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Monday, May 8, 2023

CDG Matamoros Part 11: Political Winds

"Itzli" for Borderland Beat. 

June 2022: As a new governor was being elected in the state of Tamaulipas rumors spread and the lines between politics and cartel affairs seemed increasingly intertwined.

Continued from Part 10: Dawn of a New Era


Rumors of War

It appeared that war was emerging in Reynosa in June 2022. Along with the threat of the Cartel del Noreste (CDN, Northeast Cartel) becoming bolder in their attacks against Los Metros and rumors of internal conflicts in Reynosa, came several online reports indicating that the Matamoros faction was preparing to attack Reynosa. However, due to a failure to properly analyze the available information, mistakes were made in the timeline, resulting in a focus on the internal conflicts in Los Metros being the possible motive for a rumored impending attack instead of taking other scenarios in consideration.


The most blatant error was that, although the rumors of the Matamoros faction was preparing to attack Los Metros began surfacing on Twitter on June 11, the initial Tweet actually refers to events that allegedly took place days prior. In the screenshot shared by Tamaulipas R-T-C, a timestamp of “MAR. A LAS 6:13 P.M.” appears, MAR. being an abbreviation for Martes/Tuesday, which would correspond to June 7. Even with that, the alleged events took place “hace d铆as”, meaning days ago, shifting the timeline even further back.


Reevaluating the rumors at the time, it was alleged that on June 5 at the latest, if not in the days prior, Juan Miguel “El Miguelito” Lizardi Castro, the former member of Los Metros discussed in Part 3, Part 5, Part 6, and Part 9, was said to have given the green light for the Matamoros faction to enter Reynosa with his support. The same source also stated that Jos茅 Alberto “La Kena” Garc铆a Vilano had been present in Nuevo Progreso to meet with “el joker or commander casco”, likely a reference to Jos茅 Humberto “Casco 1” Escalante Soto, who was mentioned in Part 9, along with other commanders to prepare for the coming attack on Reynosa. It is unclear if this took place after El Miguelito” gave the green light or is merely giving additional details.


Regardless, on June 12, the day after that information was posted, a convoy of armed men was said to have been spotted traveling from Valle Hermoso to R铆o Bravo. That evening, rumors indicated that “La Kena” had ordered “El Miguelito” to support H茅ctor “La Mimi” S谩nchez Rivera, code name “M-1” and Ernesto “La Mierda” S谩nchez Rivera, code name “M-22”, members of Los Metros that allegedly had been ran out of Reynosa the day before. On June 12, a message circulated online indicating that “El Miguelito”, with support of “El Caballero”, who was mentioned in Part 6, “Casco”, and Pablo Misael “El Mezqui” Ramos Lara, code name “Pantera 24”, of the Centro faction, discussed in Part 10, would take the plaza of Reynosa that very day, having been ordered to do so by “La Kena”. 


The War that Wasn’t

Despite these rumors, an attack on Reynosa did not occur, leaving the easiest explanation being that all pieces of information pointing to a pending conflict were completely inaccurate. While this may be the case, the fact that information flowed through multiple Twitter accounts, as well as a convoy being spotted, makes this somewhat unlikely but leaves us needing to address two key issues: what would have been the motivation for the Matamoros faction to break the truce and what stopped them from following through?


At the time, it seemed that internal issues within Los Metros concerning “La Mimi” and “La Mierda” was a potential motivating factor, however, as discussed previously, this was based on an incorrect timeline and becomes illogical when corrected. It should also be noted that the exact status of “La Mimi” and “La Mierda” was not entirely clear as there were immediate rumors that “La Mierda” was still in Reynosa and the reports that “El Miguelito” had been ordered to support him and his brother “La Mimi” were made “to heat up the plaza”.


Nevertheless, there are scenarios to consider in which the Matamoros faction was preparing to attack Reynosa, the easiest being that they perceived that Los Metros had broken the truce in some way. This does not seem likely though, as there is a lack of rumors and circumstantial evidence to indicate that this would be the driving factor. A more probable motivation to consider is the election for governor of Tamaulipas that took place on June 5. 


As touched upon in Part 10, in February 2022 La Columna Armada switched their support in the election from C茅sar Augusto “El Truco” Ver谩stegui Ostos, who was endorsed by Francisco Garc铆a Cabeza de Vaca, the governor at the time of the election, to Am茅rico Villarreal Anaya. As the campaign continued, it was heavily rumored that Los Metros were supporting “El Truko” while the Matamoros faction supported Villarreal.


In a political sense, the Matamoros faction “won” against Los Metros the evening of June 5, when it became evident that Villarreal would be declared the winner. Could it be that, with the candidate they had backed well on the path to take office on October 1, and Cabeza de Vaca, who allegedly brokered the  truce, was now a lame duck governor whose political party would no longer control the office, that the Matamoros faction decided to end the ceasefire? Granted, this is fully speculative, but at the very least it matches the timeline in which the attack was allegedly greenlighted.


Another factor to consider is that the truce came as a result of an attack on Reynosa, the anniversary of which would take place on June 19. It is possible that the Matamoros faction intended to end the truce on that specific date and/or they expected Los Metros to break the truce on the one year anniversary.


This brings us to the second issue: what stopped the Matamoros faction from following through? Again, we must consider the possibility that the rumors were false, having been an internet hoax of sorts, and there was no buildup by the Matamoros faction at all. A related scenario would be that the rumors originated within the Matamoros faction as a warning to Los Metros in hopes to gain concessions or, alternatively, Los Metros attempting to heat up plazas under the control of the Matamoros faction. In a similar vein, the buildup could have been true, but cooler heads prevailed, removing the threat of war. There is another possibility to consider, the Matamoros faction was on the verge of attacking Reynosa but suddenly felt unable to proceed due to political pressure. 


El Chaparro Arrested

On the morning of June 19, 2022, the one year anniversary of the Matamoros faction’s attack on Reynosa that prompted the truce, shootouts and blockades erupted in the city of Matamoros.


While some initial rumors pointed to a possible arrest of “El Kena”, focus quickly converged on V铆ctor Hugo “El Chaparro” T茅llez Candon, who was said to be the chief of security for the sons of Jos茅 Alfredo “El Contador” C谩rdenas Mart铆nez, and his arrest was confirmed that evening.


Overnight, information spread framing the events as an operation to arrest one specific son, Axel Alfredo C谩rdenas Rodr铆guez, who was revealed to be known as “El Hijo Mayor” and had the code name “Tit谩n 7”. It was also said that he was the co-leader of the Matamoros faction along with “La Kena”, which matches reports discussed in Part 10. Assuming this information is correct, it would mean that authorities were likely close to arresting Axel C谩rdenas, as some of his security personnel, including “El Chaparro”, were captured. Could it be that the government attempted to arrest Axel C谩rdenas as a warning to the Matamoros faction that breaking the truce would not be tolerated? 


It should be noted that in the aforementioned thread of information came reference to a rumor that “La Kena” might possibly have betrayed Axel C谩rdenas. However, the language used was very cautious and the lack of additional rumors from other accounts, in particular ones that are known to make allegations of infighting within the Matamoros faction, decreases the likelihood that this was actually the case.


The Threat of Cabeza de Vaca

June 6, 2022, the day after the elections for governor of Tamaulipas, in the same time frame that Matamoros allegedly was preparing to attack Los Metros, and two weeks before the arrest of “El Chaparro”, an important rumor quietly spread online. It was said that in Tampico, the CDG Sur faction was on alert, as they expected that governor Francisco Garc铆a Cabeza de Vaca would strike against their leader, H茅ctor Crescencio “R3” de Le贸n Fonseca. It was further said that Carlos Roel “Chuy 7” Collazo Rodr铆guez, discussed in Part 6 and Part 7, and “Pantera 24”, discussed above and in Part 10, were also likely to be targeted by the governor as well.


This should not be too surprising considering that the death of Odil贸n “Tango 1” Hern谩ndez Valdivia and the arrest of “El Contador” were alleged to be betrayals of Cabeza de Vaca, as discussed in Part 10, as well as rumors that the governor had ordered that Juan Manuel “El Toro” Loisa Salinas, leader of Los Metros, be killed in 2017, as discussed in Part. 


Three weeks later, it was further alleged that Cabeza de Vaca wanted “R3” eliminated before the new governor took office the first day of October. This would appear easy to do as it was said that the state police knew where he lived in Tampico and it was an open secret that he resided in the same neighborhood as a daughter of Joaqu铆n Archivaldo “El Chapo” Guzm谩n Loera, as “R3” was allegedly responsible for ensuring her safety. That same day, it was said that “R3” went into hiding to escape Cabeza de Vaca, leaving the Tampico metropolitan area for “the mountains”.


Rumors about El Truco

C茅sar Augusto “El Truco” Ver谩stegui Ostos was born and raised in the southern part of Tamaulipas, and would go on to be elected municipal president of Xicot茅ncatl twice before joining the administration of Cabeza de Vaca on October 1, 2016 as Secretary General of Government. 



The town of Xicot茅ncatl and much of the area nearby had been controlled by Los Zetas following their split from the C谩rtel del Golfo in January 2010, as discussed in Part 1. As Los Zetas became the C谩rtel del Noreste and Zetas Vieja Escuela (ZVE, Old school Zetas) formed in 2016, as discussed in Part 4, regional leader Francisco “Pancho” Carre贸n Olvera sided with ZVE, bringing his territory, which included Ciudad Mante, Xicot茅ncatl, Llera, Antiguo Morelos and Ocampo, with him.


The same day that “El Toro”, leader of Los Metros was killed in April 2017, “Pancho Carre贸n” was killed in Xicot茅ncatl during a clash with the military and his brother, Ricardo “El Calo” Carre贸n Olvera took his place, only to be killed in an operation to arrest him in Xicot茅ncatl five months later, September 2017 (Note: Borderland Beat reporting at the time mistakenly said this took place in Reynosa). Thereafter, videos of cartel members who had worked under “Pancho Carre贸n” and “El Calo” spread online. In these videos, numerous allegations regarding strong ties between the cartel leaders and “El Truco” were made, as well as claims that he had “Pancho Carre贸n” and “El Calo” killed in order to keep them silent about their ties.


By November 2021, a rumor emerged claiming that “El Truco” was “flirting” with the idea of shifting support to the C谩rtel Jalisco Nueva Generaci贸n (CJNG). A month and a half later, “El Truco” resigned from his position in order to campaign for governor and was endorsed by Cabeza de Vaca. 


Following reports of suspicious cartel activity in the ejido of L谩zaro C谩rdenas in late April 2022 that appeared to be connected to movement from nearby Guadalc谩zar, San Luis Potos铆, rumors that “El Truco” was “flirting” with the CJNG were repeated, with additional details stating that the city of Tula and the mountains of Ocampo could be opened up, giving the CJNG a new trafficking route to the border.


On June 20, 2022, the day after “El Chapparro” was arrested and two weeks after “El Truco” lost the election for governor, the claims that Cabeza de Vaca had given authorities the location of “El Contador” were repeated and it was said that the Tamaulipas border region with San Luis Potos铆, including Ciudad Mante, had become confusing as it was unclear who was who as far as cartel associations went and once again it was stated that “el Truco also opened a route for the CJNG through the mountain highways around Tula and Ocampo Tamaulipas. Tamaulipas is a pressure cooker and Cabeza (de Vaca) is turning up the heat”.


*This article was updated on 5/31/23 to include the name of "Casco 1" and not merely his code name.


Continued in Part 12: Specter of the CJNG

53 comments:

  1. Their trying to get rid of the metros, if metros survive, it's not going to bebgood for cyclones and escorpiones

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    1. Matamoros is the stronger more connected faction. The metros are weak and millions of dollars made by the metros are taken away to other states to their boss. Right now most of the ppl from reynosa are not willing to go fight the escorpiones thats why theyre shooting up in the air wasting ammo in the colonias of reynosa so theyre not sent to fight. Without jalisca help the metros wld get worn down by cdn incursions on the west and fighting moros elsewhere. Not saying the metros are and easy pick but theyre not in the same level as matamoros cdg. Its worth mentioning that in all this mess u never hear shit from the tampico plaza. It seems tampico is the safest city in tamaulipas. Cdg tampico does a better job at keeping things more civil in their territory.

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    2. 5:03 Why do you cry in every single CDG article about the Metros having to actually pay for the drugs that are sent through their territory? Because it's sent by NG right. It's business. No te traumes mija.
      Before M300 took over what were the Metros about? Fayuca? Pollos? Piso? Huachicoleo? Extorsi贸n? Secuestro? Traici贸n? Bajadores? Envidiosos pone dedos como los C谩rdenas? Que l铆deres tan corrientes siguen.
      Te recuerdo que desde hace mucho los del Sur han ido a pelear en Tamaulipas, con y contra grupos de la regi贸n. No ser谩 diferente...

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    3. There’s other reasons for the peace in Tampico.

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    4. For awhile around 2014? Tampico was the hottest plaza in the state

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    5. 10:40 And those reasons are??? An example please. Can you specify? It would be highly appreciated

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    6. political and many of them have business interests in the city including many businesses laundering for them. any heat here would kill business. r3 is also rumored to wanting things to be calm here.

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    7. and when it was hot in tampico that was a direct result of the cdg zeta war.

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    8. Thank you for the info

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  2. If you can't type it correct in English do it in Spanish.

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    1. ...if you can't type it *correctly" would be the proper english grammar here..
      馃

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    2. 11:19 AM
      You forgot to point out the comma between "English" and "do" for standard punctuation but that may be a matter of style. Any English buffs have any suggestions?

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    3. Grammar police are triggered.

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    4. I am trying my best to correctly understand the point of your message. Are you implying that, from your perspective, I should refrain from writing in my native language because of unspecified errors in syntax or typos that I did not correct in the draft phase and, therefore, devote myself to writing in a language that I did not start learning fully until the age of 13 or are you merely a "troll" that would rather would rather make a negative comment bordering on racism when you could at least enlighten myself and everyone else what exactly you are referring to by "you can't type it correct in English"? Please let me know, I would hate to disappoint you by making mistakes in the future and not living up to your lofty standards.

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    5. jeeze, dude, you made it just in time!
      They say that the part of the brain that learns language shuts off around age 13, the thinking being that if you haven't learned how to talk by then, you're a lost cause in the evolutionary chain..
      God, or Mother Nature, or whoever, never figured that folks would come into contact with faraway lands and would need to be bi or multi lengual..
      馃

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    6. Very good job there Itzli. Don't worry about the clown trolls.

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    7. 12:01
      Oh, look, it's an edge lord!

      Delete
    8. 12.02
      Itzli
      You're 馃憤 doing great.
      There has been a rash of Clown 馃ぁ Trolls. They hide in mom's basement, on the laptop, all day gaining weight, instead of exercising 馃挭.

      Delete
    9. t 11:05 AM
      "If you can't type it correct in English do it in Spanish"
      Who the fuck are you and why should we care what some crying little girl says?
      Y

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    10. 11:05 AM
      You dont like it,,,,fuck off and give us a break..GOOD WORK ITZLI

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    11. This bitch whining about grammar is a goofy arse troll,getting all giddy on the answers,what a fuckin crank

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  3. Alan Cardenas arrested in Matamoros?

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    1. Who the fuck is alan cardenas?

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    2. 11:05 Are you paying Itztli's salary for you to be nitpicking and trying to give orders? Itztli is doing an incredible job on this series, all volunteer work, no pay, and your ass gets on here and criticizes her/him (not sure on that regard). Instead of being thankful for the work!!! Even the New York times has typos . If you aren't going to pay the staff at BB or aint going to contribute with any meaningful posts, then shut the fuck up and go stand in the corner untill your told to get out of it. And don't look anywhere but where the walls meet if you don't want to get the dog shyattt slapped out of you. And start thinking what laundry detergent would be best for my clothes cause next you doing all my laundry....Oh my bad, it's "you're doing all my laundry "

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  4. What a great series this has been. Thank you.

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    1. great series, roger that..
      long article, I'm ready for a candy bar and a nap!
      馃

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  5. Remember when Z's or was it CDG killed the Governor candidate in summer 2010 on the highway

    CDG is the most complicated, I understand a lot, but compared to TJ, Juarez, everywhere else, it's just such a tangled mess

    a lot would have to do with how CDG in the 2000's set up their plazas with different groups, then splitting and splitting again

    whereas I can trace Tijuana in 10 minutes or less, like less than 20 sentences, you can't do that with Reynosa or Moros

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    1. Cdg was a bigger cartel that controlled all of tamaulipas nuevo leon all the way to cohauila. First it split in 3 the cdg the zetas and the carlos rosales organization wich became la familia michoacana. Then it split in many more then it came together as in cdg matamoros zve el grupo sombra and cdg tampico now some of this factions split again.

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    2. 452
      Succinct and informative there bro, breaking it down for easier consumption.
      Good post cant argue with that

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  6. Itztli, you aint right!!! You keep making people like me suffer!!! That "to be continued" should be used less often...But I tip my hat to you, as always in this series you shine. Great work. Just one request...refrain from using "to be continued" so often. How about putting two parts of the series in one instead? That would be lovely

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    1. Itzli
      I need you to re make my Pina-Colada Shake , needs a little more spike.

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    2. 1:56 Itzli likes to keep it suspenseful ☺

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  7. Anyone know what happened to el Commandante R1,?

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    1. Said it a few times but he's on facebook living in the open along with Commadante Diabo, you can find them from the Gulf girl that was killed mixy padillia facebook account. R1 was also called El Kike, use that info and search Mixy page for an Arturo and from his page search for Hugo, check the people clicking like on his posts and look for the tedy and you will see R1

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    2. El r 1 is dead. Killed by mexican armed forces helicopter.

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    3. 4:47
      I thought R1 had jumped ship to Sinaloa and got lost in the fog of narco lore?

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    4. He was in the DEA list in 2021 or 2022

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    5. El R1 is currently transitioning to a pre-op female and rumour's say he is going to start a new life in Brazil with some geezer called Mario ?

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  8. Mr. Itzli
    Keep up the good work.
    Nevermind the trolls, they have low self esteem.
    My Rifle needs some cleaning, they say you keep them well oiled.
    I sure don't want it jamming, in an Emergency situation.

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  9. I'm here for the edgamacation spanglish correcto o simulares. Who killed the ex governor of Jalisco in Vallarta and why ? Who killed the SEPAL water boss for Vallarta in GDL and why ? OK separate subject. Why do all so called cartel guys always have a name , like el juevos de gallo , el pollo meirda , el culita de chivo ?

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    1. what kind of irresponsible parents would name their newborn bundle of joy "El culita de chivo"?..
      Can you imagine the bullying in school the poor kid had to endure?..
      They really should have forseen where this might cause the kid to grow up to be a fucked-up individual later in life..
      馃

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    2. Look you 12 year old reddit nino.
      I am sure you have a nickname, your parents gave you, don't be shy.....could it be Gordito, Flaco, Beto, Vampiro, Chinito, .

      Delete
    3. 6:45
      ¡me llamo "el cuija"!..
      馃

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    4. 5:29 he meant Nick names 馃馃

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    5. 5:10 so these names like recto del coyote are all from the childhood of these pieces of filth ? You seem to be offended by the question, did your momma call you papi when you were 3 y/o ? Maybe some other well informed expert can say why they killed Arist贸teles Sandoval , much more educated name than papi , and the killing of Salvador Llamas Urbina; Presently in Vallarta PROFEPA has shut down construction of 9 high rise buildings for not having environmental impact studies completed.

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  10. Long time reader here...and I gotta say the CDG stuff is the most interesting to me. Maybe the old forum had something to do with that?

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    1. OD Sol has spruced up the new forum, nice and clean, Step up to the present pops.

      Delete
  11. Itzli — always keeping the spirit alive! 馃

    ReplyDelete
  12. Es cierto que matar贸n a Mamo????

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    1. 10:39 si! Esta! Te crees muy alburero 馃槀馃槀馃槀 y las entregaste!!! El que sigue

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