By "El Huaso" for Borderland Beat
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Beltrán Leyva Operator Behind 2017 Bar Murder Killed Days After Prison Release
The Tepalcatepec Cartel is Recruiting Foreigners to Operate Drones in Michoacán
“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat
We begin in Michoacán. There, the Tepalcatepec Cartel hires foreigners to carry out surveillance duties on airstrips used for drug trafficking. *Milenio* was able to speak with a Colombian national who claimed to have been brought to our country to operate on behalf of Juan José Farías—known as "El Abuelo" (The Grandfather)—the leader of *Cárteles Unidos* (United Cartels).
In Mexico, organized crime continues to recruit foreigners—mostly Colombians with experience in security operations. This is the case in Michoacán, where *Milenio* interviewed a man who was hired by the Tepalcatepec Cartel to ostensibly provide protection for municipal government officials.
"Well, I was initially contacted by someone named 'La Roca'—'The Rock'—who serves as the 'war commander' for all the Colombians, you know? He oversees the entire military wing—or, let's say, the military side of the organization here. Operating outside the law,
I was contacted by a person who said they needed personnel to protect government figures—people who possessed the necessary physical capabilities and military training. I was recruited by the Tepalcatepec Cartel. That was the specific role for which I arrived here in Mexico."
Upon landing in Michoacán, his passport was confiscated, and he was informed that he would not be protecting any government officials; instead, he would be serving the interests of Juan José Farías Álvarez—"El Abuelo"—the leader of *Cárteles Unidos*, for whom the United States is offering a reward of $40,000.
"Yes, I spent two months protecting airstrips—providing security for the runways using drones. Honestly, we didn't really discuss exactly what was coming in or going out, but, well, it’s no secret to anyone: it’s a cartel—they deal in drugs, weapons, extortion... yes, that sort of thing. But we didn't have authorization to get too close to the actual operations."
However, he never saw a single peso of the 40,000 pesos per month he had been promised. The clashes with rival groups—combined with the lack of payment—ultimately led him to desert, along with several of his companions.
At this moment, I know of three people who escaped alongside me—though others had already deserted before us. Many had already deserted because, relatively speaking—as I mentioned earlier—it is a complex and difficult transition to go from working for the State to working for organized crime, for an entity operating outside the law. Consequently, many people have deserted—and, truth be told, the pay simply stopped coming.
Now, without money or a passport, he wanders through the Tierra Caliente region, surviving on charity. Due to his criminal record, he is unwilling to approach the authorities to ask for help or to request repatriation to his home country. There are three of us here in Apatzingán looking for work; however, because of our accents and our nationality, people look down on us.
It is incredibly difficult; we have even been forced to beg for food on the streets. The recruitment of foreign military personnel by drug cartels isn’t a recent phenomenon in Michoacán.
From 2025 to the present, the Michoacán Secretariat of Public Security has detained 78 South Americans—34 of whom were Colombians who were either training criminals in the use of explosives or had been enlisted into the cartels' ranks under false promises of legitimate employment.
Source: Milenio
New Discovery At Rancho Izaguirre In Jalisco; A Mass Grave Containing More Remains Has Been Found
“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat
The Izaguirre Ranch in Teuchitlán, Jalisco, continues to yield evidence of horror. Advocacy collectives witnessed the findings uncovered by forensic experts from the Attorney General's Office, who discovered human remains—including those that may belong to minors.
The "searching mothers" entered the Izaguirre Ranch once again and discovered a new mass grave containing many, many human remains. It was a discovery even larger than the one made last year, when the initial reports were filed.
The *Guerreros Buscadores de Jalisco* (Warrior Seekers of Jalisco) collective and other organizations dedicated to finding missing persons reported that they opened a septic tank located approximately 80 centimeters below the surface.
There, they found the first clues: calcined bone fragments, dental remains, and even more clothing items—as well as paper wrappers that had been partially consumed but provided dates predating 2015. Ultimately, everything they had previously alleged is now being substantiated by the evidence.
To date, nearly 100 unique DNA samples have been obtained from clothing items recovered at the Izaguirre Ranch, a property that was operated by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
There is now a possibility that, as families reflect on their missing loved ones, those who recognize a specific article of clothing may be able to request a direct forensic comparison.
The collectives asserted that there are still areas within the ranch grounds that require intervention—specifically spots where additional human remains may lie buried at depths of two to three meters—and they are therefore requesting the deployment of backhoes and heavy machinery.
Since the searching collectives first discovered the ranch on March 5 of last year, 47 individuals have been arrested, and 70 young victims of forced recruitment have been liberated from other properties linked to this same case.
However, what the public often fails to realize is that the term "forced recruitment" encompasses a host of other crimes: it involves human trafficking, unlawful deprivation of liberty, excessive and exploitative labor hours, and—crucially—homicides, as the victims were coerced into committing acts they didn’t wish to perform.
Indira Navarro told us that the government made them sign a confidentiality agreement. In other words, they’re not permitted to disclose absolutely anything—not a single detail—regarding what has been found so far, so as not to compromise the ongoing investigations.
Today, the Attorney General's Office reported that the evidence found at the ranch remains under forensic analysis, and insisted on referring to the site as a training camp.
Teuchitlán, Jalisco
Source: Imagen Noticias
Monday, April 13, 2026
Children and Hitmen: Organized Crime Now Recruits Youths as Young as 13, Oaxaca Prosecutor's Office Confirms
“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat
The Oaxaca State Prosecutor confirmed the arrests of youths—some as young as 13—involved in murders and extortion, all of whom were recruited en masse by organized crime cells.
Organized crime in Oaxaca has succeeded in recruiting children and youths to carry out murders and extortion. This was confirmed by the General Justice Prosecutor's Office (FGJ), which further indicated that these minors are being enlisted in activities such as acting as lookouts.
The General Justice Prosecutor, Bernardo Rodríguez Alamilla, stated that four criminal groups are implicated in these activities.
This recruitment stems from the dismantling of the criminal cell led by "Comandante Cromo," who is linked to numerous executions, acts of extortion, and the kidnapping of business owners and migrants, as well as control over street-level drug dealing in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec region.
"These groups have expanded their recruitment bases and are now incorporating children and youths; those who were detained—identified and taken into custody—were involved in an attack on a family in which a father was murdered alongside his wife and children in the La Ventosa area," stated Rodríguez Alamilla.
Youths as young as 13 have been detained in Oaxaca due to criminal ties: Prosecutor
The prosecutor described the situation unfolding in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec as "grave" for several reasons. One of these is the high level of violence and insecurity resulting from the breakdown and deterioration of the social fabric.
"This is reflected in the fact that the majority of the individuals we are detaining in Juchitán de Zaragoza are youths between 18 and 19 years of age—and even as young as 15, 14, and 13," he asserted.
Furthermore, the prosecutor indicated that the detention of minors colluding with organized crime points to a process of social erosion—one that cannot be resolved solely through police operations and arrests, but rather requires a massive institutional effort to mend the social fabric, as the ultimate goal is to restore governability and social peace.
Most of these young people have been detained in the Juchitán de Zaragoza area, where the oldest are up to 19 years old.
Bernardo Rodríguez noted that security forces have fulfilled their mandate by conducting more forceful and surgical operations, as these have led to the capture of more than 200 members of these criminal cells.
La Ventosa, Oaxaca
Source: Telediario
Four Killed in Bar Attack in Ocozocoautla, Chiapas
By "El Huaso" for Borderland Beat
A group of gunmen murdered four men inside "El Profe", a bar in the municipality of Ocozocoautla, Chiapas on Sunday night.
Sunday, April 12, 2026
Zacatecas Is At War! The CJNG Unleashes An Intense Shootout Against Rival Cartels Over Control Of The Territory
“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat
In Zacatecas, residents were forced to take cover this morning following armed clashes that included an attack on the municipal police headquarters. Omar Hernández, our correspondent, has all the details. Go ahead.
Thank you, Arturo. Good evening. Indeed, today has been a day of anxiety and distress for the residents of this town—which borders the state of Jalisco—as it remains a contested battleground between rival factions.
Evidently, on one side stands the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, and on the other, rival groups vying for control of this strategically vital zone, which serves as a gateway to the country's interior.
In this region, convoys of armed criminals began circulating last night—Thursday—and continued throughout the early hours of the morning; at various times, gunfire erupted across several points within this jurisdiction, prompting residents to remain indoors throughout the morning.
Several vehicles were found abandoned, riddled with bullet holes. During the skirmish, the police headquarters building sustained severe damage. Two patrol cars parked outside the headquarters were also heavily riddled with bullets fired from high-caliber weapons.
One individual died during these attacks—presumably one of the perpetrators involved in carrying out the shootings. The state government confirmed that a special security operation has been implemented; it also acknowledged that in this region, the municipal police forces in at least five municipalities bordering Jalisco are currently understaffed and vulnerable.
Consequently, over the coming days, a special joint operation involving the National Guard, the Army, and various police agencies will be deployed. Thus, it marks yet another day of violence preventing residents from carrying out their daily activities—even as the government asserts that the situation is now under control.
Saturday, April 11, 2026
Attack on a Police Station and Homes in Zacatecas
“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat
Once again, Zacatecas is gripped by violence. This is how the various shootouts unfolded in the municipality of García de la Cadena—located in Zacatecas along the border with Jalisco—leaving at least one person dead.
Among the buildings targeted was the municipal police headquarters. There, at least two patrol cars sustained damage from multiple bullet impacts. According to residents, a convoy of vehicles belonging to an organized crime group stormed into the community during the night, at which point the gunfire erupted.
Authorities have stepped up surveillance and requested federal assistance; in addition to the police headquarters, a private residence—the one we just saw—also sustained damage from gunfire to its facade.
These attacks took place at approximately 5:00 a.m., with one occurring slightly earlier. Currently, a joint operational base comprising the Mexican Army, the National Guard, the Secretariat of Public Security, and the State Attorney General's Office is stationed at the scene.
The Attorney General's Office has also reported that, based on preliminary information, the attacks have resulted in one fatality.
Trinidad Garcia de la Cadena, Zacatecas
Source: Milenio
250 Members of the Mexican National Defense Secretariat (Sedena) are Arriving to Bolster Security in Juárez
“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat
On Thursday morning, 250 members of the Mexican Army arrived in Ciudad Juárez as part of the security-strengthening strategies implemented in the border region by the federal government.
This measure is part of the agreement established with the United States—reached in January 2025—to bolster surveillance in the country's northern zone.
Authorities reported that the troops will be conducting patrols through streets, neighborhoods, and high-crime areas with the aim of providing greater peace of mind to the residents of Ciudad Juárez.
The military presence seeks to reinforce public security operations and foster a sense of trust among citizens, within a context where the public demand for greater protection is a top priority.
The total number of military personnel deployed across various points of the city now stands at 2,500, all of whom are integrated into surveillance and crime prevention efforts.
These operations are coordinated with municipal and state police agencies, as well as the National Guard, to facilitate information sharing.
Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua
Source: Somos Juárez
Narco Surveillance Becomes More Sophisticated in Baja California
“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat
Traffickers and hitmen from the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) cartels have established illicit digital surveillance systems throughout Baja California. They have installed thousands of cameras at strategic locations to track the movements of law enforcement agencies—as well as those of their criminal rivals—in real time.
Evidence gathered thus far by authorities within the Security Roundtable suggests that the majority of the cameras and monitoring centers disabled over the last 14 months are linked to the "Mayos" faction of the Sinaloa Cartel (CDS) and its various operational arms across the state's municipalities. Furthermore, in areas where the CJNG has wrested criminal control from the CDS, it has also seized control of the corresponding monitoring centers.
In the state's Coastal Zone, authorities have identified key figures such as Franklin Ernesto Huezo Hernández (alias "El Ranchero") and Jesús Rafael Yucupicio ("El Cabezón"), as well as the "Rusos" faction in Mexicali, led by Juan José Ponce Félix.
These surveillance systems are managed using SmartPSS Lite—"a lightweight video surveillance camera management software that provides direct access to the web client and features P2P connectivity, real-time monitoring, intelligent search and playback capabilities, event and alarm management, and centralized personnel administration (including single- or multi-card unlocking). It is not compatible with Windows or Macintosh computers."
"The technology observed is sufficient to generate an operational advantage without requiring sophisticated infrastructure," investigators noted.
The cameras disabled to date by the State Security Force (FESC) have been located on utility poles owned by the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), on poles owned by Teléfonos del Noroeste (Telnor), on private ranches, and along federal highways. For the time being, agents are limiting their actions to simply removing the devices. In cases where devices were discovered in the private homes and businesses of residents within municipal urban areas, some residents have admitted to receiving payments from criminals—ranging from $50 to $100 per month—while maintaining that they cooperated under duress. This explanation has proven sufficient to prevent authorities from including them in their investigations.
These criminal monitoring centers possess the capacity and coordination to shield the execution of mafia-related criminal operations—specifically those involving human trafficking, street-level drug dealing, drug smuggling, and territorial control. Furthermore, criminal groups dedicate a portion of their organizational structure to this activity of "digital lookout"—a role predominantly carried out by young people.
In the month of March 2026 alone—specifically the period to date—three criminal monitoring centers have been located and secured in Baja California: one in Tijuana and two in Tecate.
* On March 19, authorities secured a residence in Tecate, inside of which they discovered monitors used to control dozens of surveillance cameras.
* On March 13, in the Las Torres neighborhood of Tijuana—acting on a report from the State Citizen Security Force—agents from the Attorney General's Office (FGR) executed a search warrant on Magisterial Street. During the operation, they seized firearms, ammunition, three television screens, a computer monitor, three central processing units (CPUs), and three internet modems—equipment that enabled the surveillance of 66 cameras.
* And, “…we had another instance in Tecate—also in March—involving a monitoring center operating via a mobile phone belonging to one of the arrested criminals. This is particularly noteworthy because the device provided access to more than 102 surveillance cameras,” General Laureano Carrillo, Secretary of Citizen Security for Baja California (SSCBC), stated to the press in Tecate on Saturday, March 28, though he did not specify the exact date or the circumstances surrounding the apprehension.
Carrillo Rodríguez took office as Secretary on January 20, 2025, and a month later announced the implementation of a program to remove illegal video surveillance cameras. He clarified that the use of such devices by private citizens wasn’t being prohibited, but warned that citizens' video devices must be installed exclusively within their own premises and directed solely toward their own properties.
In this regard, last weekend he reported that, to date, 2,200 illegal video surveillance cameras have been removed during various operations on the streets of Baja California municipalities over a 14-month period. Of that total, 1,600 were disabled during 2025.
On several occasions, Carrillo has stated that five percent of these unauthorized cameras were seized in the immediate vicinity of drug-dealing hotspots.
Regarding the placement of the cameras, investigators highlighted "...the strategic value" of those installed near the border in Tijuana, Tecate, and Mexicali, noting that they "are typically used to monitor the movements of people crossing the border, detect the transport of human smugglers or migrants, anticipate police patrols or checkpoints, and secure transit or staging routes."
CJNG ESTABLISHES SURVEILLANCE HUB AMIDST TURF WAR
On March 19, police officers identified two small, adjoining houses—each featuring two windows and an entrance door—equipped on the exterior with signal-receiving antennas and recreational areas, including a barbecue grill. The structures were located in one of Tecate’s highest-crime zones—the Nueva Colonia Hindú neighborhood—situated along a dirt road directly across from the residence marked with the number 5015, at coordinates 32.2855.6, -1163425.8.
Upon entering—armed with a search warrant—authorities discovered three monitors, along with their respective central processing units and internet modems. This system provided access to live feeds from cameras strategically positioned throughout the rural district. A total of 21 video devices were located and removed from the town's main thoroughfares, including the entrances and exits of various sectors, high-traffic routes, and locations with a clear line of sight to the Tecate–Ensenada highway—points from which alerts regarding the presence or arrival of authorities were issued.
Based on the access log files, agents determined that additional cameras existed; however, in some instances, they were unable to pinpoint their exact locations despite the descriptive file names. "When we attempted to pull up the images during monitoring, we couldn't access them; the system returned an error," investigators explained.
In connection with the aforementioned operation, one individual—José Manuel—was taken into custody. He claimed to be a native of Ensenada and stated that he had arrived in the *Pueblo Mágico* (Magic Town) just three days prior. The exchange went something like this:
— "What are you doing here?" [they asked him].
"Just watching, bro."
— "What are you watching?"
"Cameras."
— "From where?"
"From different places, bro."
— "Who are you monitoring this for?"
"Honestly, I don't know anyone here, bro—I'm telling you that while looking you right in the eye." Since he claimed to be 17 years old, no further information was elicited from him.
According to the law enforcement agencies participating in Baja California’s Peace and Security Coordination Roundtable, this facility was currently being managed by the Jalisco Cartel; however, it had originally been established by the Sinaloa Cartel. The surveillance hub was initially operated by criminals in the employ of Salomón Barragán (alias "El Salo") and Ricardo López López (alias "El Chichi"). These individuals had previously engaged in criminal activity within Tecate on behalf of the "Mayos" faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, but they defected to the CJNG in December 2025 following the murder of Alejandro Castañeda Hernández (alias "El Cando").
Brandon Crisóstomo Vázquez, 20 years old.
Accounts from state agents indicate that it was precisely this "spotting" activity that allowed Ricardo López to escape an operation launched to capture him on March 14. (A witness had revealed his location at the time.) The operation took place at a property situated at kilometer 12 of the Tecate-Ensenada highway, in the Nueva Colonia Hindú area, where cockfights were being held.
López López has been identified as the ringleader of the hitmen belonging to this drug-trafficking cell; however, officially, he has only one criminal case on record against him. In December 2021, he was sentenced to eight months in prison for the crime of corruption of minors (specifically, indecent exposure) and ordered to pay a fine of 30 UMAs (3519.3 pesos).
The incident occurred in February of that same year, when he approached a minor who was standing on the sidewalk outside her home and exposed his private parts to her.
Regarding the surveillance zones, the monitoring network in Tecate featured cameras positioned at specific points designated as: Delegación, Parra, Gasolinera, Taller, Yonke 12, Six Pedro, Gorditas, Kintas Marisol, Kinder, Lavadora, and others identified by the word "channel" [sic] followed by a number—references to specific drug-dealing locations.
The Baja California Attorney General's Office (FGEBC) reported that, between 9:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., they executed a search warrant at the aforementioned residence. In addition to the surveillance equipment, authorities seized "two blue plastic packets found on the kitchen table containing a substance yet to be identified... as well as a gray Jeep Wrangler motor vehicle—serial number 1C4HJXDNXMW630707—which had been reported stolen abroad, with a report date of January 17, 2025, and case number M675-613-26."
IMAGES OF SINALOA CARTEL OPERATIVES IN TIJUANA
“C4 in Tijuana,” digital surveillance, drug cartel security cameras.
Prior to the incident in Tecate—at 3:10 p.m. on March 13, at the intersection of Calle de las Mariposas and 16 de Septiembre in the Las Torres neighborhood of Tijuana—officers from the Investigation Directorate of the State Citizen Security Force detained Brandon Crisóstomo Vázquez, a 19-year-old Tijuana native listed under National Detention Registry ID BC/FC/004/13032026/0085. The young man had previously been detained by the Municipal Police "for acts inducing vice."
In the standardized police report, the arresting officers stated: "We were conducting crime deterrence and investigation duties (...) when, approximately three meters to our right, we observed a male subject of slender build, light-brown complexion, with long hair and a black beard, wearing a black sweater with a gray camouflage pattern, a black T-shirt, blue trousers, and black sneakers."
“He was standing on the sidewalk... and upon noticing our presence—specifically when he spotted the official patrol unit—the male subject threw a transparent plastic bag onto the street. Inside the bag were small packets containing a substance that, to the naked eye, appeared to be individual doses of narcotics. Immediately following this action, he turned around, presenting his back to us and concealing his face.”
It was in this context that officers detained him. One of the officers “...verified the contents of the item thrown to the ground—which had never left their line of sight—and at 3:08 PM, observed that it was a transparent plastic bag containing 29 smaller transparent plastic packets. Each packet bore the inscription ‘MANSORY’—referring to a German firm that customizes super-luxury and sports vehicles such as Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Rolls-Royces, and Bentleys—printed in black lettering. These packets were heat-sealed and contained a white, granular substance that, to the touch, exhibited the characteristics of the drug known as methamphetamine.” Consequently, the suspect was transferred to the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Retail Drug Trafficking in Tijuana.
Acting on leads stemming from the capture of this man—who is in his twenties—agents from the FESC (State Security and Investigation Force) proceeded to a residence located on Magisterial Street (between Mexico Street and Guadalajara Street) in the Magisterial neighborhood of the same municipality. At this location, they discovered a clandestine camera monitoring center operated by criminals, which was equipped with “multiple screens and several operators.”
Remarkably, the criminals were inadvertently captured on video by their own surveillance cameras while monitoring the screens; they had left several data storage devices containing these images behind at the residence. As a result, for the past 19 days, their faces—along with the data required to trace their identities—have been in the possession of the authorities comprising the Baja California Coordination Roundtable for Peace and Security. The center's site report indicates the discovery of "several mini-monitors for cameras." Regarding the distribution of these devices across the streets of Tijuana, the report notes "an organizational structure featuring specific names—such as 'surveillance zones'—suggesting a network of segmented observation points, possibly linked to access points, transit routes, front businesses, or sites of operational interest."
The list of locations was vague and included names such as: Delta 2, Esquina Verde, Pendiente, Sábado, Sábada, Barda, Barber, Base, Chava, Cilantro, Galán, Matamoros, Nopalera, Nipalera2, Primaria, Rody San Miguel, and Meño, among many others. According to preliminary reviews, the storage media contained footage dating back to the previous year.
During a press conference on Saturday the 28th, General Laureano Carrillo reported that the monitors provided access to surveillance feeds from 66 distinct locations, spanning from the Mesa de Otay border area southward.
* The Measurement and Update Unit (UMA) is an economic benchmark in Mexican pesos used to determine the amount of payment for various obligations established in federal and state laws and legal provisions.
Source: Zeta Tijuana
Friday, April 10, 2026
Narco Message with Severed Pig Head Threatens Mayor of Tijuana
By "El Huaso" for Borderland Beat
A narco message with a severed pig threatening the mayor of Tijuana, Ismael Burgueño, was found in the Zona Río neighborhood on the morning of Friday, April 10.
A narco message with a severed pig threatening the mayor of Tijuana, Ismael Burgueño, was found in the Zona Río neighborhood on the morning of Friday, April 10.
Mexican Woman Sentenced in US for Human Trafficking Ring Linked to Cartel del Noreste
“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat
A 27-year-old Mexican woman received a 70-month federal prison sentence in the United States for her involvement in a human trafficking ring that operated for several years along the Texas border. U.S. authorities reported that the defendant—identified as Giovana Lozano Hernández—was residing illegally in Laredo and obtained financial benefits for her role in these illicit activities.
The ruling was issued by U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen, who evaluated evidence establishing the defendant's direct involvement within a large-scale criminal organization. During the hearing, the court concluded that the organization functioned as a "one-stop shop" for housing and transporting migrants within U.S. territory. The judge also underscored "the depth of her involvement and the significant responsibility she held" within the criminal group.
According to the investigation, Lozano Hernández acted as the ring's financial manager, performing duties equivalent to those of a chief financial officer. Together with her husband, Danny Núñez, she managed accounting records and money flows linked to human trafficking. Authorities documented that the couple collaborated with the Cartel del Noreste and facilitated the crossing of more than 1,900 migrants, generating substantial illicit profits.
The investigation traced the group's activities back to March 2023. In an incident recorded in December of that same year, agents detected the transport of individuals inside a white trailer located at a warehouse. A subsequent inspection led to the discovery of 101 migrants inside the premises, including 12 unaccompanied minors. Testimonies gathered from the scene described extreme conditions: several individuals reported difficulty breathing and expressed fear for their lives.
A search of the couple's residence resulted in the seizure of mobile phones, notebooks containing operational records, and over $36,000 in cash; investigators also discovered two undocumented foreign nationals present at the location. Additionally, investigators recovered digital images of handwritten notes and voice messages detailing the logistics, housing arrangements, and financial oversight of individuals who had already been transported.
The convicted woman's husband, 35, had previously received a 10-year federal prison sentence on January 7. Regarding Lozano Hernández, authorities indicated that she will face deportation proceedings following the completion of her prison term.
Various agencies participated in the operation, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, the U.S. Border Patrol, and the Texas Department of Public Safety, with support from the Laredo Police Department.
Source: La Razón
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Federal Authorities Shut Down a 79-Meter-Long Clandestine Tunnel in Nogales Leading to the US
“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat
On April 9, 2026, Mexico’s Security Cabinet reported that a coordinated intelligence operation successfully disabled a clandestine underground tunnel—measuring 79 meters in length and 4.5 meters in depth—located in the Colonia Centro neighborhood of Nogales, Sonora, and oriented toward U.S. territory. During the operation, one individual allegedly linked to smuggling and human trafficking activities was detained, and 21 rounds of ammunition were seized.
The intervention was carried out pursuant to a search warrant authorized by a Control Judge, who granted the order based on evidence gathered through both stationary and mobile surveillance operations. The action was executed jointly by the Secretariat of the Navy (SEMAR), the Federal Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), the Attorney General's Office (FGR), the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA), the National Guard (GN), and the Secretariat of Public Security of the State of Sonora.
The tunnel was described by authorities as a rough, irregular excavation lacking an enabled exit to the outside at the time of its discovery, indicating that the structure was still under construction. According to the Security Cabinet's statement, the property where the tunnel was located was being used by a criminal cell to conduct smuggling and human trafficking operations. The identity of the detained individual wasn’t disclosed, although authorities identified the person as a member of a criminal group operating within the Sonora border region.
The property was placed under the custody of the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office, which proceeded to conduct the corresponding investigations. Authorities noted that actions of this nature undermine the logistical capabilities of criminal groups and bolster security along the Sonora border strip. Advertisement
Nogales, Sonora, is one of the busiest crossing points between Mexico and the U.S. state of Arizona, making it a corridor of constant interest to organizations engaged in the trafficking of people and illicit goods. This discovery represents one of the most recent blows to the clandestine infrastructure of criminal groups along the country's northern border. In January 2025, U.S. authorities shut down a tunnel approximately 40 meters long running beneath the bed of the Rio Grande—on the border between Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, and El Paso, Texas—which was allegedly operated by the criminal group known as "La Línea."
The Colonia Centro neighborhood of Nogales, Sonora.
Source: Zeta Tijuana
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Dying Like 'El Mencho': The 200,000-Peso Gold Coffin That's Already Being Sold Among Drug Cartels
“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat
The golden casket—which just six weeks ago became a trending topic in national and international media after being used in funerals linked to organized crime—is now being sold in four states across the country, all of which are, coincidentally, associated with an organized crime presence.
The "Regal Gold" model—used in the funeral of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, *El Mencho*, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), as well as in that of his operative Rubén Guerrero Valadez, alias *El R1*—now forms part of the service offerings of a funeral group.
The piece was unveiled at a press conference and placed on public display at the Magaña Funeral Home in the city of Colima, as part of a strategy to showcase new options within the high-end funeral market.
Right from the initial invitation, the funeral home was direct: "We have the pleasure of inviting you... to present the famous high-end casket model used for the funeral services of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, better known as *El Mencho*."
**Casket Model 'Debuted' by *El R1***
According to the La Paz Funeral Group—the parent company of the funeral home in question—there are only seven caskets of this type in existence throughout the entire country: one in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora; three in Culiacán, Sinaloa; two in Guadalajara, Jalisco; and one in Colima. These are all states characterized by a clear presence of organized crime groups and high crime rates.
The first documented use of the casket in Mexico was not—as many had believed—at *El Mencho's* funeral, but rather at that of Rubén Guerrero Valadez, *El R1*. One of *El Mencho's* operatives, *El R1* was killed during a federal operation, and his body was laid in state days earlier in Michoacán.
*El R1's* casket was available in Guadalajara by February 24—the date on which it was utilized and transported to Tanhuato, Michoacán—whereas *El Mencho's* casket was brought from Ciudad Obregón to the capital of Jalisco during the first days of March.
According to company records, these are the only two units that have been sold thus far, although the firm anticipates that demand for this luxury product will increase. Faux gold, velvet interiors, and a mirror-like finish: such is the casket.
Beyond its broader context, the product itself is defined by specific technical characteristics. The casket is imported from the United States; it weighs 109 kilograms and can support a weight of up to 227 kilograms. Its structure is constructed from 18-gauge reinforced steel, featuring a polished, mirror-like finish in a gold tone.
However, one of the points most emphasized for clarification during the product presentation was its composition.
“It is not made of gold—it is neither solid gold nor gold-plated; it simply features a finish that, for lack of a better term, we might describe as ‘faux gold,’” explained the group’s CEO, Juan Carlos Ramos.
The model also features blue velvet interiors, an adjustable bed mechanism to modify the body's positioning, a compartment for safeguarding keepsakes or personal belongings, and a hermetic closure system utilizing continuous-seal technology. These features position it within the highest tier of the funeral market, distinguished by both its design and its functionality.
The inside of the coffin is lined with blue velvet.
Since its announcement, the display of the coffin has sparked an immediate reaction, primarily on social media.
“There have been far more reactions on social media than actual physical visits we’ve received... but people—families—have indeed been coming in... it has sparked an interesting curiosity to come and see this coffin,” noted Alberto Alcántar, the group’s manager of pre-planning services.
Comments have ranged from curiosity and morbid fascination to outright criticism. While some view it as a display of innovation or exclusivity, others question the surrounding context and what it represents in a society scarred by violence.
**Funeral Service Reaches 200,000 Pesos**
Access to this type of coffin doesn’t come cheap. A basic funeral package that includes it runs around 200,000 pesos, though the final cost may rise depending on the additional services the family chooses to contract.
A wake held at the funeral home or at a private residence, a hearse, coffee service, embalming, and the necessary paperwork and permits are all part of a package tailored to the specific needs of each case. For the company, the logic is clear: to offer differentiated options in a market where final farewells are increasingly personalized.
Given the context surrounding the product, the funeral group was emphatic in distancing itself from any intent to offer an apology for—or to provoke with—such items.
“As a group, our constant mindset is that the last thing we want to do is cause pain to society... we know there are certain figures who have caused harm to our society... but people come to us and ask for exactly what they are looking for to bid farewell to their loved ones,” explained Commercial Manager Erika Peñafiel.
The message is insistent: it’s not about glorifying specific figures, but rather about expanding the range of available options.
“Some people are looking for a simple coffin... while others are looking for something more elaborate. We’re here to meet any need,” she added.
And while the "Regal Gold" coffin may be understood as an exclusive product within a specific market niche, its significance is far from neutral. For some, it represents innovation and freedom of choice. For others, it serves as a reflection of a culture that continues to permeate even the most intimate and painful moments of life.
Source: Milenio
Erick Valencia, Known as "El 85" of the CJNG, Pleads Guilty in the US
“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat
Today, Eric Valencia Salazar—a co-founder of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, known by the aliases "El 85" or "El Matazetas"—pleaded guilty to cocaine trafficking. He is seeking procedural benefits or a reduction in his sentence, the details of which are scheduled to be announced on July 31 of this year.
Eric Valencia Salazar pleaded guilty to trafficking cocaine from Mexico into the United States. A native of Jalisco, he was an associate of Mexican criminals such as Ignacio "Nacho" Coronel Villarreal and Óscar "El Lobo" Nava Valencia, and he played a role in the founding of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
This Tuesday, he appeared before Judge James Boasberg at the courthouse in Washington, D.C. Operating under the alias "El 85," he was arrested in Mexico on two occasions: in 2012 in Zapopan, Jalisco, and in 2022 in Tapalpa—the same municipality where "El Mencho" was killed.
Valencia faced only one charge: cocaine trafficking, to which he pleaded guilty more than a year after being extradited. The plea agreement aims to secure a reduction in his sentence or grant him procedural benefits. However, that determination ultimately rests with the U.S. prosecution and the presiding judge at the time of sentencing.
"El 85" is currently being held at the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the first high-profile drug trafficker to reach a plea agreement among the nearly 100 individuals Mexico has extradited to the United States since February of last year.
Mexican authorities assert that Valencia Salazar became involved in cocaine trafficking as an operative for Ignacio Coronel—alongside former leaders of the Milenio Cartel, Óscar and Juan Carlos Valencia (known as "El Lobo" and "El Tigre")—and that he also participated in the founding of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) alongside Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias "El Mencho."
This alliance reportedly lasted until the latter—"El Mencho"—betrayed "El 85" by handing him over to Mexican authorities in 2012. Consequently, after securing his release due to procedural errors in his case, Valencia joined a CJNG splinter group known as the Nueva Plaza Cartel, which sought to curb the Jalisco Cartel's expansion, remaining active until his most recent arrest in 2022.
Valencia Salazar is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31; by that date, both the defense and the U.S. prosecution must have submitted their respective sentencing memoranda.
Source: Milenio
Monday, April 6, 2026
Organized Crime Shifts Strategy: Disposing of Bodies to Avoid More Serious Charges
“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat
Our colleagues Victor Vález Mata and Fernando Guillén show us how, in Tamaulipas and the La Laguna region, the search across the territory continues. This is a site where mounds of human skeletal remains were discovered—what we refer to as "clandestine kitchens."
These remains consist of vertebrae, long bones, rib fragments, and all manner of human skeletal material. Here, one can clearly see the bullet impacts on the bones. In just the last two years, the collective *Amor por los Desaparecidos* (Love for the Disappeared) has located 21 potential clandestine crematoriums in Tamaulipas.
Although every site has been reported to the Public Prosecutor's Office, according to the collective itself, the full complement of human remains has yet to be recovered from any of them. This site continues to be reused; criminal groups return to utilize it to burn bodies, and—tragically—the few remains that might have survived are completely lost in the process.
For seven years, Edith has been searching for her brother, Abel Treviño García, who disappeared in Reynosa at the age of 15. His is one of more than 13,700 cases reported in Tamaulipas.
According to the National Registry of Missing and Unlocated Persons: if we have a government that is negligent—a government that refuses to acknowledge the problem—then it will never formulate a strategy for improvement, precisely because it refuses to accept the reality of the situation.
In the La Laguna region—straddling the states of Durango and Coahuila—the collective *Madres Buscadoras: Grupo Vida* (Searching Mothers: Group Life) has also identified at least 10 clandestine crematoriums operated by organized crime groups in recent years.
One such site is known as Patrocinio: a desolate desert tract spanning 64 hectares, where the group claims to have recovered over 700 kilograms of human skeletal remains. At this particular site, the perpetrators utilized 200-liter drums.
Once a body had finished burning, they would empty the drum and use shovels to finish crushing the remains into dust. The twisted logic being: as long as there is no body, there is no crime. Yes. And the law is the law; nothing can be done to them because there is no way to prove anything.
That is why, during every search expedition, Silvia holds onto the hope of finding some trace of her daughter, Stefanie Sánchez Viesca—who disappeared in 2004 when she was barely 16 years old. We face a major challenge because the remains are extremely small.
It is truly staggering just how tiny they are. Look at this one, for instance—believe it or not, this is just a tiny fragment, yet it represents a human being who deserves dignity, respect, and proper forensic analysis. We have already had cases of identification, and believe me, they are excruciatingly painful.
It hurts because if just a single bone fragment recovered here is identified, that is all they will hand over to you—nothing more. Figures from the National Registry of Disappeared and Unlocated Persons indicate that the states of Durango and Coahuila alone account for a cumulative total of over 4,800 missing people.
As long as no one stirs up the issue of disappearances, all the actors involved in the security apparatus remain relatively at ease; and when this is coupled with a narrative of supposed "pacification," there are even fewer incentives to uncover—or unearth—the massive mass grave that is our national territory.
Sources: NMás, Borderland Beat Archives
