Blog dedicated to reporting on Mexican drug cartels
on the border line between the US and Mexico
.

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Tamaulipas:Female kidnapper pleads for her life before being shot 14 times

Posted by senorjoe material from NuevoLaredoVivo

Female kidnapper/extortionist pleads for her life before being shot. She was accused of using the name of cartel when kidnapping/extorting.



Monday, March 20, 2017

Chihuahua: 'La Línea' Leader El Cabo killed in shootout

Chivis for Borderland Beat...........

The State Attorney General's Office (FGE) confirmed the death of César Raúl Gamboa Sosa, alias 'El Cabo', leader of the 'La Línea' criminal group that maintains control in the Cuauhtémoc region.

"El Cabo" was shot and killed by police and soldiers at La Quemada ranch.

Sunday afternoon there was a confrontation in Rubio, in the region of Cuauhtémoc, where municipal
police officers arrived after a report was called in to the emergency line. On arrival they were confront by gunfire.  They called for  for support from state and military elements.  

Four policemen were injured (some reports say killed) and eight suspects were killed, including Gamboa Sosa. In addition, 17 armored vehicles were seized, the FGE reported.


The conflict has been continuing for weeks, between 'La Línea' from Namiquipa and 'La Línea' from Cuauhtémoc, leaders El Cabo vs El 80.  Yesterday a human head was discovered in a foam cooler near Colonia Álvaro Obregón, Cuauhtémoc.  

It was the head  belonging to a bodyguard of El 80s,  who was killed and decapitated on the order of El Cabo.  it is suspected the decapitation led to the shootout.

Veracruz: 47 more skulls unearthed in mass graves

Chivis for Borderland Beat


The Sánchez Pérez family (above) disappeared in September 2016, while attending the Beer Festival, now six months later their remains were discovered  in one of the dozens of  clandestine graves, also known as "narco fosas"  in Alvarado, Veracruz. Narcofosas are mass graves used by cartels to dispose of bodies.

On Sunday,  the Attorney General's Office confirmed that the Queretanos were found, buried in one of the graves in Arbolillo, Alvarado, along with at least 44 more bodies.  

As of now only 6 persons have been identified from the remains unearthed.

Veracruz is notorious for its narcofosas, with thousands of bodies being discovered in the past decade.  More than any other state in Mexico. Funding allocated by the federal government to Veracruz for DNA data cataloguing, was allegedly pilfered, during the corrupt administration of Javier Duarte.  There are only 276 DNA results, instead of the thousands that should be in the data bank.  

Brady’s Super bowl Jersey’s found in Mexico, at La Prensa Director's home

video released of culprit posing as international press stealing the jersey...


Jersey's found in Ortega's home

The NFL issued the statement that confirms that in a joint operation the Brady Superbowl jersey was recovered and now in the hands of the NFL.

“"Through the cooperation of the NFL and New England Patriots’ security teams, the FBI and other law enforcement authorities, the Super Bowl LI jersey worn last month by MVP Tom Brady has been recovered," the NFL said in a statement released on Monday, March 20. "Also retrieved during the ongoing investigation was the jersey Brady wore in the Patriots' victory in Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks in 2015.”

With the help of Mexico’s attorney general’s office PGR, and the federal police, Tom Brady’s stolen jersey's, was recovered in Mexico. This came after a request by the FBI for collaboration in the search, an informant came forward leading investigators to Mexico.

Federal Police and the PGR recovered the stolen jersey, at the home of Mauricio Ortega, a director of the newspaper La Prensa, federal sources confirmed.

The theft of the jersey valued at 500k USD, is a federal crime in both countries.

Video of theft: 




Friday, March 17, 2017

Five prisoners escape from Culiacan prison, including son of El Azul, Pancho Chimal and the leader of Los Antrax

Translated by Otis B Fly-Wheel for Borderland Beat from a Riodoce article

Subject Matter: Juan Jose Esparragoza Monzon
Recommendation: No prios subject matter knowledge required


Reporter: Alejandro Monjardin
The Chief of Security from the prison of Culiacan, an Agent of State Preventative Police, Jose Mario Murillo Rodriguez has disappeared, after the escape of five prisoners yesterday, informed the Secretary of Public State Security. Genaro Robles Casilla.

He said yesterday they called him for the operation implemented after the escape yesterday, and today he had not been located and that he is being investigated along with some custodians. The Attorney Generals office has begun an inquiry to establish how the escape was made.

The Under-Secretary of Security, Cristobel Castaneda Camarillo, indicated that it has not been ruled out that they had been aided by prison guards, and may have escaped hidden in vehicles.


Thursday, March 16, 2017

Tijuana: Dead dog with message left in front of Zona Rio bar

Dead dog left with message enfrente de Zona Rio bar

In the early morning hours, the dog's crumbled body lay in front of the door, a bow macabrely wrapped around his neck, a twisted, mocking message of disrespect, blood ran across the lifeless animal, dropped outside Caval Antro Y Bar on Paseo Independencia, in Zona Rio.  

Alongside the dog, lay a cardboard cut out with a message.  The exact message was not revealed by authorities responding to the scene, but the message was said to threaten bands scheduled to perform at the bar over the weekend.



"El Fantasma" and Los Populares de Illano, are set to tomorrow night, from the businesses facebook page.  This comes a few weeks after a banner signed by CTNG and CJNG, was placed at Las Pulgas, in anticipation of a performance by Los Nuevos Rebeldes, known for Culiacan, and Sinaloa corridos. 

The message left at Las Pulgas stated their would be consequences if the group performed, the performance was canceled.  Referencing an escalating blood feud between groups who performed for both Sinaloa backed Aquiles, and their rivals in Tijuana, the banner claimed they would kill those who sang for them, because their singers had also been killed.  Lenin Ramirez was mentioned by name, 'We are going to kill Lenin Ramirez". 

Animals, sometimes pigs, and dogs are often used to send a message to rival groups, slaughtered to send the ritualistic message of disrespect and disregard.  In Northwestern states, groups associated with Zetas and the CDG have left dead pigs at the scenes of body drops, or by themselves.  

In 2010, after a double murder in Tijuana, a CAF lieutenant, Jose Najera Gil, under what was once known as the Fernando Sanchez Organization, ordered a dead dog to be thrown at the headstones of the victims, in Chula Vista, San Diego.  The order was carried out, a dead dog was thrown against the headstones, with a message saying "The family is next". 

Sources: AFN Tijuna 

Cristian Was Kidnapped In Chilapa, Guerrero; He Was Found With a Bullet in the Head Next To another Minor



Cuartoscuro Archive
Last Saturday, Cristian left his house after midday to do homework with some of his classmates.  He told his parents that from there, he would go to see his girlfriend and that he would be back late, but he didn’t return.  Cristian was kidnapped by armed men and someone told his parents that they saw him when they took him in a taxi with tinted windows, after that, they didn’t know about his whereabouts until the following Monday when he was found in the neighborhood Panorámica, located east of Chilpancingo.  Next to him was the body of Luis, a 16-year-old boy from Xocomulco, located in the municipality of Chilapa.  Luis also had a bullet to his head.

By: Zacarias Cervantes | Translated by Valor for Borderland Beat

March 11, 2017— During the funeral of Cristian Peralta Rendón, there wasn’t just crying, there was also anger, despair, rage and calls for justice to the government on the part of their relatives and friends.

They boy was 14 years old and was studying his second year of secondary school in Chilapa, where gunmen kidnapped him on Saturday, March 4 and on Monday, March 6, he was found seriously wounded in a neighborhood east of Chilpancingo next to the corpse of another boy.

Cristian only had on a pair of boxers and had a bullet in the head.  He was transferred alive to the hospital Raymundo Abarca Alarcón where he died Wednesday morning.

After midday on Thursday, Cristian’s body was transferred from his home on Calle 8 Sur de Chilapa to the cemetery where his relatives, friends, and neighbors buried him.

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

El Chapo does not see the light of the Sun, according to his Lawyers

Translated by Otis B Fly-Wheel for Borderland Beat from an Informador.Mx article

Subject Matter: El Chapo Guzman, incarceration conditions
Recommendation: No prior subject matter knowledge required


The Lawyers of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman officially solicited, this Monday to Judge Brian Cogan that the "finish or modify immediately the imprisonment conditions in which the capo lives since he was extradited to the USA on the 19th of January.

In a 24 page letter to which we had access, the defence solicited that they finish that severe isolation in which the ex leader of the Sinaloa Cartel lives, without outside contact to anyone other than his three Lawyers and a translator, with only one hour outside his cell, Monday to Friday.

"We solicit the Court to free Mr Guzman and put him in the general prison population. As an alternative, the Court might modify certain sections and dispositions of the special administration applied to Guzman Loera because of his dangerousness and history that his defence lawyers consider unconstitutional, specially communication restrictions.


Tuesday, March 14, 2017

El Cuini to be extradited to the USA

Translated  by Otis B Fly-Wheel for Borderland Beat from a Milenio article

The SRE concedes the extradition of Abigael Gonzalez Valencia, identified as number 2 in the CJNG, but he will be extradited when amparo he promoted finishes.


Reporter: Ruben Mosso
The Secretary for Exterior Relations conceded an extradition to the USA of capo Abigael Gonzalez Valencia, El Cuini, identified as number 2 in the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion, the exchange will be realized when the amparo he promoted terminates.

According to Judicial registers, Gonzalez Valencia was approved for extradition on 21st of December of 2016, a resolution that the complainant contested, was the motive for the stay of disposition of a Judge of the 12th District in Penal Matters of Amparo in City of Mexico, which refers to his personal liberty, in a place where he is imprisoned, and at the disposition of the authority that carries out the procedure of extradition.

In April of 2015, a Judge of the 16th District of Federal Penal Processes of the North Preventative Prison, in City of Mexico, ordered the provisional detention with end of extradition of El Cuini.


Monday, March 13, 2017

Tijuana: 5 executed in Zona Norte

5 executed in Zona Norte

In a small room between Primera and Miguel F. Martinez streets in Zona Norte, a grim stash house of sorts, a man clings to life.  His associates, friends, perhaps family lay dead, between the floor, and and the bleak furnishings, a few battered couches.  Blood leaked from their wounds, all head shots, one or two apiece, spreading out onto the floor.  

Three women and two men, executed, ambushed, likely betrayed.  All 9mm shells, no signs of heavy weapons, long rifles.  They were part of a narco retail cell operating in La Zona.  The kind of group that bears both the blame, and burden for many of the constant killings and mutilations, severed limbs, and bullet holes, weaving in and out of flesh, hot bullet shells dancing across victims insides.

These killings were different then the public executions, shootouts in bars, clubs, mariscos stands, these people saw their killers, and interacted with them before they were killed.  Single shots mostly, no signs of torture, or bounding have been reported.  More then one, to retrain, and to kill 5 people, without problems. At least 3. 

They may have thought they were going to leave.  They were either surprised, lured, or betrayed. They may have begged, pleaded, confessed. They may have stood defiant to the end.  They may have anticipated the shot, as the deafening crack of gunshots echoed across the room, flinched before the bullet pierced their skin, into the back of their skull. 


The retail cells are many, tentacles of larger cells, dispersed all through Tijuana, esp in La Zona.  The family and group of the fallen El Mono, Manuel Luis Toscano, known as Los Iqualos, still maintains a presence.  The people of Los Aquiles have a certain degree of control.  The people of CTNG, formerly under 'El Gross' operate.   It is simply the largest retail market in the city.

The Red Light district attracts sex tourism from San Diego, and internationally, sending hundreds to the bars and brothels that line the area.  Meth and heroin are sold at a retail level to the desperate addicts of Zona Norte, whose addiction consume them, fuel blood and violence across the city. "Globitos" small quantities of crystal and heroin are packaged, labeled, and sold by the retail cells, who in turn pay plaza, and buy product from a larger group.  

Most all of us, are more then what we do, more then what we have done, or will do, and complexity and humanity lays behind the killings and brutality.  There are very few truly evil people.  It is undeniable though that in death, what we leave behind can represent us, our desperation, our fears, our failures. 

-Maria Guadelupe Ramos Navarro, was 22, bullets struck her neck, and left shoulder.  "Gabriel' was tattooed above her left breast.  

-Unknown male victim, single shot behind the ear, another to the jaw, three skulls tattooed on his forearm.

-Unknown male victim, 30-35 years, single shot behind the ear, "Margarita" tattooed on his left breast. 

-Unknown female, 40-45 years, single shot to the head. 

-Unknown female, 30-35  years, single bullet to the head, behind her ear. "Suerte Puta" tattooed on her chest.

Items found in the room include a 9mm pistol, a box of .22 caliber ammunition, a Truconnect phone, and a glass pipe...

Sources: AFN Tijuana 


Small Wars Journal: Mexican Cartel Tactical Note #29

Mexican Cartel Tactical Note #29: By Robert J. Bunker and Marisa Mendoza

Vehicular Ramps Used to Bypass Border Fencing, "As borders tighten, smugglers raise their game"

  Photos from Border Patrol-Campo Ca
…Ongoing measures to erect 670 miles of new fence on the border are credited with helping to cut arrests to some 870,000 last year from 1.1 million. Nevertheless, smugglers are trying and, in many cases succeeding, in breaching every kind of barrier thrown in their paths.

Sturdy steel posts have been sunk in the ground in many areas to stop vehicles crossing north, although drug traffickers have responded by building elaborate vehicle ramps to drive cars over the top, border police say.

“It’s like the old show ‘The Dukes of Hazzard,’ cars flying through the air,” said James Jacques, a supervisory Border Patrol in San Diego, Calif.

Illegal border crossers are also routinely beating pedestrian barriers using ladders tailor-made in clandestine Mexican workshops, border police say, while others have used screwdrivers to try to clamber over new 14-foot tall, steel-mesh barriers designed to deny handholds.

One such attempt was foiled. “It took the man a while, and by the time he got to the top, we were waiting for him,” said Andrew Patterson, a Border Patrol agent in Yuma, Arizona…

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Silvestre Piolo Blas: From Professional Soccer Player to Heroin Trafficker

An Original Borderland Beat Story written by Chuck B Almada

***Note From Chuck: Hi to all Borderland followers and fans, I had to take a brief hiatus from contributing to the blog due to professional and educational reasons, but now I am happy to be back full of energy and eager to report on important stories and issues that matter to all of us. For the past few days, I have been working on this story, a story that perhaps none of you have heard about. This story is by far an exclusive to Borderland Beat and I hope you all enjoy it. This story was possible thanks to information received from reliable sources and also with information obtained through the Open Records Act that helped corroborate some of those facts***


ATLANTA, GA- Early this month, several Spanish language outlets, including Univision, ESPN Deportes, El Debate, and even the Official Twitter account of Monarcas Morelia announced the death of former professional soccer player, Silvestre Blas Fierros better known as “Piolo.”  Up until today, the details surrounding the death of the 23 year old were unknown. Univision originally reported:


“Through social media, Monarcas Morelia revealed that their former player, Silvestre Blas Fierros died this past Wednesday from unknown causes in the United States. Blas Fierros lived in the United States after leaving Monarcas Morelia, the team in which he debuted in 2014 against Necaxa when he was 20 years old. As of right now, there has been no information regarding the death of the soccer player. In their Twitter message, Monarcas Morelia limited their information to only sending their condolences to the family of the soccer player" (Univision, 2017)
After conducting extensive research throughout the web, all news outlets contained similar information as the above statement, with none mentioning details surrounding the soccer player’s death. Through several reliable sources, Borderland Beat received exclusive information regarding the death of Piolo and his activities in the United States prior to his death.

Border Patrol Tunnel Rats

By Javier,  Guest reporter Borderland Beat
They are called "tunnel rats", when referring to the U.S. Border Patrol agents who descend  into underground Narco Tunnel that have appeared along the U.S., Mexico border over the past 20 years.  What may appear clear above ground, could have border patrol on duty below the surface.

Sinaloa Cartel  capo Chapo Guzmán, is credited as the innovator behind the drug tunnels, used primarily to traffic drugs.  But the most infamous usage of the Guzmán tunnels, which increasingly have become very sophisticated over the years, was on  the night of July 11, 2015, when chapo disappeared into the underside of his prison cell shower, descending a ladder,  to the tunnel, hopped on a motorbike and exited to freedom.  Albeit, for only six months.

Arguably, the greatest factor of Sinaloa’s trafficking success, are the tunnels. It provides  the ability to transport drugs, in bulk,  to its number one customer, the United States.

International coaine trafficker of the Comorra Mafia in Napoli arrested in Tamaulipas

Translated by Otis B Fly-Wheel for Borderland Beat from a Milenio article

Subject Matter: La Cosa Nostra, Italian Mafia, Tamaulipas
Recommendation: No prior subject matter knowledge required

Giulio Perrone, alleged member of the Italian Mafia from Napoli, has been sought by law enforcement for 10 years for his probable responsibility in international cocaine trafficking.

Giulio Perrone, alleged leader of the Italian mafia in Napoli, was detained by elements of the PGR in Tamaulipas, for his alleged involvement in international cocaine trafficking.

The detainee, 64 years of age, originally from the province of Gragnano, Italy, had a red notification in Interpol and a sentence of 20 years, 11 months and eight days in prison, handed down by the Napoli court.

Perrone, who has been for 10 years in the list of most sought after fugitives by the Italian Government, delivered by the authorities of his country.


Saturday, March 11, 2017

Arturo Beltran Leyva, the life, the death of "El Barbas" part 3 "The final stand of Don Arturo"

Arturo Beltran Leyva, the life, the death of "El Barbas" part 3 "The final stand of Don Arturo"

Written for Borderland Beat by Otis B Fly-Wheel, with additional material and photos the BB archive.

Subject Matter: Arturo Beltran Leyva, El Barbas, El Fantasma, El Botas Blancas, La Muerte
Recommendation: Read Part 1 of this article here see link
                              Read Part 2 of this article here see link




Born in the cradle of narco's, La Palma ,Badiraguato Sinaloa in December of 1954,though some put his birth day as September 1961. Arutro Beltran Leyva also known by the nicknames, "El Barbas", El Botas Blancas, El Fantasma and La Muerte, he worked with small time poppy growers and learnt his trade from Amado Carrillo Fuentes , and later became known as Jefe de Jefes, boss of bosses. His life was characterized by the extreme violence he visited upon anyone who stood in his way. He was eventually cornered and killed by Mexican Marines with the ELINT intelligence help of the US 7th Special Forces group in Cuernavaca, leading to a power vacuum and the "Hydra Effect".  

Big thanks go out to Chivis and BB's friend Narcomics, for the images. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram @narcomicscorp

Reporter: Otis B Fly-Wheel

An alliance with the Executioner
As Don Arturo made his plans to take what he saw as rightfully his from the Sinaloa Federation, he realized that he would not be able to do it with the personnel available to him in the BLO. Despite the large amount of crews in his organization ( see crews section in Arturo Beltran Leyva part 2 ), he saw common ground with Los Zetas.

Los Zetas were unhappy at this time with Osiel Cardenas Guillen from the Cartel del Golfo and were making their own plans to split from their parent organization and seize power for themselves. Leading Los Zetas at this time were Heriberto Lazcano Lazcano, "The Executioner" and Miguel Trevino "El Z-40". Los Zetas also found common ground with Arturo in his willingness to resort to horrific violence to achieve his aims as a first resort.

Arturo arranged a meeting with the heads of Los Zetas in Torreon, Coahuila. At this meeting it was agreed that three cities were key to their plans for domination. Torreon, Acapulco and Aguascaliente. Torreon was a strategic city for drug trafficking and was previously dominated by the Sinaloa Federation.

The war for Torreon was defined when Los Zetas/BLO alliance attacked Carlos Herrera Araluce in Gomez Palacio, Durango, who was key for the Federation in the city. By some miracle Herrera Araluce and his wife survived the attack, and immediately left the country for Spain. Los Zetas then delivered an ultimatum to Lawyer Alberto Romero, who later disappeared in the form of a letter and a video showing the torture of a Police commander of Coahuila, Enrique Ruiz Arevalo.

The Federation and the Juarez cartel retreated from Torreon, next was Acapulco, and another campaign of be-headings, kidnapping, and executions saw the Federation driven from the town. Lastly was Aguascalientes, which suffered the same fate as the other two cities with the Federation being driven out and BLO/Zetas sharing the plaza.

To dethrone the Federation, El Chapo and El Mayo must die

Don Arturo knew that if he was going to kill "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, currently languishing in prison in the USA, that first he would have to get rid of the people protecting him. As Arturo had been in charge of paying off bribes to those in power high up in the Army, PGR and Mexican Government he was uniquely placed to know exactly who to kill. Indeed the Sinaloa Federation had relied on the extravagance of Arturo and his brothers to charm, or bend the arms of those in power so the Federation could continue its drug production, logistics and sales without interference.

Arturo knew that on while El Chapo had holistic protection, to get close, he had to kill those protecting him locally, the Municipal and State Police in Culiacan and the surrounding regions, who were in the position to tip off  El Chapo to any upcoming threats to him or his immediate family.