Blog dedicated to reporting on Mexican drug cartels
on the border line between the US and Mexico
.

Monday, October 27, 2025

Multimillion-Dollar Loss: Federal Forces Destroy a "Drug Laboratory" in Badiraguato

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat 






The Federal Government announced that an area containing tons of chemicals used in the manufacture of synthetic drugs was also detected in Culiacán.


A "narco-laboratory" and a concentration area were secured and destroyed in Badiraguato and Culiacán, respectively. Several tons of chemicals used in the production of synthetic drugs were stored. These chemicals were destroyed by members of the Mexican Army, representing a loss of more than 11 billion pesos for criminal groups.


The Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) announced through a joint statement that personnel from the Secretariat of National Defense (Defense) located a clandestine laboratory and a concentration area of ​​various materials in these municipalities, as part of an operation to detect and combat drug production.


Through ground patrols, part of this strategy, military personnel located an illegal settlement where they seized a total of 28 organic synthesis reactors, 28 distillers, six centrifuges, 42 burners, and 90 LP gas tanks. The site was classified as a clandestine laboratory used by organized crime groups to produce crystal meth. 


The official statement emphasized that in these two states, a concentration of materials and chemicals was found, where 36,650 liters and 5 tons (700 kilos) of substances used for the production of methamphetamine were seized, representing a loss to organized crime groups in the amount of 11.623 billion pesos.


Once the agent of the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) learned of the materials and chemicals found, military personnel proceeded to destroy them by incineration.


What is a clandestine "narco-laboratory"?


A "narco-laboratory" or clandestine laboratory is an illicit settlement found primarily in mountainous areas and near bodies of water, in this case rivers or wells, used to produce synthetic drugs. Various chemical products are also found there, including acetone, caustic soda, and sodium acetate. Additionally, devices such as organic synthesis reactors, distillers, centrifuges, burners, LP gas tanks, aluminum crushers, drums, pots, and drums, among others, are also found.



Sinaloa, México 






Source: Línea Directa

Following The Murder of "El 10", Western Chihuahua State Has Been Experiencing a Wave of Violence

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat 







A dozen murders have occurred in the Cuauhtémoc region


Following the murder of Fidel Adrián G. O., better known as "El 10," according to the FGE's records. He was identified as the second-in-command of the Gente del Tigre criminal group, which operates in municipalities such as Cuauhtémoc, Nonoava, and surrounding areas. The western region has experienced a period of violence over the past 10 days.


The incident in which "El 10," one of the leaders of the Gente del Tigre criminal group, was wiped out by armed civilians in Nonoava after an armed confrontation, occurred on October 15. González Olivas, 33, died as a result of gunshot wounds on a dirt road leading from Nonoava to Humariza, near the San Judas Tadeo cave.


Following reports of clashes in the region, authorities activated a security plan and immediately implemented a security operation. On the dirt road leading to the town of Humariza, near Rancho Bahuara, they located the following abandoned vehicles.


The following day, Attorney General César Jáuregui Moreno stated that they had confirmation that in a confrontation between civilians last Thursday, October 16, the 10th, a leader of the group known as Gente del Tigre, operating in Cuauhtémoc and Carichí, was killed. The initial information provided by the Attorney General was that the slain individual was close to El 11 or Virolo, leader of the Los Tigres criminal group, which has a significant presence in Cuauhtémoc and the region.


On the same day the violent incidents occurred, the disappearance of Said Molina Villalobos, 51, was reported missing in the same municipality of Nonoava. He had been reported missing on October 15, 2025, and was found dead along with two other people on October 19 on the Guachochi-Parral highway, near Valle Saavedra.


At the same time Molina Villalobos's body was found in Guachochi, on October 17, at the Yepachi police station in the community of Temósachic, a man was found dead inside a GMC 2500 pickup truck with gunshot wounds to the chest and left arm.






Days later, he was identified as Francisco Javier, 36 years old, who hadn’t been reported missing. The discovery was announced by the ministerial authority five days after the body was found.


During the first few minutes of that same Friday, two dead men were located near the community of La Junta, Guerrero municipality, next to whom a threatening message was found. The discovery was made next to the letters "La Junta," according to the report received by the 911 emergency system.


Next to the bodies was a poster with a message addressed to drug users, allegedly signed by a local organized crime group. Security authorities seized the poster as evidence.


After this, a man was murdered on the streets of the Anáhuac police station during the early hours of Sunday, October 19, when armed men aboard at least two vehicles gunned down the unfortunate individual, who remains unknown.


Upon arrival at the scene, the body of a man was confirmed to be lying on the side of a canal. He was described as having a robust build, dark complexion, approximately 1.80 meters tall, between 35 and 40 years old, wearing a white and gray plaid shirt, blue jeans, and white tennis shoes.


The victim was found lying supine with various gunshot wounds, mainly to the head. Between 20 and 25 spent shell casings, apparently .223 caliber, were also found at the scene.


He was identified as Arturo E. M., alias El Turi, 40 years old, who had been arrested on 28 February for drug dealing after a search of his home. During the operation carried out in February by the State Investigation Agency, in coordination with Sedena and SSPE, authorities seized a large shipment of narcotics from El Turi's home, including more than half a kilo of marijuana and 11 additional packages of the same drug; a package containing 7.7 grams of crystal meth; and four mobile phones.


During the night of Tuesday, October 22, at approximately 11:39 p.m., Municipal Police officers responded to a report of gunshots in the PRI neighborhood. The call was received through the 911 emergency system, which reported gunshots at a home located at 68th and Tenochtitlán Streets.


Upon arriving at the scene, officers confirmed the discovery of two deceased men with gunshot wounds, and proceeded to secure the premises. At the same location, officers located an injured woman, who was taken by emergency personnel to the hospital for medical attention, suffering from gunshot wounds.


On October 23, authorities received an emergency report alerting them to the discovery of a lifeless body on the highway that connects Cuauhtémoc with La Junta, very close to the community known as Casa Colorada. According to municipal police, the victim was found face down, on the side of the asphalt, near the entrance to the road that leads to a shooting range. The discovery prompted an immediate mobilization of security forces to secure the area and gather evidence.


The following day, the Western District Attorney's Office, in coordination with Mexican Army personnel, traveled to the town of San Francisco de Borja, where they reported the presence of armed individuals, gunshots, and the burning of homes on the night of Thursday, October 23. Upon arriving at the town, the investigating officers discovered two homes with significant fire damage, with no injuries or deaths found.


Meanwhile, on the night of Friday, October 24, two young men were shot and killed in the Emiliano Zapata neighborhood of Ciudad Cuauhtémoc. According to a police report, they were shot more than 40 times. The police report indicates that the incident occurred this morning on the streets of Parque Urueta and Periférico.


Municipal police officers arrived at the scene as first responders after reports of gunshots and located two dead men.


One of the victims was found inside a black Infinity vehicle, which had multiple bullet holes. The second body was found on the sidewalk next to the car, having allegedly tried to take cover after seeing the attack on the other man.


Hours later, the Western District Attorney's Office confirmed that a burned vehicle and three dead bodies were reported on the highway from San Francisco de Borja to Nonoava. The bodies were found on the afternoon of Friday, October 24, on the highway from San Francisco de Borja to Nonoava, at kilometer 31.


Investigative personnel from the Western District Attorney's Office who responded to the scene reported seeing the unidentified bodies. None of the bodies had any visible characteristics, as they were charred.


Forensic Services personnel seized a KIA SUV at the scene, which was completely damaged by the fire. Several firearm casings, apparently calibers 7.62 x 39 millimeters and .223, were also recovered. The bodies were taken to the Forensic Medical Service (Semefo) for a legal autopsy.



Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua




Source: El Heraldo de Chihuahua

Sunday, October 26, 2025

Miguel Ángel Beltrán, A Journalist From Durango, Is Murdered; He Had Denounced Organized Crime

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat 






Miguel Ángel Beltrán was murdered, allegedly by organized crime. 


Originally from Durango, Miguel Ángel Beltrán, a journalist, was found dead on the morning of Saturday, October 25, in the town of Río Chico, on the Durango–Mazatlán highway. His body was found wrapped in a blanket, with a message next to it that warned: "For spreading lies about the people of Durango."


Beltrán, 60, was identified this Sunday, October 26, by his son, who reported that he last saw him last Thursday, when they both left for work, but Miguel hadn’t returned home.


The journalist collaborated with various local media outlets such as Contexto and La Voz de Durango, primarily in sports, although he also covered social issues. During his career, he also served as a spokesperson for the National Union of Education Workers (SNTE) in the state.


In recent years, he had moved his work to the digital world, where he maintained a blog and social media accounts. On TikTok, he identified himself as "El Capo" and on Facebook as La Gazzeta Dgo. His most recent published content was reportedly related to an exposé against organized crime.


The murder of Miguel Ángel Beltrán adds to the list of attacks and murders against journalists in Mexico, considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalism.


In November of last year, several journalists who disseminated content through social media, especially on X-rated platforms, were kidnapped. Among them was Javier Llamas, who was later found dead with a similar message next to his body.


According to organizations such as Article 19, multiple attacks against journalists have been documented so far this year, especially in contexts where security issues or local corruption are being investigated.


To date, Durango authorities have not issued an official statement on the case.



Río Chico, Durango




Source: El Financiero

The Federal Government Identifies 649 Criminal Leaders and Confirms the Operation of 78 Criminal Groups in Mexico

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat 





The Mexican government presented an ambitious criminal intelligence plan that marks a new stage in the national security strategy. According to the first work report of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), headed by Omar García Harfuch, 649 leaders and priority targets of organized crime have been identified, as well as the operation of 78 active criminal organizations in the country.


The document details that, with the new intelligence powers, the SSPC prepared 258 identification files that include general information, background information, areas of operation, relevant links, and other key elements to advance investigations and arrests. In addition, the agency integrated five databases with information on members of various criminal organizations.


The report also reports the detection of six hierarchical, family, and operational networks within criminal groups, although the names of the organizations were not revealed. These actions, according to the text, allowed for a "comprehensive visualization of the configuration of criminal groups and the guidance of strategic interventions" in different regions of the country.


In the financial sphere, the Secretariat conducted 16 risk analyses and seven timelines to track the flow of money used by criminal organizations. These exercises seek to detect economic patterns and links between individuals and legal entities involved in illicit activities.


The agency also conducted seven specialized analyses on the incidence of crime in strategic sectors such as the automotive sector and in border areas in northern and southern Mexico, which allowed for the design of more targeted actions. The products generated include heat maps, travel routes, state diagnostics, and reports from 133 priority municipalities to identify risk factors and relevant actors.


During his recent appearance before the Senate, García Harfuch highlighted that this new intelligence-based strategy has improved the Secretariat's operational effectiveness by 240% compared to the previous year. “Today, investigations are based on evidence, data, and coordination with federal entities, which strengthens response capacity and directly benefits municipalities,” he stated.


With this report, the federal government seeks to consolidate a criminal intelligence system that not only reactivates the pursuit of priority targets but also strengthens institutional coordination to more effectively confront organized crime throughout the country.




Source: Segundo a Segundo

Three Alleged Hitmen from "Los Blancos de Troya" Arrested After the Murder of Bernardo Bravo

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat 





Authorities arrest three members of the criminal group "Los Blancos de Troya" after the murder of Bernardo Bravo in Apatzingán.


Federal and state security forces arrested three people, including a woman, identified as operatives of the criminal group "Los Blancos de Troya." They are allegedly responsible for the murder of Bernardo Bravo, who was the leader of the lemon producers in the Apatzingán Valley.


Among those arrested is Héctor "P," an accountant and financial manager for Andrés Sepúlveda, "La Fresa," the leader of the organization, as well as his son-in-law. Both were arrested in Cenobio Moreno.


Meanwhile, in the community of San Juan de los Plátanos, María de Jesús “G,” 49, nicknamed “La Tía,” was captured. She was identified as the communications chief for César Sepúlveda, “El Botox,” another leader of the organization. The State Attorney General's Office is offering 100,000 pesos for information related to this individual.


LINKS TO MAJOR CARTELS


“Los Blancos de Troya” operate as the armed wing of the Los Viagras Cartel, currently allied with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, under the name Cartel Michoacán Nueva Generación.


According to intelligence reports, the murder of Bernardo Bravo was allegedly carried out by members of this criminal group, who carry out extortion and violent operations targeting lemon producers in the region.


BACKGROUND TO THE CRIME


Prior to these arrests, Rigoberto “N,” alias “El Plátano,” was arrested as the alleged mastermind behind the murder. According to authorities, he was in charge of collecting fees from citrus producers in the region.


Bernardo Bravo was deprived of his liberty and subsequently murdered last Sunday in Apatzingán. He was known for his activism and for publicly denouncing the extortion and violence suffered by the lemon sector at the hands of organized crime in Tierra Caliente.


IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY


The murder of an agricultural leader like Bernardo Bravo has generated alarm among local producers and security agencies, highlighting the pressure that criminal groups exert on the regional economy and the need to strengthen surveillance and protection of social leaders in the area.



Apatzingán, Michoacán 





Sources: El Imparcial, Borderland Beat Archives

Saturday, October 25, 2025

Four Arrested For Arms Trafficking In Matamoros

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat 






Members of the SSPC, Defence, Navy, FGR, GN and Public Prosecutor's Office participated in the arrest.


Four members of a criminal cell dedicated to arms and drug smuggling in the region were arrested by federal and state public security officers in the municipality of Matamoros.


Investigative work and intelligence related to arms trafficking, narcotics, and money laundering led to the location of three properties in the municipality of Matamoros that were being used by a criminal cell to store firearms.


Security officers conducted fixed and mobile surveillance, obtaining the necessary evidence and delivering it to a supervisory judge, who issued the search warrants.


With this, security agents deployed simultaneous operations to execute search warrants in the Jesús Vega Sánchez and Moderno neighborhoods, where four alleged members of the criminal cell were arrested, including Juana "N" linked to arms and drug trafficking, as well as money laundering.


In addition, seven firearms, magazines, 150 cartridges of various calibers, a vehicle, a safe, US$20,600, six laptops, six telephone equipment, and various documents were seized.


The detainees were read their legal rights and, along with the seized items, were handed over to the corresponding Public Ministry agent, who will determine their legal status.


Meanwhile, the homes were placed under the custody of the authorities.



The Jesús Vega Sánchez  neighborhood in Matamoros, Tamaulipas. 


The Moderno neighborhood in Matamoros, Tamaulipas. 





Source: El Mañana

The Viagras, the Sierra Santana Brothers' Clan and Their Trail of Blood in Tierra Caliente

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland






The Viagras cartel, founded by the Sierra Santana brothers, is one of the most feared criminal organizations in Michoacán.


Founded by the Sierra Santana brothers in the heart of Michoacán's Tierra Caliente region, the Viagras Cartel is one of the most feared criminal organizations in the country. It has even been classified as a "terrorist" organization by the current United States government.


The Viagras emerged between 2013 and 2014 as a splinter group of Michoacán's self-defense groups, which were born to confront the subjugation and abuses of the Knights Templar Cartel.


Initially, these groups were supported by the federal government to combat the Knights Templar. However, over time, many of these groups evolved into criminal organizations, and the Viagras were no exception.


Their name comes from a nickname related to one of the brothers' excessive use of hair gel, which drew comparisons to the erectile dysfunction pill.


In December 2014, the Viagras took control of the municipality of Apatzingán, sparking a confrontation with the Federal Police on January 6, 2015, which left 10 civilians dead and 21 wounded.


The Sierra Santana brothers, cartel leaders



Nicolás Sierra Santana, "El Gordo" or "El Coruco", leader of the Los Viagras Cartel.


The Sierra Santana brothers are considered the founders and main leaders of Los Viagras. Nicolás Sierra Santana, "El Gordo" or "El Coruco," has been identified as the cartel's main leader.


However, intelligence reports place Rodolfo Sierra Santana, "La Teresa," as the true leader of the criminal group, and he has maintained a lower profile.


Rodolfo Sierra Santana was identified in a video published in 2013, in which he appears meeting with Servando Gómez Martínez, "La Tuta," the detained leader of Los Caballeros Templarios, for whom he worked as a hitman for his group.


Unofficially, reports indicated his presumed death in an ambush in May 2024, although this information has not been officially confirmed.


Daniel Sierra Santana, known as "El Chaco," was identified as a cartel boss in Tumbiscatío and allegedly died in January 2024 after stepping on a mine, according to local reports.


Juan Carlos Sierra Santana, known as "La Sopa," was identified as a cartel boss in the Bajío region of Michoacán and served as the leader of one of the armed wings of Los Viagras, La Nueva Familia Michoacana. He died in a confrontation with the CJNG in 2019.


Gabino Sierra Santana, known as "El Ingeniero," is currently a fugitive from justice, but was reportedly arrested in security operations in 2018 and 2019.


Key Operators and Leaders of the Viagras Cartel


In addition to the Sierra Santana brothers, founders of the Viagras Cartel, the cartel has a hierarchical structure that includes several key operators and leaders, including Heladio Cisneros Flores, known as "La Sirena," who is presumed to be the actual killer of the self-defense group's founder, Hipólito Mora Chávez. La Sirena is identified as a high-ranking operative linked to the group.


Also identified is César Alejandro Sepúlveda Arellano, known as "El Bótox," leader of the Los Blancos de Troya Cartel, a group that operates as the armed wing of Los Viagras, primarily in Cenobio Moreno, Apatzingán municipality, but which extends its activities to Buenavista and Tepalcatepec.


Iván García Salgado, “El Ratón,” who was identified as his second-in-command and arrested in operations in 2018. Omar Faburrieta Pérez, “El Gordo,” was arrested in operations in 2018 and 2020.


The aforementioned have been key to the cartel's operations, participating in activities such as extortion, drug trafficking, and clashes with other criminal groups.


Territory and Criminal Activities of Los Viagras


Los Viagras operate primarily in the municipalities of Apatzingán, Buenavista, Tepalcatepec, Tumbiscatío, Uruapan, Jacona, Zamora, and Sahuayo, although intelligence reports indicate that their influence also extends to the states of Guerrero and the State of Mexico.


Among the criminal activities they are accused of include drug trafficking, particularly methamphetamines, fentanyl, and heroin; extortion of agricultural producers, especially lemon producers, and local businesspeople and merchants; as well as murders linked to disputes with other groups aimed at consolidating their power in the region.


The use of minors and women as human shields in confrontations, as well as in roadblocks and demonstrations, has also been reported, in what authorities refer to as the criminal group's "social base."


Alliances and rival cartels of Los Viagras


Los Viagras have established various alliances and rivalries with other criminal groups. Among these alliances are cells operating for them, such as the Nueva Familia Michoacana; the Blancos de Troya; and the Guardia Michoacana. At one point, they belonged to Cárteles Unidos, a group that brought together criminal associations from the states of Michoacán, Guerrero, and Guanajuato to combat the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), with whom they established an alliance in August of last year.


At one time, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel was their main rival, with whom they maintained a dispute over criminal operations in several regions and municipalities across Michoacán. However, they are currently allies in the fight against the United Cartels, a group that, in the state, includes the Tepalcatepec Cartel, led by Juan José Farías Álvarez, known as "El Abuelo Farías," and the Reyes Cartel, headed by Alfonso Fernández Magallón, known as "Poncho La Quiringua," and Luis Enrique Barragán Chávez, known as "Güicho de Los Reyes" or "El R5."


In addition to the United Cartels, Los Viagras also compete for criminal operations in Apatzingán against the remnants of the Knights Templar Cartel. Although they were initially allies, they currently act as rivals.













Michoacán, México 






Source: Contramuro

Friday, October 24, 2025

OFAC Sanctions Colombian President Gustavo Petro for Narcotics Violations

"Socalj" for Borderland Beat
From a US Treasury News Release


Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is designating Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego (Gustavo Petro), the President of Colombia, pursuant to counternarcotics-related authorities. In addition, OFAC is also designating several supporters of Gustavo Petro, namely his wife, his son, and a close associate.

“Since President Gustavo Petro came to power, cocaine production in Colombia has exploded to the highest rate in decades, flooding the United States and poisoning Americans,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. “President Petro has allowed drug cartels to flourish and refused to stop this activity. Today, President Trump is taking strong action to protect our nation and make clear that we will not tolerate the trafficking of drugs into our nation.”

Today’s action was taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14059, which targets foreign persons involved in the global illicit drug trade.

Cartel Fixer "Brother Wang" Extradited to US Following Escape and Arrest in Cuba

"Socalj" for Borderland Beat


On October 30, 2024, Mexican authorities detained Zhi Dong Zhang in Mexico City, who is allegedly responsible for international drug trafficking, money laundering, and brokering chemical precursor deals in alliances with criminal groups in the US, Mexico, Europe, and Asia. He was wanted by the US and had an Interpol Red Notice on him.

On July 11, 2025, he escaped from home detention in Mexico City via a hidden tunnel just as the US had began extradition proceedings against him. It is believed he first fled to Cuba. then attempted to travel to Russia on a false passport and was denied entry, returning to Cuba.

On July 31, he was detained in Cuba along with two others, and today he was handed over to US authorities following his extradition via Mexico.

CJNG Builds Fuel Smuggling Empire With Support From Foreign Companies And Mexican Officials

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat






A Reuters investigation revealed that the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) has established a transnational fuel smuggling network involving U.S. companies, foreign vessels, and collusion within Mexican institutions, in what authorities have described as a multi-million-dollar "fiscal huachicol."


On March 8, the oil tanker Torm Agnes arrived at the port of Ensenada with nearly 120,000 barrels of diesel, despite the port lacking the necessary infrastructure to handle flammable hydrocarbons. Tanker trucks waited at the dock to load the fuel using improvised hoses. According to security sources, an operation was directed by CJNG operators with support from the U.S. company Ikon Midstream.


The Houston-based company allegedly purchased the diesel in Canada, falsely declared it as lubricant, and delivered it to a Mexican company called Intanza, identified by authorities as a cartel front. Port records reviewed by Reuters confirm that Ikon Midstream made at least five similar shipments in 2025 to Mexican ports, primarily to Tampico, using the same strategy to evade the special tax on production and services (IEPS).


The estimated value of the shipment was $12 million, but by declaring it as lubricant, it avoided paying nearly $7 million in taxes. Officials from both countries claim that these types of maneuvers have allowed criminal groups to capture up to a third of the Mexican diesel and gasoline market.


The Torm Agnes case is just one piece of a broader network that also involves the smuggling of crude oil stolen from Pemex and its sale in the United States with the help of corrupt importers. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, the CJNG has turned illegal fuel into its main source of income outside of drug trafficking.


The magnitude of the scheme has sparked a scandal in Mexico, even implicating the Navy, which is responsible for ports. Last March, the seizure of the Challenge Procyon ship in Tampico led to the arrest of 14 people, including former customs officials and naval commanders, accused of participating in smuggling operations.


Since October 2024, Claudia Sheinbaum's administration has seized more than 500,000 barrels of illicit fuel, although fiscal losses from smuggling are estimated at nearly $4 billion annually. Investigations point to a complex network intertwined with organized crime, tax evasion, and institutional corruption, with the CJNG at the helm of a parallel energy empire operating on both sides of the border.




Source: Segundo a Segundo

Wednesday, October 22, 2025

The Knights Templar Cartel Gains Access to C5 in Apatzingán With Alleged Help From Police Commander

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat 






A technician revealed that he installed C5 cameras in Apatzingán on the orders of a leader linked to the Knights Templar Cartel, giving organized crime full access to the surveillance network.


A video is circulating on social media in which Fabián Figueroa Andrade, known as "El Camaritas," claims he installed several video surveillance cameras at the Command, Control, Computing, Communications, and Citizen Contact Center (C5) in Apatzingán with the complicity of a police commander identified as Jesús Rangel Barajas, who allegedly works for a Knights Templar Cartel boss.


According to the testimony of "El Camaritas," the technician in charge of installing video surveillance cameras in different parts of the municipality, he claimed to have placed dozens of devices connected to the C5 system on the direct instructions of "Chucho" Rangel and a criminal leader identified as "El Yupo"; the latter allegedly being Nery Salgado Harrison.


During the interrogation, the installer explained that his job was to install cameras on official security posts, with the full knowledge of the police command.



Technician 'El Camaritas' claimed to have installed cameras connected to the C5 system under criminal orders.



“Only 57 units; I placed a camera on every security post in the municipality of Apatzingán for the Templarios, and Chucho Rangel didn't say anything,” stated the technician, who also asserted that “they have access to all the municipality's information.”


Hours after the recording, Fabián Figueroa Andrade was found dead on the streets of Apatzingán, showing signs of torture.


A sign was found at the scene that directly blamed the police commander for allowing organized crime to access the C5 video surveillance network.


Jesús Rangel Barajas, police commander of Apatzingán, and the alleged corpse of Fabián Figueroa Andrade, technician who installed C5 cameras. 



The interrogation revealed that the cameras installed by the technician were being used by criminal groups to monitor the movements of authorities, security forces, and rivals, exploiting the government's own technological network.


In the days leading up to the incident, sabotage attempts and fires were reported on poles where the video surveillance equipment was installed, which supposedly reinforced suspicions about a network of criminals controlling the system.


Jesús Rangel Barajas has been linked to cases of forced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, and acts of repression against residents of Apatzingán, according to testimonies from residents of the municipality.


The alleged C5 leaks to organized crime reveal a serious institutional failure, whereby public security technology, designed to protect the population, has been transformed into a tool for espionage and control at the service of drug trafficking.



Nery Salgado Harrison, aka Yupo


Nery Salgado Harrison, aka Yupo



Police commander Jesús Rangel Barajas



Apatzingán, Michoacán 




Sources: Contramuro, ECO 1 LVM

These Are the Drug Cartels Fighting Over the Tierra Caliente Region of Michoacán

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat 






The CJNG, Viagras, the United Cartels, the Tepalcatepec Cartel, the Templarios Cartel, and multiple criminal cells are fighting for control of Michoacán's Tierra Caliente region, where extortion and murder are on the rise.


The alliance between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Viagras Cartel and their affiliated criminal cells, such as Los Blancos de Troya and the La Virgen Cartel, is the criminal group fighting over the Tierra Caliente region. Their criminal operations centered on drug dealing, kidnapping, extortion, and murder, are also being fought over by the United Cartels, another criminal group derived from the alliance between the Tepalcatepec Cartel and the Los Reyes Cartel. The remnants of the Knights Templar Cartel are also involved in the dispute.


Both the federal government and the Michoacán State Attorney General's Office (FGE) identify these groups, along with the Zicuirán Cartel, as the main criminal organizations that have caused the constant clashes, violence, and insecurity prevalent in the Tierra Caliente region, particularly in the municipalities of Aquila, Coalcomán, Coahuayana, Aguililla, Tepalcatepec, Buenavista, Apatzingán, and Múgica.



Armed clashes between CJNG cells and Cárteles Unidos keep Tierra Caliente under fire.



According to reports from security authorities, since the creation of the self-defense groups supposedly created to combat the Knights Templar Cartel in 2013, the CJNG has infiltrated them and attempted to expand and take over criminal activities in Michoacán.


Through its alliance with Juan José Farías Álvarez, "El Abuelo Farías," current leader of the Tepalcatepec Cartel, the CJNG attempted to expand into the coastal region, Tierra Caliente, and Uruapan. However, in 2021, the split with the so-called four-letter cartel arose following the attempted assassination of Miguel Ángel Gallegos Godoy, "El Migueladas" or "El Señor de Zicuirán," leader of the Zicuirán Cartel and then an associate of El Abuelo Farías.


Following the incident, El Abuelo Farías made a pact with the Sierra Santana brothers (Nicolás, Rodolfo, and Gabino), leaders of the Viagras Cartel, to prevent the CJNG from entering the Tierra Caliente region.



Vehicles set on fire during clashes at drug-related roadblocks.



Los Viagras maintained several criminal cells operating on their behalf, such as Los Blancos de Troya, led by Cesar Alejandro Sepúlveda Arellano, known as "El Boto" or "El Botox," and Andrés Alejandro Sepúlveda Álvarez, known as "El Jando" or "La Fresa," and the La Nueva Familia Michoacana Cartel, operating in the Bajío and eastern Michoacán regions.


The alliance was short-lived, as Los Viagras and their affiliated cells—Los Blancos de Troya, the Nueva Familia Michoacana, and the Los Reyes Cartel, led by Alfonso Fernández Magallón, known as "Poncho La Quiringua," and Luis Enrique Barragán Chávez, known as "Güicho de Los Reyes" or "El R5"—later joined Cárteles Unidos, a group that brought together the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel of Guanajuato and Guerreros Unidos of Guerrero state, to fight the CJNG for control of Michoacán territories.


However, in August of last year, the CJNG announced its alliance with Los Viagras through a narco-banner placed in Apatzingán. It also declared war on the Teplacatepec Cartel, which it accused of enjoying the protection of the current Undersecretary of the Sedena (National Security Forces), General Enrique Covarrubias. In the narco-banner, they also pointed to the operations of the Knights Templar remnants in Apatzingán.


Currently, the Teplacatepec Cartel is allied with the United Cartels, led by Poncho La Quiringua and Güicho de Los Reyes. Commanders Héctor Zepeda Navarrete, "Tetos," of the Coahuayana Community Police, and Germán Ramírez Sánchez, "El Toro," of the Aquila Community Police, both allegedly under the orders of El Abuelo Farías, are also named.


The Cartels' Dispute Over Extortion and the Tierra Caliente Region


Since then, not only lemon growers, primarily through Bernardo Bravo Manríquez, president of the Apatzingán Valley Citrus Growers Association, have denounced the constant extortion or "fee collection," as they call it, but other sectors of the business community have also been victims of this crime.


Last Sunday, Bernardo Bravo was murdered, after nearly a year of reporting the constant collection of fees by organized crime. His body, with evidence of torture, was found last Monday in his abandoned vehicle on the Apatzingán-El Tepetate highway.


On Monday afternoon, local and federal authorities announced the arrest of Rigoberto López Mendoza, "El Plátano," the extortion-collecting chief of the Blancos de Troya gang. Today, the Secretary of Public Security and Citizen Protection, Omar García Harfuch, announced the arrest of a second suspect in the murder of Bernardo Bravo.


According to the news outlet "El Universal," the murder of the Apatzingán lemon grower leader was coordinated by El Botox and El Jano, leaders of the Blancos de Troya gang, along with Ricardo Madrigal Ávalos, "Señor de Acahuato," "El Señor de la Virgen," or "El Barbas," leader of the La Virgen Cartel operating in that municipality.



Vehicles set on fire during clashes at drug-related roadblocks.



The motive for the murder, in addition to the constant media reports of extortion of which lemon growers were victims, was also due to the announcement that the harvest would be carried out every third day, given the decline in citrus prices and overproduction. This would imply a decrease in the fee charged by organized crime to lemon growers of two pesos for each kilo harvested and another two pesos for each kilo sold.


According to the news outlet El Imparcial, in recent months, at least four lemon growers have been murdered because they refused to pay fees to criminal groups.


In addition to Bernardo Bravo, Ramón Paz Salinas died on January 14 when a mine-type explosive device exploded while he was driving his truck in Apatzingán; Rogelio Escobedo, murdered on November 30, 2024, on the Cuatro Caminos-Apatzingán highway, after reporting extortion and threats, and José Luis Aguinaga, murdered on September 12, 2024, in the Felipe Carrillo Puerto property known as 'La Ruana', in Buenavista, for refusing to pay fees demanded by criminal groups.



Michoacán, México 




Sources: Contramuro, Borderland Beat Archives

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Rigoberto López Mendoza, aka El Pantano, Is Arrested

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat





Federal and state authorities reported the arrest of Rigoberto López Mendoza, "El Pantano," who is believed to be the mastermind behind the murder of Bernardo Bravo Manríquez, a leader of lemon growers in Apatzingán, and one of the operators of "Los Viagras," through his criminal cell known as "Los Pantanos."


Authorities have identified Rigoberto López Mendoza as the head of the extortion network targeting lemon growers in the Tierra Caliente region.


Reports indicate that the investigation file indicates that "El Pantano" coordinated the extortion scheme that affected lemon packers, transporters, and producers.


Officials from the Michoacán State Attorney General's Office (FGE) indicated that the arrest was achieved thanks to cross-referencing intelligence information, complaints filed by farmers, and the monitoring of financial transactions linked to organized crime.


Lemon producers in Michoacán have for years denounced the pressure exerted by criminal groups that impose quotas and control the citrus marketing chain, provoking protests and work stoppages among agricultural organizations.


Rigoberto López Mendoza, “El Pantano”


“El Pantano,” now identified as a member of the cell known as “Los Blancos de Troya,” the armed wing of the “Los Viagras” cartel, led the criminal group known as “Los Pantanos,” which operated in the municipality of Aguililla at the end of the last state administration.


Rigoberto López Mendoza, the group's leader and a native of Aguililla, was in charge of operating in that area for the alliance between Los Viagras and Cárteles Unidos (United Cartels) in their fight for territory against the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).


With the CJNG taking over the municipality of Aguililla, Los Pantanos abandoned the area, and in August of last year, Los Viagras abandoned Cárteles Unidos to ally themselves with the criminal cartel led by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho.”


During the territorial dispute between Los Pantano and the CJNG in the municipality of Aguililla, the community of Aguaje became a ghost town, resulting from the forced displacement of families due to insecurity. In addition, the access road to the region was destroyed on several occasions to prevent the arrival of security forces.


Bernardo Bravo Manríquez



Rigoberto López Mendoza, El Pantano, alleged mastermind and perpetrator of the murder of Bernardo Bravo Manríquez, president of the Apatzingán Valley Citrus Growers Association.



Apatzingán, Michoacán 





Sources: Contramuro, La Silla Rota

Monday, October 20, 2025

High Profile Business Leader and Alleged CJNG Operator Arrested in Guadalajara, Jalisco

By "El Huaso" for Borderland Beat
Nazario Ramírez Ramírez, a high-profile businessman and transportation sector representative was arrested in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and accused of operating extortion and drug trafficking for the CJNG. 

Juárez Maintains First Place in Homicides in the State

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat





Although figures show a slight decrease, the city has more murders than the entire state.


Despite the slight decrease in homicides achieved by authorities after implementing various security operations and strategies, Ciudad Juárez continues to be the most violent city in the entire state of Chihuahua.


Figures published by the Trust for Competitiveness and Citizen Security (FICOSEC) show a comparison of the period from January to August 2024 and 2025, with nearly 100 fewer accumulated cases.


As of August of this year, this agency has recorded a total of 663 murders in Ciudad Juárez, while in the same period last year the tally reached 764.


In turn, 2024 closed with a total of 1,105 homicides on this border, while the city of Chihuahua reached 425 cases, placing it in second place, followed by Cuauhtémoc with 126.


From January to August of this year, Chihuahua remained in second place with 218 murders, while Cuauhtémoc had a total of 54 homicides, which represents only 32% and 8% of the cases compared to Juárez.


For authorities, the west and southeast of the city continue to be the areas with the most violence, as they are where most homicides are committed, mainly among members of criminal cells.


It is worth noting that this year, the Attorney General's Office discovered several clandestine graves in different areas of the city, mainly in the southeast of the urban area, the cases of which are being investigated.


These figures are shared by the Northern District Attorney's Office with FICOSEC, which in turn makes them public through its official website, which demonstrates that there have been no major changes in the issue of violence.


Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua 




Source: El Heraldo de Chihuahua