Culiacán, Sinaloa: One Year Anniversary of Deadly Military Ambush

Translated by Yaqui for Borderland Beat from Debate

Outskirts of Culiacan, Sinaloa Oct 1, 2016
One Year Anniversary of Deadly Military Ambush by Narco Gunmen

See BB Posts for Details of Ambush: Borderland Beat
Oct 1, 2017

Culiacán, Sinaloa: On the first anniversary of the ambush that left five soldiers dead and 11 seriously wounded, federal authorities have  responded with arrests and assurances, but have not succeeded in the arrests of all participants. Twelve months have passed since of the assault and Federal Authorities have detained only three people. The events near Culiacan against the armed forces began yet another wave of violence in Sinaloa. 

The attack happened the night of September 30 and / or in the early hours of Oct 1, 2016 when a convoy of military personnel were transporting to Culiacan the alleged narco Julio Oscar Ortiz Vega, alias "El Kevin", who had been injured in a clash with soldiers in the town of Bacacoragua, Badiraguato.

The versions of events released by the Attorney General's Office early that morning revealed trucks of heavily armed gunmen lie in wait for the soldiers while the Mexican Military personnel were on the way to the Espacios Barcelona and the gunmen attacked and rescued "El Kevin" from the Military; who was being transported toward the hospital in Culiacan by ambulance of the Red Cross.

Seconds previous to the attack on the Military convoy and the ambush were captured with  cameras near  the north exit of Culiacán; but no one ever expected that.

During the bloody ambush, a Mexican Military corporal named Cristian died, who was identified as one of the soldiers that had saved "El Kevin " from death in the initial clash with the Military in Badiraguato by providing medical first aid attention to him.

The attackers, according to investigating authorities, used large caliber semi automatic Barret M82 rifles, grenades and automatic weapons.

 Commander of the Third Military Region, General Alfonso Duarte Múgica, said that those responsible for the Military ambush were non other than the sons of "El Chapo" Guzman Loera,  known as "Los Chapitos", but that statement that was quickly rescinded.  The Sinaloan capo, who is now extradited to the United States is in custody awaiting trial in New York: See Chivis's Post from earlier today.

After these deaths, the authorities quickly responded with strong operations, such as those carried out in the Paredones and Mirasoles settlements and in Jesús María in Culiacán.

 At a special press conference where the alleged perpetrators were identified, the list of confiscated property included long arms, ranches, homes, armored vehicles, tractors, ATVs, a private clinic, high-caliber arsenal including grenade launchers, hundreds mobile phones, Rolex brand watches, and even animals: 12 thoroughbred horses, a cebu bull and a lion.

At the time of my two posts last October it was thought that Aureliano Guzman Loera, "El Guano", older brother of "El Chapo" Guzman had ordered the bloody Military ambush specifically to "rescue" the wounded "El Kevin" back from the soldiers who were en route to the hospital with him. At the time
some thought that "El Guano" was heading up the control of CDS in the absence of "El Chapo" and in the wake of the ongoing skirmishes between rival factions.

Aureliano "El Guano" Guzman Loera
Elder brother of "El Chapo" 

However, it was on February 18, 2016 in a statement released from Sedena, that the  accused author of the deadly attack against the Military was said to be:  Francisco Javier "N", alias "Pancho Chimal", who had: "ordered and participated" in the aggression.

This subject was also designated by federal authorities as: "likely responsible for controlling the sale, distribution and transfer of drugs to the United States."

He was arrested in a special operation in Culiacán, in possession of two million pesos and two long arms. Later, Pancho Chimal escaped
from the Aguaruto Prison outside of Culiacan but was killed in a gunfight with Marines in San Cayetano, north of Culiacan.  During his funeral procession through the streets of Culiacan bursts of automatic gunfire accompanied the parade of expensive SUVs and Pick ups.

On June 10, the federal government revealed the detention of Jesus Rene "N", known as "El 20" or "El Rino", who was also accused of coordinating and participating in the ambush.

A third person who had been found with a long weapon and various drugs was revealed to have been previously been part of the Municipal Police Force.  The federal government reported the capture and identification of Jorge Alberto "N" in  the La Rioja subdivision in Tijuana, California. It was in June 22, 2017 when General Duarte Mujica announced this new major arrest. 

Jorge Alberto "N" was also linked to the events that happened that day, in addition to  drug trafficking to the US. His arrest "cured" the spirit of the Sinaloa military forces; the Military ambush of Sept 30 / Oct 1 2016 was seen from the heart of the government as one of the most cowardly coups against the militia. It was a new dimension in what the criminals were capable of when confronting the government.