"HEARST" for Borderland Beat
According to intelligence from the Security Roundtable, Los Rusos are expanding their territory in Mexicali and cracking down on any independent human smuggler or drug dealers who do not pay their fee.
In the last week the city of Mexicali in Baja California saw a disproportionate increase in murders. In less than seven days a total of 12 armed attacks were documented. These incidents were focused in the northern area of the Mexicali valley and the Lomas Altas subdivision.
On August 22, 2021, the Director of the Municipal Police Alejandro Lora Torres told the press that the main hypothesis for this uptick in crime is a struggle between groups linked to drug dealing and alleged human smugglers.
The Bloody Crack Down on Smugglers
Members of the Security Roundtable believe that this sudden increase in attacks is caused by an expansion of the operations of the organization “Los Rusos”, led by Jesus Alexander Sanchez Felix, alias "El Ruso".They believe he is expanding his territory of operations out into specific urban areas of Mexicali where human traffickers and drug dealers have historically been able to work as independent organizations.
The following incidents, all in urban areas of Mexicali city, are believed to be attacks on independent smugglers and drug dealers who did not pay the fee or "align" to Los Rusos. The attacks are thought to be perpetrated by sicarios of Los Rusos.
Please keep in mind that the Lomas Altas neighborhood specifically is identified by members of State Police (GESI) as a well established haven for independent human smugglers. These smugglers "cross" clients north who are seeking to make a new life in the United States.
LOCATION: On Berreo Avenue and Isona Street, Lomas Altas neighborhood, Mexicali
CASUALTIES: 1 Killed
LOCATION: Near intersection of Ragol Street and Lieza Streets, Lomas Altas neighborhood
CASUALTIES: 1 killed
DESCRIPTION: Residents of the Ragol street in the Lomas Altas neighborhood reported to the emergency line the sound of gunfire and the presence of an injured woman who was lying on the sidewalk. When paramedics arrived on scene they declared her dead on arrival, at 3:30am in the morning. The deceased was later identified as Norma Elizabeth Salcido Cervantes who was 27 years old.
LOCATION: Near intersection of Loja Street and Illueca Street, Lomas Altas neighborhood, Mexicali
CASUALTIES: 1 killed
DESCRIPTION: A few hours after the Ragol street shooting, a house was set ablaze on Loja street and firefighters were called to respond to the incident. They successfully put out the fire. A completely charred body was found inside the building.
The initial investigation into the death began as a negligent incident, but after the forensic report it was established that the cause of death was cranioencephalic traumatism and gunshot wounds. He is believed to be the 30 year old boyfriend of Norma Elizabeth Salcido Cervantes who was gunned down earlier that day and covered above.
LOCATION: On Cadaqués Street, Valle de Puebla neighborhood
CASUALTIES: 1 killed
DESCRIPTION: An individual was attacked in the middle of the morning, on Cadaqués and Laje streets. The perpetrators drove up to him while they were aboard a cherry colored 2005 Scion vehicle with white mudguards. They shot him multiple times and then drove away quickly after. The victim was injured with a gunshot wound that punctured his skill and ultimately ended his life, and after several days his identity is unknown. Relatives went to the morgue to recognize him as Feliciano Plascencia Contreras.
DATE: August 23, 2021
LOCATION: Azteca Avenue, Lomas Altas neighborhood
CASUALTIES: 1 Injured
DESCRIPTION: 35-year-old José Ángel Zavala was shot as he was leaving his home when he was surprised by two men on a motorcycle. The crime was perpetrated with a revolver type weapon. The victim of this attack, unlike all the prior victims, managed to survive.
ADDITIONAL HOMICDES
In addition to the crack down on traffickers in the urban Mexicali areas, Los Rusos are believed to be involved in the following events in the larger Mexicali valley region:
On August 15, there was an armed attack with assault rifles in Los Algodones, outside a home located on Avenue A, between 7 and 8. Edgar Iván Olegues Varela, 27, and José Luis Haro Sánchez, 30, were killed. Their attackers fled aboard a white vehicle, leaving behind the bodies of both and a large number of .223 caliber casings.
In addition to these incidents, on August 19, 2021, there was the attack against José Plácido García Martínez, "El Chepe" and Jesús Torres Díaz on the highway to Tijuana which left both men dead.
In response, members of the State Security and Investigation Guard (GESI) captured 4 Los Rusos members. They were Juan Diego Velázquez Pérez, 50, from Mexicali; Carlos Ernesto Quiñónez Benítez, 49, from Sinaloa; Efrén Aguilar Nande, 40, from Jalisco; and Armando Alonso Beltrán Peralta, 24, also from Sinaloa.
The Lieutenants Leading the Push
This offensive ordered by "El Ruso" is being personally organized and overseen by two of his lieutenants, according to sources from the Security Roundtable. They are Alfonso Peralta / Alfonso Amaya, alias "El P1" or "El Poncho de la Lima". El P1 is believed to be a trusted confidant of El Ruso who often leads armed operations on his behalf.
Alongside El P1 is an operator who has barely gained notoriety on the streets of Mexicali. He has been preliminarily identified as "El 80," who is also part of the armed wing of Los Rusos. According to GESI sources, both "P1" and "El 80" have focused on pressuring traffickers and drug dealers to pay them a fee in exchange for allowing them to work on a regular basis.
The Los Rusos fee being charged to human traffickers and drug dealers has doubled recently. They are now charging from $5,000 to $10,000 per drug crossing, which has had a strong impact on the income of these groups.
El P1 and El 80, together with El Ruso’s right hand man Felipe Eduardo Barajas Lozano alias "El Omega", have been tasked to "align" all the independent groups dedicated to human trafficking and drug dealing in urban sections of Mexicali and northern Mexicali valley. Previously these groups have managed to avoid having to pay a regular fee in order to operate but Ruso is now making it clear they must pay or face the consequences.
This is not the first time El Ruso has expanded his territory through a bloody offensive.
At the beginning of last year, Los Rusos undertook a similar type of expansion push, during which they threatened and murdered several drug dealers operating in the complex identified as "Los Pueblas", located on the east side of the city. During the push last year there were several homicides, but there were also important arrests of Los Rusos members made by GESI.
The rate of homicides decreased in this area during the last months of 2020 and the first months of 2021, because "Los Rusos" were preoccupied with a confrontation with cells of "Los Garibay" and "Los Salazar" who were trying to extend their operations to this municipality.
Update 11/6/2021: New profile graphic showing El Ruso added.
