Blog dedicated to reporting on Mexican drug cartels
on the border line between the US and Mexico
.

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Here we go again...Smurf and Viagras

Chivís Martínez for Borderland Beat
It would be amusing, if not for that fact it is so frustrating, a months old photo that we have published 3 times on BB is now newly discovered by Mexican media.  

Reforma published an article today, with the photo of  Estanislao Beltran,  aka Papa Smurf  (above)and Nicholas Sierra Santana, aka "Nico" or "El Gordo" one of the brothers who formed the Los Viagras cartel.

Reforma, along with others that form the Mexican media are reporting, "social networks are showing a video that shows links with El Gordo, of the Viagras cartel".

Even huge supporters of Mireles and Autodefensas such as Grillonautas, are reacting as though this is "news".  I am left with the impression, unless news falls in the lap of the media through social media, it will not have a chance in hell of  being exposed. 

Incredible.

What appears to be clear is, that only recently has  the media become interested, in what has transpired with Castillo and his thugs,  and about  those who lead and those who are members of "Rurales".

Clearly, they are not conducting simple investigation to find the pieces to splice together to create the big picture. If they would backtrack to Dr. Mireles' plane crash, and go forward it becomes crystal clear.  They will see it.

It was  during his convalescence, Smurf, his escort and friend,  threw  Mireles  under the bus, as he muscled into lead position, without a vote.

Then enters EPN, unlawfully creating the position of  "Commission for Security and Integral Development of Michoacán". Of which  no other state has, and in order to lawfully install the new position of authority, it  must be approved by congressional vote.  Alfredo Castillo, was appointed, without vote.
This was the last meeting that Dr. Mireles was privy to- you can see the concern on his face
Castillo had become frustrated that Dr. Mireles did not want to play ball,  in the type of game that Castillo had in mind........enter Smurf.  Smurf's sister was married to Chango Mendez, leader of La Familia Michoacana.  They had a son together.

When Mireles returned to Michoacán, forgoing the weeks of therapy remaining, Smurf must have been stunned at the warm, and supporting welcome Doc received upon his return.  Mireles was quickly reinstated into his former position.   

That is when Castillo made his move.  He began conducting meetings, with Americano, El Cinco, and Smurf.  Secret meetings.  Decision making meetings.  All contrary to the bylaws of CAM.  All without the leader of CAM.

The plan was placed into action,   tactics to disparage Mireles were not successful,  such as saying "he is now mentally unbalanced because of the accident and can't be a part of the group, he needed medical intervention.  They went as far as to take Mireles against his will to a mental health  facility for "evaluation" as to establish a record of  his being in such a facility.

The set up the pivotal point, which happened on April 27th in Caleta.  To read about that incident, please us this link.  

The link will also have the full two page document, back story details and familiar photos, the Americano photo, and El Gordo photo.

During the aftermath of the Caleta shootout, Mireles was a couple hrs away in a meeting with  hundreds of people.  He eventually arrived at the scene.  When he did the investigator asked Dr Mireles to help hold a corpse upright for "an identification photo" for the medical examiner. In retrospect this was part of the set up, because there were 3 persons there from the medical examinors office, but rather than asking one of them, the man ask Doc for help.  And he did so, after climbing an incline to get to the body.

The following day Castillo told the press "In the Caleta incident, Mireles took a "trophy photo" of a corpse,  "holding the head"  and "posing" with it"

The media went wild with the story.

I immediately texted Dr. Mireles asking about it.  He explained what happened. He sent me a foto depicting the inspector from the medical examiners office (wearing gloves) with  himself, as they held the torso and head upright for the photo.  He sent me the photo which I immediately posted on BB.

A day or two later it was published in the media.

We first published the Gordo/Smurf photo  it in May, and lastly on the July 28th post.  Initially I did so because of  the   document of the May 7th simply titled 'Comunicado'.  The document was to oust Dr. Mireles from his position of general coordinator and leader of Michoacán's Autodefensa Union known as CAM.  Doc Mireles says it was a creation of Castillo. 

Aside for having only a dozen valid signatures, the document reveals the name "Nicolas Sierra Santana, who I knew as one of the Viagras.  On the document, I used an arrow to draw attention to the document and type "Viagras".  See below, although I have now cropped it for clarity, please click on image to enlarge.

In the Reforma article it states, that the Viagras cartel originated in Buenavista, that is incorrect, it began in Huetamo.  Buenavista factors in with Simon El Americano.  He founded the autodefensas group of H3 in Buenavista under the direction of Viagras.  The Buenavista mayor,  Osbaldo Esquivel Lucatero, wanted to form an autodefensa group, Viagras did not want one in Buenavista, eventually they installed Americano as leader of H3, which has always been controlled by Viagras.

When Americano was called in to give a statement to authorities in Michoacán, the writing was on the wall.  I predicted they would say it was not him, but I had given a 50-50 hope they would conduct a deeper investigation than just the photo,  I was under the impression the federal agency of PGR would investigate.  They did not. 

Another song, another dance, by the corrupt state officials of Michoacán, Americano went in, said "not me, Tuta who?" and was let go. A polygraph would have been a very useful tool.

All is not lost, the photo sparked media interest, evident by this Smurf photo.  The hope is they will dig deeper, if they do they won't have to go far.  

If they have the interest. (click any image to enlarge)
Gordo is not happy with the complaints of the La Mira residents
Update: Smurf has spoken about the controversy, and speaks glowingly about the Viagras....

Gordo of Viagras is on your side???
Nico has always been with us, Nican and other have been by our side, if they have done something wrong go to the authorities. We are open to scrutiny, but you guys don't know who they are, they(Viagras) are people who joined us in the fight and that live in the municipality of Buenavista Tomatlan, when the fighting started they were there present and are still in hills of Tierra Caliente, they(Viagras) are in charge of Huetamo,(where they are from) by Villa Madero, around Sahuayo they patrol also. I would like to ask legislators to do something about social-media and the way they confuse people about what really is going on with the movement.


Below is the video I saw in May, it is the full version:
click on image to enlarge
I created a this screen shot and posted it as well

Hunger Strike at Altiplano Super Max?... yes Barbie and Chapo?... no

 Chivís Martínez for Borderland Beat
The Washington Post is reporting that the widely reported hunger strike, allegedly initiated by El Chapo and El Barbie, did in fact exist, but was small and did not include the two incarcerated cartel leaders.

Proceso magazine,  broke the story of the hunger strike, stating that it was El Chapo who was the author of  the grievance hunger strike which was joined by 1000 inmates over a five day period.

Rigid rules are implemented at the Altiplano No.1 super max prison. Strict regulations, mindful construction and offensive measures, assure the prison maintains its stratus of being the sole prison in Mexico that has not been confronted with a successful escape.  Many of the most notorious of prisoners are housed in Altiplano.

Visitors including attorneys, are not allowed to enter with wallets, shoelaces, pens, even tie clips.   Complaints include; inspections by guards inside underwear, and women must remove their bras.

 As in American super max prisons, for exercise inmates are allowed only one hour daily outside their cells, but are in a fenced inclosed area, they are not privy to the general prison population..
.
Proceso had reported that the 1000 inmate hunger strike was to protest against  prison’s poor hygiene, medical care and food, and the assertion that Chapo had organized the strike, a remarkable feat under the isolated conditions he is subjected to.

NYT wrties: Not just that the world’s most fearsome drug lord was now apparently a human rights crusader but that he had the freedom of movement and communication inside the prison to pull it off".

Prison officials confirmed the July strike occurred, but states that Barbie and Chapo did not organize the strike, adding  their isolation makes it  a virtual impossibility for them to do so.

The hunger strike had 100 people involved, and lasted only 1 day.

Some of the notorious bigs that are or have been incarcerated in Altiplano are:

  • Joaquin Guzman Loera, alias "El Chapo Guzman", former leader of the Sinaloa Cartel .
  • Mario Aburto Martinez confessed Alleged murderer of Luis Donaldo Colosio
  • Daniel Arizmendi López Known as the Mochaorejas former head of a Mexican kidnapping gang.
  • Eduardo and Francisco Arellano Félix family members Arellano Felix, leader of Tijuana Cartel
  • Mario Villanueva Madrid Ex-Governor of the State of Quintana Roo
  • Osiel Cardenas Guillen Ex-leader of the Gulf Cartel
  • Teodoro Garcia Simental Alias ​​El Teo known as who fractured the cartel of the Arellano
  • Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo Alias ​​The Godfather , former leader of the defunct Guadalajara Cartel
  • Edgar Valdez Villarreal alias La Barbie Sicario and head of the armed wing of the Beltran Leyva Cartel
  • Miguel Treviño Morales Alias ​​The Z-40 premier leader of Los Zetas
  • Jesus Zambada Garcia-Known as "the king Zambada". He is the brother of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada
  • Oscar Oswaldo García Montoya alias “El Compayito” leader of the criminal organization  “La Mano con Ojos
  •  José Jorge Balderas Garza, alias "El JJ", suspected of the attempted murder  footballer Salvador Cabañas
  • Luis Fernando Sánchez Arellano  alias "El Ingeniero", leader of Tijuana's CAF criminal organization

Friday, August 29, 2014

Coahuila: A Drug Summit of Z's, BLO, CJNG Juarez Cartels seeking an Alliance

Chivis Martinez for Borderland Beat

Reforma is reporting that four major criminal organizations sought an alliance that would create a  cartel power alliance and reconfigure the entire map of drug trafficking in Mexico.

Supposedly, intelligence reports from both the Mexican government and the United States revealed  that the cartels seeking a pact in common, they are; The New Generation Jalisco Cartel ,the Carrillo Fuentes organization, the Beltran Leyva Organization and Los Zetas, which operate in two-thirds the country. 

What is reported is that, last June, the premier leaders of the four  organizations held a drug summit in Piedras Negras, Coahuila.

Attending the meeting were;  Ruben (or Nemesio), Oseguera Cervantes, "El Mencho"  premier leader of CJNG;  Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, "El Viceroy", leader of Juarez Cartel, and Alejandro "Omar" Trevino Morales, "El Z42" visible leader of Los Zetas, along with another man identified as the "Z43".

Reportedly, the only capo  who did not attend,  was Héctor Beltrán Leyva, aka "El H". However, he sent on his behalf, Fausto Isidro Meza  aka "El Chapo Isidro", he considers the most trusted and reliable person to represent the leader.
  

Who is Z43?
The reforma article states a Z43 was present with Trevino at the meeting.  However, in 2010 David Rivera Alvarez aka " Z43" was executed.  (see English language transcript here) He was the second in command in the state of Tabasco.  Rivera had been sent to Tampico to "heat up the plaza", and had only arrived two weeks prior to being kidnapped and killed by a single gunshot.  It is uncertain who this new Z43 is but there is no doubt that a Z43 was killed in 2010.

Before being shot he admitted to being involved in the Mirage nightclub killings of 7 people  and the grenade attack during the Tampico fair.

Itzli found an article from Grupo published in 2012, saying 7 Zetas were arrested, among the 7 was another Z43;  Carlos Guízar Valencia alias "el Z-43" (also called El Charly), supposedly plaza boss of  Tabasco. This Z43 was charged with murder and other charges in 2012.  Whoever attended the meeting with 42, has substantial prominence in the Zetas cartel,.  Another article I found says Carlos Guizer at the time of his arrest was a drug coordinator with Colombia and several Mexican states.  It sounds like it may be him, but that also means he escaped, or...?

It is him, and he was released from prison because of lack of evidence.  He is a top lieutenant in Zetas and works directly under 42.   

He is Carlos Guízar Valencia  alias "E lCharly" "Superior Comandante" del Grupo Operativo Zetas La Compañia. 

Or Z43 the second

The four cartels
Each of the four organizations have different areas of specialization, for example; "Mencho" specializes in the manufacture of synthetic drugs, the Beltran and Carrillo are primarily involved, on  large scale, the importation and trafficking of cocaine, and Los Zetas, is a cartel that has  diversification, only 50% of their activities are drug related, the other 50% are criminal activities  such  extortion and kidnapping, oil theft, counterfeit merchandise, sex trade etc. 

Mencho has allied his group with the new Templarios splinter group "Los Viagras" who have a strong presence in Michoacán, a state Mencho strongly aspires to control.  Los Viagras are manufacturing in  Michoacán much of the synthetic drug for Mencho.

It would not be surprising to learn that La Familia Michoacana  would be a part of an alliance in some capacity since they are rumored to have a pact with CJNJ.  Allegedly the fracture of LFM leading to the formation of Caballeros Templarios, was due to a proposed Zetas alliance by leader Chango Mendez.  The Tuta group vehemently objected to.  Mendez was later arrested, he and Tuta are archenemies.

At least two of the Sierra Santana brothers, are godsons of Chango Mendez.  The Sierra Santanas are founders and leaders of the "Los Viagras", first and only Templarios splinter group.

Los Zetas and Beltran have a history of a close relationship, with  alliances,  or  non-aggression pacts with each other at since 2007.  

In a  PGR investigation referenced as  UEIDCS / 241/2008, it is mentioned that in 2007,  Sergio Villarreal, alias "El Grande" Beltrán representative, and Heriberto Lazcano, "El Lazca" then leader of Los Zetas, agreed to joint actions.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Interrogation of a Viagra, provides information of Americano-Viagras-Mencho alliance

Chivís Martínez for Borderland Beat

Here is one of the other videos that I have referred to and posted previously. In this video, a member of Viagras is interrogated, he reveals he is from Pinzandaro and works for Viagras,  El Americano, and Mencho leader of CJNG is mentioned.  The video surfaced last September.

When he was stopped, he states he was transporting money for gas and food for Viagras .

He says he works at the drug kitchens in el Valle,  and that he Viagra production is for Mencho.  He says besides the drugs he also is involved in the kidnappings.

This offers further proof of  Luis Antonio Torres', aka "Simon El Americano" collusion with Viagras.  Americano is rumored to operate the majority of the drug kitchens in Michaocán.  Yet he was appointed by Commissioner Castillo to be one of the three commanders of the new EPN backed Rurales, and commander of an "elite" team searching for La Tuta". 

He also speaks of being a part of the murder of Osbaldo Esquivel Lucatero,  former mayor of Buenavista who was ordered killed because of a dispute with Viagras/Mencho over the community police.

At the time of his murder, the PRD political party member, Esquivel was the state assembly speaker.

The confession of the man in the video means he was one of four men who, using machetes,  butchered to death Esquivel and injured Pablo Madriz Rojas, a journalist who happened to be speaking with the speaker.  Because he witnessed the gruesome killing he asked for protection.

However, Madriz  was killed in a car "accident" three days later, when a man drove into the opposite lane of traffic, where Madriz was driving, striking the vehicle and killing the journalist.  


El Americano gives statement
El Americano gave his statement to authorities today, he said he is innocent and never met with Tuta.  He further states the man in the video is  Dimas Guillen Mendoza, who works for Tuta.

Unfortunately, Americano gave his statement to state and local officials so it really does not have much weight.  

Alfredo Castillo Cervantes, was with Americano during his statement.  Castillo had said previously that it may be mistaken identity.  Which is what I said they would say in order to not compromise the reputation of Castillos' baby, The Rurales.

It is easy to find the connection between Viagras and Americano if the government has a desire to, problem is, they have not up to this point, hard to know if they will now be compelled.  

To find culpability, is to concede failure in their formation of the new state corporation, Castillo doesn't look like a guy who would let the truth fall where it may, if it means revealing his errors..



PRD weighs in says "Mireles was right"

PRD issued a statement that the State and Federal Government should clarify who they are allocating weapons to, when they place them in the hands of the Rurales, to determine just what characters they are giving power to and leaving in their hands,the safety of inhabitants of the Tierra Caliente.  This was said by the President of the Party of the Revolution Democratica (PRD) in Michoacan, Carlos Piña Torres. 

Piña Torres said, " José Manuel Mireles  was right when he said that criminal groups were infiltrating these new corporations" . Moreover, the fact show the Commissioner Alfredo Castillo and his staff, in the formation of new corporations never implemented appropriate mechanisms for selecting the members of the police force.

The PRD group stated that the "newly surfaced" video widely broadcast on social media and the mainstream media calls in to question the controls and vetting by Castillo of the members of the new corporation.

Continuing he said that the media is already calling Castillo's strategy a failure, and that there has already been an abandonment  of the priority  to capture Servando Gómez Martínez.

Hipolito Mora:
Mora gave a brief statement about the controversy, he stated yesterday, he was not completely sure if it was or wasn't Americano, but then he received a call from a government person in Mexico City who confirmed without a doubt that it is in fact his nemesis, El Americano.

Owes me money" says Tuta:
in this short video Tuta says Americano owes him money, follow the link to the story  
Michoacan 3.0-Facebook-Atiempo-BB-proceso

Worldwide Protest to be Held for Dr. Mireles on August 31st

Chivís Martínez for Borderland Beat

Dr Mireles continues to struggle with his health and was hospitalized for the third time since his arrest on June, 27th

On August 31st there is a worldwide protest in support of Dr. Mireles.I was able to capture quite a few of the posters depicting the city and nation, but not all are in the slide show. The video is HD and plays best full screen....




Wednesday, August 27, 2014

After Video Screenshot uproar, "El Americano" is removed from his position in the Fuerza Rural

Chivis and Pepe for Borderland Beat


At around 10:00 a.m. this morning, the Attorney General for the state of Michoacán announced:

They have begun an investigation of  Antonio Torres, better know as, "El Americano" and  will be summoned to appear and  give a statement about the video in question.  

They have asked the Michoacán Secretary of Public Safety to remove "El Americano" from his position in the Fuerza Rural,

And at around noon, the Interior Minister for Michoacán announced that Americano, the commander of the Rurales (Fuerza Rural), was removed from his position as leader.



Since Monday, the BB photo of Americano has gone viral.  It has been posted on BB each month since March 2014, but only this week did people take notice.

The words on the video were always difficult to read, a reader sent me the best copy available and said to full screen it.  It is this video, (follow link),that it clearly  states, it is Americano in the video. 

That along with other videos, such as a person about to be executed stating he trafficked drugs working for Americano, and Tuta's recent video, posted on BB on July 27th, where he complains of Americano owing him money.  

There is much to bolster the investigation, but it remains to be seen if the government will act.  Even if it can't be proven for certainty to be Americano in the video, the mere fact that he was removed from the Rurales and opened the investigation.  If the investigation is one without spins and corruption, then they will find this thug is, and always has been, in collusion with cartels.  First with Templarios, now with Los Viagras.

This morning, Mexican national t.v. channel Televisa included the "new" video (video is a year old)  story in their news recap at the top of the hour, 8:00 a.m and 9:00 p.m., with an image from the video with a red circle around "Americano."

Hipolito Mora , founder of Michoacan self-defense groups , said that,  while yesterday said That I wasn't sure that was Luis Antonio Torres González, "El Americano", who appeared in a video with Servando Gómez, "La Tuta", but that a person from the government in Mexico City called him "and tells me not to  have a doubt,  that it is Americano ".
 Michoacan 3.0-Talia Vasquez FB-el universal

After his arrest, Azul's son confirmed his father is deceased

Borderland Beat posted by Siskiyou_Kid
Juan José Esparragoza Jiménez, arrested last weekend by elements of the Ministry of the Navy, has pled not guilty of the charges of drug trafficking, and weapons charges against him before a federal judge, but said that his father, Juan José Esparragoza, el Azul, is dead, as was unofficially reported last June.

After his arrest,  Esparragoza Jiménez gave his preparatory statement to the third district judge in matters of federal criminal processes in the State of Mexico, at headquarters in Toluca.  He was  arrested last Wednesday 20 in Culiacán, Sinaloa, although the apprehension was not known until Monday, the 25th. He is being detained in the Altiplano prison,

According to judicial sources, the detainee stated  "deceased" in pertaining to his father, Juan José Esparragoza Moreno, one of the founders of the Sinaloa Cartel and who - according to the weekly Ríodoce, Culiacán-died after he was in a car accident.

Regarded as the "Godfather of Godfathers" for the relations he maintained with the authorities and other drug trafficking cartels, el Azul was a drug trafficking legend in Mexico. There are few known images of him, although in it's Edition 1963, June 15, Proceso magazine published photographs allegedly taken of the capo during the 2012 Christmas holidays.

With that alleged death and the arrest of Joaquín El Chapo Guzmán, the past February 22, also at the hands of the Navy, the Sinaloa Cartel will only be controlled by what remains of its founders, Ismael el Mayo Zambada.

Juan Ignacio Esparragoza Jiménez, eldest son of the el Azul and brother of the man arrested last, died in Guadalajara, four years ago, after having suffered an accident, falling from the top of a building, in Culiacán.  He was interned at the Los Angeles hospital and despite the efforts of medical specialists over several weeks, they failed to save him.

Juan José Esparragoza Jiménez, el Cora, is the youngest son of el Azul, from his second marriage. He was arrested along with another person in a raid carried out by Marines in the Interlomas neighborhood, to the northeast of the capital of Sinaloa.

The Navy handed surrendered custody to the Federal District [DF] to the Attorney General of the Republic, which reported it Sunday 24 within the criminal case 65/2014. It accuses him as probable   responsibility  for crimes against health, in the form of methamphetamine production and possession for the purpose of trade in methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana.

According to the a bulletin issued by the federal government [Segob] José Juan Esparragoza Jiménez and Joel Vázquez Valdenegro were arrested with two bags with 27 and 47 grams of green grass, with the features of marijuana; a package with 369 grams of white powder, apparently cocaine; a rifle, a handgun and 75 useful cartridges, as well as 26 pounds and 50,000 ml of what appears to be methamphetamine, and 2,746,000 pesos in cash.

Elements of the army dismantled five methamphetamine laboratories allegedly run by José Juan Esparragoza Jiménez, operating in the states of Sinaloa and Durango. According to military information, one of the laboratories was secured in the vicinity of the town of Tamazula, Durango, with 1.5 hectares (15,000 sq meters)  with features of a factory.

The Tamzula property had different areas, among them buildings for staging of  chemicals, a mixing area, processing , finish and packaging, as well as a dormitory.

The military operations were carried out a few days after the arrest of the alleged son of Juan José Esparragoza Moreno, el Azul.

In addition to denying the charges, the detainees asked duplicity of the constitutional deadline for the judge handed down for automatic freedom or detention. The deadline expires next Saturday, the 30th of August at 11:20. [click image below to enlarge]

Sources: RioDoce-Proceso

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Just like Dubai: Mercedes Benz patrol cars in Apatzingan

El Diario de Coahuila (8-26-2014)

Translated by un vato for Borderland Beat

Thanks to Pepe for the photos...
Just so we know we're getting into the big leagues, the former mayor of Tepalcatepec, Guillermo Valencia, gave us a glimpse of the police patrol units that are circulating around in his home town; Mercedes Benz models, no less.

Hearing rumors about the transportation that Fuerza Rural [Castillo's rural police] police are using in Apatzingan, the incredulous Valencia asked social network users to send him photographs as proof... and seeing such marvelous images, the deposed mayor could only think to compare the Michoacan city with Dubai... and how can you avoid the comparison, when it's only in those countries, where it seems that money flows - in some places--, that they have the luxury of using sports cars for public safety.

"It's one of the richest and most modern cities cities in the world. Proof of that is that its police force has  a fleet of patrol vehicles that includes Lamborghini sports cars... In Apatzingan, Michoacan, they don't hold back, and the new Rural Police Forces also have them, but they use Mercedes Benz sports cars," Valencia said with irony.
But in the Michoacan municipality, they do things backwards; before transforming their city into a business focal point, they first create the appearance, and the new patrol vehicles are a sign of the growth that the region will have. They even give hope to those families that live in poverty, the former mayor points out. 

But, well, not everything is luxury. While the Fuerza Rural drives all terrain BMW X5s, worth approximately one million pesos ($77,000.00), members of the new National Gendarmerie have to make do with Jeeps that cost about 450,000 pesos (approx. $35,000.00)

"The new police forces created by Commissioner Alfredo Castillo seem to be at the Viceroy's level of opulence, who, as a government official, earns more than the President of the Republic, since he (Castillo) receives a monthly salary of $194,000. plus benefits.  This police force surpasses the privileged police forces of economic and petroleum superpowers like the police from the Arab Emirate of Dubai. I wonder if President Pena Nieto knows that his envoy's police force has more privileges than the federal government's new security force?" asks Valencia.

It's well and good that the authorities should be well equipped... but that well? And should they give themselves those luxuries?

Monday, August 25, 2014

Pena Nieto has been unable to decrease homicides

El Diario de Coahuila (8-24-2014)

Source: Semanario ZETA, translated by un vato for Borderland Beat
MEXICO, D.F. (Apro).- Enrique Pena Nieto has been unable to lower the crime statistics involving homicides the way he proclaimed in his presidential campaign in 2012 and during the first months of his administration.

The Federal Executive began his administration on December 1, 2012, with the promise that "in one year" we would begin to see the results of the so-called strategy against organized crime, violence and insecurity. Therefore, there would be a hypothetical "decrease" of crimes that most affect Mexicans, like homicides, intentional as well as unintentional ("dolosos" and "culposos").

Faced with a lack of hard facts that would support Enrique Pena Nieto's statements, his government prefers to lead a media crusade, repeating the same long-winded speech, adhering to the premise that, "If a lie is repeated enough, it ends up becoming the truth", much loved by propagandists of totalitarian states.

Enrique Pena Nieto as well as Miguel Angel Osorio Chong, the Secretary of the Interior, have clung to that idea and use in a tiresome manner in whatever forum they appear to erase by decree the dead bodies that appear every day in urban and suburban areas of the Mexican cemetery, anything from hanging bodies to decapitated ones, those unearthed from unmarked graves or stuffed in the trunks of cars, incinerated and dismembered, flayed or even with the coup de grace.

When the Federal Executive attended the Davos Forum in January of 2013, he declared that "there has been a real decrease in the number of homicides that are committed in our country, a decrease of practically 30% in homicides tied to organized crime, which gives us hope". Then Osorio Chong stated flatly on July 29, 2014, that, "violence has been reduced to its minimum expression."

These are the narratives that Pena Nieto's people keep repeating in the days prior to the second annual government report.

EPN SURPASSES CALDERON

Enrique Pena Nieto's administration is already bloodier that his predecessor Felipe Calderon Hinojosa's 's administration. Official statistics confirm this.

To begin with, according to the National Public Security System (SNSP: Sistema Nacional de Seguridad Publica), during the first 20 months of the Pena Nieto Government, from December 1, 2012, to July 31, 2014, there were 57,899 criminal investigations initiated (to investigate)  accidental ("culposos", or negligent or unintentional) and intentional homicides ("dolosos"), while during the first 20 months of the Calderon administration (from December 1, 2006, to July 31, 2008), the number was 43,694; in other words, the PRI government surpasses the PAN government by 14,205 homicides, intentional as well as accidental.

According to the Executive Secretariat of the SNSP, during the first 20 months of the Pena Nieto government, there were 29,417 criminal investigations initiated for intentional homicides, although  in the first 20 months of the Calderon administration, there were 18,451 criminal investigations initiated for the same violations.

During the last 20 months of the Calderon presidency, the SNSP reported officially 37,421 "criminal investigations" for intentional homicides.

As it has been documenting these past few years, Semanario ZETA (ZETA Weekly) investigated the number of criminal homicides during the first 20 months of Enrique Pena Nieto's government.

Employing a methodology that compares information gathered from various prosecutors' and district attorneys' offices ("procuradurias" and "fiscalias"), newspaper archives or records of civil organizations, investigative services and local forensic institutes, ZETA documented that from December 1, 2012, to July 31, 2014, there were 36,718 intentional homicides, a number that includes "executions", "confrontations", "homicide assaults", homicides resulting from retail drug sales, and even the so-called "crimes of passion" using a large caliber firearm or with a coup de grace. The hard facts documented more than the 29,417 criminal investigations the SNSP reports for the same period for these offenses.

INEGI DOES NOT REPORT ALL THE HOMICIDES

During the Calderon administration, the National Institute on Statistics and Geography (INEGI: Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas y Geografia) reported with punctuality all homicides in the country; however, in the Pena Nieto administration, it reports fewer criminal homicides than are reported by the prosecutors and district attorneys for the states. For example, on July 23, 2014, in its news bulletin No. 301/14, INEGI reported only 22,732 intentional homicides. The Institute explained that these were "preliminary numbers with a cut off date of July 10, 2014, because the process for generating the statistics was still ongoing," but the Pena Nieto government is already using the statistic to proclaim the alleged 30% decrease in murders.

By using as its principal sources the various prosecutors  and district attorneys, forensic institutions and public ministries, ZETA documented that, in fact, there were 23,850 homicides in 2013. In other words, INEGI did not report at least 1,118 intentional homicides that year.

ZETA researched each of the states to identify those in which the prosecutors and district attorneys reported the total number of homicides, in contrast with the lower statistics that INEGI reports. The result was surprising: In Jalisco, there were 1,584 murders in 2013, not 1,485 as was reported by INEGI on July 23. In so many words, the Institute did not take into consideration at least 90 intentional homicides that year.

In Baja California, using information obtained from the Security Council, ZETA documented that in 2013, there were 865 intentional homicides committed, while INEGI only reported 770. That is to say, the Institute did not report at least 95 murders that year. The SNSP reported 775 criminal investigations of intentional homicides, in fact, more criminal investigations than (the number of) intentional homicides, even while considering that a file may involve two or more victims....Continues on next page

Executions & Mantas in Morelos


Temixco, Morelos

By: Héctor Raúl González, Carlos de la Fuente, Silvia Otero, Karaosean Cullen
Translated by Valor for Borderland Beat

In separate incidents, the bodies of two murdered men were found on Monday in the state of Morelos.

One of the bodies was found inside a plastic trash bag between the streets Narcisos, Pensamientos and Azares, located in district Milpillas, in Cuernavaca.

The body had at least one bullet hole in the chest.

Next to the bagged body was a narco-message.-

“Come pick up your trash Luis Ramos Ortiz, don’t be sending chapulines* to my plaza, you’re next, we’re going to tear you to pieces Kiko Guillermo Nájera Castillo, Analilia, attentively your father, fucking chapulines”, the message says.

*Chapulines translates into grasshoppers/ or kids, but I believe that some readers have previously stated that it is referring to those who switch sides.

In another incident, in the municipality of Cuautla, a man was gunned down in a street.

The incident occurred in district Guadalupe Victoria, where from a moving car, armed subjects shot at the victim.

In another incident on Sunday, the body of a man with a bandaged head and signs of torture was found in the municipality of Temixco, Morelos, along with a narco-message addressed to the governor of the state of Morelos, Graco Ramírez.

“Here I leave your fucking trash Rene Noé Reynoso Gama,  Federico Nava who are just looking to get paid so you can go around and continue doing your bullshit and like that to avoid your guilt at the expense of innocent people.  And you Mr. Governor, do you realize the kind of trash that you have within your government?” the message reads according to police sources.

“From there, you organize and execute your fucking kidnappers and extortionists.  Leave the people alone, you’re next Nicolás Vazquez Bravo.  Amado Bautista and Amado Cevallos, Paco (Pollo) and for all of you Guerreros Unidos who are the same shit commanded by Figueroa”,

The text, written on an orange piece of cardboard is unsigned.

The discovery was made in the street Tabachín from the district Nueva Morelos, behind the municipal cemetery.

*The only info on the names that I could find was on:
"El Nico"
Nicolás Vázquez Bravo “El Nico”— A former judicial police officer who was arrested in August 2011.  He was an alleged member of a criminal cell that operated in the municipalities of Emiliano Zapata and Temixco.  He was sentenced to Atlacholoaya State Prison.
Figueroa in box
Federico Figueroa— Narco-mantas signed by Morelos Unidos placed in May 2014 [photo below] accuse Figueroa as being the new leader of the Guerreros Unidos.  They accuse him of being in his ranch in Teacalco, Guerrero and being protected by the municipal police of Taxco, Guerrero, who receive the order to protect him by Erubiel Salado Chávez, head of the Municipal Public Security.  They also accuse him of being responsible for kidnappings in Taxco, as well as being linked to “El Mencho”, leader of the Jalisco Cartel in Guadalajara.   He is probably better known as Joan Sebastian’s brother.

*The Guerreros Unidos are one of the splinter groups that formed from the Beltrán-Leyva Cartel who are known for disputing the State of Mexico with La Familia Michoacana/Los Caballeros Templarios, according to federal intelligence reports.  They have a presence in Guerrero and Morelos in order to allegedly take the State of Mexico.  They are infamous for the wave of violence and homicides throughout 2012 in different municipalities which left over 70 dead.