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

Sunday, January 31, 2016

Ciudad Victoria Tamaulipas: 828 Kilos of cocaine discovered in Transport truck

Lucio R. Borderland Beat from Reforma

The Federal Police (PF) said 828 kilograms of cocaine was discovered  in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, where the load was being transported in a truck. Sources said that two individuals, identified as Christian David Pizaña Aquilar, 30, Martinez and Jorge Nájera Martínez, 23, were arrested. 

The drug was hidden in containers with double bottom.

In conducting patrols, members of the PF noticed  that a truck was driving recklessly, even wandering into  the opposite lane. At kilometer 53 of 1085  Ignacio Zaragoza Road, at the junction with the road Victoria-Monterrey (La Aurora), the officers pulled over the vehicle  for review. 

When the police asked the driver, Pizaña Aguilar, was where he was going and what was he transporting, he appeared shaky and nervous. He replied that he was coming from Veracruz carrying empty containers, on route to Monterrey.

The vehicle and its crew, were moved to the premises of the Federal Police in Ciudad Victoria. In presence of authority ministerial the containers were inspected and found that 20 were empty.

However, upon further inspection, they found 734 packages of cocaine, under the false bottoms, wrapped with plastic duct tape, about 828 kilos 998 grams of cocaine in total. 



BLO Boss 'El 2000' captured in Guasave, Sinaloa

Lucio R. Borderland Beat material from El Debate and BB

Francisco Hernández García, alias El 2000 or El Panchín , a leader of  Beltran Leyva Organization, was arrested in Guasave, Sinaloa.  He was the replacement for Hector Beltran Leyva.

He was on the list of targeted criminal priorities, identified by the Mexican Government.

He was in charge of drug trafficking to the U.S. from the States of, Chihuahua, San Luis Potosi, Coahuila and Sonora.

Francisco along with his brother,  Jose Manuel Hernandez Garcia, are also wanted in the disappearance of journalist Alfredo Jimenez Mota a reporter for El Imparcial, who vanished in April 2005.

In 2007, in the city of Cananea Sonora, he is suspected of leading a shootout which left 23 dead, including 5 police. Two other police were found badly tortured.

Details of the arrest have not been made public at this time.
Jimenez Mota

Secretive operation nets dozens of Sinaloa cartel members

DEA, FBI, BP, ICE were all a part of this, "Operación Mexicana Diablo Exprés"...

Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman's cartel took another massive hit over the weekend after dozens of its members were arrested in a secretive cross-border operation, officials said. It's unclear, however, if Guzman's recent arrest had anything to do with the unusual operation by Mexican and American officials.

The highly secretive, daylong law enforcement operation around the Arizona border with Mexico resulted in the arrest of two dozen alleged high-level members of the Sinaloa, according to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman.

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Tijuana: Portrait of an Encobijado

Portrait of an Encojibado
(contains graphic images)

January 2014:

The floor is dirty and stained, cigarettes stubbed out into the cold hard concrete, smoked to the end by murderers and enforcers, inhaling and talking casually, dressed in jeans and sneakers, as the life was choked from 'El Sureno.  One of the men present texted his wife, 'I just want you to know that I love you guys, and I am only going to kill one more, I have never killed anyone who didn't deserve it, I'll see you later'.  Juan Castro-Navarro, the man mentioned above, had been under investigation by Homeland Security agents since early 2013, who were intercepting his communications.  In November, HSI agents received a title III wire intercept on Castro-Navarro's phone.  Within 30 days they had seized 30 pounds of meth, and 2 pounds of heroin, in Ontario, CA.
Luis Fernando Torres Baltzar, "El Suereno'

I wrote about the sentencing and backstory of Juan Castro Navarro last summer, Castro-Navarro, revealed at his sentencing texted gleefully and ironically, about a man at his feet, being strangled to death in a grimy Tijuana stash house.  He couldn't be tried for the murder that happened in Mexico, in early 2014, but the District judge used it to enhance his sentence, saying Castro-Navarro had become a monster.  A newspaper article and the intercepted text messages were shown at the sentencing.  The images have been released by Zeta, and is a grim portrait of the life, handcuffs and barren safe houses, stench of death and stale beer, in cigarette smoke and urine from the victim.

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Guerrero: 7 dismembered/tortured bodies discovered, as unstoppable violence continues

Lucio R. Borderland Beat from Bajopalabra and AIG

The bodies of seven people were found this morning in day in Chilpancingo, capital of Guerrero.

The bodies were found at two different points; Three of the bodies were found on Vicente Guerrero boulevard, opposite the entrance of the colonia Tatagildo colony north of Chilpancingo

In addition, four more bodies were found near colonia 4 de Marzo,  in the vicinity of Cerrito Rico.

All bodies were male gender,  and all showed signs of torture, beatings, dismemberment and several were bound hand and foot.

The bodies were taken to Semefo of the capital, where  three of the victims have been identified; Erick David Gatica Telangueño, 20, orginally from  Zumpango, Víctor Zaldívar 15, of Chilpancingo, and Eduardo Ezequiel Arcos 18, also of  Chilpancingo


The three victims were  identified by relatives as being those who were abducted on Tuesday, from  a mechanic workshop in the Colonia del Sur in the capital city.   (graphic images on following page)

Zacatecas: Commando Attacks & Burns Nightclub; 4 Dead, 6 Wounded






By: Verónica Espinosa | Translated by Valor for Borderland Beat



Zacatecas, Zacatecas— On Wednesday night, an armed group opened fire at employees and clients of a nightclub in the municipality of Guadalupe, who then locked down the establishment and set it on fire.

According to local media reports, there were at least two people dead in the fire.  An official statement from the state government reported a total of four dead and six wounded at around 23:00 hours on Wednesday.

In its digital website, the newspaper, La Jornada, reported that there were nine fatalities in this attack as a result of the fire and the shooting, while another 15 suffered injuries and burns of different degrees with some of them being serious.

The commando entered the nightclub “El Botanero” around 9:00 pm on Wednesday night when there were many customers inside.

According to witnesses who managed to escape, four men with rifles fired at the ceiling, intimidating those who were in the club.

Customers and employees witnessed how the group began dousing gasoline inside the nightclub, and later set it on fire.  The armed group left and closed the doors, preventing people from leaving.

San Diego: 22 indicted in 'O-Dog' racketeering & trafficking conspiracy

22 indicted in RICO conspiracy 

Last September, Owen Michael Hanson, former USC player, known apparently in certain circles as 'O-Dog', was detained by FBI agents leaving a Carlsbad area Hyatt golf course.  Hanson, who enjoyed a priviliged upbringing in Redondo Beach, Los Angeles, was arrested and indicted for drug conspiracy charges, including the delivery of 5 kilo grams of cocaine and 5 kilograms of methamphetamine.  Also charged the same day was Rufus Leon Rhone, in Los Angeles.

Image of Owen Hanson sent to threaten a debtor, who went to teh FBI
At the same time, a half dozen men were arrested in Australia, including music promoter magnate Andrew Mcmanus, in a money laundering, drug trafficking, and gambling case.  All the men were alleged to be involved in a wide ranging, global conspiracy to traffic drugs from Mexico into Australia and launder the proceeds, both down under, and in Las Vegas casinos.  

At a bail hearing, AUSA's detailed Hanson's tactics, including sending DVD's of beheadings (which may have been previously filmed, and not performed by the defendants) to insolvent customers, and directing debtors to be beaten and threatened.  They also detailed the illegal gambling business, based out of Costa Rica, that Hanson ran and profited from.  Hanson was held without bail.  

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Autodefensas Detain Sicario Along With Army Lieutenant




Translated by Valor for Borderland Beat

The Community Police of Tepalcatepec, Michoacán spotted a subject, an alleged member of the criminal group “Los Viagras”, disguised as a Mexican Military Soldier and who was also accompanied by a lieutenant of the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA).

Both were arrested by comunitarios (community members) while they were aboard a cloned Mexican Military vehicle with serial number: 3317356.


“This sicario of Los Viagras, dressed as a soldier, (he intended) to plant drugs on certain legitimate autodefensa leaders,” an autodefensa leader revealed.

PGR releases video of Chapo's escape, recapture, and booking

Lucio R. Borderland Beat
Chapo and El Cholo Ivan during the identification process
Mexico’s PGR (Attorney General Office), released a 19 minute video, illustrating the operation that resulted in the escape of  Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, and footage of the operation to capture El Chapo as he was on the run.


In the last five minutes of the presentation, the agency details intelligence work, with visuals, that was developed of  the flight of the leader of the Sinaloa cartel.  

Also featured is the search for the capo, during the nearly six months he was a fugitive, until January 8th  when  was recaptured.

The PGR details how the tunnel was built and how Chapo escaped from the maximum security prison in just 28 minutes.

The tools found under the shower floor, which  Chapo used as an escape hatch,  that allowed him to descend to freedom were,  crowbars, stethoscope, cordless drill, oxygen masks, and a hydraulic jack.

There were 146 items of evidence, requiring the expertise of various areas of investigation, including, ballistics, voice analysis, fingerprinting, DNA, ballistics, forensic anthropology, among others.

In the video the process of determining full identity was shown.  This process includes, forensic photography examination, fingerprints, and blood sample for DNA.  “El Cholo Ivan (Gastelum) his security chief, who was arrested with Chapo, is shown with him during this process.


Tijuana: A human head, with a narco message from CJNG/CAF

Lucio R. Borderland Beat

A macrabe discovery was made last Saturday in a vacant lot in the colonia Amparo Sánchez, in the city of Tijuana, B.C.

Inside  a black toolbox, was found a decapitated human head, the body was not at the scene, and is yet to be found.  A cartulina (poster board) narco message  was left with the tool box.

The message translates to say; Sir Mencho and his people are cleaning Baja, this will happen to all the people of Aquiles and La Rana. Signed, CNGT (Tijuana)

Rene “La Rana” Arzate Garcia a Sinaloa Cartel operative is believed to oversee drug trafficking operations in the Tijuana area and throughout Northern Baja California.   He is known to frequent Tijuana, La Paz and Los Cabos.

His brother Alfonso Arzare Garcia, is “Aquiles” referenced in the message.

CNGT represents the alliance created by CJNG, (Cartel Jalisco New Generation) and The Arellano Felix family, to drive out the Sinaloa Cartel, and to establish territory.


Tuesday, January 26, 2016

La Sombra Strikes Again: 2 Dead, 2 Wounded



Translated by Valor for Borderland Beat

Just two days after two municipal policemen were gunned down in Los Reyes La Paz, the same criminal group attacked four people who were in Santa Cruz Tlapacoya, leaving two dead and two wounded.

The local police received a report of an armed attack around 21:00 hours on Monday, January 25.

The patrol unit 259 moved to the street Palmira and found two people dead and two people with gunshot wounds.

The attackers came out of a white truck in order to leave a narcomanta signed by Ivan El Ingeniero, El Pantera and La Sombra.

On a red Nissan Sentra, with Edomex license plates, the attackers left the following message:

“Esto les va a pasar a todos los hijos de su puta madre de la avanzada.

Empezo la limpia putitos, alinience con el pueblo se acabó la extorsión y secuestro

Atte:
Ivan El Ingeniero
Pantera
La Sombra"

(Graphic Images Below)

Monday, January 25, 2016

2 Policemen Executed In Edomex




Translated by Valor for Borderland Beat

The manta was signed by “La Sombra”, who warns police forces who are in collusion with organized crime.

Two members of the municipal police of Los Reyes La Paz were executed during Sunday morning, while they were aboard their patrol truck, by armed gunmen who left a message.

The executions took place at 3:00 in the morning, when the municipal police unit #22-740 was attacked while they were parked along Lerma Avenue and Street 23 in the neighborhood Valle de los Reyes.


The executed policemen were identified as Felipe de Jesús González Reyes and Tomás Mendoza Rosajén, who were gunned down by alleged sicarios that placed a manta over their patrol unit warning state, municipal, and ministerial police who support extortionists and kidnappers.

Tijuana: Brother of 'El Mono' attacked

Brother of 'El Mono' attacked

Another relative of  Luis Manuel Toscano', 'El Mono', was gunned down this morning in Tijuana, Colonia Jose Gallegos November 23rd.  'El Cuate' was riding as a passenger in a free taxi, (which are commonly used to transport drugs, arms, and sicarios) when he was fired upon by the passengers of a grey Jeep Cherokee.Bystanders took several pictures of 'El Cuate' propped up against a wall, shirt soaked with blood in one, and shirtless in another.  Members of the municipal police detained the suspected gunmen in their vehicle, not far from the scene.  

Tijuana's retail drug trade is a murderous, shifting cesspool of blood feuds, severed ties, and severed limbs.  Families, who have existed in the business for years are backed up proxies of people like El Aquilles, or people of Arellano Felix, creating intimate bloody conflicts that tear through the families and neighborhoods of the city.  The mother of 'El Mono' was murdered, as well as other family members in the purge and
struggle that followed his death.

This latest attack comes in yet another wave of violent and public killings, which include a massacre at a cock fight in Ensenada, and a severed head left for the people of Aquiles, from the people of Arturo Herrera 'El Grosero', who is vying against the people of Aquiles and La Rana. They are fighting for the plaza of Tijuana, and the Sanchez Tadoaba area in particular.  
It is believed that Aquiles was behind the murder of 'El Mono', Aquiles turned people close to Mono, and he was betrayed.  In the months before Mono's death, bodies and messages were left in Zona Norte against Azarte brothers, and all those who opposed CAF.  Mono was said to be number four in the structure of Zona Norte's retail drug operations, but he was often said to be the one in charge.  His brothers were arrested in Playas De Tijuana, shortly after his murder. 

Aquiles and La Rana are said to be far from Tijuana, and trying to reassert themselves in the plaza, as the people of Grosero lead a bloody offensive against him. Banners, often hand written, claim that NCDT, Nuevo Cartel De Tijuana is allied with the people of CJNG, and it's leader 'El Mencho', though this has not been confirmed by much else.  

This is the reality of violence on the streets of Tijuana, commandos in suburban convoys are few and far between, highly trained and outfitted assassins are rare, if non existent.  The violence plays out in brutal, sporadic shootings, between men in t-shirts and jeans, leaving blood soaked concrete and corpses in their wake.  

AFN Tijuana 

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Commando Breaks Into Cockfighting Arena: 4 Dead, 25 Wounded


Photo: Roberto Salazar Vargas/Ensenada.net

Translated by Valor for Borderland Beat

On Saturday night, an armed commando burst into a cockfighting arena in Ensenada and shot at attendees, leaving 25 wounded and four dead, among them, two minors.  The assailants fled aboard two vehicles and left three grenades in the parking lot, which caused panic amongst the attendees.

According to the Baja California district attorney’s office, an armed commando broke into an arena in Ensenada, Baja California, and opened fire on those attending a cockfight that left four dead and 25 wounded, including two minors.

On Saturday night, an armed and masked group entered “Palenque Póker” searching for, according to preliminary research evidence, a man known as “El Chino”, with the intention of killing him.
 
Photo: Zeta
According to local media, the incident occurred on Saturday night on the highway Transpeninsular between Estancia and Delante Boulevard, just south of Ensenada.

At the time it took place, the cockfight had a total of 500 spectators, of which several were injured.

As a result of the shooting, four people were killed, among them two minors: a 16 year old and an 11 year old, according to officials.

Friday, January 22, 2016

President Peña says PGR to accelerate chapo's extradition to the U.S.

Lucio R. for Borderland Beat

President Enrique Peña Nieto ordered the attorney general (Spanish: Procurador General de la República or PGR) to "accelerate" the extradition of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman Loera, so he may be imprisoned and tried in the United States.

While still at the World  Economic Forum Annual Meeting in  Davos Switzerland,  the President stated that this case "obviously goes through a process involving the judiciary of our country." He spoke as he was being interviewed today about issues affecting Mexico, such as the political and economic priorities in the year ahead?

And of course “what about Chapo?”

Enrique Peña Nieto proffers his thoughts, which was captured by video.

EPN, smiled when the Moisés Naím, announces at the beginning of the discussion, that everyone wants to know, what will happen to Chapo, but that they will save that question for the end.

Fmr Gov Humberto Moreira, charged with links to Los Zetas, granted bail in Spain

Lucio R.  for Borderland Beat with material from Reforma and  El Pais Espana

Spain charge Governor Moreira of having meetings with Zetas leaders

Moreira embraces wife Vanessa Guerrero upon exiting prison
The former president of the PRI, Humberto Moreira left the prison of Soto del Real and has denied having links with the criminal group "Los Zetas."

Moreover, Moreira accompanied by one of his lawyers, Ulrich Richter Morales, said that his imprisonment for alleged crimes of money laundering and bribery will not undermine the PRI. 

As for his plans now, taking into account the precautionary measures imposed by the judge Pedraz, he is  unable to leave Spain, Moreira said he will continue his graduate studies in Barcelona.


Moreira’s passport was relinquished to the court.  The prosecution has 5 days to appeal the decision.

The judge's decision opposes the request of anti-corruption prosecutors Juan Jose Rosa and Jose Grinda, who had requested unconditional prison for the president of the PRI for the alleged crimes of money laundering and integration in a criminal organization.

The indictment reveals, according to judicial sources, several meetings and meetings held with Moreira and Los Zetas leaders.
Moreira, accompanied by his wife Vanessa, departs Spanish prison (Notimex)

El Javier attacks

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

[Subject Matter: Jose Guadalupe Acosta Lopez ( El Javier ), Los Damasos, Los Mayitos, Los Pepillos
Recommendation: Read this related article see link]

The primary investigations and testimonies about the executions of the last few weeks in Los Cabos point to the Plaza Boss El Javier for Los Damasos. In La Paz the new criminal chief of  Los Damazo have opened another battle front against Los Mayitos and the remnants of Los Pepillos for control of narco trafficking.



Reporter: Zeta Investigations and Cortesia

Cabo San Lucas: When the narco trafficker, Jose Guadalupe Sandez Lopez "El Docil" was attacked on the morning of the 27th of December of 2015 in Las Divinas Bar in the Zona Dorada tourist destination he was killed.

Weeks after, the 24 year old victim's friends and family, said he had received death threats from the Plaza Boss of San Jose del Cabo, Jose Guadalupe Acosta Lopez "El Javier", after having deserted his criminal cell and integrating himself into a Los Mayito's crew. (Otis: what did they think would happen if he did this?)


Thursday, January 21, 2016

Actor Armie Hammer purchases rights to the "La Barbie" story

Posted by dd and  contributed by Chivis for Borderland Beat
How much of the "real" La Barbie story will be told?
Valdez being extradited to the United States

Perhaps it is because of the increasing interest in the “can’t make this stuff up”, adventures of El Chapo over recent years, but interest has spiked by film makers and journalists, exploring the lives and notorious exploits of Mexico’s infamous narco capos.

Fiction and non-fiction projects are being produced in numbers never seen previously. 

Since the Chapo recapture,  Chapo news has selfishly  dominated headlines, which is why the news of a deal made between a Texas actor and Valdez, for story rights received little notice.

 
Zeta sicario  "Vizcarra a second before being executed, from the 
infamous La Barbie execution video, the first of its type, a pivotal moment in drug war terrorism

Visited Chapo in Prison; PGR detains and interrogates Dep. Lucero Sanchez

By Lucio R. Borderland Beat

Allegedly the mother of El Chapo's newly born son

Cosalá Sinaloa Deputy (aka congresswoman) Lucero Sanchez Lopez, will be interrogated and will give testimony, with respect to the charges that she entered,  Federal Social Rehabilitation Center (prison)  No. 1, 'Altiplano',  using falsified documents to visit Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman in 2014. The attorney general’s office confirmed the deputy was brought to the office of the Special Attorney for the investigation of Organized Crime. 


The PGR office confirmed the detainment and her interrogation, which marks  
legal requirement to file charges.  Guards testified the visit included conversation regarding the birth of the baby and transfers of real estate ownership.


Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Prison Dogs Taste Test Chapo's Food For Poison

Posted by DD Republished from YahooNews

  AFP

Mexico City (AFP) - Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman has had a rocky return to prison: He arrived depressed, officials gave him "Don Quixote" to read and a dog tastes his food for poison.

photo from proceso
 A K9 unit now guards the area where Mexico's most-wanted criminals are held, including Guzman, as part of new measures implemented three months ago, Eduardo Guerrero, the head of Mexico's penitentiary system, told Radio Imagen.

"A K9 tastes the food first because we must care for his physical integrity in case someone wants to poison him," Guerrero said, adding that the same thing is being done for the other imprisoned drug barons.

The dogs were also trained to recognize the smell of the country's "main objectives" as part of efforts to prevent another embarrassing escape.

Guzman has been moved to a different cell 11 times without warning since he was sent back to the prison, Guerrero said.

‘Fast & Furious’ rifle capable of taking down helicopter found in 'El Chapo' cache

A .50-caliber rifle found at Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman’s hideout in Mexico was funneled through the gun-smuggling investigation known as Fast and Furious, sources confirmed Tuesday to Fox News.

A .50-caliber is a massive rifle that can stop a car or, as it was intended, take down a helicopter.

After the raid on Jan. 8 in the city of Los Mochis that killed five of his men and wounded one Mexican marine, officials found a number of weapons inside the house where Guzman was staying, including the rifle, officials said.

Tijuana: Violence continues to spiral

Tijuana: Public executions continue

Violence tends to follow a trend in Tijuana, constant escalations and killings that threaten to return to the gruesome public atrocities that infected the city in 2008, in the months after El Teo and El Inge's gunmen publicly severed ties.  That shootout at Insurgentes bridge left 15 dead in the aftermath of a running gun battle, cars and businesses and bodies were riddled with high caliber bullets when it was over.  
The headlines and panicked cries of the public followed, and began the exodus of Tijuanese to San Diego communities, like Eastlake, Bonita, and La Jolla.  The body for body, limb for limb war also began, which destroyed any illusions of Tijuana's drug mafias, not having carte blanche in the city.  In the wake of that war, much as changed, leaders and depraved enforcers are captured, killed, influences are sold, resold, and sold again.  

Police chiefs, mayors, and governors cycle in and cycle out.  The Zeta publishes weekly.  The violence has yet to spill over the brutal metric of the 2008 years, but the widespread fears and insecurity continue to plague Tijuana.  Killings, shootings, and public displays of bodies always smooth out, just before boiling over.  The last few months in Tijuana have reached this level.  Dozens of murders, many in public, restaurants, as families dine, and later sit in shock, as killers empty bullet after bullet into their target, whose blood swims on the floor.  Bodies are found throughout the city, lower profile murders happen multiple times in a day, in neighboring colonias.

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Dr. Mireles will remain in prison, after losing motion to dismiss

Lucio R. Borderland Beat Translated by Jlopez republished from El Diario

Note: Attorneys filed the same argument in the case of Doctor Manuel Mireles, as in the successful argument of Cemei Verdia, the coastal (or genuine) autodefensas leader, who was released from prison, after winning the motion to dismiss.

The argument put forth, was that there was not only knowledge of weapons being use by autodefensas groups, but that it was done with the consent of authorities, including Security Chief of Michoacán, Alfredo Castillo.  Furthermore, the argument stresses that many operations by federal forces were organized and conducted with autodefensas.  This was especially true in the sierras.  The rugged, and logistically challenging, federal forces depending on autodefensas to navigate the mountain terrain.  Despite having the exact argument as Verdia’s motion, Mireles’ motion was denied.

Verdia
Federal District-- The 5th District Court denied the dismissal of charges against Jose Manuel Mireles, former leader of the Michoacan self defense forces, incarcerated since June 27, 2014.

With this ruling, the activist must continue his trial from the federal prison in Hermosillo, Sonora, charged with violating the Federal Law on Firearms and Explosives when he went in with other self defense forces to take control over the security in the town of La Mira.

"The Motion to Dismiss the ongoing criminal prosecution, brought by the defense on behalf of Jose Manuel Mireles Valverde, is not well founded," reads the judge's ruling.

Monday, January 18, 2016

Guerrero: 2000 attendees at the funeral of school director who died in captivity

Lucio R. for Borderland Beat

"No more kidnappings of teachers!! ", shouted Gabriel Perez Mendoza 18 years old, the nephew of a Guerrero principal who died while in captivity. Perez Mendoza broke down in the middle of his emotional speech at his uncle’s funeral.

More than 2000 people attended the funeral on Sunday  for abducted school principal (called directors in Mexico) Joaquin Real Toldeo the principal of  Secundaria Técnica 114 in  Santana del Águila, Guerrero.

Gunman burst into the school last Monday and violently abducted 5 educators including Real Toledo.

Residents and families pooled together and paid the ransom demand, not knowing Real Toledo was dead, reportedly from an asthma attack sometime during his first day of captivity. 

Although his body was badly decomposed when discovered on Saturday, the 4 surviving teachers gave their testimony. 

They report that on the first day of captivity, Real Toledo complained of difficulty breathing, the teachers told their captors that the principal was in trouble and very ill.  “They didn’t care, and watched him die”, said the teachers in their testimony.  The 4 teachers said he died from an asthma attack.


On Friday, Xavier Olea, Guerrero attorney general said that, according to the testimonies of those released, they testified the director became ill from asthma and died.  The attorney general added, that it is not certain if the death was brought on by the long distances of walking the captives were forced to do.  At first reports indicated he had been murdered, but later reports from reliable publications such as Reforma, and Animal Political, said the testimony of the 4 surviving teacher  stated he died from asthma.

The teachers were found in late on Friday after the morning discovery of 21 men from the neighboring town of Arcelia, who had been abducted on their way to a wedding in a convoy of cars. They were released alive.

Authorities say that those responsible are a newly formed group of kidnappers, formed by a former member of a cartel operating in Guerrero.


Televisa host Yolanda Andrade, facilitated Chapo/Kate introduction

Lucio with material from Reforma, Thank you Daily Reader

                     Investigations reopened of disappearances and financial                          collusion with Sinaloa Cartel

An old case of disappearances and ties of Yolanda Andrade’s  family, with the Cártel de Sinaloa, has been reactivated by the government subsequent to the capture Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.

Andrade, the actress and TV host of "MoJo" and "Netas Divinas" on the Televisa partner Unicable, is originally from Culiacán,  is being investigated by  authorities,  for her involvement in the Kate del Castillo and Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman case. She is suspected of being the link bringing the Capo and Castillo together.


An old case of disappearances and  ties of Yolanda Andrade’s  family, with the Cártel de Sinaloa, has been reactivated by the government subsequent to the capture Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.

Reforma is reporting that intelligence revealed that Andrade,  Castillo's  close friend,  was not only the nexus of Chapo and Castillo, but it was Castillo who made the overture, requesting Andrade’s assistance in arranging a connection.  Not only would Andrade become the link, but she would have an advisory role in the proposed film to be produced by Castillo’s production company with Chapo about his life.  The interest of the government is not centered on the film or the interview that transpired, but questions about the financial backing for the film, and possible financing with illicit money.

These new reports may have been part of the intelligence Mexico’s attorney general spoke about when she referred to Chapo’s network of producers, film makers and actors, and not solely Castillo and actor Sean Penn.

There are two issues federal authorities are investigating that involve Andrade.

One involves a party at her home in Culiacán, Sinaloa, when she was 25 years old, where 3 young attendees disappeared.

The other issue is suspicions that her father, Rolando Andrade, had financial ties to the Sinaloa Cartel.

According to federal documents that Reforma accessed, in June 1996 Abraham Hernández, Jorge Cabada and Juan Hernández Argüelles, vanished from the home of Andrade’s party, a home with legal ownership of Rolando Andrade, located on El Dorado Blvd,  in the capital city of Sinaloa.


Christian Alvarez,  had been the  boyfriend Helga, the youngest Andrade daughter.

The couple had an argument. Someone went to Rommel Andrade, the elder brother,  and said “Christian, is threatening to hit Helga!”.

Rommel now enraged, approached Christian and landed some blows. The ​​Hernandez’ and Alvarez, were cousins and  the Hernandez’ tried to separate Rommel and Christian. Rommel came out and threatened “You will pay  bastards, no one touches or messes with my family!”

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Veracruz: SSP Chief Detained For Disappearances





Translated by Valor for Borderland Beat


The Attorney General of Veracruz reported that the SSP chief in Tierra Blanca, Marcos Conde Hernández, and Officer Otoniel Cruz Linares, were arrested for their alleged involvement in the disappearances of five youths between the ages of 16 and 27, which occurred on January 11.  Their whereabouts are currently unknown.  With the arrest of the two officers, there are a total of six police officers detained.

The Attorney General of Veracruz reported that a police chief of the Secretariat of Public Safety (SSP) of Veracruz and one of his officers were arrested for their alleged involvement in the “forced disappearance” of five youths in Tierra Blanca, on January 11.

With the arrest of the two officers, there are a total of six officers who are detained for their alleged involvement in the January 11th disappearances of five youths in the municipality of Tierra Blanca, nestled in the center of Veracruz.

In a press release, the Attorney General’s Office of Veracruz reported the arrest of the police chief in Tierra Blanca, Marcos Conde Hernández, and of Officer Otoniel Cruz Linares.

Both were charged for their alleged involvement in the forced disappearances of youths who were detained by state police and whose current whereabouts are still unknown.

The official report states that, based on the strength of evidence presented by the prosecution of ministerial investigations, the lower court judge located in the Judicial District of Cosamaloapan issued the requested arrest warrants.