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

Monday, August 31, 2015

Map: Cartels and Subgroups operating in Mexico

Lucio R. Borderland Beat information from PGR agency published in Vanguardia

Information within and illustrated  on maps,  is according to the PGR agency, ( the premier investigative arm of the Attorney General of Mexico).  Readers may identify discernible omissions of both cartels and subgroups, or disagree with given information,  nonetheless, this is what Vanguardia is reporting.

They identify subgroups working for larger cartels, and the area of influence.  

Groups who began as operational subgroups, or enforcer groups for a large cartels, sometimes become consolidated and splinter into an independent group.

Such is the case of the Independent Cartel of Acapulco (CIDA), Los Rojos and Los Ardillos, which splintered from the Beltran Leyva Organization.  

Guerreros Unidos splintered from La Familia Michoacana.  Cártel del Poniente/La Laguna, separated from  cártel del Pacífico.

16 years in an United States prison for Chapos cousin

Translated by Otis B Fly-Wheel for Borderland Beat from a Milenio article

[ Subject Matter: Jesus Gutierrez Guzman
Recommendation: No prior subject matter knowledge required]

Jesus Gutierrez Guzman was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine for intent to extend the business of the Sinaloa Cartel to Europe and the United States.

Jesus Gutierrez Guzman
Reporter: EFE
A Federal Judge from the United States sentenced Jesus Gutierrez Guzman to 16 years in prison and ordered him to pay a 10,000 dollar fine for trying to extend the business of the Sinaloa Cartel to Europe and the United States.

Once the 54 year old Gutierrez Guzman has finished his sentence in a United States Federal prison, he will be deported to Mexico, according to the District Prosecutor of New Hampshire, Donald Feith, in charge of the prosecution.

The cousin of the Sinaloan Capo was detained in Madrid in 2012 by the Spanish Police and the Office of the FBI in Boston, when he tried to extend to Europe, the dominion of the violent Sinaloa Cartel, led by El Chapo, who wanted to utilise Spain as a base.


Sunday, August 30, 2015

Relentless Hunt against Autodefensa Leaders: Jesús Bucio Assassinated



Jesús Bucio Cortés

By: César Vázquez | Translated by Valor for Borderland Beat 
 

Another founding member of the autodefensas of Michoacán was assassinated today.  Jesús Bucio Cortés was the founder and leader of the autodefensa group of Tancítaro.

The incident occurred Sunday when an armed group was stalking the road in which the autodefensa leader was also on.  He was ambushed towards the area known as Púcuaro, located in the municipality of Tancítaro.

Along with the leader of the autodefensas was his brother, who was also killed, who accompanied him on their way to the community of El Zapote when they were hunted down from the mountains.

Jesús Bucio Cortés was being pointed out in recent days because of his constant denunciations of recent attempts by the Caballeros Templarios in trying to return to the region.  He also denounced that avocado farmers were being extorted again by the criminal group.

The autodefensa leader of the region had also arrested José Manuel Montero Nambo, who had kidnapped his son.  He personally took him to the Mil Cumbres CERESO (Social Rehabilitation Center), but three months later, the capo was out on the streets.

He even claimed that this man was the main enemy in the region and that he constantly stalked the communities as well as threatening them in taking revenge.

The perpetrators of this crime are unknown.  At this moment, security forces, other autodefensa groups, and the Fuerza Rural are combing the area in order to find those responsible.

So far there are no arrests, although a strong operation is taking place in the avocado growing area.


Hunted Autodefensa Leaders

Friday, August 28, 2015

Millions in product falls in Ensenada

Millions in product falls in Ensenada

After a grim and bloody week, where in an escalation of recent public attacks, gunmen descended upon on a funeral parlor, and murdered two, and leaving 10 wounded, in Tijuana,a large drug shipment was lost in Ensenada. 


Ensenada, an hour or so south of Rosarito is generally quieter then it's northern counterparts, a port city, which attracts ex pats and tourists, is a corridor for drug loads coming up to the border.  It is routine for large amounts of marijuana, packed tightly into pangas to be captured of Ensenada, or while offloading their product further north, in US coastal areas.  

The federal police claim that during a chase, a truck carrying the shipment was abandoned by it's driver, after attempting to block the officers, chasing a 1996 Ford Aerostar. The federal police were apparently attempting to stop the latter vehicle.  The driver and the Aerostar were not detained.  

Inside the black truck were 220 packages, of drugs wrapped for transport to Tijuana, and across the San Ysidro, point of entry, one would assume.  Some of the crystal and heroin could be headed for the colonias in Tijuana, where retail groups break them into smaller quantities, these groups are ground zero for the violence in the city, as of now.  

169 kilos of crystal, 22 kilos of heroin, and 28 kilos of cocaine was the total amount.  Everyone has different ideas about the exact, or near exact amount, but either way it's at least worth 1.5 million to it's owners, much more on the other side of the border, or sold in sub gram amounts in Tijuana and Rosarito. 

Goverment Seizes Property of Sinaloa and Zetas Cartels

Lucio R. Borderland Beat-material from 24-horas and La Pared (SiskiyouKid)



Los Zetas

In its latest theater production, the Mexican government conducted several raids in the past week to seize properties of Sinaloa and Zetas cartels. 

In Coahuila, the backbone state of Los Zetas, the PGR agency of Mexico seized Zetas property in 9 locations of Monclova.

Zetas fascination of quarter horses was well represented in the raids as agents confiscated 9 race horses.  Other property seized; a dozen tracks, and a bulldozer.




United States asks for extradition of "El Viceroy"

Translated by Otis B Fly-Wheel for Borderland Beat from a Milenio article

[ Subject Matter: Extradition, El Viceroy
Recommendation: Some prior knowledge of the Juarez Cartel would be useful]


Reporter: Ruben Mosso

A Federal Judge ordered the provisional detention with end of extradition for Vincente Carrillo Fuentes "El Viceroy" leader of the Juarez Cartel, who is required by the North Texas District Court in the United States.

However, another Federal Judge order a break, for the moment, whatever the intent of the Mexican Government to submit the capo, put on a provisional suspension of the order.

Carrillo Fuentes became the second narco trafficker of the top level, after the leader of the Sinaloa Cartel Joaquin Guzman Loera, against who the Mexican Government have ordered a detention order with end of extradition, in the present administration.


Thursday, August 27, 2015

DEA: Mexican Cartel influence in the U.S. 2015

By Lucio R. for Borderland Beat. Material from U.S. D.E.A. agency 2015 report
 
Click any image to enlarge
The information in this report, and maps, reflect data collected by the United States Criminal Task Force (OCDETF)

The report identifies cartel cells operating in the U.S. as:

Sinaloa, Gulf Cartel (CDG), Juarez, Los Caballeros Templarios (LCT) Beltran-Leyva (BLO), CJNG, Los Zetas, and Los Moicas.

Presently limited to the West Coast, CJNG has ventured into the U.S., news reports have indicated that CJNG is challenging Sinaloa in some of its areas of influence.

Sinaloa maintains the most significant presence in the United States, dominating the west coast, Northeast and Midwest.

CDG and Zetas dominate the southwest border. 

LCT:  continues to traffic through cells and splinter groups.

Battles in the mountains of Sinaloa leave 10 dead

Translated by Otis b Fly-Wheel for Borderland Beat from a Proceso article

[ Subject Matter: Sinaloa, gun battles
Recommendation: No prior subject matter knowledge required]


Reporter: Proceso Redaction and RioDoce
Two confrontations occurred on the Wednesday morning in the communities of Cacalotan and Aguaverde, in the Town of El Rosario, Sinaloa, that left 10 people dead and four injured.

According to reports from the Municipal Police of El Rosario and local media, the first confrontation between rival groups, occurred on the Cacalotan where four bodies and four vehicles with bullet impacts were found, one of the vehicles was burned, with hundreds of spent cartridges lying around.

The other confrontation happened in Las Yacas, syndicate of Aguaverde where six men were found executed.


Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Gunmen attack mortuary in Tijuana: 2 dead, 7 injured.

Borderland Beat

2 men killed and 7 people injured, including a woman, in the aftermath of a shootout in the early hours of today, outside the "La Esperanza" funeral home located in the Zona Centro district.  The attack took place when the services for 2 men, executed this past Wednesday, was being held. 

The shootout happened at about midnight when a group of armed men fired upon a group of people outside the funeral home located on the Negrete avenue between Aguacaliente Blvd. and 11th Street.

Local, State and Investigative agents, along with Army personnel began a search operation in the near areas looking for the gunmen but no one was arrested.

According to preliminary reports, inside the mortuary, the services for two young men executed this past Wednesday were being held. 

Monday, August 24, 2015

Michoacán: Weekend Attacks



Churumuco, Michoacán: Autodefensa Leader Assassinated
Antúnez, Michoacán: Shootouts- Roadblocks
Mayor of Parácuaro Requests Help: “Don’t Leave Us Alone”
Autodefensa Roadblock Attacked: No Casualties



By: Carlos Arrieta (Animal Politico), Mi Morelia | Translated by Valor for Borderland Beat


Antúnez, Michoacán: Shootouts- Roadblocks

Following the shootouts that occurred Saturday, residents of Antúnez set up roadblocks at the entrances and exits of the town.

Police reports have reported that the presence of heavily armed men in the area of Úspero have been detected.

Therefore, inhabitants set up roadblocks made up of sand/dirt filled burlap bags and cement.

According to an article from Etcetera, the community decided to rearm themselves in order to prevent criminal groups from entering the community.

The situation is tense in the area.  The first skirmish took place on Thursday, August 20 which left a truck riddled with bullets.  The second occurred on Saturday, which left one dead and three wounded as well as five bullet riddled trucks abandoned in the center of Antúnez.


Churumuco, Michoacán: Autodefensa Leader Assassinated

'PeñaBots': Automated Twitter accounts (BOTS) impede protests, hinder critics, send threats

Lucio R. Borderland Beat republished from Wired Magazine, Revolution News, video from Vice

Iguala September 26, 2014, night from hell

Pro-Government Twitter Bots Try to Hush Mexican Activists

More than 75,000 automated Twitter accounts (BOTS)  are being used to combat protests and attack critics of the government, according to research presented by writer Erin Gallagher at the Chaos Communication Camp in Zehdenick.

The automated accounts, known as Peñabots, first appeared during the election of President Enrique Peña Nieto.

ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2014, a group of students departed the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers’ College for a protest in Iguala, Mexico, about 80 miles away.(Note: actually they were going to DF to protest, not Iguala) They never arrived. What happened on the road to Iguala remains a mystery, but we know that at least three students were killed and another 43 are missing. The government’s official story is that the 43 students were killed after being handed over to the Guerreros Unidos cartel on the orders of the mayor of Iguala. But investigations conducted by  the U.S. publication The Intercept paints a darker picture of complacency at higher levels of government.


The incident was emblematic of broader fears and frustrations with violence and corruption in Mexico and sparked a wave of ongoing protests across the country. Like so many modern protest movements, activists turned to social media to organize and promote their cause. One Twitter hashtag in particular—#YaMeCanse or “I am tired”—became a central hub for organizing protests and disseminating information.

El Viejon of CDG arrested

Translated by Otis B Fly-Wheel for Borderland Beat from a Proceso article

[ Subject Matter: Oscar Leon Mendoza Cepeda "El Viejon", Cartel del Golfo
Recommendation: No prior subject matter knowledge required]


Reporter: Proceso Redaction
Oscar Leon Mendoza Cepeda, member of the Cartel del Golfo who operates in the centre of Tamaulipas state, was detained by Police in Ciudad Victoria.

The subject known as "El Viejon", 55 years old, was captured together with Brigida Laurentina Guerrero Aguilar in a populous sector of the Tamaulipan Capital, informed a communication from the Coordination Group for Tamaulipas.

Mendoza Cepeda was captured with 14 weapons, 20 wraps of drugs, a vehicle, magazines for weapons, bottles of whisky and cell phones.

At the moment of his detention, some people attempted to bribe the State Police, offering 10,000 pesos to set him free.

The authorities confiscated the following:


  • 7 rifles with 2500 rounds of ammunition
  • 7 pistols of different calibre's
  • 58 magazines
  • 20 wraps of cocaine
  • 35 cell phone, 16 of which were new
  • 11 bottles of whisky (large)
  • 45 bottles of whisky (small)
  • 2 copied uniforms
  • 4 tactical jackets and a tactical helmet
  • a sedan automobile
Mendoza Cepeda and Guerrero Aguilar were put at the disposition of the Federal Public Ministry together with the weapons, ammunition and other evidence.

Original article in Spanish at Proceso

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Shootouts in Antúnez, Michoacán: 3 Injured, 1 Dead




Translated by Valor for Borderland Beat

A series of shootouts Saturday morning in Antúnez, municipality of Parácuaro, Michoacán, left three people injured and one dead by gunfire.

The first shootout occurred around 09:00 hours at the main entrance of the community of Tierra Caliente.

An hour later, another shootout occurred near the main square, which stopped for a few moments and then reignited for about 45 minutes.  This shootout left three people injured, whose identity are still unknown, and one person dead, who according to the authorities was involved in the shootout.

Hours before, Jesús Barragán, commander of the Fuerza Rural of Uruapan, was injured by armed gunmen, who apparently were trying to kill him, according to authorities of the Attorney General of the State (PGJE) (Procuraduría General de Justicia del Estado).

The status of the police commander was reported as delicate.  He is being treated at a hospital in the region under heavy security.

 Shootout Footage:

El Chapo is a dead man: Popeye Chief Sicario of Pablo Escobar

Translated by Otis B Fly-Wheel for Borderland Beat from a Proceso article

[ Subject Matter: El Chapo
Recommendation: No prior subject matter knowledge required]

Jhon Jairo Velasquez, nicknamed "Popeye"

Reporter: Rafael Croda
Don't take this as a threat, said the cold calculated ex head of Sicario's for Pablo Escobar, Jhon Jairo Velasquez, nicknamed "Popeye", one of the three surviving members of the Medellin Cartel, is sure that the Mexican Capo will be captured if all his enemies, Police, Military, American Agents and including Los Zetas, unite to locate him.

The problem, he says, is that the Mexican Government doesn't consider it convenient that he lives.


Great Escapes: The Grey Automobile Gang

Translated by Otis B Fly-Wheel for Borderland Beat from a Sinembargo article

[ Subject Matter: Great escapes, the Grey Automobile Gang
Recommendation: No prior subject matter knowledge required]


Reporter: Humberto Padgett
Its difficult to find something new in Mexican criminal life. Its been a century, since the most notable criminal gang of the epoch, Higinio Granda, made various escapes from porous Mexican prisons, and as always with weak authorities, they celebrated making the agreements that would allow them to act with impunity.

Like El Chapo now, Granda crossed the palms of Police Chiefs and the Military with gold, to allow him to act with impunity, to rob, violate, kidnap and kill. His history, is the legend of the Grey Automobile Gang, and shows the vulnerability of the institutions and their historic propensity to take the criminals hand and go against the citizens.


Friday, August 21, 2015

Tabasco thwarted kidnapping: 3 of the 6 did not know suspected kidnappers

By Lucio R. for Borderland Beat
Sagrario Negrete Marin and Daniel Tadeo de la Cruz
Villahermosa Tabasco, Mexico;  It appears that 3 of the suspected “kidnappers”, two who were
killed, may have been innocents,  being at the wrong place, with the wrong people, when the kidnapping attempt and pursuit transpired. 

The autopsy of 5 persons killed in what authorities report was a attempted  kidnapping, has been completed by the State Attorney General Office (FGE).

At least three of the 6 suspects were alive subsequent to the vehicle crash that ended the police pursuit that also claimed the lives of 3 police.

Two of the suspects who were alive after the crash, depicted in photos posted on social media, were given eight 9MM gunshot wounds including  a coup de grâce to the head.

A regional newspaper was able to have access to the autopsy report which clearly contradicted the official version of the suspects died while being given first aid after the car crash.

Right-hand man of "La Rana" executed in Tijuana, among others.

Borderland Beat


Gonzalo Javier Rivera Camarena aka "El Tragedias" was executed this past Wednesday along Jesus Fidel Ramos Villela while they were eating at a Guiseppis restaurant in Plaza 2000 in Tijuana. Several .40 casings were found at the scene.


Rivera Camarena had been recently identified as the right-hand man of Rene Arzate Garcia aka "La Rana" or "El Mono Verde", "El Tragedias" led a criminal cell dedicated to execute rivals of the Arzate brothers ("Rana" and "Aquiles") and retail drugs sales. Several members of his cell have been either executed or arrested, among them are Lucre and Marco Antonio Cerda aka "Los Cuates de la Obrera"(Not to be confused with "Los Cuates" or "Los Igualitos" from Zona Norte), believed to be responsible of the execution of Luis Manuel Toscano aka "El Mono", former CAF enforcer in Zona Norte and of "El Kecho", brother of Melvin Gutierrez Quiroz, a Logan Heights cell leader for CAF.

SoCal Soccer Mom sentenced in Sinaloa Cartel money laundering operation

Lucio R. Borderland Beat  from: LaOpinion,  'La Voz de Houston', Dallas Morning News

To those who knew her, Bambi Adams was a cheery and energetic PTA mom who raised her children by herself and went to their various school events.

Adams didn’t work, but some people who knew her didn’t ask where the money was coming from to support her.

Adams, it turns out, is married to a Mexican drug dealer who distributes methamphetamine to the Dallas area among other places in the U.S. She was sentenced on Monday to 9 years in federal prison in Fort Worth for a money laundering conspiracy.

Adams pleaded guilty to the charge in April.

Members of the drug conspiracy, including some in North Texas, deposited his illegal drug proceeds into various accounts Adams set up in the U.S. since 2009, federal authorities said. It has totaled about $10,000 per month in cash, authorities said.

Adams had been living in California, east of Los Angeles, with her five kids where she cooked meals for them and raised money for her son’s high school football team. Her son tearfully told U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor that Adams drove to his school each day to bring him freshly-made lunches.

Her husband is Ramon Gonzalez, a large-scale methamphetamine dealer in Mexico who authorities say is a major player in the Sinaloa Cartel. He is a U.S. citizen who is still wanted.

“Gonzalez directs others to deposit money (drug proceeds) into his wife’s bank account that she in turn spends on any number of things, such as paying the mortgage on their Hacienda Heights home and purchasing vehicles,” court records said.

Prosecutors said Adams knew the source of the money, which was her only source of income, and traveled to Mexico 13 times during the past two years to visit her husband.

She was arrested in February at her Hacienda Heights house.

Her husband Ramon Gonzalez, came under the government’s radar after an investigation into methamphetamine trafficking in Texas in 2012.
Fragoso

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Real Estate, Hotels and Plazas, the businesses of "Los Cuinis"

Translated by Otis B Fly-Wheel for Borderland Beat from a Zetatijuana article

[ Subject matter: Los Cuinis
Recommendation: No prior subject matter knowledge required]


Reporter: Ines Garcia Ramos and Cortesia
The criminal organization " Los Cuinis", one of the most violent and dangerous cartels in Mexico, according to the United States, counting no less than 15 businesses in Jalisco and Quintana Roo, who lend their services to the organization led by Abigael Gonzalez Valencia.

On the 19th of August 2015, the Treasury Department of the United States said that these companies and 6 collaborators of the Cartel, were added to the list of narco traffickers specially designated for blocking of any transactions in the American Union.

The Cartel, with its operations based in Jalisco, already had been signalled by the United States Government for financial blocking.

"Diver" found guilty of using a narco tunnel

Translated by Otis B Fly-Wheel for Borderland Beat from a Zetatijuana article

[ Subject Matter: Narco Tunnels, Evelio Padilla Zepeda "Buzo"
Recommendation: No prior subject matter knowledge required]


Reporter: Ines Garcia Ramos
The Honduran citizen Evelio Padilla Zepeda, was declared guilty of trafficking 25 kilos of cocaine through a narco tunnel that exits in the All American Canal, North of the frontier between Mexicali, Baja California and Calexico, California.

The man, 28 years old, was presented before a Federal Judge of the United States, William Gallo, this week to respond to the events that occurred on the 25th of April of 2015, when Agents of the Frontier Patrol responded to a report of a person that was found in the Canal that runs parallel to the frontier from Yuma, Arizona to Calexico, California.

The Attorney General of the South District of California, informed in a press release, that the youngster, a resident of Mexicali, could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.00 for the crime of possession of cocaine with intent to supply.

Documents presented before the Court, indicate that the man was found in the water wearing a divers wet suit. The Agents apprehended Padilla Zepeda, which led to the discovery of 25 packets, some sealed air tight and others wrapped in Xmas wrapping paper that contained cocaine.

Also they confiscated the diving accoutrement's used by the man, including two compressed air breathing tanks. The detention of Padilla Zepeda derived from the discovery of the narco tunnel that crosses from Mexicali and continues under the frontier until it exits in the canal.

The subterranean passage had a distance of 46 metres.

Original article in Spanish at Zetatijuana

2 Sinaloa Cartel members arrested in Colombia

Translated by Otis B Fly-Wheel for Borderland Beat from a Milenio article

[ Subject Matter: Sinaloa Cartel, Colombia
Recommendation: No prior subject matter knowledge required]


Reporter: AFP
Bogota: Two Mexican citizens, alleged members of the Sinaloa Cartel and who are wanted by United States Authorities, were captured in the city of Cartagena, Colombia, confirmed the Migratory Authorities of this country.

The two foreigners, with interpol alerts are identified as Osvaldo Contreras Arriaga "El Gober" and Omar Ayon Diaz "El Ahijado", there is an arrest warrant for the crimes of money laundering and organisation, and being members of organized crime, confirmed Colombian Migration in a communication.

Contreras Arriaga was detained at customs at Rafael Nunez International Airport, Cartagena, on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, where he intended to enter the country with the intent to travel to Panama.

Ayon Diaz had been in Colombia a few days, he was found in a hotel on the outskirts of the City.

The Mexicans are wanted by the South District Court of California, said the Colombian Police.

Colombia is the principal producer in the world of Cocaine, and for refining it. According to recent information from the United Nations, the country produced more than 442 tons of the drug in 2014, 52% more than the year before.

Original article in Spanish at Milenio 

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Court filing: Other Crimes and Evidence in the U.S. Case Against 'El Mochomo'

Lucio R. for Borderland Beat-originally posted by 'DeeLucky'

Note: The illustration below is by Narcomics Corp.  They will soon be releasing an animated series titled ‘Boss of Bosses’ based on the narco career of Arturo Beltran Leyva.  The trailer will soon be ready and we hope to share it with BB readers.  Until then check out their social media sites by these hyperlinks;  See Facebook,     See Instagram


Filed in June 2015, this motion in limine adds crimes and evidence against El Mochomo, (Alfredo Beltrán Leyva) who was extradited to the United States in November, 2014.

Interesting information and details.  The information timeline is from the 90’s when BLO initiated their relationship with Sinaloa Cartel in the Federation. 

For best reading click on full screen using icon in lower right corner, and adjust using + or -


Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Murders en Tijuas

Murders en Tijuas

Thousands lined the sand in Rosarito Beach, seeking relief from the simmering heat sweeping Southern California and Baja Norte, glistening waters and strong surf pounded the beach, marijuana and churro scents linger, Tecate cans are opened and corridos and top 40 blare from speakers...it is an escape from the heat and the grueling work weeks....

While Tijuana and Rosarito remain safe, there is another reality, not far from the beaches, and not far from the crowds, a reality where ongoing narco distribution feuds are settled with gunfire and narco cartulinas, tossed upon dead bodies, and taped to windows.  Enemies and contras are caught where they can be, buying groceries, in their home, or eating sushi....

In Yokomo Sushi, on Blvd. Diaz Ordaz, on the 13th of August, two men entered, their images captured on security cameras and executed Cesar Acosta Lopez, who took at least 8 bullets, including one to the forehead.  One man acted as a lookout, while the other fired bullets into Lopez's face, neck, and chest.   It is believed his murder is linked to retail drug disputes in the city.  

Elba Esther Gordillo: " I demand my rights as a citizen be respected"

Lucio R. for Borderland Beat

Update:  The court ruled against Gordillo, determining she was too great a flight risk.

A very different looking Elba Esther Gordillo, went before a judge today, via video conferencing in her hearing to determine if her request for house arrest will be approved by the court.

In fact one may argue, that the tarnished former chief of the Mexican Teachers Union, nicked named ‘La Chucky’, has never looked better.  Probably not a great idea for someone appealing to the court for compassion in  granting her house arrest,  because she is so ill.

In Mexico, those imprisoned who are over 70,  and who are experiencing serious health issues exasperated by incarceration, can apply for house arrest.  In the case of Gordillo, she has multiple high end properties to select from.  

She has mulit-million dollar properties in both Mexico and the United States in ritzy, Coronado Bay , California.  She is being tried on charges of corruption and embezzlement, but since she has not yet been convicted, her assets have not been seized, although they more than likely have a freeze placed on the properties, disallowing any sale or transfer of ownership.  At least in Mexico.

In the hearing, Gordillo asked authorities to apply the law without “political bias”, and demanded she is given respect for her rights as a citizen of Mexico.

It is the argument of attorney Hugo Sanchez, of Mexico’s Attorney General office, (PGR) that she not be granted house arrest, because she is a flight risk and is able to easily take residence in another country outside Mexico.

Sanchez argued that house arrest is not a ‘right’, and is not granted automatically, but on a discretionary basis by the court.

Gordillo appealed to the court; “I am a Mexican citizen anywhere in the world, even in the United States, my visits are that of a ‘tourist’, and have been very short. That is, I am Mexican and proud to be so, any visit to the United States doesn’t change that.”

Sanchez asserts the risk is too great to take a chance, further arguing the severity of the crimes she is charged with, which includes money laundering.


Last Friday the court decided the press would be allowed in today’s hearing, which is typically closed to the public.  (her home in Coronado Bay, California is circled in red below)


United States Family attacked and shot on vacation in Michoacan

Translated by Otis B Fly-Wheel for Borderland Beat from a Michoacán 3.0 article

[ Subject Matter: Ramos family
Recommendation: No prior subject matter knowledge required]

Reporter: Michoacan Redaction
This past 31st of July, the Ramos family were enjoying a vacation in Michoacan, when they were attacked by gunfire by armed criminals, killing one of the occupants. It appears as though the van in which they were travelling was attacked in error by the criminals.

The brothers, Bruno, 18 years old, and Jesus Ramos, 19 years old, their father Ignacio Ramos and their uncle Ramon Ramos returned to a park near the town of Periban, Michoacan, on board a Chevrolet Envoy colored white when then were attacked.

The United States  youngsters were gravely injured, as was their father Ignacio Ramos, meanwhile their uncle died in the attack. The victims were taken in an ambulance to San Diego, California, to be treated, however Bruno was gravely wounded when shot in the head, and fell into a coma.


Monday, August 17, 2015

Leader of La Linea in Chihuahua killed

Translated by Otis B Fly-Wheel for Borderland Beat from a Proceso article

[ Subject Matter: La Linea, Chihuahua, El Borrego
Recommendation: No prior subject matter knowledge required]




Reporter: Patricia Mayorga
Rafael Chavira Renteria, "El Borrego", presumed leader of La Linea in Chihuahua, lost his life during a confrontation with Sicarios of the Sinaloa Cartel, with whom he disputed the North East zone plaza.

Another alleged Sicario, Christian Salcido, 20 years of age, was executed when he was transferred to hospital in an ambulance. The Sicarios detained the driver, and finished off the injured man.

Arturo Sandoval Figon, spokesman for the Attorney General of the State, confirmed that the criminals intercepted the ambulance as it took the injured to Ciudad Juarez.

At Kilometre 21 of the Ciudad Juarez highway, they killed the injured but respected the life of the paramedics.

Mexican Cartels: The Threat of Spillover Violence & the Rule of Law



Billboard on I-10 in El Paso, Texas



Republished with permission
The Threat of Spillover Violence

Kate Steinle and murder suspect Francisco Sanchez
In the evening of July 1, 2015, Kate Steinle, a 32 year old woman was out for a stroll with her father at Pier-14 along the San Francisco waterfront when she was killed by a man in an apparent random shooting. Pier 14 is one of San Francisco’s busiest tourist destinations, and a place where people gather to take in the beautiful scenic views, joggers exercise, and families push strollers at all hours of the day and night. Within an hour, the San Francisco police had apprehended the suspect in the shooting, 45 year old Francisco Sanchez.

Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez (or Francisco Sanchez; given name José Inez García Zarate), of Guanajuato, Mexico, was formally charged with first-degree murder and a firearm enhancement on July 6, 2015. He had previously been deported from the United States a total of five times, most recently in 2009. He was on probation in Texas during the time of the shooting. He had seven prior felony convictions, four for drug trafficking. The firearm Sanchez used in the shooting had been stolen days before from a federal law enforcement official.

El Tigre and Premier Viagras leader arrested: suspects in the Harry Devert murder

By Lucio R. for Borderland Beat

Regional news outlets are reporting, Adrian Reyes Cadena, nicknamed "El Tigre" plaza boss in Zihuatanejo, (left) was arrested along with the leader of Los Viagras, Miariano Sierra Santana, alias El Negro”.  The suspects were arrested in an operation on  calle Golondrinas, in Ixtapa, Guerrero.

The operation to arrest was in coordination with Federal Police, the Mexican Army and the Attorney Specializing in Organized Crime Research (SEIDO).

They have been transferred to Mexico City in an Federal Preventive Police aircraft. The arrest occurred at 09:00 hours on Sunday, two helicopters one of  the Mexican army and one of the PFP over flew the area beginning at 0700.  The military closed off traffic on Golondrinas Street.

The arrest was conducted, 149 Golondrinas Street, inside the home  of "El Tigre".  His wife and children were home at the time.

Also arrested was Mariano Sierra Santana, 34 years old, who is from Michoacán in Buena Vista municipality. 

(I have two photos each supposedly Mariano but are different men..lets go with this one)

Authorities have not given the names of the others arrested but it is estimated 5 or 6 others were arrested in the operation.

The detainees were loaded onto a “rhino” truck and travelled to the military barracks of  Ixtapa where a helicopter of the Federal Police was waiting to transfer the suspects to Mexico City to the federal PGR headquarters.

Although the charges against the suspects have not been made public, Los Viagras, El Tigre, El Gavilan and others are suspected as being the authors and executioners of Harry Devert.

Saturday, August 15, 2015

CDG chief El Chive and R5 arrested at Tampico hospital

Lucio R. Borderland Beat material from 24 Horas


“El R2”  aka  "El Toñin" brother of El Chive takes control over the region 


Elements of Tamaulipas arrested another of their “targets”, this time it is Silvestre Haro Rodriguez, alias El Chive, chief of the Gulf Cartel plaza in metropolitan area of Tampico, Madero and Altamira.

The arrest, along with his brother Carlos Alberto Alvarez Diaz, known as R5.

The arrest was conducted yesterday,  Friday August 14 at the port of Tampico,  inside a hospital, Hospital Centro Español de Tampico, located on Avenida Hidalgo.

El Chive attempted to bribe the arresting police.

Apparently the arrest occurred after El Chive accompanied his brother to the hospital, after Carlos suffered the loss of a hand from the detonation of an explosive device.


Other detainees are;

Guillermo Álvarez Cortez,

Rosa Elena Díaz Acevedo (mother of Carlos),

Luis Alberto Rodríguez Gallegos (father of Carlos),

Mayomy Sarahí Haro Rodríguez (sister of El Chive),

Rigoberto Espinosa Martínez,

Renzo Eduardo Yañez Saldaña

Aleks Hernández Salazar

Confiscated in the arrest;   
         
Seven rifles with chargers, five pistols, including one gold-plated, (in photo at left) five grenades, one thousand 873 cartridges and 59 magazines, three radios, three bags, and cell phones.