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on the border line between the US and Mexico
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Friday, February 7, 2020

2019 National Drug Threat Assessment: Mexican Cartel Related Excerpts & Sections

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat  Small Wars Journal Dr. Robert Bunker

To access the entire report use this link 



Executive Summary Excerpts

Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Opioids: Fentanyl and other highly potent synthetic opioids— primarily sourced from China and Mexico—continue to be the most lethal category of illicit substances misused in the United States. Fentanyl continues to be sold as counterfeit prescriptions pills as traffickers—wittingly or unwittingly—are increasingly selling fentanyl to users both alone and as an adulterant, leading to rising fentanyl-involved deaths. Fentanyl suppliers will continue to experiment with other new synthetic opioids in an attempt to circumvent new regulations imposed by theUnited States and China. [p. 5]

Heroin: Heroin-related overdose deaths remain at high levels in the United States, due to continued use and availability, while fentanyl is increasingly prevalent in highly pro table white powder heroin markets. Mexico remains the primary source of heroin available in the United States according to all available sources of intelligence, including law enforcement investigations and scientific data. Further, high-levels of sustained opium poppy cultivation and heroin production in Mexico allow Mexican Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) to continue to supply high-purity, low-cost heroin. [p. 5]
Methamphetamine: Methamphetamine remains widely available, with traffickers attempting to create new customers by expanding into new, non-traditional methamphetamine markets such as the Northeast, or other user bases with new product forms. Most of the methamphetamine available in the United States is produced in Mexico and smuggled across the Southwest Border (SWB). Domestic production occurs at much lower levels than in Mexico and seizures of domestic methamphetamine laboratories have declined steadily for many years while overall supply has increased. [p. 5]

Mexican TCOs: Mexican TCOs remain the greatest criminal drug threat to the United States; no other groups are currently positioned to challenge them. The Sinaloa Cartel maintains the most expansive footprint in the United States, while the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación or CJNG) has become the second-most dominant domestic presence over the past few years. Although drug-related murders in Mexico continue to reach epidemic proportions, U.S.-based Mexican TCO members still generally refrain from domestic inter-cartel conflicts, resulting in minimal spillover violence in the United States. [p. 6]

Gangs: National and neighborhood-based street gangs and prison gangs remain the dominant distributors of illicit drugs through street-sales in their respective territories throughout the country. Struggle for control of lucrative drug trafficking territories continues to fuel the majority of the street- gang violence facing local communities. Meanwhile, some street gangs are working with rival gangs to increase both gangs’ drug revenues, while individual members of assorted street gangs have pro ted by forming relationships with friends and family associated with Mexican cartels. [p. 6]

Mexican Transnational Criminal Organizations

Overview  

Mexican TCOs continue to control lucrative smuggling corridors, primarily across the SWB, and maintain the greatest drug trafficking influence in the United States, with continued signs of growth. They continue to expand their criminal influence by engaging in business alliances with other TCOs, including independent TCOs, and work in conjunction with transnational gangs, U.S.-based street gangs, prison gangs, and Asian money laundering organizations (MLOs). Mexican TCOs export significant quantities of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, and fentanyl into the United States annually. The drugs are delivered to user markets in the United States through transportation routes and distribution cells that are managed or influenced by Mexican TCOs, and with the cooperation and participation of local street gangs. [p. 99]

Most Significant Mexican TCOs Currently Active in the United States

Although offshoots from previously established TCOs continue to emerge, the DEA assesses the following six Mexican TCOs as having the greatest drug trafficking impact on the United States: Sinaloa Cartel, CJNG, Beltran-Leyva Organization, Juarez Cartel, Gulf Cartel, and Los Zetas Cartel. These TCOs maintain drug distribution cells in designated cities across the United States that either report directly to TCO leaders in Mexico or indirectly through intermediaries. The following is a background on each of the six major Mexican TCOs, with examples of their drug trafficking impact on distinct U.S. cities: [p. 99]

Sinaloa Cartel – The Sinaloa Cartel (aka the Pacific Cartel), based in the Mexican State of Sinaloa, is one of the oldest and more established DTOs in Mexico. The Sinaloa Cartel controls drug trafficking activity in various regions in Mexico, particularly along the Pacific Coast. Additionally, it maintains the most expansive international footprint compared to other Mexican TCOs. The Sinaloa Cartel exports and distributes wholesale amounts of methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl in the United States by maintaining distribution hubs in cities that include Phoenix, Los Angeles, Denver, Atlanta, and Chicago. Illicit drugs distributed by the Sinaloa Cartel are primarily smuggled into the United States through crossing points located along Mexico’s border with California, Arizona, New Mexico, and West Texas. [p. 99]

Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) – CJNG, based in the city of Guadalajara in the Mexican State of Jalisco, is the most recently formed of the six TCOs. With drug distribution hubs in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Atlanta, it is one of the most powerful and fastest growing cartels in Mexico and the United States. CJNG smuggles illicit drugs into the United States by accessing various trafficking corridors along the SWB including Tijuana, Juarez, and Nuevo Laredo. CJNG’s rapid expansion of its drug trafficking activities is characterized by the willingness to engage in violent confrontations with Mexican Government security forces and rival cartels. Like most major Mexican TCOs, CJNG is a poly-drug trafficking group, manufacturing and/or distributing large amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. CJNG reportedly has presence in at least 24 of 32 Mexican states. [pp. 99-100]

Beltran-Leyva Organization (BLO) – The BLO asserted its independence after the Beltran-Leyva brothers and their associates split from the Sinaloa Cartel in 2008. While all the Beltran-Leyva brothers have now been killed or incarcerated, splinter groups and remnants of their organization continue to operate in various parts of Mexico, including the States of Guerrero, Morelos, Nayarit, and Sinaloa. The splinter groups, though still generally regarded as being under the BLO umbrella, are asserting greater independence and influence. The two most prominent of these splinter groups, Los Rojos and Los Guerreros Unidos, operate independently due in part to their role in the heroin trade. BLO splinter groups rely on their loose alliances with CJNG, the Juarez Cartel, and Los Zetas for access to drug smuggling corridors along the SWB. BLO members primarily traffic marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, and maintain distribution centers in Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Chicago. [p. 100]

Juarez Cartel – The Juarez Cartel is one of the older Mexican TCOs. The Mexican State of Chihuahua, south of West Texas and New Mexico, represents the traditional AOR of the Juarez Cartel. The Juarez Cartel endured a multi-year turf war with the Sinaloa Cartel, which resulted in many drug-related murders in Chihuahua at its height in mid-2010. Though not as expansive as the rival Sinaloa Cartel, the Juarez Cartel continues to influence U.S. drug consumer markets, primarily in El Paso, Denver, Chicago, and Oklahoma City. The Juarez Cartel mainly traffics marijuana and cocaine and has recently expanded into heroin and methamphetamine distribution. Recent law enforcement reporting indicates opium poppy cultivation overseen by the Juarez Cartel has increased significantly in the State of Chihuahua since 2013, outpacing marijuana cultivation in some regions. [p. 100]

Gulf Cartel – The Gulf Cartel has been in operation for decades. With a traditional power base in the Mexican State of Tamaulipas, the Gulf Cartel traffics primarily marijuana and cocaine but has expanded to include heroin and methamphetamine. The Gulf Cartel has fought for dominance in areas of Northeast Mexico against Los Zetas since the Gulf-Zetas split in 2010. Due to its influence over areas in northeast Mexico, the Gulf Cartel smuggles a majority of its drug shipments into South Texas through the border region between the Rio Grande Valley and South Padre Island. The Gulf Cartel maintains a presence and holds key distribution hubs in Houston and Detroit. [p. 100]

Los Zetas Cartel – Los Zetas formed as an independent cartel in early 2010 when it officially splintered from the Gulf Cartel. At the time of the rupture, Los Zetas controlled drug trafficking in large parts of eastern, central, and southern Mexico. However, due to pressure from rival cartels, Mexican law enforcement, and internal conflicts, the influence of Los Zetas has lessened significantly in recent years. Los Zetas are currently divided into two rival factions: the Northeast Cartel (Cartel del Noreste or CDN), a rebranded form of mainstream Zetas, and a breakaway group, the Old School Zetas (Escuela Vieja or EV). Members of Los Zetas smuggle the majority of their illicit drugs through the border area between Del Rio and Falcon Lake, Texas, with a base of power in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Los Zetas’ members currently traffic methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, and heroin through key distribution hubs in Laredo, Dallas, and New Orleans. [pp. 100-101]

Structure and Characteristics

Mexican nationals or U.S. citizens of Mexican origin mainly oversee Mexican TCO activity in the United States. U.S.-based TCO members of Mexican nationality enter the United States legally and illegally and often seek to conceal themselves within densely populated Mexican- American communities. Mexican TCO members operating in the United States can be traced back to leading cartel figures in Mexico, often through familial ties. U.S.-based TCO members may reside in the United States prior to employment by a Mexican TCO. In some cases, U.S.-based TCO members are given high-ranking positions within the organization upon returning to Mexico after years of successful activity in the United States. [p. 101]

Consistent with previous years, the Sinaloa Cartel maintains the widest national influence, with its most dominant positions along the West Coast, in the Midwest, and in the Northeast. CJNG continues to be the Mexican TCO with second-most widespread national influence. BLO activities remain more dispersed throughout the United States, with heavier concentrations in areas with large heroin markets. [p. 101]

Selected Field Division Highlights

The San Diego, Atlanta, and Los Angeles FDs report the Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG are the most dominant Mexican TCOs affecting their AORs. San Diego FD reports that both Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG control the Tijuana/San Diego trafficking corridor. The Phoenix FD has not witnessed CJNG in their AOR and reports that the Sinaloa Cartel remains the dominant TCO affecting Arizona. [p. 101]

The Miami FD reports an increase in Mexican TCOs transporting and distributing large quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl into Florida from Mexico in recent years. The Sinaloa Cartel, CJNG, and BLO are the most significant Mexican TCOs in the Miami FD AOR. [p. 101]

The New England FD reports Mexican TCOs, primarily the Sinaloa Cartel, serve as the main sources of supplies for the Dominican TCOs that dominate distribution of wholesale supplies of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine. Dominican TCOs act as intermediaries between Mexican TCOs and the local criminal groups and gangs responsible for street-level. [p. 101]

Operational Structure in the United States

U.S.-based Mexican TCOs are composed of various compartmentalized cells assigned specific functions such as drug distribution or transportation, consolidation of drug proceeds, or money laundering. Mexican TCO operations in the United States typically function as a supply chain: Operators in the chain are aware of their specific function, but are unaware of other aspects of an operation. In most cases, individuals hired to transport drug shipments within the United States are independent, third- party “contractors” who may work for multiple Mexican TCOs. The number of transportation groups is increasing in some areas, and they often transport smaller shipments. Sinaloa and Nayarit are responsible for most of the black tar and brown powder heroin distributed in Colorado and Utah. [p. 102]

Relationship with Local Criminal Groups and Street Gangs

U.S.-based Mexican TCO members generally coordinate the transportation and distribution of bulk wholesale quantities of illicit drugs to U.S. markets while smaller local groups and street gangs, who are not directly affiliated with Mexican TCOs, typically handle retail-level distribution. At times, Mexican TCOs collaborate directly with local criminal groups and gangs across the United States to distribute and transport drugs at the retail level. [p. 102]

Drug Smuggling and Transportation Methods

Mexican TCOs transport the majority of illicit drugs into the United States across the SWB using a wide array of smuggling techniques. The most common method employed involves smuggling illicit drugs through U.S. POEs in passenger vehicles with concealed compartments or commingled with legitimate goods on tractor-trailers. [p. 102]

Other cross-border smuggling techniques employed by Mexican TCOs include the use of subterranean tunnels, which originate in Mexico and lead into safe houses on the U.S. side of the border. Underground tunnels are mainly used to smuggle ton quantities of marijuana, though other illicit drugs have been commingled in shipments. Tunnels destroyed by U.S. law enforcement authorities along the SWB are primarily found in California and Arizona, and are generally associated with the Sinaloa Cartel. [p. 102]

Mexican TCOs also transport illicit drugs to the United States aboard commercial cargo trains and passenger buses. To a lesser extent, Mexican TCOs use maritime vessels clandestinely or through of official maritime POEs, typically off the coast of California. Mexican TCOs also rely on traditional drug smuggling methods, such as the use of backpackers, or “mules,” crossing remote areas of the SWB into the United States. Mexican TCOs exploit various aerial methods to transport illicit drugs across the SWB. [p. 102]

These methods include the use of ultralight aircraft, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and drones to conduct airdrops. Ultralight aircrafts predominantly transport marijuana shipments, depositing the drugs in close proximity to the SWB. Currently, as UAS can only carry only small multi-kilogram amounts of illicit drugs, they are not commonly used, although there is potential for increased growth and use, particularly if their carrying capacity is increased. Mexican TCOs also use UAS to monitor the activity of U.S. law enforcement along the SWB to identify cross- border vulnerabilities. [p. 102]

Spillover Violence

Drug-related murders in Mexico continue to reach epidemic proportions. However, there is little spillover violence in the United States as U.S.-based Mexican TCO members generally refrain from inter-cartel violence to avoid law enforcement detection and scrutiny. Mexican TCO-related acts of violence do occur in parts of the United States, particularly along the SWB; however, they are less frequent and mainly associated with ‘trafficker-on-trafficker’ incidents. [p. 103]

Money Laundering Activity 

Mexican TCOs generate billions of dollars annually through the sale of illegal drugs in the United States. They utilize a variety of methodologies to counter law enforcement efforts to identify and confiscate their illicit proceeds in the United States and Mexico. In the United States, Mexican TCOs exploit bulk cash smuggling, the placement of proceeds into the U.S. banking system and electronic transfer to Mexico, the BMPE via networks of money brokers, and the use of Money Service Businesses (MSBs) to transfer the proceeds to Mexico. Inside Mexico, the Mexican TCOs place illicit proceeds into the financial system through foreign exchange businesses, the purchase of assets with cash, and use of front and shell companies to receive electronic transfers in order to conceal the true beneficial ownership of the illicit proceeds. There has also been evidence of the utilization of cryptocurrencies by Mexican TCOs as a means by which to transfer their wealth internationally. [p. 103]

An alarming trend is the increasing presence of Asian MLOs engaged in the laundering of drug proceeds on behalf of the Mexican TCOs. This trend is a result of the imposition of a cap by the Government of China on foreign exchange transactions ($50,000/year) and overseas withdrawals on Chinese bank issued credit and debit cards ($15,000/year). The demand of Chinese nationals to transfer their wealth outside of China and into the United States has fueled the demand for U.S. dollars. Asian MLOs are eager to acquire U.S. dollars (drug proceeds) from the Mexican TCOs in exchange for the payment of pesos in Mexico or their equivalent debts in China via a Chinese Underground Banking System (CUBS) scheme. Asian MLOs resell the U.S. dollars to customers (Chinese nationals within the United States) for a profit, normally in exchange for Renminbi (RMB) payments in China. This demand for foreign exchange, i.e. the U.S. dollar in particular, has provided an outlet for Mexican TCO drug proceeds that is changing the landscape of money laundering within the United States. [p. 103]

Colombian Transnational Criminal Organizations

Collaboration with Mexican TCOs   

While Colombian TCOs control the production and shipment of the majority of cocaine destined for consumption in the United States, Mexican TCOs are responsible for its exportation into and distribution throughout the United States. Mexican TCOs work directly with Colombian sources of supply, often sending Mexican representatives to Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela to coordinate cocaine shipments. [p. 104]


Similarly, Colombian TCOs maintain delegates in Mexico to serve as brokers for cocaine orders or illicit money movements. Central American TCOs work with both Mexican and Colombian TCOs for the northbound movement of cocaine and the southbound flow of illicit drug proceeds. [p. 105]

28 comments:

  1. Theres people who post on BB that have more knowledge on narco news then these so called experts and government agents.

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    1. Those so called experts and government agents many, many times have only assumptions according to the area where they work, live. They might have PhD's, special training, but lots of them lack the studying, knowledge of the different places where all those other real illicit situations are happening.

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    2. 4:18 ain't that true?
      The UNITED NATIONS itself has reported Afghanistan as being the biggest opium producer in the world since the Taliban were kicked out of power by the US after 9/11 and the US military has protected their poppy fields from "the Taliban", increasing their production by 9000% or more was no easy task, after the Taliban declared their no excuses war for results in their war on drugs, without fleecing the US taxpayer as in the mexican wing that produced nothing more than excuses and more crime in Mexico and on the US, and top government mafiosos included in the complicit narco operations...of course, this kind of report would require some international integrity that require no declaration of war on drugs to give yourself purity baths...
      No mexican drug trafficking organizations has ever been fined billions of dollars for their laundering of drug trafficking profits...american and international banks have been fined, many times, there are reports...drug trafficking financed the takeover and offshoring of US enterprises and american jobs by the whole trade since US and china restored diplomacy in the times of Nixxon, after US War Profiteering chicken hawks squished all they could from the Vietnam War...
      Soon (before that) they had LatinAmerica producing Cocaine under pretense of Operation Condor to flood the US with cocaine and mariguana along with more food stamps and welfare checks for the wretched "to help finance the contras" for the US neocons...and that ain't nothing but the motherfacking truth, so help me GOD...

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    3. Or at least people that think they do.

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  2. Hi borderlandbeat and community, this was posted earlier, main questions are: is it 1,000 USD OR PESOS? What is the cartel de Northeast ? Zetas? Golfo? Does anyone know the "claves" they give you after you "pay" or are cleared? Does it change? I know mexico is fkd but it seems like its better for one cartel to dominate all since the president wont do a thing. Sad times for mexico, such beutiful geography man.

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  3. Those mexican DTO's, TCO's, are no joke they are a real threat to the national security of the united states of america. Nobody wants those criminals corrupting the law, government officials, in american towns, cities, like they do back in their lawless country.

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    1. Well dude I got news for you there is plenty of corruption here as well. Why else do you think that the drugs traversing are not being stopped by our cops? Or are they more stupid, less trained and worse equipped than the cops in Mex???

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    2. Like it doesn’t happen here in the US

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    3. It's already happening, especially here in California.

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    4. @12:28 you are right they have active militarymilitary ex and police on the payroll doing there dirty work

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    5. 12:28 That's what I'm trying to say north americans don't want drug cartel members with links to local gangs infiltrating, dictating the local laws, government, because then they become untouchable. Can you imagine local us gangs growing into drug cartels then they start doing what their crime bosses do back in mx in USA's territory? Like butchering cops, civilians because they don't comply with them?

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    6. Aren't the cops in Chicago scared of the gangs?

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  4. Wow Great information Thank You
    One Question please
    Where does the American Indian Reservations come in on this ??
    I know Calif and Az has alot of Mexicans Drug Cartels doing bussiness with them What group is with them ? Or does anyone know
    I see the tatttos on certain groups but dont really understand much
    Would you say its a big problem or not?
    You guys here know more
    All I do is see the aftermath of drug abuse
    Can you put any light on the Relationships
    Thank you


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Reservations have always been a concern and known to have granted some travel by cartels.

      One only need look at the US map and see there are reservations vulnerable that are smack on the south border directly adjacent to mexico

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  5. Chivis, another excellent post, very good info.

    6:14 that is a good question. In fact, the same point I was going to make. I’m not so sure about reservations along U.S. Mex border, but kahnawake is a reserve encompassing an area combined with land on both sides of the St. Lawerence river which serves as th Canadian U.S. border in some spots. The volume of everything from contraband tobacco to cocaine and guns that cross the border here are mind boggling. It is perhaps THE most exploited land mass for smuggling into Canada, along with heavily forested mountainous regions Between BC and North Dakota/Washington where low flying helicopters deliver BC chronic, ecstasy and bring the cartel coke back at a massive profit for all involved. Usually the coke is sourced in LA from cartel contacts.

    https://vancouversun.com/news/crime/b-c-men-among-13-charged-in-massive-cross-border-drug-ring

    Frank

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    1. Interesting about the north border. I began researching reservations some 5 years ago. It became too much and info scarce so I dropped it. I did look at the North border and intended to dig around.

      My stance is that both borders should be addressed in the same manner and restrictions. That said although Canada/U.S. border is immense and looks inviting for narcos to transport it really isn't because it is mostly impassable on land. But maybe I am wrong. Can you set me straight Frank?

      I value your opinion. You are one of the "smart" guys and I appreciate you and Mx's presence in our BB family.

      Paz

      Chivis

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    2. sorry i took so long in reply---I have been sickly for a few days and running half speed

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  6. Can you shed some light on why La Familia Michoacana or splinter groups were omitted from this report?...just didnt make the cut?lol

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  7. This just in - https://merryjane.com/news/austins-police-chief-says-pot-arrests-will-continue-despite-decriminalization

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  8. Thanks You do great work

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  9. For more about the War on Drugs, https://fivebooks.com/best-books/johann-hari-war-on-drugs/

    One of my favorite writers is Charles Bowden (RIP) who has written several books about the US - Mexico border and the drug war. One of his best quotes is "The war on drugs is over. The drugs won."

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  10. Navy seals or American army can't defeat the Mexican drug cartels. Mexican drug cartels are too brutal and brave. Only if no drone or air strikes involve. I'll put my money on the cartels to destroy any American army.

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    1. I think the same thing unless the US uses a air strike they will have them self’s a tough time I think the cartels and Mexican army should protect there country from the US army

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  11. Que segun agarraron al Comandante Takia del CDN

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  12. Chivis, Mexico News Daily reports El Marro wife let go due to no search warrant.

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  13. Chivis
    El Lic is getting a deal

    https://zetatijuana.com/2020/02/gobierno-de-eu-pide-a-el-licenciado-que-declare-en-juicio-contra-genaro-garcia-luna/?fbclid=IwAR1h-NWaH1C9ugIEz4tRqliILIqvdS1kPFBPVc2n8r8XBKm5JOznTZBVQWI

    ReplyDelete
  14. 12:14 corruption like shit, rolls down hill, from the US.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow! Does this report actually suggests they thought Sinaloa was going to crumble because of the arrest of Chapo of just one individual leader?
    I,ean the Trevinos from Los Zetas as well as the Arrellano Felix from Tijuana and the top three leaders from the Juarez cartel all got caught and some of these cartels mentioned atill survived. Sinaloa shocks everyone because only leadership whis is Chapo was caught?
    How stupid are the authorities or contributors to this report?

    ReplyDelete

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