Borderland Beat
Through coal exploitation, drug trafficking has found a "gold mine" in Coahuila. In that state, the illegal mining business yields an income of at least 6 million pesos per week.
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Official sources informed Reforma that the illegal exploitation of mineral allows organized crime to have a substantial source of income and a way to launder money by contracts with legally constituted companies that saw an opportunity to get the lowest cost of coal and sell it to CFE through la Promotora Mining Development (Prodemi.)
They added that the PGR is investigating three companies: Impulsora JBN, Perforaciones Técnicas Industriales (Technical Drilling and Mining Industries), and, Minera La Misión (Mining the Mission) for their alleged involvement in these illegal businesses.
"These people, Los Zetas, produced around 10,000 tonnes a week and are selling coal at 600 pesos (per tonne), "they explained. "They sold cheap for those who had placed an order with Prodemi, to make it more appealing buying from them and make a higher profit while these people (Prodemi) launder money."
The source they identified as principal operator, José Reynol Bermea, head of Los Zetas in Sabinas, but only in the "division" of mining and renting machinery, and who allegedly was arrested by the Navy.
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José Reynol Bermea
w/PRI candidate Melchor Sánchez de la Fuente
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"He was in charge for Z-40 in the coal region to handle the business of coal production in Agujita and Cloete. The pits that were closed and the steep cliffs on side of the highway from Sabinas to Nueva Rosita are theirs, on the land owned by state government." the sources said.
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Lozano accepted the problem
PAN Senator and former Secretary of Labor, Javier Lozano, accepted that members of organized crime have a presence and are linked with work carried out in the mining area of Coahuila.
The lawmaker confirmed the revelations made by former state governor Humberto Moreira, who said that drug traffickers are involved in the business of mining coal to launder money.
Lozano admitted that the problem was detected by the federal government, but he did not know if there are inquiries or criminal investigations related to these cases.
Asked to Investigate Narco Links into Mining
The PRD in the Senate lobbied a proposal for a Special Commission to investigate the alleged involvement of organized crime in the exploitation of coal mines in Coahuila and the working conditions of miners in the so called "pocitos" (pits)-.
The commission will be presented at a point of agreement, the vice-coordinator of the bench, Dolores Padierna, also seeks to generate a diagnosis and suggest improvements to the mining law.
The alleged links with organized crime to Coahuila mining was designated on October 25 by former Governor Humberto Moreira.
Considerations highlight that the state of Coahuila is the largest producer of coal in the country with a extractions reaching more than 11.2 million tons, but stresses that it is coupled with a critical situation in the workplace.
The special report on the security situation in the coal zone of Coahuila made by the National Commission of Human Rights (CNDH), clearly shows that the number of complaints received has been increasing because of claims due to fatalities attributable to the lack of health and safety conditions.
According to the report, in the last five years there have been 124 deaths related to coal mining in Coahuila, 80 of which have occurred in the so called pits..
"The exploitation of the so called coal pits" is a critical situation because working conditions are inhuman. The operating situation, do not meet the official Mexican standard 032, so it is deduced that they operate in conditions of illegality," the report cites.
The Senator alerts in a contradictory way, the existence of the pits is very profitable because the cost of maintenance is almost nil and notes that because of working conditions, owners abuse the population in need of employment, providing work in precarious and enslaving conditions.
"In light of the statements of Coahuila's former governor Humberto Moreira noting that besides the problems described, there's the link to organized crime, we are obligated by elementary solidarity and in defense of justice with miners, to know deeply the working environment in the mines and report abuses and create better legislation for the benefit of those affected" he says.
"In light of the statements of Coahuila's former governor Humberto Moreira noting that besides the problems described, there's the link to organized crime, we are obligated by elementary solidarity and in defense of justice with miners, to know deeply the working environment in the mines and report abuses and create better legislation for the benefit of those affected" he says.
The senator noted that this commission will actually focus on the situation of the mines in general, but it would begin with issue of the "the pits" because of the serious problems they have.
**And he also pointed out that participation of foreign capital in mining exploration is up to 70%, companies that pay Mexico the equivalent of 1.18 percent of the resources obtained from the national territory.**
And also the deputies
In the Chamber of Deputies is the bench of PRI which promotes creating a special commission of mining, although it does not mention the problem of narco involvement in this activity.
"Everyone is familiar with the historical issues which workers in this sector have encountered with the mining companies in the country, so as legislators, we must be vigilant, cooperate and assist the head Federal Executive in mediation of interests, ensuring industry and protecting Labor and human rights of the workers, "the point of the agreement shall be presented by PRI Adolfo Bonilla Gomez.
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Ex-Governor of Coahuila Humberto Moreira in mourning
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The following was taken from López Dóriga October 26th interview with Humberto Moreira
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Humberto Moreira: "Since some months ago, it is an loud secret in the coal region of the state, that drug dealers started to switch their mode of operation, instead of kidnapping, or extortion fees, they felt like extracting coal (.....) in coal region, there are people who have a production of 100,000 tons and sell to 200,000, who buys the other 100 1 petition of mind to investigate all the new, recent miners who have arrived here, who are like Senor Lazcano."
López Dóriga: And why is Moriera so sure this coal ended up in the hands of the businessmen in the zone? According to the ex-governor the coal production obtained was sold to CFE through legitimately formed businesses.
Humberto Moreira:"No way the bad guys are going to sell it themselves to the CFE or Prodemi. Who was buying this coal from Senor Lazcano? They are entrepenuers (....) that means that there had to be intermediaries in order to buy this coal that gives electrical energy to the country. They found this modus vivendi (way of life).
Selective Memory? Does Humberto Moreira Forget His Links to Javier Villarreal?
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| The former treasurer of Coahuila Javier Villarreal Hernandez , |
The companies that Javier Villarreal awarded Coal Contracts have helped Los Zetas wash 6 million pesos a week
Mexico City (November 1, 2012). - The former treasurer of the state of Coahuila, Javier Villarreal Hernandez, who was the former financial trader for Governor Humberto Moreira, gave discretionary contracts to two of the three companies investigated by the PGR for their alleged involvement in money laundering through underground coal mining, official sources revealed. Villarreal was the chief architect of the "moreirazo" which consisted of forging documents for contracting debt of about 5 billion pesos during Moreira's term as Coahuila governor, to lead the service in 2010 Tax Administration of Coahuila (SATEC). Officials reported that, as head of SATEC, Villarreal had control of the Promotora Mining Development (Prodemi) and awarded contracts to companies Perforaciones Técnicas Industriales (Technical Drilling and Mining Industries) and Impulsora JBN. These companies have helped Los Zetas, who seized underground mines to extract coal illegally, washed 6 million pesos a week, as published yesterday. They would do this by buying the ore far below the market price and then selling it to Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) through Prodemi, which serves as an intermediary for producers of small-scale coal take to CFE. "In 2009, contracts were awarded to Prodemi companies, and Perforaciones Técnicas Industriales (Technical Drilling and Mining Industries) Impulsora JBN did not appear," said an informant. "But in 2010 the contracts were changed again and they granted Perforaciones Técnicas Industriales (Technical Drilling and Mining Industries) a drilling contract for 75, 000 tons per year, and to JBN, one for 120,000 tons. "These are the contracts which Villarreal gave them without going through the committee assignments or anything." Prodemi sources said the companies bought them more than they had contracted. "The argument is that (the officers) were afraid, but they were not. Javier Villarreal gave orders," they added.
Javier Villarreal was head of the Tax Administration Service of Coahuila. He is accused of contracting credits for at least 5 billion pesos using false documents. He is wanted by U.S. a on charges of money laundering. He is at large and has not been heard from since early February, when he was released on bail in a county near Dallas, Texas, after being arrested in a Mercedes Benz carrying $67,000
**And he also pointed out that participation of foreign capital in mining exploration is up to 70%, companies that pay Mexico the equivalent of 1.18 percent of the resources obtained from the national territory.**
(I translated literally, but it makes no sense to me. The numbers don't work but that's what it says)
