"Socalj" for Borderland Beat
This week, one of the leaders of the "Los Cabos" group, based in Tijuana and in support of the CJNG cartel pleaded guilty to charges related to the distribution of heroin and methamphetamine. The plea agreement also includes admissions to ordering the murder of a police officer in Tijuana in 2018 and ordering co-conspirators to hang a narco manta in Tijuana.
Edgar "El Caiman" Herrera Pardo, also known as "Cabo 8" has been in custody since 2019 when he and his girlfriend were arrested. He was extradited last year to face the charges in San Diego, California.
Los Cabos has been linked to over 150 murders in Mexico, including several Mexican police officers, and two American teenagers killed alongside a Mexican teenager in 2018 in Mexico.
Los Cabos has been linked to over 150 murders in Mexico, including several Mexican police officers, and two American teenagers killed alongside a Mexican teenager in 2018 in Mexico.
Who is "El Caiman"?
"El Caiman," also known as "Cabo 8" was indicted in the Southern District of California on April 10, 2019, as an alleged leader of a group known as Los Cabos, which operated in Baja California to secure control of the region for the CJNG.According to reports by Zeta Tijuana, Herrera operated under the late kingpin Arturo Gómez Herrera, also known as "El Gross," who was killed in Jalisco in 2016. Herrera had used the alias "El Zame" in the past and had been imprisoned in 2004 and 2010 for minor offenses.
Between 2015 and 2016, the Arellano Felix Cartel (CAF) allied with CJNG. The CAF had been decimated by arrests and was in a long-losing battle with the Sinaloa Cartel for control of Tijuana.
Los Cabos saw a significant rise in influence during this period, engaged in a fierce territorial battle with the Sinaloa Cartel over the lucrative smuggling route between the Tijuana and San Diego border. Los Cabos employed rampant violence to ensure that CJNG maintained the ability to traffic drugs through Tijuana and into the United States.
Los Cabos’s bloody reign of terror included the murder of 2 teenage United States citizens in Tijuana in November 2018, the government alleges. These teenagers were residents of Chula Vista, California. The government also alleged that Los Cabos targeted law enforcement in Tijuana, killing at least 3 police officers.
The teenage victims were Juan Suárez Ojeda, a graduate of Ingenuity Charter School in Skyline, and Christopher, 17, a student and member of the O'Farrell High School football team in Encanto. They were killed together with Mexican citizen Ángel Said, 17, with a bullet to the head in the Lomas Verdes subdivision in Tijuana.
He had been injured in an attack on May 5, 2019, in Guadalajara, Jalisco during a shootout where CJNG member Héctor "El Gallero" Manuel Morales Guzmán, was killed. "El Gallero" was the alleged successor of Jose "El Piolin" Perez Vargas. Herrera provided a fake alias at a Tijuana hospital after traveling back for treatment.
Herrera Pardo was released even though he showed a voter ID card with his photo and the false name of Julio Alexander Franco Romo, a resident of Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, Jalisco, issued in 2016 (the same year his identity was revealed by Zeta Tijuana).
Mexican authorities began monitoring him from that day on when he was injured in Guadalajara. His lawyers began the procedures for an Amparo in Tijuana, to prevent him from being detained, which was not granted.
On August 14, 2019, the Mexican authorities followed his girlfriend, model Maine de la Cruz Rojas, they saw her with him in Querétaro, getting on a bus heading to San Luis Potosí, where they were both arrested.
In October 2016, Maine won a bikini contest organized by the Mexican betting house Caliente Casino.
In her profile video for the contest, Maine said that she had recently finished high school, played soccer and that she liked to dance, listen to music, and spend time with her pet.
Arrest & Extradition
Caiman was apprehended by authorities in Mexico on August 5, 2019, and was extradited to San Diego on August 2, 2023.A superseding indictment returned on March 6, 2020, plus a related indictment returned on March 16, 2021, collectively charged Edgar "El Caiman" Herrera Pardo, Carlos "Cabo 96" Lorenzo Hinojosa Guerrero, Edgar "Cabo 89" Perez Villa, and Israel "Cabo 50"Alejandro Vazquez-Vazquez, among others, with Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances Intended for Importation, and Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances.
Edgar Herrera underwent his extradition procedure at a court based in the Michoacan prison he was being held for drug trafficking. On August 2, 2023, he was handed over to the US authorities at the Toluca International Airport in the State of Mexico.
Internal War in Tijuana
During the 7 months of authorized interceptions of a group chat between leaders of Los Cabos, it was learned that Los Cabos had planned over 150 murders, the majority of which took place in Tijuana, according to the filings. 2018 saw the killings of several police officers and teenagers, including the two teenage American citizens. The following year, in 2019, an internal cleansing within the CJNG network in Tijuana began to occur.
On May 5, 2019, Héctor “El Gallero” Manuel Morales Guzmán, was summoned to a meeting in Guadalajara. "El Caiman" made the trip as well, possibly as his bodyguard. "El Gallero" was believed to be the successor to “El Piolín” who had been arrested in 2017. "El Gallero" had likely become intolerable as a leader in the region and he was never seen again following the shooting that also injured "El Caiman." "El Piolin" was killed less than two weeks later in prison.
At the time of his arrest, authorities stated "El Caiman" was in a turf battle with Sinaloa Cartel member José "El Versi" Loreto Capoeman Rivera, in Tijuana.
A few days before the couple's arrest, Ricardo “Cabo 39” Álvarez Olivares was murdered in Baja California Sur. Several of the traffickers from Los Cabos began to switch sides to Sinaloa.
The internal struggle within the Baja California region of the CJNG resulted in more deaths. Including 16 deaths in Tecate. CJNG, CAF, and Sinaloa Cartel members continued fighting in the streets of Baja California as alliances between the local cells and parent cartels began to shift and merge.
CJNG narco mantas and threats went up across the area demanding that those from Los Cabos and under Cabo 8/El Caiman's command remain loyal or be killed. Figures from the CAF, allied with the Sinaloa Cartel recruited several members from Los Cabos.
Sources DOJ, DOJ, San Diego Tribune, Borderland Beat, Borderland Beat, Zeta Tijuana, Zeta Tijuana
Crazy.
ReplyDeleteEveryone from TJ that's gets called to JALISCO ends up getting killed.
That "gallero" guy must've really got on someone's nerves, they literally disappeared him.
And what about "El Lic del Diablo"??
Haven't heard anything from him out of TJ in a while.
Lol you working in TJ and get called to Jalisco you should know what’s next lol
DeleteThat gallero guy was a tyrant within his organization he ordered hits on his comrades out of pure envy. Got what he deserved
DeleteHes fucked
ReplyDeleteThat's what she said.
DeleteThe only way to take these clowns down is in a U.S. court. Unfortunately, the clown that Mexico has for president doesn't know how to apply this to Mexico. The key is to professionalize law enforcement and to pay them a livable wage, protect their judges and develop respect for the law. As long as Mexico pays most of it's police less than $1,000 per month they will be inclined to accept bribes. Some federal police make more than $20,000 per year but this is still not enough. Seasoned police officers need to be making a minimum of $40,000 per year and supervisors a minimum of $60,000 per year.
ReplyDeleteMexico can reign in the violence with a professional police force. Unfortunately, politicians like ELMO cannot comprehend this.
🙄
DeleteDetroit I'd say sworn LEO, SEDENA and SEMAR need to be able to legally carry "restricted military firearms/handgun" while off duty. Of course make them purchase it from the governments store and get ballistics for each firearm purchased by them.
DeleteThose would be good wages for the qualified personnel, especially when compared to the wages of a lot of POS politicos. It's always those SOB who whine and cry about salaries and costs but never of their own pay.
Fittingly, this election cycle(6-2-24) has been the deadliest and shows for all the rhetoric of advancement from those in power that México remains the same or worse as the past administrations. Electrical blackouts? What states and governed by who? Sounds like a rerun of CSDG "victory" in 88.
Great comment. I agree and have been saying the same for years. If the Mexican government can subsidize gated housing developments for both military and law enforcement it would also help a lot.
DeleteThis guy had a beautiful girlfriend. Now he's going to rot in an American prison. They might do to him what they did to little puppet in American Me. He's now going to be girlfriend to a guy probably named Leroy in prison. 😆 Nuff Said!!!
ReplyDeleteHis new relationship is gonna look like Wallace from blood in blood out
DeleteAn Australian news channel claims the Sinaloa cartel handed over the killers in Ensenada
ReplyDelete🤔. Something is not right they cracked the case last week and now you.come up with this 😂 lol.
DeleteThey still can’t figure out who killed Steve Irwin
Delete1156 Steve Irwin being name dropped on BB isn't right. RIP Steve watched you everyday growing up!
Delete6:18 Nuff said !
DeleteAmerican news channels reported the same thing, but didnt say which cartel it was.
DeleteThis dude is about to snitch on CJNG bad lol
ReplyDeleteAnyone that is locked up in jail would be snitching including you, if you wanted your sentences reduced.
DeleteThis guy must be a heavy hitter riding a bus. At least he can honestly say that he had a chauffeur.
DeleteI really doubt the prosecution will give this dirtbag a deal. He won't get the opportunity to snitch. The reason for this is that he killed minor American teenagers. Prosecuters only give deals when it's drug or gun related charges. Not homicides. The reason is because this would anger the parents and family of the victims. The Real Nuff Said!!!
DeleteTry reading the article in the first paragraph it states the Plea agreement also includes… He already has an agreement
Delete8:57 deals are given to murderers but only if the prosecutors believe there are others involved. But deals offered to the actual shooter aren't all that good, no matter how many others he may name.
DeleteIs 8:57 living in a hole. Federal prosecutors are notorious for career progression by handout out single digit sentences to double digit murderers from all walks of organized crime in order to land more convictions or bigger names. Remember Sammy the little tiny bull? Mayos kids had many killed, out. Chino, rumors he was a straight serial killer for the lulz all his life outside of anthrax work. Osiel going home soon, wasn’t single digits, but can be argued he set the stage for the unprecedented violence. Then you have guys who are actively known killing many and being kept out of jail and the court. Scarpa, the guy from the house of death in Juarez, el camelo.
DeleteThese mexican girls r something
ReplyDeleteYou should see Brazilian girls
DeleteBrazilian girls with fake butts and fake boobs no thank you.
DeleteThey gave Sammy the Bull5 years He killed 19!! Including a 16 year old.This government makes deals with the devil 😈 all the time!!
ReplyDeleteDEA agents are threatening to deport Mini Leaks after he is giving up interviews without permission. If it was to happen the Chapitos are probably waiting for him with hugs 😂
ReplyDeletewhat is your source for this?
DeleteStop spreading fake news lol if the DEA wanted to do that you would have no clue. They don’t announce what they’re going to do.
DeleteWont be long before we see a photo of her having gotten killed walking out of a gym or club. Its how it always ends for these narco queens.
ReplyDeleteWalking out of a gym where she only went to take selfies
DeleteJajaja neta que si.
DeleteShe loved him
ReplyDeleteGreat article Socalj!
ReplyDeleteA el Italia lo desaparecieron también
ReplyDeleteEs lo que se dice. Por andar calentando cabezas.
DeleteThey both look bummed in that arresting photo, it all just came to an end..
ReplyDeleteWhen a girl is really into you, then she is willing to ride till the depths of hell with you.
ReplyDeleteJajajaja that’s some Disney 💩
Delete