Narco Gold Mine: Coahuila Coal

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.

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.) 

Decree of Promotora

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. 

José Reynol Bermea

 w/PRI candidate Melchor Sánchez de la Fuente 

"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.

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. 

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.

Ex-Governor of Coahuila Humberto Moreira in mourning

The following was taken from López Dóriga October 26th  interview with Humberto Moreira

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?

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

Reforma, Reforma

Miner's News, Sopitas

**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)

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Zeta Interrogation, Veronica Treviño Molina, Tampico

A woman who goes by the name Veronica Treviño Molina appears in a video where she claims to work for Los Zetas in Nuevo Laredo, taking orders from her direct boss “Comandante 50”. In the video she states she’s been working with the group for 8 or 9 years in Nuevo Laredo.

The women was picked up or “Levantada” in Tampico,where she had been stationed for 3 months. Tampico is currently controlled by the CDG while Nuevo Laredo is Zeta territory. She claims to have protection from several branches of the federal and municipal police in the area. The women claims her main objective in Tampico was to “Calentar la Plaza”, bring attention to the area where the CDG roam by killing taxi drivers, police, and innocent people.

“Calentar la Plaza” is a term that became popular this year, the term itself means “Heat up the Area”, which basically means anything bad that will bring attention to the area, anything like shootouts and murders, which ultimately is meant to cause conflicts between authorities/military and the current cartel in charge of the area.

The women speaks about opening up space by getting rid of the CDG so that a “Comandante Quique” or “El Taliban” can move into the area and change the territory from CDG to Zeta. She states that Comandante Quique is accompanied by Comandante Sinaloa 1, Comandante Sinaloa 2, Comandante Tango, Cholo, Rome, Elder, Topon, Canibal y Baldemonio. The plan was to have Comandante Quique move by this December.

The women also claims that part of the plan is to make the CDG come out in the open and make them clash with police they have fixed up in Tampico. She explains how they have a code in case they get stopped by any sort of police, the code is calling her comandante and stating “las ratas” or the rats.

An event is mentioned where they had been busted by the CDG in a house, apparently to what she explains, the CDG arrived accompanied by the Federal Police who arrested the group. After the CDG left, the police drove them to safety and released them.

She’s also asked about another occasion, no time or date is mentioned, but they do talk about the murdering of a family, they don’t mention if it happened in Tampico or Nuevo Laredo, but my guess is Tampico since she talks about the family being under protection by the CDG, and Nuevo Laredo is controlled by Zetas.

She explains how because of pressure from Com. Quique, to Com. Sinalo, they had to murder the family of a deserter named “Tampico”. She says that Tampico was a “traca” (person who reports and gathers Intel) for Lazcano, but later deserted the Zetas and joined with CDG. They never clearly state that he deserted Zetas for CDG, but it is mentioned that the family was innocent and that the CDG had it under protection, which means the same thing, why else would the CDG be protecting the family.

If anybody can recall this claim or has any information, feel free to contact me.

The video is full of claims, some seem to be real, others of course like in 90% of the videos, seem staged. Now let me make something very clear, when I say stage, I do not mean that the video is a fake, some people jump growling about "how can it be fake if the person was later found dead", I don’t mean it is fake, I just mean it was scripted. The person was captured, yes, but not everything the person says was said with free will, for example the ending part how the woman says “Yes but they killed an innocent family because they where being kept safe by the CDG”. How can somebody in their right mind really believe someone would say that without pressure from the opposing cartel!

Veronica Treviño Molina had already been captured back in 2008 and named the leader of "The Halcones" or lookouts. This was back when the Zetas where still allied with the CDG, so in the article she's tagged as CDG.

"Supposed leader of Halcones for CDG arrested, Aguascalientes"Federal Agents in Aguascalientes arrested Veronica Treviño Molina, leader of the lookout division for the CDG. She was in charge of reporting activities in the area.

SSP also reports that in the same operation they where able to nab second in command of that organization, Ruben Diaz Mendez.
The events took place on the corner of Los Conos and Las Cumbres when the two people named where spotted in a vehicle Nissan Sentra, Silver, model 2002.

This basically coveres all of the information of the video, I didn't think it was necessary to actually translate the video, since I basically covered all that was stated in this article, but just in case you guys do want it translated, i'll get around to it later, for now I provided you with the video, just incase some of you guys want to see it, thanks for reading.

-Maka

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"El Lazca" Betrays the Power that Gave him Life: The Army

After seven years in the army a corporal in the infantry named Heriberto Lazcano decided to change his uniform and channel his ambitions in the field of organized crime.

He grew up in the shadow of his boss Osiel Cardenas capo of Gulf cartel, and he had as a teacher the founder of Los Zetas: Arturo Guzmán Decenas. Having Become El Lazca with a bloody reputation, this former paramilitary managed to elevate his group of sicarios to the status of cartel.

On June 5, 1991, Heriberto Lazcano, El Lazca, enlisted in the Mexican Army with the aim of becoming a figure within the military ranks.

His ambition to achieve a leading position in the military lasted seven years. Like many other hundreds of soldiers who ended up involved in the drug business, the current top leader of the Zetas decided to open a place in the world of drug trafficking. Now is one of the most wanted drug lords in and out of Mexico.

On March 27, 1998, according to records of the Ministry of National Defense (SEDENA), Lazcano deserted from the Army when he had reached the rank of corporal in the infantry.

Hand full of dollars and unlimited power offered by the drug cartels seduced him when he was 24 years old. A Short time after his desertion he joined the Gulf Cartel, a criminal organization that then had regained its power under the leadership of a new figure: Osiel Cárdenas Guillén, "El Mata Amigos" or "The Killer of friends."

According to the ministerial that took statements from protected witnesses Rufino y Geraldin, Lazcano was introduced to the Gulf cartel by another ex-military who became as powerful as what El Lazca is today: Guzmán Decenas, El Z-1, to who both the PGR and the Secretariat Public Security (SSP) attributed as being the founder of Los Zetas, the so-called “ejército del narco” or narco army.

Geraldin, whose name is Alejandro Lucio Morales Betancourt, was part of this "army," where he was known as Z-2.

On November 17, 2001 he was captured and soon joined the witness protection program. In the preliminary investigation PGR/SIEDO/UEIDCS/111/2003 it states that the objective pursued by the creation of the Los Zetas, armed wing of the Gulf Cartel was to eliminate all the enemies of Cárdenas Guillén.

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