victims were: Héctor Daniel Carreón Zúñiga, Adrián Vargas Contreras, and Alejandro Renteria Arreola. Two gang members (Joel Martínez Lozada and Mario Alberto Gómez) were arrested for the crime, but they were released nearly three years ago after authorities were unable to prove their involvement in the mass murder. Witnesses say that the killing was driven by a dispute in narcomenudeo (street drug sales).
Emma Coronel Aispuro , wife of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera , imprisoned in the United States for leading the Sinaloa Cartel , was arrested today in Virginia on charges related to her alleged participation in the trafficking of drugs internationally.
Colonel Aispuro, 31, a US and Mexican citizen, from Culiacán, Sinaloa, was arrested today at Dulles International Airport. She is scheduled to make her initial appearance tomorrow.
According to court documents, Aispuro is accused of participating in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana for importation into the United States.
The United States Department of Justice noted that Coronel Aispuro conspired with others to help Guzmán escape from the Altiplano in Mexico on July 11, 2015.
According to information from US authorities, after 'El Chapo' Guzmán was arrested again in Mexico in January 2016, Coronel Aispuro became involved in planning another prison break prior to her husband's extradition to the United States in January 2017 .
"El Chapo" , Joaquin Guzmán Loera was sentenced to life in prison by a jury in the Eastern District of New York in 2019 for his role as the leader of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Now, Colonel Aispuro is charged in a criminal complaint with one count of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, five kilograms or more of cocaine, one thousand kilograms or more of marijuana, and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine for illegal importation into the United States. .
The FBI's Washington Field Office is investigating the case. Acting Deputy Director Anthony Nardozzi and trial attorney Kate Wagner of the Department of Justice's Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Section are handling the case. US DOJ Press Release, Next Page.
Carlos Ruben Ramirez Monroy was based in Europe and reportedly smuggled hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine since 2016.
In March 2020, Romanian authorities arrested Carlos Ruben Ramirez Monroy, a high-ranking Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) member based in Europe. He was extradited to the U.S. in July to face trial for his outstanding drug charges, but his transfer was not announced in the press or garnered international headlines. Today, the Romanian police released the video of his extradition. Ramirez-Monroy was a CJNG representative in Europe under Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes ("El Mencho").
According to U.S. authorities, Ramirez-Monroy coordinated international drug trafficking activities for the CJNG from 2016 to 2020. His drug operations extended from Mexico, the US, New Zealand and several countries in Europe. In Romania, the CJNG smuggled narcotics through various ports, including Port of Constanța, the largest on the Black Sea. Once inside Romanian borders, the CJNG moved the drugs through local gangs and distributors.
His arrest in Bucharest last year was kept a "secret" while U.S. authorities negotiated for his extradition. His capture was part of a US-led international operation headed by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). One source claimed that the interest towards Ramirez-Monroy was so high that the day after he was arrested, a US special agent arrived in Bucharest to start negotiations.
An armed criminal cell burst into a hospital in the municipality of Huichapan, Hidalgo. During the early hours of this Sunday to take 4 injured individuals who had been involved in a traffic accident on the Portezeulo - Palmillas highway near the El Carmen neighborhood.
The confirmation was made by staff of the Secretary of State Health. Who filed a complaint with the Attorney General of Justice of the state of Hidalgo. To initiate an investigation after a group of men with heavy caliber weapons forcibly entered the Huichapan general hospital.
And obligated health personnel to hand over the injured. According to reports collected by the newspaper Punto por Punto | Digital Newspaper of Mexico. The Toyota Hilux truck in which the 4 people who were injured were traveling in ended up overturned on the Portezeulo - Palmillas highway on Saturday night, February 20.
Four men were transferred to the hospital to provide them with medical attention. However, an armed criminal cell made up of various men arrived at the Huichapan general hospital.
Who, after threatening the guards, took the 4 men aboard a municipal civil protection ambulance. A police operation was initiated in the area. Eventually, the ambulance was located abandoned on the Huichapan - Tecozautla highway.
With an injured individual inside in critical condition. Paramedics transferred the injured person to the Huichapan general hospital, but he died en route. The whereabouts of the other 3 wounded and the armed criminal cell that took them away is still unknown.
Alleged members of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación tried to enter the municipality of Tepalcatepec, Michoacán. According to local media it was around 8:00 a.m. this Sunday when the entry of a convoy of CJNG vehicles was reported in the towns of La Bocanda, Voladeros and La Estanzuela.
Faced with this, the so-called self-defense groups or Carteles Unidos opened fire against the hitmen of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación. To prevent them from taking control of those towns.
At the scene of the confrontation, elements of the National Guard, the Mexican army, and the State Police arrived. As well as a State helicopter. At the conclusion of the shooting, government officials seized 3 vehicles, rifles, and tactical equipment. It was also said that 3 Jalisco hit men were killed.
So far there is no official statement on these events. And the exact number of the seizure is unknown. Of note is that just yesterday another attack by the CJNG was reported in the town of El Aguaje, municipality of Aguililla. Where gunmen for Carteles Unidos managed to neutralize a Ford Raptor truck. And a monster narco truck.
The Mexican government was investigating him for his suspected ties to Los Tlacos, an organized crime group in Guerrero.
Pedro Pablo Uriostegui Salgado, former mayor of Teloloapan, Guerrero, was found dead in the municipality of Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc. His family says that he was kidnapped a few days before he was found dead. Urióstegui Salgado was brutally tortured, beaten, and shot multiple times on the face.
According to local media reports, Uriostegui Salgado had ties to Los Tlacos, a criminal group based Heliodoro Castillo Municipality. They are currently fighting against La Bandera (also known as Guerreros Unidos) for control of Iguala, Cocula, Tepecoacuilco, Huitzuco, and other municipalities in northern Guerrero.
Miguel Ángel Treviño Morales, El Z-40, leader of Los Zetas, the most bloodthirsty cartel in Mexico, became relevant news again. After it was made known that alleged threats were made to members of the judiciary.
The warnings have been revealed on social networks and confirmed by the newspaper El Universal. They assure that there is fear among the judges in charge of the process against the criminal ringleader. A few days ago they received an authentic letter with El Z-40 handwriting in which he threatened them.
El Z-40 is currently being held at the prison #17 in Buenavista in the state of Michoacán. This is the prison that he was transferred to last July after accusing authorities from Puente Grande in Jalisco of trying to disappear or assassinate him. At that time, Miguel Ángel Treviño's lawyer assured that his client was a victim of torture and cruel treatment.
In addition to the fact that the judges allegedly sought to carry out an extra judicial execution. Aside from the viciousness of his murders and engaging in drug trafficking. And other crimes such as migrant smuggling, kidnapping, and extortion.
The drug lord is responsible for ordering the kidnapping of 265 immigrants. Whose bodies were located in clandestine graves in the municipality of San Fernando, Tamaulipas in 2010.
The American journalist Alfredo Corchado, threatened by death from Los Zetas, tells in his book “Midnight in Mexico” that Miguel Ángel Treviño used to eat the heart of some of his victims while they were still alive. Believing that that would make him invisible. And he recruited his hitmen by forcing them to shoot a person at random.
Note to readers: This article covers the story of an Albanian drug lord who heads one of the largest criminal groups in Europe. His cartel is a federation of 14 Albanian gangs that smuggle cocaine from South America to Europe.
From a prison cell in Ecuador, Dritan Rexhepi coordinated a sophisticated ‘transnational crime federation’ of Albanian drug traffickers, controlling the flow of cocaine from South America to Europe, from departure to distribution (photo: Interpol)
Former police officer Arben Frasheri recalls interrogating Dritan Rexhepi in 2006 in the Albanian port of Durres, when the door to the holding cell was left open during a break in questioning. Reports say Rexhepi walked into the corridor and told the officer on guard:
“They’re finished with me.” He was allowed to leave. “Dritan Rexhepi benefitted from negligence,” recalled Frasheri, “and left the police premises.”
It was a costly lapse, giving rise to a career in which Rexhepi, now 40 years old, built an international crime syndicate that has funneled hundreds of millions of euros worth of cocaine from South America to Europe, even as Rexhepi has sat in a prison cell in Ecuador since 2014.
Fourteen years later, in September 2020, the police came knocking, arresting 20 suspects in coordinated raids in 10 countries in Europe and the Middle East to dismantle the Albanian crime syndicate, ‘Kompania Bello’.
Travelers are exposed to being victims of a crime during their journey
The route over the 81 kilometers that make up the Parral - Jiménez highway. Has been determined not to have any presence of Federal or State authorities within any part of the highway.
During the journey of approximately 50 minutes, no unit of the National Guard Road Division was present. Despite the fact that at the outskirts of each municipality the headquarters are located.
Meanwhile, at the State Prosecutor’s South Zone Office there’s no check point. In spite of the fact that they had previously announced the implementation of operations and around the clock presence.
It should be noted that, previously, the state corporation maintained a checkpoint at the junction to the Pueblito de Allende. Which opened at midday. And remained open for part of the afternoon. However, after the drive nothing is detected.
Given the above facts, travelers remain exposed to being victims of a crime during their journey. A situation that has already occurred repeatedly, after the theft of vehicles or clashes between criminal groups on the highway.
A possible drug debt or a contract that wasn’t fulfilled, the FGJEM asserts as a possible motive for the murder Friday night of Jaime Cruz. He was the vocalist of the Merengue Zona Rika music group.
The FGJEM reported that according to initial investigations, the well-known singer had already fallen into the underworld of drugs. His addiction was so strong that he purposely fell into to debt with many people in order to satisfy his craving. He eventually lost interest in his work as well as his family.
They pointed out that according to family testimonies of the vocalist, Jaime was no longer interested in anything. The only thing he wanted was to have drugs to satisfy his addiction and for this he was in heavy debt. "He owed everyone, everyone was looking for him to get paid".
We believe that was the reason why he was murdered. In addition to this he was also stealing money from different businessmen. He would promise to play at an event, charge them in advance. And on the day of the event simply didn’t show up because his vice wouldn’t allow it.
After so many conflicts, said the Prosecutor's Office, last Friday night there was someone who no longer put up with the vocalist. And had him killed for his many debts.
Jaime Cruz Pastrana, the vocalist of the merengue group known as Zona Rika, was shot by two men. They shot him 15 times from a motorcycle while he was traveling in a white Ford Ecosport on Quintana Roo Avenue. In the San Pablo de las Salinas neighborhood, the municipality of Tultitlán, in the company of his romantic partner.
"We were driving in our vehicle, when suddenly out of nowhere two guys on a motorcycle drove out in front of us. They shot at Jaime repeatedly," the woman told the police.
After being shot at 13 times, the woman added, the criminals quickly fled on their motorcycle. The police have no leads on their identity or whereabouts.
Jimmy's wife, the vocalist stage name, asked the police for help. He was still showing vital signs. Once the paramedics arrived minutes later, they certified that the 52-year-old male had already died.
The crime scene was cordoned off by elements of the National Guard and the state police. Afterwards the body was transferred to the forensic medical service of the Tultitlán justice center.
The FGJEM continues its investigations, in order to establish exactly what the motive of the crime was. And apprehend those responsible to close this case.
Several years ago, an attorney for Zona Rika was also executed, another crime that still remains unsolved.
Members of other musical groups such as Merenglass and Los Askis, through social networks, lamented the murder of Jaime Cruz and demanded that the authorities solve this crime.