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

Friday, July 8, 2016

Bribes, Murder and Scarface: How the Zetas Bought a Mexican Border State

Posted by DD partially republished from San Antonio Current, Mexico News Daily and My San Antonio 


 They made sure the place didn’t look like much from the outside, just another plain, unassuming house in the middle of quiet residential neighborhood somewhere in the Mexican border state of Coahuila.

screenshot via youtube
Inside, however, the place was a decked-out safe haven for leaders of the powerful Zetas drug cartel. Testifying in a San Antonio federal courtroom Wednesday, a former top financial advisor to the Zetas remembered helping cartel bosses build what they called the “VIP.” There was the large room with a jacuzzi and a bar with every kind of liquor imaginable, and a part of the house where the cartel kept pit bulls and prisoners. Rodrigo Humberto Uribe Tapia, who claims he helped launder some $50 million in drug proceeds for the cartel before fleeing to the United States in 2009, says a top Zetas commander insisted the place be Scarface-themed. The commander asked that Uribe hang a blown-up image of of a scene from the movie where Tony Montana buries his face in cocaine mountain. “He was kind of like an idol to him,” Uribe said on the stand.



Millan  Vasquez
 Uribe was the first to testify in what’s expected to be the lengthy trial of Marciano Millan Vasquez, who prosecutors claim was a Zetas hitman, or sicario, before assuming control of the gang’s forces in Piedras Negras, a critical city for the cartel because of two international bridges into Eagle Pass that make the area a lucrative smuggling route into Texas.

Millan Vasquez, who was arrested in San Antonio last year, faces multiple charges that could put him in prison for life. Prosecutors are expected to bring evidence that Millan Vasquez was in part responsible for a wave of killings, abductions and disappearances that have paralyzed Coahuila in recent years

 One of the charges against Millan Vasquez allows the feds to prosecute him for killings in another country since they claim the violence was tied to a drug trafficking conspiracy that stretched deep into the United States.   These charges stem from the Allende massacre, in which as many as 300 people disappeared in 2011, and the murders of at least 150 people in the Piedras Negras penitentiary between 2009 and 2012.

shell of burned out house in Allende
U.S. authorities say Millán personally “shot, dismembered and burned bodies” not only to enforce orders but to terrorize anyone who might resist the cartel.

 In opening statements Wednesday, assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Galdo hinted at some of the grisly testimony expected to come out at trial this week and next: “The defendant killed, the defendant tortured, the defendant dismembered.”

Millan Vasquez’s attorney, Jaime Cavazos, told jurors Wednesday that his client is a simple farmer and insisted that any acts of violence described by paid government informants have nothing to do with him. “This whole trial is about condemning an organization that the federal government cannot reach,” he said. 

In court, however, Uribe testified to hearing cartel leaders order Millan Vasquez to kill a high-ranking Zetas member who’d angered his cartel bosses. He also testified to seeing Millan Vasquez and other Zetas enforcers covered in blood after killing a phone company worker who’d been listening in on cartel communications. 

In a strange turn in the testimony Thursday morning, explaining his appearance on a reality TV show.  

Millan Vasquez’s defense attorney pressed Rodrigo Humberto Uribe Tapia, a self-described financial operator for the Zetas from 2007 to 2009, on his 2013 appearance on the Judge Judy-like Telemundo show “Caso Cerrado,” or Case Closed.

In the show, which centers on a supposed child custody battle, Uribe claims to be a former hit man who did time in prison. The show was filmed while he was providing information about the Zetas to the federal government.

“That show is fictitious and on the show they gave us a script,” Uribe testified Thursday. “That show, it’s basically based on a script, but none of it was true.”

Defense attorney Jaime Cavazos asked Uribe if he still spoke with members of the Zetas at the time the show was filmed.
 .
“I was still in contact with them,” Uribe replied. “In fact, they thought it was really funny.”


Uribe testifies paid bribes to Coahuila to Governor Humberto Moreira


   Uribe’s testimony Wednesday also underscored why a case like Millan Vasquez’s is being tried by federal prosecutors in San Antonio: corruption, bribery and violence have made it virtually impossible to bring such a case in Mexico. According to Uribe, who prosectors say was a frontman for the cartel between 2007 and 2009, when he fled the country to begin working with U.S. law enforcement officials as a confidential informant, the Zetas were able to smuggle drugs, launder money and kill with impunity in Coahuila because of bribes paid to not only local but top state officials.

In his testimony Wednesday, Uribe said he was personally involved in helping deliver bribes to  Vicente Chaires Yáñez,  personal aide of former Coahuila governor Humberto Moreira.


On one occasion, Uribe testified that he and other cartel leaders met with the aide in a hotel, delivering some $2 million in cash packed into suitcases. Another time they met the aid at a gas station and passed off another $2 million in vacuum-sealed bags.

Uribe testified that the bribes not only allowed cartel members to buy their way out of criminal charges, but also secured cartel bosses’ access to state vehicles and even helicopters to avoid detection from the Mexican military as they moved throughout the region. (Moreira's attorney, who just so happens to be prosecuting Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, told the Express-News yesterday that Uribe's testimony about bribing the governor's office is "pure fantasy.")

 Uribe claimed drug money flowing to local and state officials allowed the cartel to set up checkpoints across the state, get around construction permits, and even assume control of a local coal mining company. He testified that the bribes also gave the Zetas near total control of the state prisons, where cartel members had access to whatever they wanted – “Everything,” he testified, “liquor, drugs, women, parties.” Uribe testified that cartel leaders even packaged drugs to load into secret compartments in smuggling vehicles on the Piedras Negras prison grounds.

He also testified that Moreira’s son Jose Eduardo, who was assassinated in 2012 in the Mexican border city of Ciudad Acuña, was killed because the Zetas’ business arrangements with the Coahuila government had broken down.  (DD ; Humberto had resigned and his brother Omar elected Governor)  The state police killed the nephew of Zetas leader Miguel “El 40” Treviño Morales and he responded by having Moreira’s son killed, Uribe said.

“I don’t know Rodrigo Uribe, the only thing I now know about him is that he participated in the show ‘Caso Cerrado’ as a panelist who talked about his life as an ‘ex sicario,’” Moreira said in a statement to Mexican media that included a link to a video of the show. “During my time in office no one I worked with offered me anything improper.”

“Stop trying to connect me to the people who killed my son,” he added.

76 comments:

  1. Comming from los zetas a cartel who started in tamaulipas the land of the snitches , like the top boss osiel , i expected this guy to be putting fingers on his people , funny how those cowards admire scarface lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. you must be a snitchaloa

      Delete
    2. U must be talking about the sinaloa people.. anyway wow how they reach the top just to fall.. great read

      Delete
    3. You're confused i think you meant sinaloa.

      Delete
    4. Your way wrong, everyone knows Sinaloa has the most snitches. Corridos that describe then as the toughest cartel but end up cry babies and snitching

      Delete
    5. Nah you must be talking about where you from anonymous 9:36

      Delete
    6. Ok when sinaloa been having big timers. Artes, beltranes, carrillos, payan,Araujos, salcidos, elenes, leija,y muchos más all the narcos now big the chinolas a bad reputation but I can almost bet y'all would not step foot in SIN talking that bullshit. And to be honest Zetas more down then The Gulf Cartel y'all act like the OG Zetas was all from Tamps fuck outta here.

      Delete
    7. 7:38 IS SNITCHING ON SINALOANS...
      Clearly, snitching is more important to @7:38 than taking care of "business", which would be taking care of "snitchaloans" instead of being snitching here about them...

      Delete
    8. 9:36 your correct tamaulipas producio muchos solpones (snitches) the biggest snitch of them all was in fact osiel cardenas a certified rat along with z40...there are snitches everywhere all over there wolrd its a fact..beleive that 99% of the people who post comments or a chivis staff are certified snitches...snitching is like fashion now and even comdoned by people..people theyself snitch but now at days its gotten were people get they girls to snitch so they wont be labled a snitch..im from the hood from camden nj number one murder capital like three yrs in a row..of course sinaloa has snitches but its like that everywhere..all i can say is that el chapo for those who say he snitched he has never snitched..everyone points fingers which is kinda like snitching cause its like you telling on that man,like you see him right there he did it or thats him just for example..the mexican goverment,el mochomo said el chapo never snitched...no drug dealer or cartel boss in the world associated with el chapo ever said he snitched so were are the facts ? Show us proof..so the bb readers now are days are the law and wat ever they say goes lol..show us readers since yall so much swear chapo snitched we wanna see..

      Delete
    9. Snitching is something to be proud of now a days by these lames it just like acting a mayate in the U.S like the younger genertation. As if the cartels dont know the identity of these reporters on BB

      Delete
    10. If the chapo snitched guy says so, and has been posted about 10 000 times, there must be something there...
      El Chapo Snitched

      Delete
    11. "Say holla to mah little friend"
      Ratata tata rattata
      Scarface.

      Delete
    12. los zambada snitched ... chapo snitched on el mochom to get his son out of jail ... alot of his people fell after both arrest the cartle split up into diffrent factions ... these are just some examples of many,chaputo nutthuger 5:41

      Delete
    13. Bless all of GOD'S SNITCHES, except for judas, they put people in prison with their snitching...

      Delete
    14. @ 5:41---this guy. You know, in my adult life ive learned nothing is more obvious than when someone talks how tough they are, they not tough at all. Talk bout how much pussy they pull, they aint pullin nothin but they own dick. Camdon Nj has never even been in the top 5 of murder cities in the last 60yrs you fuckin half wit. Trenton has on a constant, but not Camdon. Its suspect that your trying so hard to conviece a bunch of strangers how your not a snitch.I can guarentee your one of those ppl. You know the type, allways talkin, mouth piece type people....but aint bout shit. Talks good. It sounds good, if it were the truth. About as much threat as a wet book of matches type ppl. As to your question about wheres the proof? Exactly! where is the proof of your garbage stenched city of camdon being murder capital of the us? even just 1 time in the last 100yrs? there is none. Your stating something, not even an opinion your stating a fact, with which theres no proof, and by all statistics is 100% innacurate and false.(mouth piece type hoe) You are correct about one thing tho..the one thing you did say that isnt just bullshit, and you must have been refurring to yourself when you made the comment. "Bb readers are now the law and wat they say goes"
      i took the liberty of pasteing a link for you, out of about 12 different sites, this one is the most simple. Easy to read. I just thought you need the absolute most simple list because your obviously a fucking moron.
      http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/top-lists/highest-murder-rate-cities/

      Delete
  2. The Arellano Felix had rightous pads like that with underground bars etc all over Tijuana back in the 90s early 2000s (Chapultepec and Cumbres)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 10:58 I guess you never seen the "pads" the arellanuses boss HAS ALL OVER IN MEXICO, he still dreams of going back to his beloved BC as the "powerful governor" of the whole shithole...
      --his name is jorge hank rohn, for the newbies...

      Delete
  3. Must be nice for a while but it doesn't last long. If you don't get set up you get snitched on or killed by friends or foe..

    ReplyDelete
  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Who was the character that stole the Zetas money and was the cause of the Allende Massacre?

    ReplyDelete
  6. hunberto, tomas eugenio Miguel Garcia lerma cavazos del toro cantu all dirty

    ReplyDelete
  7. They made it big

    ReplyDelete
  8. Good post DD
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  9. Did Moreira ever provide a cue in public on why he thought his son was killed?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. his son died because the g.a.t.e.s killed treviños nephew. after they killed him they sent photos to the yohng mans wife of how they killed him by draging him on the street, at the time the g.a.t.e.s didnt know who they killed ... the next day sevrel members of that group died and some of their relatives did to along with berty boys son

      Delete
    2. 10:25 first time I read that any gates died for killing treviño's niece, I thought el lazca just volunteered to have bertie boy moreira's son to make it up to z40.

      Delete
    3. 10:25 Then Lazca was killed as revenge.

      Delete
  10. I think these guys are all simple farmers. The lavish life they lived came from an inheritance I am sure. In reality how do they explain all the money they have acquired. The thing is the cannot do it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, my client is a simple farmer defense is ludicrous as the live a lavish pimped-out life style. Give it a break defense attorney, and to think you got paid big money and to only say "simple farmer", next is for your head to roll.

      Delete
    2. Let all them crooked heads wobble n roll on the floor!
      Clean the streets n offices of all these low life's!!!

      Delete
  11. Jajajajaja evil evil evil jajajajajaja. Sosa won for the record!!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Elvis the pelvis Montoya running the acuña mob now.

    ReplyDelete
  13. looks like tio alberto put in some good work...

    ReplyDelete
  14. It would lend more credibility to the average reader if the obvious facts were correct . Gregg Abbot is the sitting Texas governor.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But Abbott was states attorney before he "won" the governorship,
      And I am sure greg abbott was a practicing attorney until he discovered he could do a lot more money as a tejas poolitician...

      Delete
    2. You don't make governor of tejas without a good Godfather with tons of dollars to spend on your politricking, after governor Ann Richards we got the Two Compadres weekly visits by plane to hunt on each other's ranchos in tejas, mexico was not to be trusted...Tomas Yarrington was one "governor"...

      Delete
    3. 8:32 Yep he was AG but this is happening now . Was he every attorney of record for this guy ? I see no evidence of it. Just this BS in this article . I am not a supporter but I don't believe this . Evidence should be easy in this scenario . Show me !

      12:52 Sounds a little covert . So covert I don't understand you . Not saying any of these politicians are pure . This aint Mexico ! The facts don't fit . He is governor and this is happening now .

      Delete
  15. What happened to humbertos charges in Spain?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The cares vs bertie boy were quickly dismissed in exchange for contractzzz with pemex and shit, all of epn primos and compadres were up in arms until Sprain released bertie boys skanky ass, giving back to Sprain something of their "former colony" back...

      Delete
    2. Thanks 8.45. Guess money talks.

      Delete
  16. What's going on BB? You guys post a new article like every two weeks .... shows the respect that you guys have for your audience.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds like you might be the gal/guy that likes to criticize BB every chance you get.

      First let me say that BB reporters are human. Most have families they like to spend time with once in a while, some have other jobs that require their attention time to time, some are ill, some are in the hospital, and some just plain get tired.

      Second, but even given all that, you need to get your facts straight. You said we publish "one new article every two weeks".

      In the last 2 weeks we have published 15 new articles.

      Delete
    2. 1:14 you sound like you want to make the perfect straight pretzel...
      --how about you submit sompim' worthy of being the weekend edition???
      --there should be openings for your lousy skunk

      Delete
    3. dd. When people get something for free, they love to criticize. When they must pay for something attitudes change quickly. You could be charging for all this. I'm sure but you all have thought of doing just that. Moving on, EPN stated on CNN today that Mexico will not pay for "The Wall". Sorry , Senor Donaldo.

      Delete
    4. Epn wishes well to the Orlando victims, and the turkey's airport bombing victims, and wants to send help to investigate, to slow even more the investigations about mexico and its state sponsored terrorism under he epn himself...

      Delete
    5. dd you should take 1:14's comment for what it was,a compliment.. i think he was only trying to say he loves the articles and wishes you guys would give him his fix more often...i also think he was being a bit sarcastic when he said 2 weeks...i think he is trying to say post more...i however understand your point as well. Also....No news is sometimes good news..No murders to report usually means,no murders committed..anyway i dont think he meant any harm.

      Delete
    6. All dd cualquier guey lo mueve, nomas ponen un comment negativo de bb y luego luego saca las unas. La critica es buena a veces, aguante la riata compa.

      Delete
    7. Critics and criticisms are welcome.
      --bug bites on the ass not so much, grown ups should know the difference without getting told time, and, again...

      Delete
  17. Shows again how much power zetas really have in Mexico they control all of north east and most of East Mexico and have the most numbers of all cartels long live zetas and z40

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The powerfool setas are killing each other at the OXXOS, that proves the mighty mouse powers of "los setas" bola de estupidos.

      Delete
    2. 2:26 what a loser
      BY THE GRACE OF GOD
      May YOU and the rest of any soul that is criminally connected or cheers on these low life parasites have their undeserving lives cut short for the betterment of humanity.

      Delete
  18. Chivis, who started the big rumor of el chapo escaping yesterday.which osorio chong posted a recent pic to supposedly confirm he is still locked up. You think its all a dtrayegic plan for a actual new escape(thats if its even him there) or government/political.
    --- El Taliban

    ReplyDelete
  19. Caiganle para la barca compas aqui andamos atascandonos todos los dias de polvo blanco

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 3:35 en la barca les hace agua la canoa...

      Delete
  20. One critical comment of DD's reporting and all my further comments on every subsequent story are blocked...are you blacklisting people?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We have no way of distinguishing one anon. from another anon. so it would be impossible to compile a blacklist (though at times I wish I could). Whatever critical comment you made about my reporting had nothing to do your future comments not getting published, I have no way of knowing if future comments were made by the same person who criticized my reporting. Each comment stands on its own.

      The only exception to that is when a commentor posts the same thing on every story, no matter what the subject of the story, it is kind of easy to identify the writer as the same person. (those generally don't get published).

      Sorry to bust your bubble thinking that you were so important that I singled you out.

      Delete
    2. @ anonymous 845...
      Cool story bro

      Delete
    3. If it is real important, try to post as soon as a new article appears, it may increase your chances, or tell chivis, address your comments to somebody important, even buggs may make a special appearance, the forum is a special refuge for species in danger of extinction too, if nothing works go to 555 BABES and post a photo.

      Delete
  21. Attorney General Greg Abbott is now the governor of texas . Is this whole story screwed up or was there just this one mistake . If this were true I would personally attend this trial and harass Abbott all during .
    Somebody needs to check their facts . Even the way it was stated would be a legal impossibility . States attorney generals cant defend clients in criminal prosecutions . Not while they are in office . DD You must have been in a hurry and not read what they had written.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 5:27 "maybe" tejas governor greg "abbottabad" abbott had a life before becoming states' attorney of the "great state" of Ja'jas where they say greg would never stand for anything.
      Money may have done the miracle...and if Franklin Delano Roosevelt went on his wheelchair to win the presidential chair and WWII who is there to deny abbott a chance to win ww III?

      Delete
    2. Ok 11:39 . Either I don't understand this whole article and have taken it out of context or everybody else is a air head . Is this story on a trial that is going on right now ? We know greg abbott isn't attorney general right now . What I have been reading (looking at article dates ) is it is now happening . Maybe this is a past trial .....?????
      I get all you insinuating bribery and corruption . It happens . What I am saying is I don't believe a states attorney can represent a client in a criminal case that the united states is prosecuting . I get all the little elbow and wink stuff . I believe anybody out there could possibly have hidden corruption . What I am say is I don't believe Gregg abbott is overtly involved with this man being tried in federal district court . If something is repeated enough lots of people believe it but that don't make it true.

      Delete
    3. @5:27 and 7:53. First of all you keep referring to the story stating that Greg Abbot is representing a defendant in this trial and he couldn't do that either as Governor or AG.
      The story makes a parenthetical comment about Abbot representing Moreira who is not on trial here and as far as I know is not charged with any crime in Mexico or in the US.

      You will notice at the top of the page that it says "republished" from... That means it is just like the story in the SA paper. I do think the original reporter made an error in the wording of his statement. My guess is he took it from notes on a previous story he had done when when Abbot was AG or in private practice.
      There may be, but I know of no statute that would prevent an AG from continuing his private law practice while holding office. Ethics rules would prohibit him from representing some one charged with a crime. The only time that I know of when Moreira was charged with a crime was in Spain and those charges were dropped.

      But the biggest point of all is that this story is not about Greg Abbot or about Moreira. They were only mentioned together in one parenthetical reference.

      Delete
    4. Ok I finally got it . Marciano is on trial and Greg Abbott commented on Moreira . Didn't distinguish between the names . Don't know what the f**k Abbott has to do with this . I am quite sure his political opponents will see if there is anything they can use . Not a smart move for Abbott to be involved . We are not above corruption he but when its found it is dealt with . We have even sent a sitting AG to the farm . Probably to the Price Daniel unit but he went . Remember dan morales ?

      Delete
  22. This is a great article for Chapo supporters to read. it clearly explains how despite some crimes happened in Mexico due to conspiracy it can be prosecuted in the US. I am sure his lawyer is aware of this and that is why they are fighting extradition. His crimes exceed this mans by far and would definitely leave him in jail for a very long time. Probably dying there.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Moreira + his family and close colleagues are trash.... Hope they burn like it too

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I second that!
      Can we get a motion?!

      Delete
  24. Why are people who can't spell properly or form a sentence correctly in Spanish or English always shitting on the BB staff? Not enough coverage on the details and day- to-day of narco operations in MX and TX, AZ, CA, etc...
    These are the few doing a service for the many. I wish there were more English blogs to spread the word. I know many of Mexican heritage in TX who don't read or speak Spanish. The more people aware of what is happening to a country full of mostly badass, hardworking people, the better! Would love some stories breaking down day-to-day operations of people in "that life." And the historical articles on the lower profile bosses who have been before. Have any of these men or women made a shitload of cash, stayed quiet, and moved on with the millions? And I understand there are likely many we can't know bc of their low profile and discipline. How has Jorge Hank Rhon never been locked up? I know there is corruption in the states, but Mexico has some balls. The politicians are glad MX does't have the equivalent of the 2nd Amendment or all this shit wouldn't fly quite so easily. Or maybe I'm delusional? I'm sure there are many keyboard warriors eager to enlighten. And any tips on how to decipher the players in the game who comment on here from the wannabes? The comments are sometimes where the meat is, and I'm looking to decipher all the legit info I can from them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 8:54 That was long to read but I do get your frustration.

      If there is anyone complaining about what this blog produces then I suggest that they click n read the ABOUT link on top of page or paste following link...
      http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2009/04/about.html

      Delete
  25. Zetas Da Classics 4 Life!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Da classics left alone their first boss 5o be murdered out of the way for miguel angel assorio chong, el lazca, el kelin was on the way, but got kicked out easy too, after that it was all happy times until they let down the boss, gulf cartel osiel, then it was like 2 years on their own, z40 got arrested after 6 months as little orphan annie judas boss of setas...
      --That is some "classy zetas"...
      --"elite zetas" is a whole 'nother story, of course...

      Delete
  26. Zeta losers for life. 16 original more or less. All dead or locked up for a looooong time. Killers of many innocents. De classic dead and locked up 4 life. Any originals still alive and free....maybe 1 or 2 at most???

    ReplyDelete
  27. Great story but most of the testimony against Marciano Millan Vasquez seems to come form Rodrigo Humberto Uribe Tapia, Does anybody have any other info on him, If I remember right there was a Municipal President from Piedras Negras that that has that same last name? and I remember a kid at school with the same name, everybody called him el orejon or el chorejas because he was short and had big ears. in any case wasn't Celso who controlled PN for the Zetas? kinda doesn't make sense to me.

    Cristero

    ReplyDelete
  28. Snitch , snitch , snitch . All the cheerleaders are pointing at one another and saying your side snitches . " So , your side snitches more . Yea and my daddy is bigger than your daddy . And he drives his truck faster . Yea but my daddy drives a bigger truck . And it goes on . Children , these are very dishonorable people . They are criminals and they will do anything to one up on the other . Just out of jealousy they will SNITCH . That's just how low lifes are.

    ReplyDelete

Comments are moderated, refer to policy for more information.
Envía fotos, vídeos, notas, enlaces o información
Todo 100% Anónimo;

borderlandbeat@gmail.com