CDG: Feds Capture 'El Comandante Diablo'

 Chivís Martínez for Borderland Beat

Federal Police Elements in Victoria Tamaulipas succeeded in capturing Javier Aldemar Morales Estrada, alias 'El Comandante Diablo'  CDG plaza chief of Victoria.  He was one of the government's 14 priority objectives in their current Tamaulipas operation.

Also captured in conjunction with Morales Estrada, is Leonal Elizalde Montelongo in Ciudad Victoria.

Morales Estrada, 40 years old and originally from Monterrey, Nuevo León, is identified as one of the chief operators for CDG.  

He is suspected of having more than ten kidnapping groups in his command whose criminal activities include:  kidnappings, killings, extortion and management of  drug outlets in the city state and its suburbs.

Federal agents made the arrest as they aboard a truck which contained  weapons for the exclusive use of the armed forces, as well as two magazines and 42 rounds of ammunition, they were secured together with a cell phone and the truck in which they were traveling.

The detainees, along with the insured property, were made available to the Agent of the Public Prosecutor's Office attached to the Deputy in the organized crime unit of the Attorney General's Office.

No shots were fired in the capture

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Coahuila Corruption Spreads to San Antonio

Borderland Beat
 Within  4 days of  the murder of Z40's nephew, Lalo was murdered, Ardilla was arrested and Lazca was killed by elements of the Mexican Navy.
By Chivís Martínez

Directly following my post, is a good article about the Coahuila's notorious bigs, the corruption, placing roots in San Antonio and the developing of  influence in the Texas city.

One should know before reading the post, that Coahuila is the home state of Los Zetas.  Nuevo Laredo is always referred to as the headquarters of the Zetas, because it is their lucrative money making drug corridor.  But Coahuila is where the operation chiefs live and operate.  It is no coincidence that "Lazca" was killed in Coahuila, and "Z40"(Miguel Treviño) was arrested just a few miles from where Lazca was killed.  And " hiding" not too far away, one can possibly bump into, the rumored current leader of the cartel Omar Treviño.

The most notable reason for Zetas to home in Coahuila, is they have complete control and freedom to conduct business in the state.  Sure, they lost two leaders in short succession, but there is advance preparation for those circumstances.  Big cartel means big business, and it is a business first and foremost. 

The overwhelming corruption in Coahuila allows organized crime to prevail. Corruption from municipal city hall to the governors office, throughout the state, assure the narco business will flourish without interference.

During his governorship  "Bert" Moreira and his gang of thieves,  purchased luxury properties in San Antonio, and businesses in the area extending to  the south border.  I posted a video sent to me, outlining and documenting their corruption, I've translated the narrative and posted it on BB multiple times.(click on the hyperlink to access the post translation follows below)

In the SA Express article they mention the murder of Lalo Moreira and frame it in a way that his death was the result of corruption.  It was not.  It was a settling of scores.

The murder occurred at a time where two powerful brothers, Ruben and Humberto, past and current Coahuila governors, had already severed their once close relationship.  The relationship was damaged when Moreira was forced to resign over  Coahuila missing funds and fraud scandal. Ruben was new to the governorship, when the scandal broke.  He was infuriated by the way it was handled by Humberto, cutting a deal with PRI, resigning, exiling to Barcelona for a couple of years, leaving Ruben solo to face the public.  That was far from the plan.  The plan for Humberto, who resigned from governorship for a successful run at the National PRI chairmanship,  was to become President of Mexico succeeding  the current term held by his once good friend Enrique Peña Nieto. 

Eduardo "Lalo" Moreira, was Humberto's son, the product of an affair he had with an Acuña woman.  Although Humberto was  in Lalo's life, making trips to Acuña for visits, his birthright was never declared, and was a secret to all with the exception of those in and around Acuña.

That is, until Huberto decided to campaign for governorship,  knowing  he would surely be outed by his PAN enemies, he took the bull by the horns and announced he had an 18 year old son.  Lalo never lived with his father, or in Saltillo, he was raised by his mother and maternal family in Acuña.  Lalo had a good reputation and was loved by the people of Acuña, he was a civil servant.  He never lived the lux life that his half siblings enjoyed as they grew up  in Saltillo, while enjoying the fruits of his father's "investments". 

Lalo's death was preceded by Zetas narco mantas posted in Piedras Negras and Acuña, "Family for Family", "Nephew for Nephew".   This was a reference to a GATES killing of  Z40 Miguel Treviño's, sister's son, in Piedras Negras at around 2PM on October 3rd, 2012.  (below left)

Lalo Moreira was killed seven hours later.  The killing, of course, mostly affected Humberto, but the retribution killing was directed at Governor Ruben Moreira not Humberto.

 Zetas blamed the governor's deployment of GATES elements to Piedras, that resulted in a massive shootout, that killed Alexander Treviño Chavez, the nephew of 40, and four other Zetas.  

It was the premier Zeta leader,  Heriberto Lazcano, aka "Lazca",  who ordered the murder of Lalo.

And Lalo was a sitting duck. His governor uncle had confiscated Lalo's amour truck weeks earlier, along with the GATES escorts assigned to his him.  Lalo was told the municipal police would guard him, and that  sealed  his fate.

 It was the police chief and municipal police who Zetas ordered to set up and hand Lalo over to his two executioners,  Carlos Arnulfo Flores Flores, and  El Flaco , (Acuña plaza chief).

It was from phone messages between  Laza and his close  friend Salvador Alfonso Martinez Escobedo,aka  La Ardilla, that authorities were able to clearly determine who ordered the murder.  (Ardilla was the author of the mass killing in Tamaulipas of 72 migrants and  over 300 executions in 2 years)

 Lazcano gave the order to avenge the death of Alejandro Treviño. Alejandro, the  nephew of Treviño Morales, was living in Laredo, Texas, with his American wife at the time of his death. 

In the transcripts Lazcano informs Ardilla, "I took care of the nephew".  

Within  4 days of  the murder of Z40's nephew, Lalo was murdered, Ardilla was arrested and Lazca was killed by elements of the Mexican Navy. 

Below is the San Antonio Express Article written by  Jason Buch and Guillermo Contreras

          Coahuila corruption and drug ties spread  influence to                                               San Antonio

A network of politicians and businessmen from the Mexican state of Coahuila relocated to San Antonio over the past seven years, and prosecutors say a corrupt group among them invested millions of dollars in illegal kickbacks here from drug traffickers and state contractors.

San Antonio has strong historic ties to Saltillo, Coahuila's capital. Intellectuals and landholders from the state, which borders Texas, took refuge here during the Mexican Revolution in the early 1900s. Further back, in the 1800s, Coahuila y Tejas was one state under Mexican rule.

Camouflaged among those escaping the more recent problems in the state are drug traffickers, unscrupulous businessmen and high-ranking Coahuila officials who laundered more than $35 million in kickbacks for state contracts, U.S. authorities say.

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NorCal Coast: 9 Arrested in connection with 5000 lb pot haul

Borderland Beat-posted by siskiyou_kid

Over 5,000 pounds brought into Northern California Coast on a Panga

Eight of nine people arrested Friday in connection with an international marijuana smuggling attempt were arraigned Monday on charges of possession for sale and transportation of marijuana in San Mateo County, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.

The nine defendants -- four of which are from Mexico, three from San Jose and two from San Diego -- were arrested after Homeland Security agents notified the county's Narcotics Task Force that marijuana "panga" boats might be landing off the coast. 

The group was allegedly found transferring the pot into two vans at a San Mateo County state beach.

About 10:15 p.m., two large vans reportedly entered Año Nuevo State Beach and met the panga boat that came ashore there, Wagstaffe said.

The defendants are then alleged to have transferred 180 bales of marijuana from the boat into the van, Wagstaffe said.

As the van entered state Highway 1, country law enforcement agents stopped it and discovered 5,148 pounds of marijuana in the vehicle, with a street value of about $23 million, Wagstaffe said.

On the beach, agents found an inflatable raft, rain gear and cellphones. The panga boat was discovered adrift by a local fisherman and recovered by the Coast Guard.

The nine defendants are: Luis Farid Gonzalez, 20; Mario Gonzalez, 36; Juan Hernandez, 39; Juan Valdez Lopez, 50; Luis Espinoza Mendoza, 28; Estaban Flores Salazar, 39; Joan Sicairos, 19; Mark Richard Teixeira, 38; and Phin Yo Vorn, 33.

Eight of the nine defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges Monday, and Mario Gonzalez was expected to enter a plea Tuesday.

This is not the first time the coast of San Mateo County was used by alleged smugglers bringing in drugs from south of the border.

In May, an abandoned boat and SUV that both contained marijuana were discovered on Pescadero State Beach by sheriff's deputies. At least 42 bales of the drug were discovered between the two vehicles.

In April, an empty and abandoned panga boat was discovered off the coast of Pescadero. No suspects were found at the time of those discoveries.

Note: Siskiyou_kid noted the 23M value estimate is ridiculously high. In checking current prices on Narco News, I found these prices for California.  The  increased  activity in  Northern California Coast, explains the slow down in Panga activity in SoCal. 

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Narco Banner: Templarios threaten enemies in Puebla

Chivís Martínez for Borderland Beat

Yesterday morning around 7 AM, Caballeros Templarios hung a manta in Puebla City, the capital of the state of the same name.  Specifically, in was displayed on  Farmacias del Ahorro. pedestrian bridge in Colonia Santa Margarita. 

The manta message warns names persons to stop trafficking drugs to the prison of San Miguel, in Puebla.

Efren Carrizales, was arrested in February 2010 in the Colonia Bosques de San Sebastian, allegedly because he is a member of a gang of kidnappers named, "Los Gitanos", who  participated in the kidnapping  of a father and his son, for whom Carrizales asked for a ransom of more than a half million pesos.  Carrizales is the obvious reference to the "inside" of the manta message below.

Translation:

This is a message to Gustavo Rocha Sanchez, Joel Guerrero Torres (AKA El Chinola) and Carrizales Terriquez.   We know you are in charge of the drug that is circulating inside and outside of CERESO of San Miguel.  Watch it because there, inside, we are going to kill you.  It fucking doesn't matter about your protection and even with your family,  you are going to get screwed.  So cut it out now. 

Sincerely,
 Los Caballeros Templarios

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"El Gerber" denied bail, deemed a flight risk

Chivis Martínez for Borderland Beat

Gerber,  guzzling his Tecate

The charges against Rodrigo Vallejo Mora, are relatively minor, especially when compared to the charges that may await him,  pending the completion of a PGR investigation.  However that did not affect a judges decision to deny bail to the son of the recently resigned Michoacán governor.

Ricardo Garduno Pastén, Judge Fourth District Federal Criminal Process Toluca determined in the criminal case 57/2014 that Vallejo Mora, for now, must remain in the Preventive Social Rehabilitation Center "Santiaguito "Almoloya, in the State of Mexico. '

The refusal to grant bail pending trial, was based on the  objection of the PGR,  finding  there is a risk that the defendant will flee.  The ruling may also be an indicator that the evidence is enough for the judge to issue the formal prison  by the Saturday 5:50 PM deadline.  The other possibility on Saturday is Vallejo Mora being released due to lack of evidence.

Vallejo Mora,  will have the opportunity to offer rebuttal evidence, in order to avoid a trial. If the judge rules formal prison, the defendant will face the process from prison and any appeal. 

The Attorney General's Office Vallejo accused of covering up a crime, based on a recently released video, where Vallejo Mora appears in a meeting with Servando Gómez Martínez aka "La Tuta", leader of the Caballeros Templarios. Vallejo's defense is he was kidnapped and forced to the meeting by a convoy of 40-50 truck loads of armed men.

The infamous video in full, Spanish subtitles

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"El Guasón" Arrested, CDG Chief of Tampico, Madero and Altamira

Borderland Beat

 "El Guasón" was also arrested in May, but bribed agents 5M for his release

Federal forces have detained  in southern Mexico City hotel,  José Iván Chao Llanes, alias "El Guasón", (The Joker) or J16, who authorities identify as one of the main leaders of the Gulf Cartel in Tamaulipas state.

Chao Llanes,42,  is designated as the primary generator of violence in the southern region of Tamaulipas, stemming from the dispute between the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas. Also reported is that Chao Llanes  is 32 years old,  originally from Tampico and began his criminal career at the invitation of Javier Garza Medrano "El 14" .

The detainee and the group he belongs to, primarily controlled retail drug sales, the so-called collection of piso, kidnapping. migrant trafficking, extortion and fuel theft. When arrested he had PEMEX credentials with him.

He  is considered head of a criminal organization with influence in the municipalities of Tampico, Ciudad Madero and Altamira, " said the government spokesman.

PGR reports indicate along with "El Chive", he commanded a faction that fought for the control of Tampico and the metropolitan areas of Madero and Altamira. He fought against the forces of Juan Martin Chavez and Arturo Zárate Garza Treviño "El Sheyla", now imprisoned

According to the PGR,  Chao Llanes, was first arrested last May at Mexio City  International Airport, along with The Chive , but was released after bribing three agents for  five million pesos, apx 380k USD.

 In a report released by the Interior Ministry report, it revealed that  Chao Llanes was captured Friday morning in a hotel in Colonia Heroes Padierna, without a single shot fired.

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Sinaloa Cartel: "El Pantera" and two others killed in La Paz

A drug trafficker for Damaso López Núñez, aka El licenciado,(Mini Lic)  and two others bodyguards were killed Friday night in a shootout, between criminal cells.

The drug operator of the Sinaloa cartel named Stephen Espinoza Velazquez and was known as Pantera .

Killed along with him were Jesus Enrique Portillo Urquiza, known as the Ferrari and Alberto Montero Lizarraga,a young bodyguard from Mazatlan.

The incident occurred between the people in four vehicles around 21:00 pm at  height 7 km road leading from La Paz to Los Planes.   Besides the three dead,  officials said that others sustained  serious injury.  

So far the reason for the conflict is unknown. The PGR  has not given official information.

Journalists in the area unofficially established that the four vehicles were,  a Nissan Nitro, Volkswagen Jetta and Chevrolet Pickup truck, Cheyenne, along with a four-wheeler.

Elements of the Navy of Mexico, and State Ministerial Police were dispatched to the scene and mounted a heavy security, which included  several checkpoints on Luis Donaldo Colosio Blvd. to the area of ​​the colonia Agua Escondida.

The road to Los Planes was completely closed , and only police and  paramedics were allowed through. 

BCS La Paz

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Mexican Cartel Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Narco Drones)

Borderland Beat republished from Small Wars Journal

Mexican cartels are designing custom drones

Mexican Cartel Tactical Note #21 by Robert Bunker

Mexico’s drug cartels are reportedly commissioning custom-made drones to transport narcotics across the US border, illustrating the continual development of innovative new technologies and methods used to traffic drugs.

Cartels have begun hiring local workers from companies in Mexico to develop custom drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), suited to their needs, according to an unnamed Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) source consulted by El Universal.
Since 2012, the DEA has registered around 150 narco drones crossing the border, transporting in total approximately two tons of cocaine and other drugs. This amounts to an average of roughly 13 kilos per load.

US and Mexican authorities have identified Queretaro, Guadalajara, Nuevo Leon and Mexico City as the drone production points, where cartels pay professionals two to three times their normal salary for this custom technology.

While cartels used to use foreign-made drones, the new reliance on home-grown technology and construction is more cost-effective -- the method is cheaper than the construction of cross-border tunnels or the use of semi-submersible vessels, according to El Universal's report.

InSight Crime Analysis
These new developments represent the latest in a long list of technologies and drug transport methods developed by cartels… 

Mexican criminal organizations have been using UAVs since at least 2010, but the relatively small amount of drugs transported per trip on the drones registered by the DEA helps explain why the cartels want to develop larger, specially tailored UAVs. As drone technology worldwide becomes increasingly accessible and cost effective, commissioning custom-made drones in Mexico is the next logical step for cartels.

Key Information:  Doris Gómora, “Fabrican narcos sus propios drones, alerta la DEA.” El Universal. 9 de Julio de 2014, http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/nacion-mexico/2014/carteles-fabrican-narcodrones-trasiego-eu-1022274.html:

Who:  Mexican cartels; specific cartels not stated. Key hiring cities for domestic drone production personnel—Mexico City, Querétaro, Guadalajara, and Nuevo León—suggest Sinaloan and Los Zetas cartel involvement at a minimum. 

What:  Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) utilized to transport illicit narcotics across the border from Mexico to the United States. Initially foreign produced, particularly Israeli, and then domestic drones since 2014. Since 2012, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has documented about 150 of these confirmed UAV intrusions.

When:  UAV use since at least 2010 to the present.

Where:  Along the Mexican and U.S. border.

Why:  For transport of illicit narcotics; profit motive, overcome U.S. border defenses.

Analysis:  The Mexican cartels have engaged in a three phase evolutionary process of aerial narcotics trafficking from conventional aircraft (both converted airliners and light craft) to ultralight aircraft to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Along the U.S. Southern border, this process has been prompted by increased U.S. homeland security activities. UAV use is not unique to the Mexican cartels with such criminal activity noted in January 2009, with drones going to Elmley Prison in Sheerness, Kent, United Kingdom (suspected narcotics)

1 in February 2011 going in to a prison in the Tula region south of Moscow, Russia (heroin)

2 in November 2011 coming across the Straight of Gibraltar into Spain (cannabis resin)

3 throughout 2013 in the province of Quebec, Canada going to various prisons (illicit narcotics)

4 in November 2013 going to the US prison in Calhoun, Georgia (cigarette smuggling)

5 in March 2014 going to a Melbourne, Australia prison (illicit narcotics)

6 and in May 2014 entering the Kaliningrad region, Russia (cigarette smuggling).

Of concern are future Mexican cartel UAV evolutionary potentials related to a) sensor payload use for reconnaissance and surveillance functions and b) weapons payload use for small arms and IED attack capabilities. While there are no reports that either of these two evolutionary potentials have taken place, they would provide the Mexican cartels with additional tactical and operational level capabilities.

For a list of sources used for this report link here to original publication

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Refuses to Testify: Former Michoacán Governor son Rodrigo Vallejo arrested

Chivís Martínez for Borderland Beat

The son of Michoacán's former governor, Fausto Vallejo,  has been arrested. Rodrigo Vallejo Mora, aka "El Gerber" was arrested today on charges of concealing a crime [cover-up] in connection with the recently surfaced video depicting him at a meeting with  Servando Gomez 'La Tuta', leader of the Los Caballeros Templarios. 

The attorney general reported that Vallejo Mora refused to testify about the video, or answers questions about same.

Vallejo Mora was subpoenaed to give testimony,  but "refused to declare the social requirements regarding the investigation of crimes and the prosecution of offenders," said the prosecution in a brief statement. 

The lack of cooperation by Vallejo Mora resulting in his charges, the legal status will now be decided by a district judge.

The prosecutor stressed that the case regarding "other crimes" is still ongoing. 

 Even if the video does not present any criminal activities, sources within the PGR said that they have other recordings and testimonies which could be used against Vallejo Mora.

He was transferred to  Almoloya de Juárez Prison,  in the State of  México

"Gerber" may have not wanted to speak about the video to the PGR agency, but he was not shy about speaking with the press.  His contention to the press, in interviews, was that a convoy of 40-50 trucks kidnapped him and forced him to the meeting.  In the video however he appears relaxed, knows surrounding people by name, jokes with La Tuta while drinking a Tecate.

For his part, the former governor wrote on social networks, a contradictory message that his son was taken against his will, but if found he went willingly and attended the meeting by choice, he should be punished according to the law.

"Tuta videos" have been the downfall of other senior politicos, including former governor of Michoacán, the now incarcerated Jesus Reyna, among other officials.

  Cereso Santiaguito, in  Almoloya de Juárez,  México State

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Organized Crime: Cocaine & Crude

Borderland Beat: Video from Vice

An excellent video from Vice. "Cocaine & Crude", is about cartel diversification from drug trafficking into oil theft. It begins in Tamaulipas, most of Mexico's extensive oil reserves are off the coast of Tamaulipas,  the state is the historical center for the country's petroleum industry beginning more than 100 years ago.

With the state being rich in oil reserves, combined with lucrative drug corridors, add in corruption being the norm,  it is little wonder organized crime violence is an untamed beast.

Zetas are the only cartel that began with a business structure of 50% diversification; knocks offs, extortion, kidnapping, sex trade, versus drug trafficking.  Oil alone, could surpass drugs in the future as most profitable portion of Zetas activities.

The reporter takes an amazing excursion to a Pemex site, with begins with soldiers listening to narcos radio communications.  They are traveling to a site where an illegal tap was installed the night before.

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Security: Goverment claims don't touch reality

Borderland Beat Translated by Reed Brundage Mexico Voices

As the EPN administration boasts and assures insecurity has been overcome the reality reflects a far different picture, Michoacan and Tamaulipas remain the kidnapping capitals of the nation, and transparency has been thrown into the muddy waters of yesterday.   EPN's ratings have hit an all time low.

Commissioner Castillo insists "Michoacan is under control" but under whose control?

Enrique Peña Nieto’s government insists on celebrating the success of its security operations in Michoacán and Tamaulipas, even though the violence remains present in those states. The head of the Secretariat of Government Relations, Miguel Ángel Osorio Chong, has asserted that in Michoacán “the insecurity crisis has been overcome“, while for Tamaulipas, he boasted “positive results in the decrease of violence.”

However, the official in charge of domestic policy did not provide any data to confirm his statements. On the contrary, the official figures contradict him: Tamaulipas is the leading state in kidnappings and Michoacán is in second place. Also, both states are among the national top 10 in murders and extort ions.

Early this month, the National Citizen Observatory criticized the federal official for the same reason. The organization exposed him by stating that “the cases of Michoacán and Tamaulipas demonstrate that the statements of the authorities do not correspond with the reality reflected by the officially reported figures.”

Speeches are not actions. The data contradict Miguel Ángel Osorio Chong and distance the government even more from the real situation suffered by the people exposed to such violence.

The State of Mexico is the counterpart, and undoubtedly a special case. It is the state that Enrique Peña Nieto governed before taking office as President and, since 2013, it is the most violent and dangerous state in the country. Unlike Michoacán and Tamaulipas, in the State of Mexico there are no jingoistic speeches, only obscurity and silence.

It is therefore easy to imagine that there is nothing to celebrate there. Obscurity in cases such as the alleged mass execution of 22 hit men by members of the Army that remains unexplained. Silence by the authorities who don´t want to make public the magnitude of the problem faced by the State in that part of the country while the Executive Secretariat of the National System of Public Security (SESNSP) and the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) confirm that, indeed, the State of Mexico is the most violent state in the country. But victory is being declared in two states that, far from improving, remain the same.

What´s happening in that state where no one will say anything, not the Governor, the President, or the head of the Secretariat of Government Relations?

Is the magnitude of the tragedy that immense?

Peña Nieto must stop investing efforts in suggesting a reality that doesn’t match the one experienced by Mexicans, and should admit that things are not going as planned. In that way, the statements of his government at least would have credibility.

 Sinembargo

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Sinaloa slams the door shut on the press and democracy

Borderland Beat Translated by Leila English/Mexico Voices

From Sinembargo:

Perhaps it is best to begin by saying that Governor Mario López Valdez is in a fight with Sinaloa’s critical press. He has abused it, and he has besieged it. He doles out punishments by withholding government publicity funds, for example, or simply harasses its journalists. Such is the case of the newspaper Noroeste, which has suffered a campaign of aggressions that affected, obviously, even its general director. 

Nothing less than a shooting. An assault, supposedly. Nobody could believe it.

Recently, the State Congress approved reforms to the Organic Law of the State Attorney General which will limit the scope of the media, who will no longer have access to information about investigations and who, by law, now, will only be able to “report” official press releases.

And these press releases have to be delivered by another organization, a very specific one: that which guards access to public information. And always and only when they are in compliance with the requisites identified in transparency laws.

To restate: even the press releases will require a bureaucratic process.

Reporters will not have access to crime scenes, any audio, video, or photographs of the people involved in a criminal event, or to the use of information related to public security or the pursuit of justice. It’s like that.

No representative from the Attorney General’s office will be able to give information to media outlets without the express authorization from the State Attorney General or from the organization guarding access to public information.

Yes, it’s like that. It’s not a joke. It’s not Iraq or Iran; it’s not China or North Korea. It’s Sinaloa.

Governor Mario López Valdez has been accused of having links with organized crime. His police forces have been accused of manipulating evidence and falsifying guilt. His administration has been fingered as an assailant of journalists. And few of these suspicions have been cleared.

In response, however, comes this law.

As journalists we are part of the mechanism of democracy. Access to information is a necessity for that great resource, the free press, to function.

Now the journalists of Sinaloa must await press releases in their offices, or risk subverting the law in a way that could send them to prison.

Mario López Vladez has constructed, for himself and his own, a hidden castle. They will live there as they please. They will act there as they wish. Not ruled by a king, but by a dictator.

These are bad times for Sinaloa. These are bad times for democracy

If you recall, after the Chapo capture, the governor said he was told nothing about the operation., which no doubt was a big part of the plan.  

A year ago a video was sent to Riodoce accusing the governor of ties to the Sinaloa Cartel. Below is an article from Justice in Mexico about the incident.

Another Mexican state governor is in the media spotlight, this time for alleged ties to the Sinaloa Cartel. Around the same time as the corruption scandal surrounding Tabasco Governor Andrés Granier broke in late June, and just a week before former Quintana Roo Governor Mario Villanueva was sentenced to 11 years by a U.S. federal judge for corrupt ties to drug trafficking, a video surfaced online through Ríodoce news outlet accusing Sinaloa Governor Mario López Valdez of working with the Sinaloa Cartel to defeat cartel rivals and gain control of territory in Sinaloa. López, more commonly known as ‘Malova,’ has denied the allegations.

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Peruvian coke provider for the Tijuana Cartel is arrested.

Alberto Santillan Zamora, alleged cocaine provider for the Tijuana Cartel.

The Interior Ministry of Peru announced the arrest of an alleged Peruvian drug trafficker accused of leading an international drug organization linked to the Tijuana cartel.

Alberto Santillan Zamora was taken to Lima, Peru after his arrest in the jungle city of Tingo Maria, in a heavily guarded operation supervised by the Interior Minister Daniel Urresti, and the Director of the National Police, Jorge Flores. 

"The individual just transferred worked for the Tijuana Cartel and is among the most wanted criminal leaders in the nation." said Urresti. 

In 2002, Santillan managed to evade justice, following the arrest of 37 involved in the seizure of more than 1.7 tons of cocaine. 

The alleged kingpin was known by the nicknames of "Chang" or "Old man" and was captured in the town of Pampayacu last Thursday. 

According to His arrest warrant, his organization was known as "Safari" and operated in the regions of Lima, Ayacucho, Chimbote, Trujillo and the Huallaga Amazonian Valley. 

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I am (Rafael) Caro Quintero

Chivis Martínez Borderland Beat

Corridos are songs that send news or a story, set to simple polka like music. Beginning in the 1800's they became popular, but it was during the Mexican Revolution, when corridos became essential, more so as a way to funnel news to the mostly illiterate population. The corridos sent news of major events, celebrated victories, grieved loses and gave recognition to the heroes of the revolution. A sample is Corrido del General Zapata, (Corrido of  Emiliano Zapata, also called Atila of the South)

Moving ahead to narco times, and today.  Corridos are used by cartels to send news, threaten or boast about their activities or give a nod to a narco  deemed a hero.  The  corrido above is supposedly a message from Rafael Caro Quintero.

Convicted of the murder of DEA agent Kiki Camarena, the 62 year old Caro Quintero, who co-founded the once powerful Guadalajara Cartel, was released from prison last August.  His court ordered release was on  based on grounds of court "irregularities".  This enraged the U.S. due to the warrant out for his arrest.  Mexico has claimed it was a "mistake" and has since issued a warrant for his re-arrest.  

This corrido was recommended and translated by Borderland Beat reader "Saul"

 "I Am Rafael Caro Quintero"

Thanks to Graduates

everyone who supported me

I thank God I'm free

number 1 all have nicknamed me

I am Rafael Caro Quintero

I have new plans and new secrets

to live as a person of honor

Life is tough when you are charged this is true

the moments in prison as well

My Friends and women

are always here with me my people that I cherish

It was 28 years and if something I was to pay them I already have

Time for me to leave

I hear whispers of another country calling me

they do not scare me, because I still have value

and it will not be so easy to bring me out of here

because I owe them nothing.

hello my brother my grandest friend Rafael

it gives me pleasure to see you today

things are not like before, you see it

there are new people, new generation

the "Plebada" these days have no respect

if you owe, there's no mercy no forgiveness

only to see as you fly through the air

they will shoot you, take care and may god be with you.

I thank you, look my time to leave has not come

I will be happy while living,

also when I leave this life

as I was born to die

Since a young boy I knew what I wanted

good friend, when bad be careful

maybe you will see me walking the streets

I retire I'm Caro quintero

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Chapo and Emma: A Wedding in Durango

Borderland Beat Archives posted by Vato

This is a repost I that was suggested it as a repost by a reader.  In case you missed it the first time or want to re-read.

The Deputy Secretary of Standards and Media of the Department of the Interior (Segob), Eduardo Sanchez Hernandez, said that "according to intelligence information, Ines Coronel Barrera is identified as the father of Emma Coronel Aispuro, 18, the wife of Joaquin Guzman Loera, whom she married in 2007 in the town of Angostura, Canelas County, Durango.

There, it tells the peculiar love story of Emma and El Chapo Guzman, which filled with pride her father and mother, Ines Coronel Barrera and Estela Aispuro Aispuro, respectively, both from the town of Angostura.

In its public version, the story began on November 20, 2006. On that day, the city council called on all the young girls to compete in the contest to elect the queen of the 2007 Great Coffee and Guava Festival.

One of the candidates surprised people: Emma, a girl from the remote village of La Angostura, would compete against Baudelia Ayala Coronel, from El Ranchito; Rosa Sandoval Avitia, from the county seat; Alma Diaz Rodriguez, from Zapote and Nancy Herrera Vizcarra, from Mesa de Guadalupe.

El Correo de la Montana, stated that it gave Emma a sort of "morbid popularity", based on the expectation that El Chapo would be present. There were already rumors -- which later became news -- about a wedding.

The Day of Epiphany came. At 11:00 in the morning, some 200 motorcycles with seating for two riders arrived at Canelas. They carried men with black uniforms and hoods, with submachine guns on their shoulders and large caliber pistols on their belts. Little by little, they spread out to the town's ten entrances, including those used by horsemen. They placed themselves on all the streets.

Then, the members of the band Los Canelos landed on the local air strip aboard five-seat airplanes; their job was to provide the entertainment. But they were also armed with weapons: they showed off pistols with gold grips. Hours later, at 4:30 p.m., six fixed wing aircraft landed . El Chapo descended from one of these.

He wore jeans, jacket, cap and black leather athletic shoes. These had a white stripe. As if it was part of his clothing, he had an AK-47 "cuerno de chivo" assault rifle strapped across his chest and, on his waist, a pistol that matched his clothes.

Behind him, his right hand stepped down from the same airplane; Nacho Coronel, originally from Canelas.

Immediately, the rest of this most wanted drug trafficker's security team was deployed. From three other airplanes descended men wearing green clothing, similar to military uniforms; they were wearing vests and had radios attached to their chests. The operation was more ostentatious than that seen on presidential trips.

The other two airplanes carried the weapons: grenades, cuernos de chivo, submachine guns and handguns. And innumerable cases of whiskey.

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