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Saturday, September 16, 2017

"Narcos" series location scout murdered in Mexico

Chivis Martinez Material from El Pais and Variety 
Narcos scout was only 37 years olf
Variety reports; Mexican location scout Carlos Muñoz Portal was shot to death in a violent region in central Mexico Monday while scouting for season four of Netflix’s hit show “Narcos.” The seasoned scout, who worked for Stacy Perskie’s Mexico City-based production company Redrum, has a slew of high profile credits to his name, including, “Sicario,” “Spectre,” “Fast and Furious” and “Apocalypto.”

Netflix issued the following statement: “We are aware of the passing of Carlos Muñoz Portal, a well-respected location scout, and send our condolences to his family. The facts surrounding his death are still unknown as authorities continue to investigate.

Muñoz’s bullet-riddled body and car were found in a remote area near the borders of Hidalgo state, which is said to have the highest murder rate in Mexico. In July, 182 cases of homicide were reported in the densely populated state, a ratio of 12.2 for every 100,000 inhabitants.

According to local reports, authorities have had trouble piecing together the circumstances that led to his killing, given the lack of witnesses.
From Narcos

According to sources in El País, Muñoz traveled in his car in search of locations in certain areas of the State of Mexico, the most populated region of the country and one of the most violent, with 182 homicides recorded in July. The technician wanted to take pictures of the area, but was found shot in his vehicle on a rustic road in San Bartolo Actopan, in the northeast of the state.

"The car of the victim was embedded in a nopalera, [catus]" said the spokesman, a statement that makes it appear that the man was involved in a foot chase."

"We do not know if he was in Hidalgo and from there they followed him, or if he was in the State of Mexico and tried to flee to Hidalgo," said the official.

Mexican authorities have encountered various problems in rebuilding the scene of the crime, mainly due to the lack of witnesses. A friend of Muñoz, in statements to El País, assumes that the presence of a foreigner with a camera was suspicious and that "perhaps they thought that he was gathering information and unknown persons began following him in a car”.

Season 4

Netflix’s season 4 is said to be exploring the origins of Mexico’s infamous Juarez cartel just as season 3 focused on the rise and fall of Colombia’s Cali cartel and heralded the shift of the drug wars to Mexico.


Munoz’s murder raises doubts on whether the production will continue in Mexico or move back to Colombia where it began. Such a decision would imperil hundreds of jobs that the series’ production would have generated in Mexico.

72 comments:

  1. If you're paranoid about a foreigner taking pictures, why not just ask him what he's doing there? I'm sure he would've divulged his reasons for being in the area. Instead they murder him and possibly ruin chances to bring work and prosperity (legally), to local residents. I just can't understand why Mexico allows heathens and demons to consistently destroy their society.

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    1. lol....most definitely a NEWBIE

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    2. That's funny. Makes sense to those who aren't violent, but you are forgetting these folks in Mexico don't ask questions. One point is Munoz should have known better being he is not a "newbie" With journalists getting killed in Mexico so often, he should not be taking pictures like that. Also to perceive he is a foreigner though he too is Latin in appearance is confusing. It is not like it is a Black or Caucasian man taking pictures. My guess would be a group of hit men from the cartel assumed he was a journalist and had no idea he had anything to do with a Netflix series. Those guys aren't sitting and watching tv. let along paying for Netflix. They are trying to make illegal money. A conversation probably never took place.

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    3. So funny 😂...He doesn't quite get it yet. I wonder if the location scout ever considered what might happen if the wrong people saw him taking pics? So sad.

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    4. Probably didnt believe him or didnt/couldnt pay what they were asking for to film on location. Even the corn man has to pay his dues

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    5. All it would take to set things off was an extranjero blundering into the wrong place at the wrong time - even just somebody's querencia.

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    6. You must be an american.

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  2. Plata o plomo headdddahh

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  3. if the state of Hidalgo is suffering from a high rate of murders, blame former governor MAO, miguel angel osorio chon, now even more powerful and about to become the next president of mexico if epn gets his way, not for nothing MAO is secretary of the interior and in charge of the federal police and military that dispense as little public security as they can because extortion and kidnappings for ransom is what it is all about, all over mexico, and including mexico city and the estado de mexico.
    2:33 the only jobs narco movies bring is more propaganda for anti-mexico and anti-latinos in general, i'd suggest you scout some locations around the houses of iran/contra affair conspirators if you can get past the fences, walls, guards, dogs and security cameras...

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    1. many trace Sinaloa's first narcotics crop--opium--to the numerous Chinese settlers who arrived in the last half of the 19th century. "It was a good agricultural place for it. And generation after generation the people just did it, they perfected it," explains Edward Heath, former Country Attache for the DEA in Mexico. But large scale production of opium didn't start until the 1940's and World War II. Japan gained control of the Asian opium supply and the U.S. military needed morphine for its soldiers. So the U.S. turned to Mexico for help. "We were concerned that our supply of opium or morphine would be cut off because the world was at war. So we needed a supply close by. But,that was one of those black box things. Who knows when it happened, who did it, and why." says Edward Heath. During this period of a government-tolerated opium trade, many Sinaloans made their fortune. "Everybody was growing it, it was institutional. Some government officials bought the harvest from the farmers to export themselves. There were even soldiers up in the hills caring for the plants," explains Dr. Ley Dominguez, a 77-year-old life long resident of Mocorito, one of Sinaloa's most notorious opium regions. After Japan's defeat, however, the U.S. no longer needed Sinaloa's inferior strain of opium. But many farmers continued to produce opium and heroin; operations became more clandestine, and a smuggling network was set up.
      http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/drugs/business/place.html

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    2. 12:22 miguel angel osorio chon the former governor of the state of hidalgo, a self made multibillionaire whose wife is the owner of everything he owns, and epn's secretary of the interior in charge of public security knows all about crime in his turf, state of hidalgo, home of el lazca and "notrheast estado de mexico" he is chinese, but nothing to do with sinaloa, other than he wants the state secure in his pocket for 2018 elections, he wants to be the next presidente de mexico, "Clavillazo" (google the PRI party president) and epn agree with him, he has earned it with every mexican murdered or disappeared.

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  4. Of course they should relocate elsewhere in LatAm. I've always wondered why narcos don't rub these guys out when they're filming in hot-zones in Mexico. Although the shows glamorize to some extent, they create more attention, which can result in more international pressure. It only makes sense to retaliate.

    If they shoot more than a few exterior shots from highly secured areas in CDMX neighborhoods, they're crazy.

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    1. It's this glamorizations of such that brainwashes young and old to become a narco. The appeal of fortunes and materialistic items blind rational thinking.
      Unfortunately, a marketing tool used by many to promote an audience. Regardless of ethics.

      E42

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    2. 4:52 i suspect that after paying televisa less than other white owned filming companies, refusing to allow them to fight the discrimination, and catching their televisa vans loaded wit cocaine and millions of dollars in guatemala or nicaragua, foreigners were not going to be allowed to scout shit in mexico, ESPN reporters are lucky, they just get forced to resign or their employer projects will get facked up and denied by the racist administration instead of getting executed as in mexico.

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  5. That part of mexico is not like Sinaloa, they don't like the spot light. It was easy in sinaloa but not there

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    1. Yep. If you look on Google maps in that area, there are lots of huge, expensive homes behind fortress walls. I'm sure there are some powerful people in the area.

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    2. I've been there, they're is a lot of mansions in the middle of no where, visit grutas de tolotongo awesome place

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    3. piso4 used to have very good gossip about MAO osorio chon

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  6. Chivis offtopic; have you seen the video of the chinese oil workers telling the mexicans to phuck off from the jobsite? It took place somewhere in a Ex-Pemex facility.

    G(-)057

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    1. no, do you remember where you saw the report?

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    2. I just saw a report that some the border busts are having more Chinese undocumented than mexican or CA. it stands to reason that some will stay in Mexico. easier. one border bust last week had 3 latinos and 16 Chinese..

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    3. Chinese population is exploding in Mx from what I see. Just stayed a month and I just started to think every girl is Chinese. Them people multiply quick. They've found a pipeline Thru MX and its pumping steady.

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    4. https://youtu.be/u6uWtjlS6Q4

      Thats the youtube video chivis...im not sure but I think chinese companies only want to hire chinese to work in Mexico.

      G(-)057

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    5. After reading through the comments it said it happened in Ecuador. Nevermind, I guess the left wants to start yellow journalism war against la reforma energetica of Peña Nieto.

      Saludos!

      G(-)057

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    6. I'm not to sure how compassionately the Chinese are received in but I doubt its much better than the Guatemalans a few decades back when they had the refuge camps . The security that was supposed to be protecting them was robbing and raping them . I really don't hear much of that from USA official . Guess that's why they all want to come here . The evil americans don't abuse as much . I criminal gets shot down while a policeman is protecting himself and he suddenly becomes the victim . Bad place that USA

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    7. I know for a fact there are many Chinese oilfield workers in Ciudad del Carmen working on projects for CNPC and COSL. China and Mexico have been in cahoots for a while. They buy oilfield equipment from the US and truck it across the border of Pharr Texas. I used to work for a Chinese oil company here in Houston, and I personally created shipping labels to Pharr. Working visas are hard to get here in America, so the Chinese probably found a loophole through Mexico. COSL and CNPC would only accept US products on their rigs because of the testing and certificates are top notch in the US. Many manufacturers of equipment in US wont allow the end users to be located in China, so they probably scrape serial numbers and repaint equipment in Mexico too, to send via boat to China. Oilfield exchanges are only a fraction of products dealt between Mexico and China. The Chinese government is the scariest of all, and they are out to screw the US in any way possible. Mexico probably welcomes China with open arms. Scary combo

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    8. That video has been online for some time, those are not PEMEX employees, its from Ecuador, there are no chinese oil companies in MX right now.

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    9. no the chinese guys what they ever do...start working instead of hanging around and doing drugs like mexicans.

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    10. 1:18 Ive worked in huge refinery projects in Houston, Port Arthur, FreePort. Let me tell you about 60% of the force are Hispanic and the rest are the other ethnic groups (Anglos, AA, Asians). So not all "Mexicans" are out doing drugs, drug test are done randomly and before you go in as hired.

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    11. Chinese pay about $30,000 to get a coyote to cross them, it's harder now in days to make it across and chinese pay like 3 times more. Big money THERE

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    12. 1:18 may not be a drug addict, but sure is a mothaphaka, i have worked with whites and chinese and black people, and mexican, guatemalan and peruvian indians, and i have nothing bad to say about their work habits, omly pendejos get to do comments like yours.

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    13. china,imo,will take mexico,in war,kill 97% of mexicans and move in 200 million chinese.

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  7. No room for fake narcos in Mexico, thats why CDS is being killed off.

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    1. What are you talking about CDS is just advancing. When was the last time a Sinaloan Big shot was arrested,'it's been awhile. All other cartels are falling apart. El Mencho is about to be caught

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    2. You are thinking of the beltranes and CJNG

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    3. Dude you don't have to like CDS but you have to recognize that they got credentials

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    4. The sinaloans own the drug trade. Don't matter what cartel breh.

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  8. When keeping it real goes so wrong. - Sol Prendido

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  9. Green Screen and Photoshop. Just a couple of things that can get you that same location without the danger.

    God bless.

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  10. D.E.P. Carlos Muñoz Portal. El Nemesis -

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  11. We need the 1st amendment auditors in Mexico.

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    1. 5:59 alternative facts, a pa nombrecito,
      tas mas pendejo guey.

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  12. Chinese illegals and fentanyl come at a group package to Mexico.

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  13. Unfortunate but to be expected.
    Anyone with a camera in Mexico nowadays are subject for concern. So much vigilance are implemented by criminals.
    Condolences.

    E42

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  14. I am a white American and have lived in Chihuahua for years under permanent resident status. My wife is Mexican. I remember to first time we went to one of the small ranch pueblos for the annual big fiestas held in different Pueblos with the coliaderas (chasing a cow down on horseback, grabbing him by the tail and flipping him to the ground). People come from other pueblos for the event and in the night they have a dance with live music in the salon. People were dancing and I started taking photos of the event and the people dancing. My wife and and family stopped me and said do not do that as there is always Narco's attending these events and it could be VERY costly for me. They were worried that maybe someone bad had seen me taking photos. Needless to say I will not attend anymore dances in these remote pueblos anymore.

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    1. Discretion and anonymity is best kept when external factors are prohibited or checked.
      Do not let this deter you from enjoying the festivities.
      Just without those electronic devices we love so much!

      E42

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    2. Lmao that is a very sad comment, you can't live your life afraid. A humble man is welcome anywhere. Just remember the basic rules of respect and common sense and the world is literally your oyster viva Mexico cabrones!

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    3. 11:25- "A humble man is welcone anywhere"??? Yaaaa, go ahead and tell that to the family of Carlos Munoz Portal (the subject of this article). I love how some of the jack-asses on this site blame the victim. Mexico needs an enema as a nation. Clean out all of the currupt politicians, chicken shit 5 ft 2 inch Sicario's acting tough behind their guns...and the fans that think these narco bitches are cool and worth emulating.

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    4. 12:53 the mexican narcos were created by the US government and they still are drug trafficking partners

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    5. @12:53 clearly common sense aint your strong suit huh

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  15. Question number one is WHY SCOUT THE AREA IN THE FIRST PLACE? I use caps because it is also a statement. Foolish to even do so in this time in Mexico. Such a stupid move on part of the people who paid him to committ suicide all for the filming of those narco terrorist cockroaches. Ridiculous, greedy and fucking stupid as all hell.

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    1. Curious?
      If hazard insurance policies are mandated for such employees in high risk travel environments ?
      Just wondering at what cost? Moreover, what price human life is measured?

      E42

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    2. 2:23 but y was he even there in the 1st place? Exactly what is 'any' sound reasoning in the middle of cartel turf wars?? There has to be more to this then he was there to 'scout' the area for filming. No sane individual in their right mind would send an employee out to be executed unless they were filming that too. Scouting? Really? We will never know.....

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    3. no 6:35 we do know, there is no mystery. This is his job and one he has done for years for many narco movies as well. A location scout goes on location determining the best locale, considering many factors. he obviously did not know it was such a hot bed of violence. If you call the embassy for info, it is always 30 to 90 days behind. I reminds me of Harry Devert, minding his own business looked suspicious to military on the Mencho payroll. They "escorted" him to near the city where he was kidnapped. handing him off to Los Viagras, transported to Guerrero, killed, buried. He was mistaken for DEA or CIA. He traveled with french and U.S. passports, he was dual citizenship. I am also, but never travel with anything other than my U.S. passport.

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    4. Chivis- EXACTLY! Thank you for saying what I and many others were thinking after reading 6:35am's comment.

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    5. Comandante 7 of the New Imperial Cartel issued the hit.

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  16. Rumor on Tj is that jp is dead (likely confirmed) , plus that the Garcia Simental brothers are getting freed (only chikilin and 89) also muletas

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    1. Muletas been out bro

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    2. Jp dead. Car accident u should look it up

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  17. don't these silly people taking selfies all the time really annoy you?

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  18. These fools will not get promisson they have to pay plus they will laugh because they will have the story wrong as f. Ck some truth is not worth uncovering

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  19. @wachito que onda con la tia q ay de nuevo

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  20. In the states of guerrero. There was a confrontation between narcos and sedenas. 9 killed. 8 sicarios and 1 soldier.

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  21. -Desde Tierra Caliente-

    Me preguntan lo que sé de sicarios y halcones. Les digo que son malos mis ojos y por favor hablan recio. Es una persona tonta que hace preguntas o da respuestas. Se dice que me voy a dormir antes de mis gallenas. Holywood no es México. Hacer enojar a la persona equivocada es pedir la muerte. A qué película sirvió este hombre no se puede creer. Es triste que coces nada ni papa sobre México

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  22. Did the police retrieve his camera ? If yes then imo he wasn't murdered for taking pics.

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  23. Shame on Netflix and the creators of this show for not providing more protection for this guy. Netflix has plenty of money, this guy should have gotten protection. To be fair I do not know if they offered it and he refused but regardless they should not have allowed him to do what he was doing in a dangerous country without some form of protection. Period.

    A life was needlessly lost and it definitely could have been avoided. I hope from here on out scouts for these types of shows are more careful when doing work in dangerous countries like Mexico and companies like Netflix insist on more protection and following certain guidelines so something like this does not happen again.

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  24. The brother of pablo escobar Roberto De Jesus Escobar Gaviria is trying to shake down netflix. If they keep threatening U.S. businesses the CIA will take Roberto De Jesus Escobar Gaviria out.

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  25. Brave soul
    Why go in conflict zone to play with cellulite.unfortunate endeavour leads to heaven gates

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