El Chapo Trial: Jesus Malverde miraculously appears in attorney conference room

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat

The New York Post is reporting that a small statue of Jesús Malverde, has appeared in the attorney conference room inside the Brookyn courthouse.

 

The Post says it is viable through the window of the 8^th floor conference room and hallway.  Just who was peering inside the window was not divulged.

Chapo lead attorney, Eduardo Balarezo was asked about the statute, “It miraculously appeared,” Balarezo joked.

Balarezo says on Wednesday, when El Rey began testifying as a cooperative witness, the statue appeared.

Jesús Malverde, possibly born as Jesús Juarez Mazo, "angel of the poor", or "narco-saint", is a folklore hero in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. Folklore says he robbed from the rich to give to the poor in the early 1900s.  Narcos pray to him as a patron saint for protection.

"The narcos have become an explanation to almost any crime in Mexico"

Translated by El Profe for Borderland Beat from Horizontal 

                   

 

Interview with Oswaldo Zavala, author of 'The cartels do not exist'

The book The Cartels do not exist. Drug trafficking and culture in Mexico (Malpaso Ediciones, 2018) has started a discussion in the last few months about violence in Mexico. Its author, journalist and academic Oswaldo Zavala, defends in its pages that the "war on drugs" is a fantastic narrative created by the authorities - and reproduced uncritically by many journalists and media - to hide another reality: a state strategy aimed at political control and the appropriation of territories rich in natural resources.

 

Your work questions the existence of 'cartels' as a group in conflict to the State, in fact, you point to the State itself as responsible for the violence, as the protagonist of a dispossessed capitalism that seeks to appropriate natural resources. Where does violence come from to stay and perpetuate itself?
 
The so-called 'war on drugs' is the public name of a violent state strategy that has had multiple uses in Mexico: from the illegal appropriation of territories rich in natural resources to the mediation of disputes between rival political groups. The most emblematic case, reported by journalists like Ignacio Alvarado and Dawn Paley, but also studied by academics such as Guadalupe Correa, is located in the state of Tamaulipas, where militarization has facilitated the spoliation of natural gas shale by transnational conglomerates. 

A founder of Los Zetas, Z12 is stabbed to death when arriving at Nuevo Laredo prison

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat from Rojo Metro

Luís Reyes Enríquez, alias "El Rex" or "Zeta 12", founder of the ex-military group "Los Zetas", former armed wing of the Gulf Cartel, was stabbed to death in Nuevo Laredo prison this weekend, where he had just been detained as an arrest warrant was executed.

Reyes Enríquez, was under the direct orders of Osiel Cárdenas Guillén, 

He had completed his sentence in the Federal Social Readaptation Center of Mihuatlán de Porfirio Díaz, in the state of Oaxaca.

When he was released he was again apprehended on charges filed in the state of Tamaulipas, and was transferred to the Nuevo Laredo prison, where he was  stabbed to death this weekend.

El Chapo Trial: Judge limits cross examination of El Rey by defense-for his "Safety"

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat

Reporters from NYT, NY Post and NY Daily News filed and objection with Judge Cogan, requesting access to a letter with redaction filed by prosecutors who seek to limit cross-examination of CW1 or “El Rey Zambada who just finished direct questioning yesterday.   Citing law and constitution, and the lack of court conclusion on record that would warrant the sealing of the document number 451, which is under seal from yesterday.

Supposedly there are concerns of EL Rey’s safety, yes,  prosecutors want to limit the cross examination for El Rey’s safety, reporters say is unfounded, as his identity is well known.

As part of his plea deal the government brought the family of El Rey to the United States for “their safety”.

In his ruling Cogan stated his concerns individuals and entities who are not parties to the case and who would face "embarrassment and harassment".  Therefore he is limiting evidence surrounding El Rey’s testimony. 

El Chapo trial: "Chapo Had Rodolfo Carrillo Fuentes killed for refusing to shake his han'd

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat Thank you JL my legal mind friend

Image of the Diamond crusted weapon belonging to El Chapo entered into evidence

Jesus “EL Rey” Zambada, continued his 3rd day of testimony in the Brooklyn trial of El Chapo. Today he dove into narco murder, such as a volley of bullets causing the decapitation of Julio Beltran Quintero. Another was Rodolfo Carrillo Fuentes, who allegedly refused to shake the hand of El Chapo, and he was eliminated. Another, police commander named “Rafita,” was lured to his death by a lie saying his son was hit by a car, the lie supported by special effects.

Rafita: El Rey said “Rafita” was a police commander  who was on the BLO payroll.  El Rey  alleges Chapo and El Rey’s brother,  El Mayo Zambada, had sicarios killed him by trickery.  Rafita’s small son had just left to school, when sicarios screeched tires and slammed on brakes to assimilate an accident, they then went to Rafita’s home and reported his son had been hit by a car. Rafita was killed as he rushed from the home.

Jalisco/Tlaquepaque: Shooting in Notorious Bar Leaves Three Men Dead

 Oaxaqueño for Borderland Beat sources below

On Friday night, three men were killed in a shooting in a nightclub in Tlaquepaque. The club, which is called Tropi Dance, is located at the corner of Avenida 8 de Julio and Calle San José Poniente, in Colonia Nueva Santa María, situated some seven kilometers south of Guadalajara’s city center. According to unofficial reports, an armed commando entered the club, apparently attempting to kidnap someone in the club. However, while leaving with the intended abductee, a shooting erupted on the premises of the club. The shootout was allegedly triggered by some guests trying to prevent the kidnapping, causing the death of two men (said to be aged between 35 and 40 years) and a 20-years-old employee. More than 50 cartridges of different calibers were found at the crime scene.

The latest shooting is already the second in this nightclub in 2018. In September, two men were shot dead in the club by an armed commando in an apparent targeted killing.

Sierra de Guerrero: 6,000 Displaced, 1,600 Returning

Translated by Yaqui for Borderland beat from: ElSol and Milenio
              
                    Due to violence, thousands of people have fled the Sierra de Guerrero

About 1,600 displaced and 450 closed schools is the balance of last Sunday's clash between criminal groups and community guards in the town of Filo de Caballos, municipality of Heliodoro Castillo, in the Sierra de Guerrero.

Social organizations defending human rights asked the government and the State Congress to declare a humanitarian emergency.

Civil human rights organizations demanded that the government of Guerrero and the local Congress declare a humanitarian crisis in the entity before the forced displacement of thousands of families due to violence:

The director of the Regional Center We for Human Rights José María Morelos y Pavón, Manuel Olivares Hernández, reported that there would be more than 6,000 people displaced in the state, 2,000 in the municipality of Leonardo Bravo, 2,000 in different communities of the Sierra, around 800 families from the communities of Ahuihuiyuco, Tetitlan de la Lima and Tepozcuautla, belonging to the municipality of Chilapa; 17 families from Tlaltempanapa and 24 from Quetzalcoatlán de las Palmas, both located in Zitlala.

Migrant Caravan: Video of kidnapped migrant being interrogated after issuing threat against Mexicans

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat- thank you Lacy, Sol Prendido and BB follower

Related article with video of his threats use this hyperlink

This young migrant is the person kidnapped after he  shot his mouth off in a video calling Mexicans assholes and threatening violence against them “if that’s what they want.   This was subsequent to the Tijuana confrontation between migrants and citizens at the border of Tijuana and the U.S.  Supposedly it is the Tijuana Cartel that kidnapped him.  That is what the text says with the video. They are trying to determine who the leader of the migrant group is.  

Body of US Hiker Found in Urique: “El Chueco” of Gente Nueva named as Culprit

Posted by Yaqui for Borderland Beat from: Charlotte Observer and El Heraldo

This story was updated at 8 a.m. Mon, Nov 19. By: By Jane Wester and Mark Price

The body of Patrick Braxton-Andrew, who went missing in northern Mexico at the end of October, has been recovered, according to a Facebook page maintained by friends and family during the search; specifically in the Copper Canyon in the Sierra of Chihuahua.

After weeks of searching, the governor of the Mexican state of Chihuahua announced Thursday that Braxton-Andrew died on Oct. 28, the day he was last seen leaving for a walk near his hotel.

Chihuahua Gov. Javier Corral Jurado said in a Facebook post that Braxton-Andrew was killed by drug cartel leader Jose Noriel Porfilo Gil, also known as “El Chueco.”

Braxton-Andrew’s body was found on a beach in the town of Urique, according to Corral’s Facebook post. Corral’s post does not make clear if investigators believe Gil himself killed the teacher or if they suspect one of the drug dealer’s associates.

Armed Attack in Taxco: 4 Dead and 9 Wounded

Translated by Yaqui for Borderland Beat from: ElSur

             
Thanks to Sol Prendido for the Video!
       According to official sources, the attack occurred around 10:30 this morning when a group of paramedics and volunteers from the Red Cross arrived at the community's central plaza to deliver support, and supplies such as mats and blankets, for the cold season to residents of the community of San Juan Tenería, Taxco Municipality, Guerrero.

Iguala, Guerrero, November 18, 2018: Three state policemen and a Red Cross paramedic killed, as well as eight people injured and a missing agent, during  an armed attack/ ambush by about twenty men this Sunday in the community of San Juan Tenería; who rode in in about 5 vehicles and opened fire. 

The attack was against the state police officers who were in a patrol providing security and lasted about 25 minutes, based on testimonies of witnesses.

According to official information, the state police guarded the humanitarian brigadistas, when five vans arrived with at least 20 armed men dressed as soldiers and assaulted them.

A Caravan migrant is kidnapped, he bragged about shooting down Mexicans

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat Thank you Lacy! material from Superchannel 12

He said "What are 30 assholes going to do against 30k migrants?"

It began when a Central American migrant was interviewed on video, threatening to Mexicans who are protesting against the caravan.  It is unclear where this took place but most likely in Tijuana Mexico, near the POE with the United States.

He threatened to shoot Mexicans that interfered, saying, “If they want violence, that is what they will see. What are 30 assholes going to do against 30k migrants?” he asked.

He is heard about next in a video posted on social media, after he is kidnapped and is being interrogated.

"El H" Hector Beltran Leyva BLO Capo, dies while incarcerated

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat

Héctor Beltrán Leyva alias "El H", leader of the Beltran Leyva cartel, died on Sunday, after being hospitalized in the municipality of Toluca, State of Mexico, confirmed the Ministry of the Interior (Segob).

He suffered a heart attack in the afternoon, and  was transferred from the Maximum Security Prison of  Altiplano prison,  to the López Mateos Medical Center, where he died around 4:00 p.m.

El H was arrested in 2014, in San Miguel de Allende, in the state of Guanajuato.

The Life and Death of a Mexican Hitman

Posted by El Profe for Borderland Beat from crisisgroup.org

Photo: CRISISGROUP/Falko Ernst

                            
by Falko Ernst

Researching how Mexico can uproot the scourge of organised crime, our Senior Analyst Falko Ernst befriends a doomed hitman on the run from his past. Talking to the sicario in the Michoacán underworld, he learns much about the deadly challenges the new government faces.

It’s 7pm on a Sunday, and night is falling in this Michoacán town. The heat of the day is past, and there’s a pleasant breeze. The first visitors to the park have left for dinner, but many hang around.
Around the park’s outer edges, teenagers stroll in two circular currents.

The boys walk with their friends, in teams of two, three or four. The girls do the same, but in the opposite direction. So the circles intersect, inescapably, again and again. Boys and girls trade shy, longing glances. The lucky few get to hold hands or share a bench, words of affection and maybe a kiss. It’s a teenage ritual, here and in countless municipal parks across Mexico.

Mexico City: 19 Kilos of Coke on a Bus

Translated by Yaqui for Borderland Beat from: Debate

Mexico City:  Elements of the Federal Police seized 19 kilos of alleged  cocaine in a bus that departed from the Central del Norte Bus Station, in Mexico City.

After receiving information about the transfer of the drug in a foreign unit, members of the Anti-Drug Division and a trained K-9 dog chased the unit.

An operation was arranged to locate and stop the advance of the passenger transport unit, which was already en route to Zacatecas.

"With the support of a canine unit dog a detailed inspection was made to the unit in its luggage area, seats, cabin and it was in the bathroom where the K-9 dog  made a positive alert to discover 19 rectangular packages, wrapped with adhesive tape, which when analyzing its content, contained  a white substance with the characteristics of cocaine. "

The driver of the bus, Antonio "N", was arrested and presented to the Public Ministry of the Federation along with the confiscated drug, which could reach an amount worth 6 million pesos in retail marketing of up to 57,000 doses.

Note: I do not know about this math ! Doesn't really match with the prices listed on my Post entitled : Drug Menu from Tepito

BCS Journalist Disappeared

Translated by Yaqui for Borderland Beat from: NLZP

THE JOURNALIST JUAN FRANCISCO AVILES IN CABO SAN LUCAS HAS DISAPPEARED

Cabo San Lucas.- Reporters from the municipality of Los Cabos are reporting the sudden disappearance of journalist Juan Francisco Avilés in the port of Cabo San Lucas, which has been reported by his wife this afternoon , Thursday Nov 15 before the Attorney General's Office.

According to the first reports, the journalist who is the author of a radio program called "El Jitomatazo" dedicated to the citizen complaints, left Thursday afternoon from his home in the Chulavista neighborhood, to help a friend who had a  mechanical problem with his vehicle.

They say that happened at seven o'clock on Wednesday night and since then nothing has been known about his whereabouts. His phone has not answered and his wife is very worried, so she decided to report his disappearance to the authorities.

At the same time, it is reported that an operation is being established to locate Juan Francisco Avilés, also a  reporter for the Radio Diferente station, in the municipality of Los Cabos.

Migrants choose Tijuana POE: Is it because of "sanctuary" and El Chapo not diversifying?

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat - thank you Tu Fren- WaPo

Why is the caravan going all the way to Tijuana to reach the U.S. border? One reason is “El Chapo.”

Why is the caravan going all the way to Tijuana to reach the U.S. border? One reason is “El Chapo.”

Last week, after caravan members recuperated for several days at a Mexico City sports complex, they held a vote. The group opted to travel all the way to Tijuana, Mexico’s largest border city, instead of taking a much shorter route toward the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas.

So why would they decide to go more than twice as far to reach the U.S. border?

The simplest explanation is that the activist group guiding the caravan, Pueblo Sin Fronteras (People Without Borders), has a strong support network in California, a “sanctuary” state where local officials and courts are more sympathetic to migrants.

Notorious Humberto Moreira diverted 3 Billion MP says his former finance secretary

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat from Reforma

Javier Villarreal affirms that Humberto Moreira obtained 3 billion pesos by "modifying/inflating invoices"

Back before the house caved in-Javier and Moreira 

Translated by "Cruz" for Borderland Beat!

Javier Villarreal affirms that Humberto Moreira obtained 3 billion pesos by "modifying/inflating invoices"

According to an investigation by the newspaper "El Pais" (the country), the ex-governor of Coahuila took possession of public funds through his own businesses by using the previously stated method. Which obtained benefits of up to 600 million pesos.

"Humberto Moreira, ex-president of the PRI party, took possession of money from the treasury through public tenders in which his businesses took part in, some of which ended up invoicing 600 million pesos, according to the declaration that he presented in San Antonio, Texas, Javier Villarreal Hernandez, who was his financial secretary between 2008 and 2010", reported by Jose Maria Irujo, investigative journalist of El Pais.

More Murders and Human Remains in BC / BCS

Translated by Yaqui for Borderland Beat from: Zeta and BCS Noticias

                10 homicides recorded in the last hours in Tijuana including a dismembered body

By: Uriel Saucedo Photo / Ángeles García
Extra Material from: El Sol

Tijuana.- In different violent events that occurred in the last 24 hours, a total of 10 people were killed, among which were a dismembered body and a double homicide, with no one detained so far.

The majority of these killings were as a result of direct armed attacks, which occurred in the Rural Presa, La Mesa, Natura, and Sanchez Taboada delegations.

It is worth mentioning that of the total number of people executed, one woman was among the victims and the others were men. This is only initial reporting from Today, Saturday Nov 17, 2018.

Sinaloa Cartel Dominated Mx City Airport, Beltran Leyva-Toluca

Translated by Yaqui for Borderland Beat from: Vanguardia

So large were the quantities of drugs that the Cartels moved , that the same federal authorities have not been able to size them up. They also continue operating in different airports.

While the Sinaloa Cartel seized control of the International Airport of Mexico City , the Beltrán Leyva did that of Toluca. Although they still operate, their best years to receive and send cargoes through these channels was between 2010 and 2013, intelligence sources comment.

Under the shelter and protection of police commanders and airport workers, the Sinaloa cartel, with Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán and Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada , smuggled heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and cash.

Guanajuato/Irapuato: Several People, Including 5-Year-Old-Child, Killed in Shootout Between Rival Sicarios

Oaxaqueño for Borderland Beat

On Wednesday night, at about 10:15pm local time, a shootout erupted in the parking lot of the shopping mall Murano, located in the western part of Irapuato, some 3 kilometers west of the city center. Reportedly, about 12 men and one woman were drinking alcohol between two vans of luxury class in the mall’s parking lot. The attackers, said to be about 8 men in vans and a car as well as 2 men on a motorcycle, opened fire on them. One man of the attacked group died while three others were injured. Additionally, a woman (bystander) was wounded. In the course of the attack, the group under fire armed themselves with firearms out of the nearby vans, thereby repelling the attack by shooting back.