Blog dedicated to reporting on Mexican drug cartels
on the border line between the US and Mexico
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Friday, June 25, 2010

"I Killed, Cut off Heads" Says Repentant Mexico Hitman

WARNING: Graphic content, discretion is advised.

Reuters
By Robin Emmott and Julian Cardona
Ciudad Juarez - The kills started with a telephone call and often ended with a beheading, but they were all just jobs for the drug hitman, one of maybe hundreds that have scarred Ciudad Juarez's streets. He now says the tortured faces of the dead haunt him.

Recounting his years as a hired killer, he says most of his jobs began with a voice down the phone telling him where to meet. At the safe house he would find the weapons and the hit squad. They would pass around a photo of their target -- a police chief who owed money, a politician who got in the way -- and wait for the signal, sometimes for days.

The target can be at home, at the office, outside a mall, or on patrol, but the killers rarely struggle to find their prey. Bodyguards are regularly bought off.

Several shots to the back of the head or a tight ring of bullets through the car door and into the body is enough.

The killers are told to cut off the victim's head if he talked too much. They will saw off his arms and fingers if he stole drugs and cash. And they'll chop up his body if they've been told to.

"There are things people do that they shouldn't, and that is the punishment," the hitman and former Mexican police officer told Reuters from a secure location in Ciudad Juarez, across the border from El Paso, Texas.

Fearing for his safety, he asked to have his identity kept secret. He spoke in almost a whisper, his eyes hidden behind mirrored sunglasses. A row of broken teeth were just visible behind his bottom lip.

Hitmen working for murderous drug gangs are turning Mexico, a top U.S. oil supplier and trade partner and a prominent emerging market economy that has scored points for political stability, into a conflict zone that is alarming Washington, tourists and foreign investors.


President Felipe Calderon launched a military crackdown on the drug cartels in late 2006, sparking fresh turf wars and attacks on police, and more than 25,000 people have since been killed across Mexico, many of them tortured, beheaded or strung from bridges. June is on pace to be among the bloodiest months yet.

KILLERS NOW ABOUND

This hitman used to get up to $15,000 in cash for each murder. "They pay peanuts now," he said, waving his arm out of a large skylight over a group of abandoned houses in Ciudad Juarez, where a staggering 5,500 people have died in drug violence over the past 2-1/2 years. [ID:nN16238458]

Everybody is a cartel killer these days, he said. Drug dealers, addicts, low-level cops, teenagers. "They kill women and children, they're very careless," he said, insisting he was a professional since his first execution at age 17.

"I killed, cut off heads," he said coldly.

Now in this late 30s, he worked for years along the U.S. border, in the states of Baja California, Sinaloa and Sonora.

Well before the drug war escalated, he moved to Ciudad Juarez where top trafficker Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman from northwestern Sinaloa state sent his henchmen to take on the rival Juarez cartel and win over smuggling routes into the United States.

"I had a lot of work in 2008, sometimes several jobs a day," the hitman said, flinching, in a solemn reference to the explosion of violence in the manufacturing city.

He was paid to murder businessmen, local government officials and senior policemen, never small-time smugglers. The hitman apparently worked for Guzman, but refused to say the kingpin's name. "You know who I mean," the hitman said.

After 20 years in the business, he couldn't take it anymore and he got out. "I've changed my life." He holds a Bible, he is repentant, he is a born-again Christian and he has a wife. He says the past weighs on his conscience.

"So many times you see how the people end up, their heads shot to pieces. It gets ingrained in your mind, however evil the guy was who had to die, it stays in your brain."

POLICEMAN TO HITMAN

He says at first he was nervous, shaking. He did it drugged, but he knew how to handle a handgun because he had been well-trained as a police officer in his home state of Durango, northwestern Mexico.

Durango, where many poor farmers have turned their land over for marijuana cultivation, is where middle-aged Guzman held a wedding ceremony with a new 18-year-old bride in 2007. It is 'narco' territory, and it's where the hitman learned the business.

A high-school dropout, he and his group of school friends smuggled marijuana down from the lush mountain farms to Durango city, passing through army checkpoints at designated times.

"There were arrangements," he said. He joined the police force a little later but only lasted a year, enough time to learn how to use an automatic weapon.

He witnessed Mexico's deep police corruption first hand in Durango and picked up what he needed to know about kidnapping, extortions, bribing officials and contract killings.

"That's when I became what I am, I was in Sinaloa, Durango, I was in charge of three areas with other friends, we managed criminal operations, persecutions, kidnappings."

Carrying various cell phones and always on the move, he learned to live a low-key lifestyle: drive an old car, never travel with weapons, and permanently on call.

"There are people in Juarez who handle us, distribute us between jobs. We come from all over, we just come in to do what we come to do, we make the kill and get out, disappear."

WARNING: The following video depicts extreme graphic/violent material, 12 men decapitaed in Merida Yucatan.

49 comments:

  1. I was curious, have you guys ever heard of the concept of Letters of Marque and Reprisal? Because supposedly, Mexico is not a signatory of the Declaration of Paris. The US still has the Letter of Marque in it's constitution(Article 1, Section 8), and it is a concept that could be used to connect government with private industry for this war.

    In essence, the Mexican government could issue licenses to individuals or companies for the expressed purpose of killing or capturing wanted men or cartels and allowing that party to keep a portion of the prize(as determined by a prize court) If they violate the terms of the license and contract, they could instantly turn into criminals and be put onto the kill or capture list. Expiration dates could be attached to the things, and such a license would give a government body control, but allow for private industry to do it's thing.

    In other words, if you want to eradicate an ultra violent and ever expanding criminal industry, you need an equally violent industry that profits from destroying it.

    Either way, I believe it would be an interesting story to research Mexico's use of the Letter of Marque and how they could use it today for dealing with the cartels.

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  2. so much for keeping his identity completely concealed...sure, let's hint at this man's age (late 30s...probably between ages 37-39...he was 17 when he entered this gruesome business and got out after 20yrs)...where is he from? Durango. Need a description? "A row of broken teeth were just visible behind his bottom lip." I know this could be anybody, but still, these "clues" are very descriptive...


    i don't understand how someone can do what is shown on this video...wow! (and not in a good way).

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    Replies
    1. I thought the same, even wonder if this is fake because it's very unprofessional

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  3. now how messed up is that, you have someone taking a chance and asked to keep his identity
    a secret then you sort of discribe him.
    although it's a good way to get rid of another bad person

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  4. Interesting. Thanks Matt!

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  5. Born again christian? And now he wants pity? Sorry dude, your conscience bought the farm and I feel no mercy for you. Regards to satan.

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    Replies
    1. by saying that you are condemning yourself!

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    2. ALL THESEZ PEOPLE KNOWED AS CARTELZ SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE STREETS ALONG WITH THEY SHITY SATAN FAMILYS STRAIGHT FACTZ AND WHEN THEY ALL DIE SLOWLY I WANT ALL OF THEM 2 BURN IN 🔥HELL🔥SLOWLY!

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  6. No one is beyond the reach of Christ's sacrifice on the cross....if the death of God Himself is not sufficient, then no one is able to be saved. Lack of compassion is just as horrible in God's eyes as murder. "There is NONE righteous" I'm thankful that God's mercy isn't measured by human standards or there would be no one in heaven.

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    Replies
    1. Amen. Ignorance to his love out there!

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  7. And the answer to this violence is: Death Squads. Just like the ones used in Colombia against the Medellin Cartel back in the Pablo Escobar days. They had a free hand in dealing with ANYBODY that had ties with the cartel. Guess who finally ended catching and executing Pablo Escobar while trying to escape from them by runnig out a second floor window and running on a roof. Yes, the death squads who had him on the run.

    PS: Guess who was backing the Death Squads? The Colombian gov and DEA, but that was supposed to be a secret.

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  8. i feel like whats going on in Mexico is sick and savage NO one deserves to be chopped up AND DEGRADED LIKE THIS I SEND MY PRAYERS OUT TO THESE TWELVE MEN LOVE JASMINE

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  9. Zetas..Zetas..Zetas..That's all I read here! Calderon must be doing a great job in war against drugs and crime! Wonder what's going on in Sonora..Sinaloa..don't read/hear much.Hmmmmm!

    Makes one wonder...

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  10. Agree with Anon 2:35p.m. the only way out of this is through "Death Squads" such as the ones that were use\d during Cesar Gavira's reign in Columbia.

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  11. No problem. Feel free to search my blog's archives about the concept of the Letter of Marque. There is not much written about the concept, and I have been trying to collect it all for any interested readers or governments.

    For the record, I am a former Marine and current security contractor. I write about the security contracting industry in places like Iraq or Afghanistan.

    http://feraljundi.com/index.php?s=Letter+of+Marque

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  12. STRATEGY IS VERY USEFUL... THESE DESCRIPTIONS IN A GULLABLE PERSONS EYES CAN SEEM TO DESCRIBE THE SOMEONE... HOWEVER WE DO NOT KNOW IF THE PERSON WAS REALLY FROM CANCUN INSTEAD OF DURANGO OR WAS ACTUALLY 41 INSTEAD OF WHAT YOU MAY THINK AS 38.. USE YOUR BRAIN BUDDY

    """so much for keeping his identity completely concealed...sure, let's hint at this man's age (late 30s...probably between ages 37-39...he was 17 when he entered this gruesome business and got out after 20yrs)...where is he from? Durango. Need a description? "A row of broken teeth were just visible behind his bottom lip." I know this could be anybody, but still, these "clues" are very descriptive..."""

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    Replies
    1. Naw, a good journalist would have been able to write this without any kind of information like that involved

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  13. Instant death penalty for anyone connected in any way to the cartels will make some think twice.

    If it is hard to catch the cartel leaders, arrest and jail every family member as accessories to crime. Hit the narcos where they hurt and make them suffer a little of what they have inflicted on innocent civilians.

    It worked in Columbia. Unfortunately, Columbia's drop in crime pushed drug trafficking to Mexico which has had a centuries-long tradition of corruption.

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  14. Do they cut their heads off before or after they kill them?

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  15. The only thing that will stop it is legalizing drugs in the US. That ain't likely to happen.

    There is just too much money involved. The whole system, top to bottom, has been corrupted by it. It is the gateway to the biggest market for illegal drugs in the world.

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    Replies
    1. DUUUUUH!!!!!!!! THAT IS THE ONLY REASON THAT THIS HAPPENS!!! THERE WOULD BE NO DRUG CARYTELS IF WE COULD PURCHASE DRUGS AT THE STORE!!!! The war on drugs IS the war on HUMANITY, and its really the fucks that think drugs need to be illegal that ALL this violence falls upon!!! if u think drugs are bad, look at the effects of your choice!!!!LOOK AT WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH YOUR IGNORANT BELIEF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The deaths and torture would not take place if not for YOU, so i hope you get right with god, because you reap what you sew, and you are the FERTALIZER that feeds thes crops. drugs are inanimate, but your decision to make them illegal is the culprit behind the violence ensuing... i hope you FEEL thus pain and turn from your despicable and ignorant views!!!!!!!!!!

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  16. omg this is sooo sad idk why ppl dont think b4 doing crimes like this.!!

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  17. that one dead dude's underpants look uncomfortable...

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  18. The very worst torture is to capture the entire family and to cut the limb(s) of the head of the family and make hamburgers right in front of the entire family watching the procedure. Then feed those hamburgers to all of the members of the family. Then release everyone including the limbless head of the family. Let them live. I've heard of this kind of practice in some anonymous locale. That would be the most cruel act I've ever heard. Nothing else compares to it, not even a forced rape of the entire family. Please don't do this at home nor to anyone else!

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  19. what ever happens happens just be ready to protect u and ur loved ones..shoot first the hell with the questions later,shoot,em again.

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  20. Call them bad people all you want, but you all have no idea what those decapitated men did to have their heads cut off. They could have killed a brother, a son, mother, daughter, father, boss, comrade, anything, and the decapitation is merely the retribution...

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  21. I hope that someone will do this to every doctor at the Food and Drug Administration. Those Nazi bastards deserve nothing less. Dr. Lawrence Deyton, Dr. Margret Hamburg, Dr. Jeffrey Wigand for starters.

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  22. OmG OmG OmG OmG OmG OmG OmG OmG OmG OmG OmG OmG OmG

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  23. Let's see if an Islamic nuclear device gets into the US via Mexico someday and is driven to a major US city like Los Angeles and set off. Not at all farfetched that you would believe.

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  24. funny how americans barely know this is happening i went to mexico when i was 12 i am 25 now, the cartel war has always been going on , its jus now they got more disgusting killing whole familys etc, its dangrous to go to mexico this goes to any mexican who has family their, someone in ur family cousin, aunt, uncle 2nd cousin will be invloved in a cartel, the rivals will go after you, they thrive on getting a american/mexican relative to kill, i know by exp... sad im ashamed to be mexican

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  25. Dios todo poderoso por favor regresa pronto, con tu mano poderosa trae justicia y paz para todos los que son victimas de satanas.
    Retribuyele sus actos mil veces.
    Y a esta bestia destruyela junto con sus equaces y dales sufrimiento eterno.

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  26. .....THIS PRESENT WORLD AGE....MANKIND IN THE FLESH).....WAS FOR THE SAKE OF THE PARABLE OF THE LOST (PRODIGAL SON) LUKE 15;11 TO REPENT....CHANGED HIS MIND AND HEART....

    ....FOR THE ANGELS REJOICE WHEN ONE RETURNS BACK HOME; LUKE 15;10....

    ....YES HE DID MURDER, WHICH JUSTIFIES THIS MANS EXECUTION, BUT, GOD HOPES THAT THE 1/3 OF THE FALLEN WILL COME BACK TO HIM....

    ....FOR THOSE WHOSE LIFESTYLE IS LIKE THESE MANS, BEFORE DEATH COMES AT YOUR DOOR, THERE IS STILL HOPE AND AMENDING OF YOUR TRANSGRESSIONS.... BEFORE GOD COURT AND THOSE YOU'VE KILLED...

    ....YES ARDRENT, AND THOSE NONE BELIEVERS, THERE IS SCIENTIFIC FACT THAT AN INTELLIGENT BEING CREATED YOU AND THIS WORLD ....

    ....FOR ALL THAT IS DONE UNDER THE SUN IS VANITY!!!

    ....ONE DAY ALL WILL BOW DONE (ALL) AND DECLARE JESUS CHRIST IS LORD OF LORDS, AND KINGS OF KINGS!!!!!.......

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  27. If he has regretted his actions and is a "changed man" then turn yourself in.

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  28. wtf? is that water running in the background? are they cleaning up and getting ready to go grab a bite? thats just sick :-o

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  29. medatristesa y un chingo de corage pero dios esta aya arriba y el sabe lo ke hace y espero ke dios castige a estas personas ke isieros esto amen

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  30. my dad told me when a man does some sick shit like cuting of a mans head that he is messing with god i believe god will make you pay for what you have done some how you will be forgiven but it has to be proven to him and he knows everything good luck fuck that narco sicario shit mentaly

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  31. death squads?? So you want to fight fire with even more fire and then you would be the one talking bout put more gasoline in the fire. Why dont we put out the fire wich is the violence in other words, By just legalizing these dam drugs. Ey gringos! stop tryn to tell people how they should feel. REMEMBER THE BOXER REBELLION! The U.S is no diffrent from Great Britian. The white man wants to take over mexico by killing its society and mexicos morality

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  32. None of this is going to stop. It's not in the United States convenience drugs make the world go round. There's even suspicion that Obam is in on this. This particular cartel of Los Zetas deserves this because of the way they try to achieve fame and wang to be known as the most cruel. They kill innocent people and all the Cartel del Golfo and Sinaloa Cartel are doing is getting rid of trash like this. I agree with the person who said this has been going on for a while in Mexico. There is too much$$ going through Mexico and everyone wants a piece of the pie. This particular cartel of Los Zetas is just doing it the wrong way. I hope they do get rid of these rats.

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  33. U gotta be kidding me!!! How can someone be so cold hearted?!?!

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  34. how did they cut there head off with sowrds ?

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  35. My prayers to everyone affected by all this violence. I remember 6 yrs ago Juarez for the most part was a safe and fun city. I would go, and bring many friends who had never been and we always had a great safe, drug free time.

    And now it's just scary. I pray that the city gets better and the war goes away. This is horrible it made my heart sink.

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  36. i guess they needed a HEADSTART.... oh sorry. I meant they will never be the HEAD of a large corporation... omg what am i saying

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  37. Terrible! I just hope that those poor people have been killed first and then beheaded!

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  38. Rest in Peace, since you didn't go out like that. Rest in Peace.

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  39. for those that dont know they get their head cut off while they are still alive and they arent fast deaths i pray for them all daily everyone for that mater

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  40. match with head goes with which body

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  41. This is sick!!!I will never be going to Mexico

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  42. And that's why you don't fuck with Mexican power!:)

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