Héctor Beltrán Assumes Command of the Cártel

After the death of "El Barbas" his two brothers took control of the cartel. According to a report from the Federal Police, the new leader left his place as head of finance and money laundering to a less visible figure of the organization.

Carlos Beltran Leyva

In only a matter of days, the cartel from the Beltran Leyva was restructured around another brother, Hector, "El H," who took the helm of the organization two weeks ago after the death of Arturo, "El Barbas" or "El Jefe de Jefes."

Hector Beltran Leyva

According to a report from the Federal Police (PF), the new leader of the Beltran Leyva cartel Hector, left his position as head of finance and money laundering to a less visible figure in the organization, his brother Carlos who was arrested on December 30 in Culiacan a few days after assuming his new duties.

The report details that (after the death of Arturo El Barbas) the organization had to restructure, with Hector Beltran Leyva, "El H" taking control of cartel and in turn his brother Carlos was promoted to the position occupied by Hector, who undertook the laundering of money and maintaining control of the finances of the organization.

The arrest of Alfredo Beltran Layva.

The report of the PF, which includes a graphical analysis of the new structure of the cartel, says that Héctor Beltrán Leyva has the full support of Edgar Valdez Villarreal "La Barbie," Sergio Villarreal Barragan "El Grande" and Gerardo Alvarez Vazquez "El Cantante" or "El Indio," major operators in the organization and people trusted by Arturo Beltran.

Carlos Beltran Leyva

He was not one of the most wanted

The functions that Carlos provided within the organization even before the death of Arturo, are not too clear, primarily because although the Beltran Leyva clan has five brothers, Hector, Arturo and Alfredo "El Mochomo" (arrested in 2008), these brothers were always the most visible leaders of the criminal organization.

Arturo, Hector and Alfredo were known as Los Tres Caballeros even from the days they were members of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Sinaloa cartel. After the death of El Barbas, both authorities and experts considered that the former would be more relevant.

Carlos did not figure even in the lists of most wanted members of the Beltran Leyva cartel, which included Mario, Alberto and until before Arturo's death, it also included the top lieutenants of the organization.

The Beltran Leyva cartel was became independent after the arrest of Alfredo, "El Mochomo" on January 21 2008 which was blamed on "El Chapo" Guzman and his partner Ismael El Mayo Zambada Garcia, prompting a wave of violence in Sinaloa state, mostly concentrated in Culiacan.

This conflict led to a war of narco-messages broadcast in blankets found in various parts of the city, many of were signed by "El Jefe de Jefes" a name also used by Arturo Beltran Leyva, who began to challenge the Sinaloa cartel of their territories of which he had previously helped control.

For this reason he allied himself with the new capos of the Gulf Cartel, Los Zetas, and together they fought both the Sinaloa cartel and La Familia Michoacana, an organization which the Zetas were fighting for control of the mid and south part of the country since its breakdown of 2006.

The plazas

It was even Los Zetas that in concerted action with the Beltran Leyva executed the family of marine Melquisedet Angulo, who himself was killed in the confrontation with Arturo Beltran, and the family was killed in retaliation for the death of "El Barbas."

According to the Federal Police document, the cartel from the Beltran Leyva brothers, is responsible for drug trafficking from several points of Mexico to the United States.

The report cites the states of Sinaloa, Nayarit, Guerrero, Mexico, Morelos, Quintana Roo and the District of Mexico, are primary locations of operating their illegal business.

In the case of Carlos Beltran Leyva, who is under detention by court order for 40 days, it is only known that he is part of a preliminary investigation under federal jurisdiction in Culiacan, Sinaloa after receiving a citizen complaint.

The federal government offers a reward of up to 30 million pesos for those who give information leading to the arrest of Mario Alberto Beltran Leyva, Edgar Valdez Villarreal "El Barbie" or Sergio Villarreal Barragan "El Grande."

Categories: beltran leyva cartel, organized crime, sicarios