15% Increase in Theft and Armed Assault in Cuernavaca

Translated by Valor for Borderland Beat

Statistics compiled by the Observatory for the Security in Morelos showed that Cuernavaca registered an increase of 15% in theft and armed assault, mainly in the communities of La Lagunilla, Antonio Barona, Satélite, Morelos, Milpillas, Flores Magón, Granjas and Bugambilias.  The figures presented are for the month of January, it should also be noted that there was an increase in February for the lack of vigilance in the city.

The crimes that have increased are assaults on public transport, especially in the community of Flores Magón, along Cuauhtémoc Avenue, at the height of the Potrero Verde community, as well as Morelos Sur Avenue, at the height of the communities Miguel Hidalgo, Las Palmas and Chipitlán, mainly.

The Observatory for Security noted that current municipal and state governments have not heard nor resolved demands from various sectors of society.  They reported that during the weekend, eight vehicles that had been reported as stolen in the municipalities of Jiutepec, Yautepec, Tepoztlán and Xochitepec were located.

Source: Morelos 3.0

Old school Zetas aligning with Renegade Gulf Cartel Members

Lucio R. Borderland Beat posted by Iztli with material from Chivis

A dismembered body of a man was left at "El Olivo" gas station, in Ciudad Victoria and next to the dismembered body was  a cartulina message, that threatens both authorities, Cartel del Noroeste, and civilians.  Zetas began a war for control, in this capital city,  against CDN

(paraphrasing)

This goes against all the civilians, authorities and military,  move as far away as possible,  because I am coming after whomever crosses me or  helps the fucking CDN
ATTE Z7, Z6, and also Z12 Rey and Coma Pitalua

The cartulina message  is interesting  as Itzli states in his post;

Mamito

“Unless this is the case of a code name being used by another individual, Z7 refers to Jesús Enrique Rejón Aguilar, alias "El Mamito", who was arrested on July 4, 2011 and extradited to the United States on September 11, 2012.  In February 2013 he pleaded guilty and reportedly received a mandatory minimum 10-year to maximum life in prison sentence.  However, there have been recent rumblings that he has already been released and is back in Mexico.  Another possibility is that this is actually Carlos Vera Calva, generally known as "Z-18".

Months ago Chivis was told by two good sources, that Mamito was spotted in Tamaulipas. Chivis felt it was rumor.  She checked BOP and Mamito is not in the prison system anywhere.  This probably means he is in protective custody, “somewhere”.  He was a key cooperative witness in the Zetas horse race, money laundering trial.  And he was a good witness for the U.S. (a scribd copy of his 92 page  testimony is at the bottom of this post.

Chivis says she went on Pacer to access sentencing or plea documents, and Mamito’s record and all documents have been wiped clean.  Only an extradition document remained.

WARNING IMAGES OF A DISMEMBERED BODY ON NEXT PAGE

"El Chapo" retired two years ago and his sons operate the Sinaloa Cartel, affrims Lydia Cacho

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

Subject Matter: Sinaloa Cartel
Recommendation: No prior subject matter knowledge required

The Mexican reporter Lydia Maria Cacho Ribeiro, assured in an interview with the United States chain Telemundo, that the structure of the Sinaloa Cartel is led by Alfredo and Ivan Guzman, sons of Joaquin Archivaldo Guzman Loera, alias "El Chapo", who recently was re-apprehended and imprisoned in the Cefereso #1 "Altiplano".

"Joaquin Archivaldo Guzman Loera appears to me one of the most dangerous criminals in the country. His two sons have controlled the Cartel for the last two years", she said, " and the authorities know this", she affirmed that "El Chapo" was retired from criminal activities.

"He is already beyond good and evil; He has been retired for two years and the authorities, and the FBI and Interpol and the CIA know it perfectly. He is not the operator of the Cartel", said Cacho.

Mireles: The Federal Government Betrayed the Autodefensas

By: Dalia Villegas Moreno | Translated by Valor for Borderland Beat 

Three years after the emergence of the autodefensa groups in Michoacán, Dr. José Mireles Valverde, an emblematic figure of the movement, said that the federal government betrayed those who carried out a “real social fight” and left them “worse”, because they disarmed them and left them in the hands of organized crime.

Through an audio recording that circulated throughout social networks, Mireles Valverde, who is imprisoned in a federal prison in Sonora since June 2014, accused of bearing arms that are not allowed, said that “there is nothing to celebrate” during the third anniversary of the autodefensa movement.

In any case, Mireles Valverde said that what should be celebrated is the dignity and the courage of the population of Tierra Caliente who faced organized crime with their limited resources.  “Unfortunately, the awakening was very painful, but in the moment when we faced our fears, we realized our greatness”.

He recounted when on one occasion, “those murderers,” which he says: were killing his people, “tying their hands and feet,” that a young 14 year old faced them with a shotgun; “he made them run, and there were six trucks filled with them armed, that’s dignity, and that is what we should be celebrating.”

Mireles Valverde said that during the 17 months that the autodefensas movement controlled the security in 36 municipalities, mainly in Tierra Caliente, the occurrence of crime reduced significantly.  “At that time, no one lost a needle,” he says.

In contrast, he said that the police and military apparatus of the Federation, of the state and the municipalities, with all the operational capacity and resources, couldn’t control both local jurisdiction crimes nor federal crimes.

Tijuana: 'El Karate' de CAF captured

El Karate Captured

Less then 72 hours after a manta from CTNG went up, demanding their share of the plaza, from those still loyal, or associated with CAF, one of the their most wanted was captured.  It is be a different 'Karate', as the one whose AKA was mentioned in this weeks narco manta, was Fausto Esteban Niedes, elusive Tijuana alleged CAF member, who once gave an interview to Zeta, claiming to be a motivational, anti bullying speaker, and telecommunications businessman.

 This 'Karate', was captured in San Luis Colorado, on the highway to Mexicali, with two associates.  The arrests were coordinated by elements of the Army, the PEP, and the Federales.  He was traveling with two men, one is presumed to be responsible for murders in Tijuana, and Mexicali.  They were in a Sierra van, and traveling with .223 rifle, with 16 rounds, and three pistols, with 26 rounds, multiple cell phones, and 7 kilos of crystal.

 El Karate was considered second in command of the CAF, new generation, and was in charge of sicarios and enforcement.  The men arrested with him, are alleged to have carried out murders in Tijuana and Mexicali.  It is not clear whether he is the same Karate, or a different one, or whether the mistake was intentional, or a calculated. Initial reports linked him to the massacre at the cockfight in Ensenada, but have since been removed.  Another cell leader, linked to Aquiles was arrested today in Ensenada, authorities claim some connection to the cockfight killings.

The capture of Guzman and the re-arrangement of the cartels in Sinaloa

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

Subject Matter: Sinaloa Cartel
Recommendation: No prior subject matter knowledge required

Various violent events have happened since the capture of El Chapo

A re-arrangement of the Cartels in Sinaloa is happening after the capture of El Chapo Guzman and Ivan Gastelum Avila "El Cholo Ivan" on the past 8th of January in Los Mochis, Sinaloa.

The news outlet Reforma has an account of the violent events that have been registered in state after the capture of the capo.

At the start of the month of February a confrontation in La Huerta, Mocorito left three soldiers dead, four injured and two alleged criminals taken down.

The day that in La Huerta they felt the terror

Warning strong bloody graphic images on next page, viewer discretion is advised

Chapo is considering requesting "house arrest"

Lucio R. Borderland Beat with material from Milenio & EFE

Although Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman likes that idea of ​​negotiating with the United States, should he be extradited, his Mexican defense is also considering the option of requesting house arrest, should an agreement with the United States not be reached, revealed the attorney José Refugio Rodríguez. The litigant who is the lead attorney of the legal team representing the Sinaloa capo, and the US attorney William Stuttgart, discussed the details of what legal way is better follow to benefit his client.

Rodriguez said that he heard "rumors" that soon the US authorities will present new charges against "El Chapo" in the District Courts of New York and Chicago, where the leader of the Sinaloa cartel will face the strongest accusations and therefore,  he would most likely be sent to one of those two states rather than California and Texas.

So far, Joaquin Guzman has not entered into a contact with  Stuttgart to represent him in US territory, said Jose Refugio; He said he and El Chapo are consulting with the attorney, and taking into account the advice of the American defense attorney.

The goal would be to negotiate "a sentence that is not too long, a reasonable sentence," with the United States, as well as imprisonment at "a medium-security prison that does not have conditions like the ones here in Mexico," Rodriguez said.

Guzman asked some time ago that an attorney be hired to represent him in the United States, Rodriguez said, adding that he contacted William Stuttgart and they have stayed in touch since May 2014.

"It's through him that we've seen that, instead of going to trial in the United States, ... we should have negotiate," Rodriguez said, noting that the defense's strategy would be to get the best possible conditions for his client instead of fighting it out in court.

Mexico State’s Metropolitan Zone: Neighborhood Alarms, Closed Streets

Photo By: Cuartoscuro

By: Mar, Animal Político Reader | Translated by Valor for Borderland Beat

This article is part of a digital project by Animal Político called “Aprender a Vivir con el Narco” (Learning to live with El Narco) released in late 2015.

It’s almost been two years since I’ve been here.  Little by little, Tecámac has grown and has populated fairly.  Everything was pretty quiet, unlike in municipalities like Ecatepec and Coacalco.

I lived in the latter for 16 years.  I knew, like anywhere else, that there was crime, but it began to increase much more soon after the departure of the PAN political party from the municipal presidency and the PRI’s entrance.

Where criminal presence increased the most was in part of Parque Residencial, close to where I lived.  I also heard references not very pleasant of communities such as La Joya, Villa de las Flores, which was a quiet area, and San Rafael.

The street where I lived, had to close with a white gate.  People would wake up to wheel-less cars, an increase in theft, express kidnappings, shootouts; things that I had never heard during the time that I lived there.  They aren’t as frequent, perhaps, as in Tamaulipas, but it is alarming that it increased.

Ithaca New York: Plan To Open A Safe Place For Heroin Use

Lucio R. Borderland Beat republished from NPR

The mayor of Ithaca, N.Y., wants to create a place where people can use heroin or other drugs injected drugs under supervision, in an effort to combat soaring deaths from overdoses. But that's a lot easier said than done.

The idea is that people addicted to heroin or other injection drugs would show up at the facility. They're provided with clean needles, and trained medical staff stands vigilantly by with naloxone, an opioid overdose antidote, to prevent overdose deaths. Medical personnel don't help users get high, but would give care and referrals to addiction treatment programs.

But since the drug use is illegal, both the city and staff risk breaking laws, too.

If Mayor Svante Myrick wants the injection site to see the light of day, there are major legal hurdles he's going to have to surmount, says Leo Beletsky, a professor of law and health sciences at Northeastern University in Boston. The facility needs some kind of authorization or exemption from the state of New York, either by changing state law or as an executive action from the governor. Then Ithaca will need similar exemption at the federal level.

Mayor Svante Myrick of Ithaca, N.Y., says having a supervised facility for heroin users would reduce the toll on the community.

Video of chase and shootout between marines and narcos in Tamaulipas

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

Subject Matter: Marines vs Narco chase and shootout
Recommendation: No prior subject matter knowledge required

The events occurred in Tamaulipas, where Los Zetas and the Cartel del Golfo operate.

Reporter: Israel Beltran Baez

A video showing a confrontation between elements of the Marina and members of a criminal group in Tamaulipas surfaced today.

In the clip of a little more than two minutes, one can observe the marines chasing at van at high speed, but they do not shoot because of the presence of civilians.

Moments after. their vehicle leaves the road and they open fire and you can hear the sound of gunfire. The video could have been filmed by a body camera or a helmet camera used by the Mexican marines. The vehicle in which they are travelling appears to the be the second in a formation chasing the armed men.

Video on next page

Municipal Police Commander and escorts killed in Tlaquepaque, Jalisco ( video )

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

Subject Matter: Execution of Municipal Police Commander, Jalisco
Recommendation: No prior subject matter knowledge required

The operations sub-director of the Municipal Police of Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, Francisco Javier Alejo Rodriguez, and his two escorts were executed on the afternoon of Wednesday the 24th of February, after a group of armed men opened fire on the patrol car in which they were travelling.

The primary reports indicate that the attack was perpetrated when the Police Chief and his two colleagues travelled in patrol car 1703 were ambushed on Revolution Avenue, one of the most travelled routes in the metropolitan zone of Guadalajara.

Video on next page

Tijuana: CTNG message to Los Arellanos

Comminucation of  La Perla for Los Arellanos

For months the rumor has been heard that 'El Piloto', a son of Ramon Arellano Felix, had returned or become active in Tijuana, these rumors had yet to be substantiated in direct communications from other groups, until now.  Jose Soto El Tigre Gastelum, El JP, and Arturo 'El Gross' Herrera, are the ones behind CTNG.  Mencho has not shown up in Tijuana yet. Elements of CJNG may be providing product to those above, in exchange for being allowed access into Tijuana. 

The message, in the same hard printed, black and red lettering, was found on the pedestrian bridge, Insurgentes Boulevard, which some will remember, was where El Inge ordered Teo and Muletas killed, when the ambush failed, there was a running gunfight up and down the boulevard, resulting in 15 dead.  This was in April 2008, the catylst for the grim months that followed, and a historic moment in cartel politics, leading us into the current situation. 

Mexico has recognized these 7 emerging cartels

Posted by DD.  Material from Business Insider and Insight Crime and Cronical Today

In the world of organized crime in Mexico where it is seemingly impossible to know, as Abbot and Costellp framed the question in their famous sketch "who is on first base"  (for you youngsters out there look it up) things just got a little crazier.

The PGR, (Attorney General's office) Specializing in the Investigation of Organized Crime has designated  seven groups operating in Mexico as the newest cartels.  

Designating emerging groups as cartels can be misleading, or at least confusing.  The term imvokes a image of a monolithic vertically integrated that controls the production, procurement, processing, packaging, transporting, and delivering the finished product (drugs) to wholesalers or retailers.  These new groups that have been designated as cartels do not fit that mold, but perhaps reflect reflect the changing face of drug trafficking in Mexico and the evolution of organized crime over the last few years.

The "King Pin Strategy" initiated by President Calderon on 2006 and continued through the first half of Pena Nieto's administration (even though he said when elected that he would pursue a strategy of eliminating local crime rather than just taking out the leaders of the large cartels) has been relatively successful in killing or capturing nearly all of the "top ranking jefes."

 This frontal assault on Mexico's once-powerful cartels has contributed to their fragmentation, with mid- and low-ranking members breaking off to form their own criminal enterprises.  These new "cartels" are the result, though few have gained the the power or success of their predecessor cartels.

Alfredo "Mochomo" Beltran Leyva Pleads Guilty in U.S Federal Court

Lucio R. for Borderland Beat

There will be no jury trial in the Alfredo Beltran Leyva case.  He filed with the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, a waiver of right to jury trial, and pleads guilty to trafficking cocaine and meth.  

Beltran Leyva, known by his moniker “El Mochomo”, was accused of being a kingpin, or leader of Beltran Leyva Organization (BLO), a charge he still contends is not factual. In court before Judge Richard Leon, he declared “I was a member, not a leader”.

In the hearing he did admit to being a part of BLO, and to trafficking drugs for 12 years, through the year of 2012.    This includes the years of 2008-2012, when he was incarcerated in a Mexican Prison.

Mochomo was extradited to the U.S. in November 2014.

The case against Mochomo was stacked with cooperative witnesses, 6 of whom are heavy narco hitters, Margarito Flores, El Rey Zambada, La Barbie Villareal Valdez, La Grande, Margarito Flores and a Colombian Juan Carlos “Chupeta” Ramirez.  There appeared to be little in substantive evidence against the defendant.  But, in a U.S. court, jurors would have little or no knowledge of the narco world and perhaps with an abundance of witnesses (11) testifying, getting an acquittal would have been too much a gamble.

Sinaloa: Enigma Norteño concert shootout leaves 5 dead

Lucio R. Borderland Beat, Material from El Debate and Proceso

During a concert of the  Enigma Norteño Group, five people were killed and two wounded,  in the aftermath of a gun attack,  inside an entertainment center that is located in the city of La Cruz de Elota.

The violent incident occurred around 2:47 am on Sunday inside the bar;  "Antro Bar La Trova", on Gabriel Leyva Solano Avenue.  Two versions as to what occurred were given by witnesses.

It was a festive but peaceful environment, when at about 2:30, when three young men entered the restroom where they began an argument with a fourth man who was in the restroom.  It is unknown the reason for the conflict but according to this version, the argument turned to blows, which led to guns being drawn and shooting began.

Video of bloody aftermath, graphic (thank you BB reader)

Tijuana: Two found 'entambado'

Two found emtambado in Sanchez Tadoaba

In Sanchez Tadoaba, which has become the front lines of the fight between Arturo 'El Gross' Herrera, and those loyal to the Azarte brothers, as well as Herreras attempt to control the retail drug trade in the area, two men were found stuffed in barrels.  

During the bloody and extreme days of the El Teo and El Inge conflict, bodies were sometimes stuffed into barrels, 50 gallon drums, which were an El Teo trademark, dropped of in front of rivals territory, with messages from Teo, and his subordinates.  

Sanchez Tadoaba is home to Tijuana's gastronominto district, which has become a pride of the city in the years that followed 2008's cruel and economically impactful violence.  Many incredible restaurants line the street of Sanchez Tadoaba, today, two men, bound, and tortured, were found in barrels in the neighborhood. 

Sanchez Tadoaba violence has peaked in recent months, numerous executions, some in broad daylight, or inside homes, as gunmen storm residences and take their victims in front of families. Men are killed at taco stands, in taxis, in bars and restaurants a like, as the cells of El Gross make a name for themselves, leaving messages against Los Aquiles, and claiming alliance with CJNG, and it's leader, El Mencho.  

With more capos in prison, Mexico has more deaths in its streets

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

Subject Matter: Cartel Capos, impunity, collusion
Recommendation: No prior subject matter knowledge required

The last two Presidents of Mexico have followed the politics of  "cut off the head", but with the capture of  big capos the violence hasn't reduced. In the last three years, nothing has changed in comparison to 2016, quite simply they have resorted to administration of the killings, disappearances and the dead.

Reporter: Sandra Rodriguez Nieto

While the Presidency of Enrique Pena Nieto differs from that of Felipe Calderon Hinojosa by nuances in the attention that each one has given to the issue of drug trafficking, both administrations, warn analysts, say a strategy of only " cutting off the head" of the alleged groups of organized crime which in any case has been accompanied by persecution of political networks and by laundering of resources.

One example, says Raul Benitez Manaut, investigator from the Centre of Investigations for North America from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), is the inaction in Mexico concerning the ex Governor and ex PRI party member, Humberto Moreira, detained in Spain, one week after Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera for alleged money laundering for the criminal organization known as Los Zetas.

The interview with the wife of El Chapo

Lucio R. Borderland Beat

El Chapo's "Queen"

Emma Coronel, 26 year old wife of imprisoned Sinaloa cartel leader, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, wrote a letter to Telemundo, reaching out because of concerns she says she has of the life of her husband.  That letter culminated in an in person interview, that was televised on Telemundo tonight.

The sit down meeting transpired in a restaurant.  

Coronel appeared composed, soft-spoken and seemingly forthcoming, except when the interview swayed into the area of drugs and weapons, both of which she claims to have never seen her husband around.  She claims to know nothing about the business her husband is accused of pursuing.  But it is the way she answers the question, that will bring a smile to many viewers, tilting her head  halfway to her shoulder, and saying no,  like being caught with a hand in the cookie jar.  What was she supposed to say?  A journalist would be remiss by not asking those questions, and Coronel would be harming her husband by saying anything other than “no”.

How the couple met was explained in the BB post of yesterday, it was at a dance in Canales, a town in the state where she grew up, Durango.  It was not love at first sight she says.  Their wedding was small, with a few family and friends, all from her side, no one from Chapo’s side attended.

She says, the man she loves, is attentive, respectful, loving, and despite rumors to the contrary, he would never harm a woman, or force her into something she did not want to do.

 “He is not violent, and he is not rude, I have never heard him say a vulgar word or lose his temper.”

“He is very  intelligent, although he lacks formal education”. 

El Chapo's wife, Emma Coronel, speaks out

Lucio R. Borderland Beat

In the Telmundo promos, Emma Coronel Aispuro, current “wife” of the Sinaloa cartel boss, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, looks  differently than her former self.   Telemundo is airing an exclusive interview with the former beauty queen tomorrow night at 7PM.

Emma Coronel was 18 years old when she married El Chapo. However, when he has been arrested, Chapo has never named any other woman, other  than his first wife, Maria Alenjandria Salazar, as the woman he is legally married to.

Telemundo promises that in the interview, Emma Coronel describes Chapo the husband and father, and about his private life, such as the details of their wedding, and Chapo’s relationship with their twin daughters. Coronel will talk about life with Chapo, the arrest, and the true relationship with actress Kate Castillo.

Emma's father Inés Coronel is on left, Emma is wearing the crown

"They are turning me into a zombie" says Chapo of prison authorities

Lucio R. Borderland Beat republished from Business Insider

A few weeks ago, the government publicly announced the measures taken, to prevent Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán from escaping prison for a third time.  Among the actions taken is to move Chapo to a different cell every 3 hours, and restricting his attorney visits. 

Chapo, through his attorney says it is a little differently, but none the less, whoever you believe, Chapo says lack of continuous sleep is turning him into “a zombie”, below from Business Insider:

Sinaloa drug cartel leader , “El Chapo” claims that prison guards are "turning me into a zombie" because they won't let him sleep, according to the drug lord's lawyer.

Guzmán's lawyer Juan Pablo Badillo told Radio Formula that guards at the Antiplano maximum security prison near Mexico City — the same prison Guzmán escaped from in July 2015 prior to his recapture in January — have made his client feel he is a victim of "physical and mental torture."

“He told me, literally, 'Every two hours, at night, they wake me up to take roll," Badillo told the radio station. "They are turning me into a zombie. They do not let me sleep. All I want is just for them to let me sleep."

Badillo alleged that prison officials are denying Guzmán proper access to legal counsel, only allowing the drug lord about half an hour a week to speak to lawyers.

"It is brutal torture,' he told me," Badillo said. "This is what was done by Stalin in the '40s and '50s in Russia."