My new research project is called "Dinner at La Leche." The project reexamines the 2016 Chapitos kidnapping in Puerto Vallarta. The research focused on news sources and conversations that I have had with locals in Puerto Vallarta.
I travel to Vallarta often and have discussed the kidnapping with employees of The Marriott, La Leche employees, cab drivers, and more. The new series will have a minimum of Four chapters, and I encourage you to comment and ask questions.
Finally, I am trying something new by providing content that "didn't make the post" to my Twitter account.
Dinner at La Leche
The kidnapping of Los Chapitos in Puerto Vallarta
Inside La Leche
Chapter 1 Marriott Vallarta
On Monday, August 8, 2016, a group arrived to celebrate in Puerto Vallarta. They arrived at The Marriott Vallarta Resort and Spa. The resort's location is on the beach in Marina Vallarta. The Marina is a tourist area with resorts, golf courses, and luxury residents. El Chopa of CJNG would die in a confrontation in Marina at his residence.
Entrance to Marriott Resort from 2016
View of the pool area at The Marriott from 2016
The Marina is located right next to the airport. El Chopa was killed at his residence next to the airport.
The group at the hotel consisted of at least 20 adults (not including children) and at least two bodyguards. More than likely, they had three guards at the hotel.
The group traveled from different parts of Mexico, including Nayarit, Sinaloa, and Jalisco.
BB Alumni Chivis and I worked on this story in real-time in 2016. During this time, Chapitos were active on social media, and Iván often posted pictures of flying private. Initially, the thought was that they flew from Sinanola.
The drive from Cuilican to Puerto Vallarta is 650 km/400 miles and takes 8 hours.
The group would arrive in at least five vehicles, all white in color.
1. Cadillac Escalade 2016 with Jalisco plates
2. Dodge Challenger with Police Package
3. Land Rover 2016 armored with false registration
4. Honda CRV with Sinaloa plates
5. Jeep Limited 2016 with Nayarit plates
Many people in the group used false identification, and this celebration was no ordinary holiday among friends. This special occasion was to celebrate the birthday of Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar, aka El Chapito.
Family members and others connected to Cártel De Sinaloa arrived to help Iván celebrate in Vallarta. Brothers included Ovidio, Jesus, and Cesar. This celebration was one that, if you got invited, then you had to attend.
Ivan occupied The Presidential Suite 2,742 sqft/247 sqm.
César Guzmán Salazar is two years older than Iván. He entered real estate in 2009 and lived in Zapopan, Jalisco, in 2016. He probably has the sole license plate from Jalisco. Also staying at the hotel, Jose Manuel Diaz Burgos, a cousin, is the son of Emilio Diaz Guzman.
Ovidio and Joaquin worked separately initially, as they had inherited their operation after their brother Edgar was murdered. These brothers are Lopez (wife 2). The other brothers and Iván are Salazar.
Dinner at La Leche was just another meal on holiday that would occur the following Monday. The entire week at the resort included celebrations, pool time, drinks, and dinners at the resort.
The women would enjoy days at the pool and spa, and the men would talk business throughout the day, drinking at the pool.
The Marriott pool area in 2016
Writing this reminds me of a video of Benjamín Arellano Félix at a birthday party.
Mica
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Thank you Mica, really informative write-up, waiting for the next already!
ReplyDeleteYes, very interesting topic. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME and MUCH EFFORT!!
DeleteThanks Mica! I'm looking forward to seeing the sperm special (la Leche) and Chapitos
Delete8-8-16 arrive
ReplyDelete8-15-16 levantados
Could they really have gone unnoticed for a week and risked being "Cholo'd" if picked up?
D.L.O had some interesting comments, maybe he didn't delete them?
Hopefully Mica you can link the stories of this event as they unfolded and were uploaded to BB in your multi part series so we can also read the comments.
🍺
Damaso Lopez Nunez "El Lic " his son el Mini Lic and Jesús Alfredo Beltrán Guzmán el "Mochomito " were the was responsible for the kidnapping CJNG was not involved !
ReplyDeleteShout out to Chivis
Commandante Perro
... donde sea que se encuentre. 🙏🏼
Delete5:29 pues lla que tu saves mas pon tu la historia conpleta y con detalles
DeleteLoved La Leche, and the truck outside was maybe even better, last time I was in PV
ReplyDeleteNever been there, but my ruca rans and raves about La Leche. She can get enough of La Leche, and La Leche isn’t cheap.
DeleteHard to imagine they didn't have CJNG something like blessing, I thought La Leche was like in some isolated area, it's right on the main strip.
ReplyDeleteMy sense of PV was not much is going to go down without a plaza boss consent, but on the other hand, you could ran an operation quietly, if you had inside info, just need a team to run into La Leche, and grab them. But, then there's the question of local police, where did they take them? Why weren't they killed?
When this story broke, I was stunned they were released.
But, Ivan and his team would probably have gone unnoticed at the Marriott, just another tourist group from somewhere. But, you do start to think, all those Sinalonese accents, all the hawks and punteros and no one noticed anything? It's possible.
I have read that it Rafa Quinetro's nephew was involved too, El Cadete. And that the people who ran the on the ground operations didn't know who they were taking, until later.
Didn't the group of kidnappers get killed after they were released?
DeleteAll of this will be addressed in the series.
Delete11/26 nope, a cell feom CJNG got wiped out because they were kidnapping and chargin fees with out CJNG green light, nothing to do with this, but some alucines love to make up storie
DeleteI heard they got kidnapped for a drug shipment. Don’t know how true or outlandish that sounds , but I did hear that somewhere on the internet.
ReplyDeleteI’ll be at la leche in a couple of weeks
ReplyDeleteI am jealous!
DeleteIn all honesty I avoid these kinds of Restaurants like the flu send the ladies on theyre own im eating at the taco stand
DeleteMy two current favorite resturants are Barcelona’s Tapas and Joe Jack’s. But, I do tacos at the mercado and use bus to travel to Boca de Tomatlan. Pancho’s Takos for the win!
DeleteIt was definitely CJNG involved, without a doubt. I've lived in Vallarta 16 years and know fairly certain what's going on. Why were they released?
ReplyDelete-a photo was sent to Mencho of his son, in prison, with three Sinaloa sicarios, with a comment of "be careful how you handle this amigo".
Checkmate😉
One son for how many hijos de papi and yet Chinaloas would have people believe they were in control of the negotiations...
Delete7:31 stop it, CDS are all bark and no bite, don Mencho is a man of honor like Nacho Coronel was, Chapitos at the time were not deep in the game so don Mencho just gave them a warning, but as of now if they get caught sleeping they wont have the same luck, theres a reason why they have not gone back to PV 🤣
Delete07:31 nice story but utter bullshit cabron
Delete6:07 Mencho man of honor haha that’s why they called him and his people los torcidos
Delete3:32 the ones who called them torcidos are the Molcas crew (La Resistencia) cause they didnt do what they wanted, CJNG had more power and they showed La Resistencia they didnt need them, mencho Respected his old bosses but not La Resistencia
Delete12:56 así fue y sigue siendo
DeleteThe quality of food at leche sucks now! They changed chefs! I prefer madalena or porfirios or campomar whenever I’m in Vallarta!
ReplyDeleteI always liked the drinks over the food, but the atmosphere is great!
DeleteCan someone please elaborate on hawks and punteros? In cartel areas, is there a definite sense of being watched even in large cities? What about non-cartel areas? Who draws special attention? Gracias.
ReplyDeleteIf there’s drugs there are cartels and hawks
DeleteNot necessarily, but in PVR through the airports the hawks are the timeshare people and cab drivers. It's common to see the military on the streets.
DeleteLa firma y la gallina estan al frente controlado en vallarta por el CJNG
ReplyDeleteThey say Sapo is no longer in PV.
DeleteWho has more power Ivan Archivaldo or El Guano?
ReplyDeleteIn December of 2022, I would say Ivan.
DeleteWhat about in March of 2023?
DeleteIt’s hard to say Guano has more power than Ivan right now. El Guano is dealing with multiple attempts from the goverment in the last 3 weeks. There is a feeling that Mexico is pursuing Guano with help from US intel.
DeleteWho is the blonde in the first picture holding cocktail glass full of La Leche?
ReplyDeleteMy date 😉
DeleteDid your date like La Leche?
DeleteNot really, it’s more of a atmosphere thing. The food is small plates and the menu is created daily. If you haven’t been, it’s worth checking out and having a drink at the bar.
DeleteCant wait for part 2. great that you took time to dig deep into those „old“ stories. As time goes by things change, new info come to light and ppl talk. Personally i thing damasos where involved but as they didnt catch all together they got cold feet. I dont see the jaliscas involved. A fast and small team and a good plan can pull this off.
ReplyDeleteDonde esta el mirotero? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
DeleteThis is Chapter 1.
ReplyDeleteHold your horses.
Really surprising they would walk into Cjng territory especially with their dad I jail
ReplyDeleteSe creyeron sus corridos alucines
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete4:15 "Fuck everyone"? Wow son i think you are the one who should relax
DeleteHard to believe no video footage of the chapitos crew from resort has come to light
ReplyDeleteNice one Mica. Cutting to that Arrelano-Felix video was brilliant.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteIt's worth noting Ivans birthday is 8-15 so they were captured at his birthday dinner. Quick question, the female in the first pic? Is it Citlali Morga? His rumored long time girlfriend.
ReplyDeleteAll of that will come out during the series. No, this a personal picture and my date.
ReplyDeleteCan’t wait! Great work and thanks for the clarification Mica!
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