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Saturday, October 17, 2020

How Chapo Isidro initiated the downfall of General Cienfuegos

 By Chivis Martinez for Borderland Beat

Mexico was not in partnership in the U.S. investigation and arrest of Mexican General Salvador Cienfuegos on Thursday night at LAX.

In the indictment, unsealed yesterday, albeit bare bones and will be superseded, it charges that Cienfuegos during the years of December 2015 to February 2017 with drug trafficking and money laundering in collusion with Beltran Leyva’s H2 cartel.  

During those years H2 was led by Juan Francisco Patron.  Patron was killed in February 2017, interestingly, killed the very month and year the U.S. seemingly alleges Cienfuegos stopped his criminality. 

Since he is charged with steering his military away from H2 and notifying H2 of any operations, he obviously betrayed the cartel.

Yesterday I posted the story of H2 who they were and their violent end in 2017 in an all-out effort by the military both land and air killing the leader and a dozen of his men (image below).



Chapito Isidro

According to the NYT the initiation of the investigation by the U.S. stems from the 2013 investigation of apparent BLO heir; Fausto Isidro Meza Flores, commonly known by his moniker El Chapo Isidro.

Isidro in the opinion of this contributor is the most intelligent, calculating leader ever in the drug war of Mexico.  It is his skills that have allowed BLO to continue with a heartbeat and profitability. He is BLO.

And he was proven to be fiercely loyal.  His loyalty has always been with BLO and the Beltran Leyva brothers.  When his loyalty was tested after the split and war between Sinaloa Cartel and BLO, both sides asked Isidro to stay with their side, he chose BLO.



The decision to side with BLO against CDS became a huge sword in the side of CDS, both figuratively and literally, as he led several victorious bloody match ups defending the last major BLO routes in Sonora.

Isidro and his enforcers Los Mazatlecos had the responsibility of protecting Sonora, Morelos, Guerrero and the Guasave region of the sierras for other groups allied in "La Oficina" such as Zetas and BLO, primarily against the advance of El Chapo. 

One famous battle occurred when El Chapo was making a fierce run for the territory in the battle known as the “Tubutama Sonora Balacera”.

Chapo had sent a large convoy of 40 vehicles with 80-100 gunmen on a cleansing operation.  Each vehicle in the convoy bore painted “X”s apparently to identify vehicles belonging in the convoy, ironically and inadvertently identifying Chapo's men for Isidros men.

In a cunning move, Isidro organized groups of gunmen, which included El Gilo and his men, that blocked the only entry and exit of the rural, tapered road on which the convoy was traveling.  When the convoy neared the city of Saric, the town adjacent to Tubutama, Isidro’s group opened fire on enforcers sent by Chapo Guzman.

The official number of dead was “21" at the scene, with 6 later dying from injures, although Mexican media sources set the number as high as 50.

Monterrey

For three years, the usually invisible Isidro had been living in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon in 2013.  Isidro’s family was not hiding, they attended church, school functions of his children and lived a normal family life.  His children attended a private school.

In January 2013 the US Treasury Designated Meza Flores cartel as an additional Sinaloa-Based Drug Trafficking Organization, images of the group were published with the U.S. announcement.

His family is spotted at a school basketball game, where another parent took cell phone video of Isidro’s wife and mother.  Both women were recognized after they were named and their images published in the Kingpin announcement by the U.S. treasury office.

The family left Monterrey overnight.  Isidro and his family have never been seen again. family.

Investigation

It was during the 2013 investigation of Isidro that agents, using wiretapping, learned about General Cienfuegos collusion with BLO’s H2 faction.  

The Times reports that although Cienfuegos was identified by agents, there was pushback from both the Obama and Pena administration who stalled the investigation.

But by 2015, the official said, the pressure to do something about General Cienfuegos increased. 

At least two separate American wiretaps began to pick up chatter about a powerful underworld figure who was referred to as “Padrino”,  connecting the dots agents concluded Padrino was General Cienfuegos.

From NYT:

“The U.S. attorney’s office in Brooklyn has in recent months become ground zero for cases related to official corruption in Mexico.

Prosecutors there have not only charged Mr. García Luna and two of his former associates, Ramon Pequeno and Luis Cardenas Palomino, but have also prosecuted Edgar Veytia, the former attorney general of the state of Nayarit. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison last October for conspiring with the H-2 cartel.”

To read the full article I wrote about Isidro in January 2013 please use this hyperlink

Below air attack that resulted in the killing of  H2 leader Juan Francisco Patron

75 comments:

  1. Excellent write up and explanation of the players. Thank you chivis

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  2. I'm surprised as to how BLO has managed to survive many wars and still keep their people loyal on both sides of the border. Only thing I can think of is BLO must share the profits evenly with everyone in the chain. You're always seeing people flipping in the other cartels. Alfredo must've trained his people right.

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    1. BLO in my opinion runs the US pacific. They have not gone any were.I wouldn't doubt that big bust in riverside county was there stuff

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    2. Blo was in charge of bribing gov officials when they were still part of the federation so after the split they still had all their contacts. Alfredo got killed, mochomo arrested, the other brothers just kept grinding making ferria for everyone. Lowkey gangsters puro gente de la sierra. Why would you want to flip

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    3. Being stand up, upholding the old school rules and staying low key is what has helped them survive and be successful. Their people are loyal y trabajan derecho. No andan poniendo dedos o metiéndose con la gente como los de CDS. If Dámaso had succeeded I believe CDS would’ve been in better hands along with BLO at the front.

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    4. Did you read the article?

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    5. 8:39 am y 1:56pm no saben ni madres lo unico que los a mantenido al margen es el parentesco con la familia esparragoza.

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    6. Upon getting arrested, Cienpedos said one truth, "no hay pedo".
      The cops made his sphincters lose all the air.

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    7. 6:43 se nota que no sabes de lo que hablas

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  3. I read the NYT post and it left many questions, great that BB can come along with its knowledge and fill in the blanks. This is written more for those who are schooled in Mexico. Chapo Isidro is what kept BLO going.

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  4. Misleading title. The article doesnt say anything at all about how Chapito initiated the downfall of the general.

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    1. 9:13AM

      It's not misleading. It doesn't state Isidro *personally* initiated at his behest. It states it was initiated by him (as the title implies) when he was being investigated and, through wiretaps, discovered Cienpedos was involved. He was the *cause* albeit not personally. It gets tricky in English and nuances can easily be overlooked.

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    2. Cienpedos now known as Cienkilos too, was military zone commander in Acaapulco during the FECAL presidency and had frequent parties with narcos aboard a yatch owned by JAIME CAMIL GARZA, partner of Carlos Ahumada Kurtz and carlos and jorge hank rohn, Father in law of actor now congressman sergio mayer producer of bio-picture of La Barbie biography.

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    3. And jaime camil the real padrino is to close to clinton and obama, exist photos were they are thogether. This detention of cien fuegos is beause they go to obama and clinton. All the ways go to obama and clintons.

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  5. Wasnt el guero sabas captured in Aguascalientes?

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    Replies
    1. Yea. He was arrested. Maybe already out 😏
      -el guasave

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    2. esta en el cereso de mazatlan. sigue siendo dueno de un antro por el malecon en mazatlan.

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  6. Chivis, Your report is quite interesting and mostly accurate. However Cienfuegos did not cease criminality after the death of H2 he was as deeply protective of Mencho as he was the BLO. His core job was steering the USG and GOM away from Mencho. The Marines and US teams were barred from working on Mencho only SEDENA could work on him. (hence he was insulated from the (Marines) the sword of Mexico that were sweeping through the country at this time knocking down kingpins like there was no resistance. Cienfuegos went so far as to deliver Menchos hush money directly to the families of his fallen Soldiers after the Helicopter attack. Chivis don't believe everything the USG tells you. CIenfuegos had his hands in several cartel pockets as well as being an active trafficker himself. (stay tuned)

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    1. I don't doubt what you state, and thank you for weighing in. I was only referring to the indictment charges, it was not my belief, but made a slight correction for better clarity.

      Where can I read about the info you shared?

      Thank you!

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    2. Great point..La Marina never seems to be knocking on Menchos door.

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    3. Chiva don’t believe everything 9:49 says

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    4. Chivis the gobernor of sinaloa quirino ordaz coppel was selected candidate by cienfuegos. Wen quirino take the power he give state security to cienfuegos they are very close and have many dirty bussiness. They quirino and cienfuegos set up amlo whit el culiacanazo, they are involved in ovidio set up. To put amlo in trouble. And they both involved DEA in that trampa to amlo.

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  7. Chop Isidro and rcq alliance?

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    1. Was wondering the same thing.. would make sense based on the route they’d have to take and the assumption that CDS and they still have active beef. It’s been very quiet since El Chapo went down, as far as the internecine war between the BLO remnants and CDS.

      Is Chapo Isidro the number one in command, or does he have the largest influence in a horizontal decentralized control node like CDS. In some ways, he seems very local, but the amount of weight they move is dramatic. I always wondered how tf they stayed operating in the US, but they seem to be more militarized version of CDS. Probably helped firmed with the help of Arturo and his killers- who were some real badasses. Lots of ex cops.

      Who are the other major operators for BLO?

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    2. Don’t forget blo at a time had a lot of people from Guerrero a lot of ex guerrilleros and mfers from the costa grande en la Sierra de Guerrero

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    3. Yep. They controlled from the resort cities all the way to the Sierra.

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    4. Not sure if you guys know. I do not post much or read much. One of los Beltranes biggest lowkey guys is "El Toro". He is someone you would not expect to harm people or be involved in illicit activities. Those are the ones that last. Ser Humilde. Ever since his wife was killed he continued being humilde but definitely went to the darkside. No empathy, any wrongdoing he handles busines, makes sure any money that is pending, gets paid. He is close to Faustino. I will not point out where he resides.

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  8. Sooner or later Mexico is going to stop extradition to the USA

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    1. Can only imagine the turmoil between the two countries if such were to occur.
      This being; a "LAW & ORDER" American President.

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    2. Think you're right but in this case homeboy flew in on his own accord, all bets off once you walk up the tarmac.

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    3. 10:51 being a bully and using BS about law and order does not make you a LAW AND ORDER president.
      Posing as a mini-mussolini while doing it won't make it work either.

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  9. Isidro very smart guy, Low profile, rare photo's, now we know he gave up the General. I wouldn't be surprised if he cut a deal with U.S. Agencies.

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    Replies
    1. Did you read the article? He didn’t give up the general... they overheard on wiretaps.

      Phelpso

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  10. Or like when la familia Michoacan was with golfo and a bunch of dudes from Guerrero wacked chapós people in Acapulco

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  11. Is RCQ allied with BLO? it would be a good move. Good write up, thank you bb

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  12. This is how H2 and Isidro maintained power for so many years, when the Beltran's were essentially done. Friends in high places. It really does add a new level of insight. At some point in 2013/2012, they were pressing Mayo/Chapo Sinaloa in Guasave and Los Mochis, and making moves for Mazatlan.

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  13. Chivis any news on Carlos Beltran the father of the BL brothers? Supposedly passed away recently

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  14. MEXICAN generals choose a CARTEL and they attack onother for the right PRICE..
    THAT'S the REASON many of THOSE idiots get KILLED too..
    🇲🇽 a narco failed STATE starting WITH the President down to local government..

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  15. I don´t think Cienfuegos betrayed H2, it was Marina´s operation, not SEDENA´s. The marina were brutal against H2, maybe it was a message to Cienfuegos?

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    Replies
    1. Or marina working for another cartel.

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    2. 1:45 it was Genarco Garcia Luna, FECAL, and even EPN after Arturo Beltran Leyva stopped genarco and his death squad in Morelos and threatened him for not delivering on agreements he had been paid for...you do not threaten life long chilango gangbangers like that for nothing, you kill'em where you find 'em, genarco and the ALSO CORRUPT MARINAS FECALES did the job in spite of cienpedos, but then secretary of defense guillermo Galvan Galvan gave the OK, not Cienpedos.

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  16. Rumor has it that Chapo Isidro family is in Cuernavaca. Chapo isidro goes back and forth between Cuernavaca and Guasave

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  17. Chivis do you know anything about El Musico Carlos who is Arturo Beltran's cuñado? He is leading BLO along with Isidro and Sagitario. Great to see all the traidores fall. Arturo con su sonrisa desde arriba.
    Also I want to add that Don Carlos Beltran Araujo passed this week. D.E.P

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  18. When cholo fell Isidro and Mayo aligned. They always got along. Isidro in the west gato in the east are the current blo power players. But they are Ligned and at peace with mencho and rcq. Only the chapitos and their allies are stirring it up. Too bad the old man just cant bring himself to take action against the little rats.

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  19. If he chose BLO is because he saw an opportunity to climb the latter. With chapo he knew he’d be given up to authorities at his convenience and the fact that the mocosos were next in line. Moving up up would have been imposible with chapo.

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  20. To 2:41 and 1:23
    actually yes I do. Don Carlos, the father of all the Beltran Bros died.

    To my go between I sent the question if it was true. She wasn't sure Alfredo even know because of covid there is a bit of a communication shut down.

    She sent me a message 2 or 3 days ago she spoke with alfredo and he did know and of course very sad.

    Don Carlos raised the boys NOT chapo's mother, that was fantasy. The mother of Beltran Leyvas died in childbirth. Alfredo was only a toddler when that happened.

    I would like to write the story, but need a little more info, hopefully I will get it.

    C

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    1. Wouldn't that mean she died giving birth to Alfredo? Because Hamberto and Mario Alberto are half brothers.
      I forgot Carlitos' is also known as el 23 and is heavy in th music industry.
      All these generals being given up betrayed the BLO and are now in turn being handed over. Thanks for replying chivis.

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    2. 4:50 I think his name is Manuel, he was named in the 2008 indictment of ABL.

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    3. No I am positive. Alfredo said he was either 5 or a toddler I am sorry i can't recall which it was, I will check . After a long troubled labor he had to take her on horseback to seek help. She died. I will ask my contact.

      Don Carlos remarried as you know. The information is from Alfredo. You must be in/from Sinaloa. Most people don't know this information unless from there.

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    4. Lola Beltran and Pablo Beltran were famous musicians members of Blo.

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    5. The Beltran Leyvas were loyal people. the people of Mazatlan are still loyal and respect them. El Chaguin was a legend in the Colonia Olympica y Villa Galaxia. chekalo. Era fiel and both sides wanted him. He stayed loyal to the Beltranes. Loyal just like chapo isidro. the split was bad for sinaloa and chapo caused it- for the love of his son. I get it. but it destroyed all. No honor/loyality amongst killers.

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    6. Chivis you see the video on youtube were a man from culiacan who stay in the alfredo same prision he speak very well about alfredo he say alfredo in prision show us the great person allways was when he was free, for my was an honor to stay near of him in the same prision.

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    7. @6:32 el chaguin was getting out of hand towards the end of his life. Much of his family left Maza for Mexicali for fears of repercussions

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    8. No one is going to talk bad about him on video or else they'll get chopped up.

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  21. Does any one think Luna give this guy up?

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  22. Isidro is cool with chapos brother araujo en la sierra. And hes cool with mayo. Hes the future of sinaloa cartel.

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  23. El H9 was killed shortly after el H2.
    El H9 aka El Señor De Las Tanquetas.
    When he was with CDS he was known as El Katch.

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  24. Maybe this General will snitch and Give up ALMO ??

    ps BB thank you for the hard work you do
    Can you tell us Does Mexico make daily aressts on the common street dealer drug dealer ? Like here in the U.S. ?
    or is just not done ?

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    Replies
    1. 8;33 give up what?
      Serás gúey valiii!
      Cienpedos did not work with AMLO, he suggested 3 candidates for secretary of defense to AMLO to replace him, AMLO CHOSE OTHER GUY, Luis Crescencio Sandoval, a general who may also have his heavy luggage.

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  25. i knew el chapo isidro many years ago. always wore a cowboy hat. has lot of connections in AZ and CA. personally a really nice guy. course i did no narco biz with them.

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  26. Gotta respect a real narco not like chapo or mencho

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  27. those narcos must lead a paranoid life, don't know who you can trust, always on the run, never knowing if you or your family will be tortured and killed.

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  28. Chivas can you do a breakdown/post about how this connection with the general explains some of the major events In the past with Mayo, Zetas, Chapo, Damaso, Mencho, RCQ, the Chapitos kidnapping, and the la Tuna raid? Who’s side was this general really on. Thanks

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  29. THANK YOU DEA AND US GOVERNMENT FOR ARRESTING THE GENERAL. HE IS THE SAND MAN THAT COVERED UP THE 43 MISSING AND MASSACRE IN CHIAPAS. LET HIM AND HIS FAMILY BURN IN HELL.

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  30. I don't think u can be in Partership with Mexico Officials, to corrupt

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    1. 12:04 if you want "too corrupt", follow the money, it is all property of US and other foreign businessmen stowed away and laundered in their favorite money laundering banks the US fines once in a while for billions of dollars...

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  31. These are the real Sinaloa killers BLO runs heavy Even in LA y ahuevo Los pegadores

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    1. Bullshit!
      Michoacanos do!

      Those Mazatlecos got smoked real quick and got inline with what eventually became CJNG.

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    2. CJNG TOOK YOUR NAYARIT PLAZA blo didn't know what was even going on

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    3. Michoacános don’t run shit in southern Califas homies do.Yeah there’s homies that their blood is from over there but in the end they are CHICANOS.

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    4. 5:40 los michoacanos no pueden ni manejar su propio estado

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    5. Most Michoacán cartels (LFM, Templarios, CJNG etc) and Cali eMe have an alliance. You don’t know shit!

      Michoacanos hold and move the most weight along with help from Kampol homies.

      Michoacán (Tarascos) is the most ruthless by those who know about their Native roots and culture!

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    6. 8:33 There is no difference between being born on that side of the border or this one, the ancestry and same blood still runs in your veins. The only difference is that certain people born over here forget where they come from. Thankfully I not one of those. I consider myself a proud Mexican, regardless of me being born on this side of the boarder

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