CJNG: MEXICO’S EMERGING DRUG CARTEL

 This article was written by Iñigo Camilleri De Castanedo and originally published on Grey Dynamics.

Starting life as the armed wing of the Cartel de Sinaloa, the CJNG formally separated from its parent organization and has exponentially evolved to be one of the major organized crime players in Mexico. Despite early success, the group is facing rival organizations, splinter groups, and the Mexican and U.S. government:

• It is likely that the CJNG has deterred governmental efforts to tackle organized crime. A lack of governmental aid combined with humanitarian efforts by the CJNG has likely increased the social roots and legitimacy of the group amongst communities.
• The targeting high-government officials will likely increase. The pandemic has limited the governmental capability to counter organized crime, and the CJNG has an opportunity to signal intentions and expand with a reduced risk of resistance.
• Violent clashes between the CJNG and local organized crime groups will highly likely increase. A damaged criminal economy will push groups to compete for territory and sources of revenue which are controlled in their majority by the CJNG or the Sinaloa Cartel. . . 

Read the following: CJNG: MEXICO’S EMERGING DRUG CARTEL

Not Everyone Is Happy With CJNG

MS 13 In The Americas

 MS13 in the Americas: How the World’s Most Notorious Gang Defies Logic, Resists Destruction

Insight Crime

The Mara Salvatrucha (MS13) is one of the world’s largest and arguably most violent street gangs. After relatively humble beginnings in Los Angeles in the 1980s, it has spread to more than a half-dozen countries and become a central focus of law enforcement in two hemispheres. In spite of these efforts, the MS13 remains a persistent threat and shows signs of expanding its criminal portfolio. This report attempts to explain what makes the MS13 such a difficult problem for authorities to tackle. It focuses on assisting law enforcement’s understanding of the gang’s criminal activities, but it includes deep discussion on the social and political issues around the MS13. Below are our major findings.. . 

MS 13 In The Americas 

1/3 of 214 Arrested MS 13 Were Unaccompanied Alien Children

Almost one-third of 214 U.S.-based MS-13 gang members arrested in an international sweep were invited into the United States by President Barack Obama’s “Unaccompanied Alien Children” policy.

The successful “Raging Bull’ sweep was announced by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Deputy Director Tom Homan in a joint press conference at ICE headquarters in Washington, D.C. on Thursday. . . 

Read the rest at http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/11/16/one-third-of-214-arrested-ms-13-gangsters-were-unaccompanied-alien-children/

Los Zetas Gunmen Being Set Free

PIEDRAS NEGRAS, Coahuila — A team of cartel gunmen belonging to one faction of Los Zetas were released after a state judge dismissed their cases. At least four of those gunmen are now linked to a double execution.

Breitbart Texas learned through court filings that Coahuila State Judge Maritza Gonzalez Flores ordered the release of 10 gunmen allegedly part of a Zetas faction that entered Coahuila to carry out attacks on rivals. The judge released one of the gunmen after he was arrested in connection with a murder and blocked investigative efforts to capture others.

As Breitbart Texas originally reported in early October, Piedras Negras and Coahuila State Police Officers arrested 10 members of the Vieja Escuela Zeta after a shootout. During questioning, the gunmen claimed they slipped into Piedras Negras intending to destabilize the area and fight their rivals, the Cartel Del Noreste (CDN) faction of Los Zetas. The CDN continues to control drug and human trafficking in the area.

Secure US Border Will Create Crisis in Mexico?

If President-elect Donald Trump follows through on his campaign promises, the United States will have stronger security on the Mexican border and will deport illegal immigrants with criminal records. While this could reduce the problems on the U.S. side of the border, the situation in Mexico may get worse before it gets better.

Mexican drug cartels have supplied an epidemic of addiction and crime in the United States, and have been the focus of the War on Drugs, which has caused what some estimate to be 100,000 deaths since Dec. 11, 2006.

Trump is “attempting to influence the global economy to protect the U.S. middle class,” which includes looking to better secure the Mexican border, said Dr. Robert J. Bunker, division of politics and economics at Claremont Graduate University.

He added, however, that there is a “very real potential for unexpected blowback” for the security of Mexico.

“The Mexican state is more fragile than many suspect,” he said in an email, and noted the coming changes will likely cause a larger number of illegal immigrants from throughout Latin America to stay below the border, in turn leading to more aggression from cartels and infighting that may be “too much for the Mexican government to readily contain.”

At the same time, Bunker said, “the Mexican cartels will not sit idly by while their product is not getting into the U.S. Rather, we can expect them to implement countermeasures against beefed up U.S. border security.” . . .

Source: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/2194976-securing-us-border-may-cause-crisis-in-mexico-2/

A New Generation of Drug Cartels Awaking in Mexico

What was until four years ago a little known criminal group has become a threat to Mexico and Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.

A new wave of violence and corruption has been growing in the country, under the leadership of former  policeman Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, who is running the Jalisco New Generation cartel.

But the tentacles of this criminal organization extend beyond Mexican territory. Its reach goes all the way to China, Africa and eastern Europe — leaving a trail of blood that has evaded attempts by President Enrique Peña Nieto to restore peace and law. . . 

Source: https://panampost.com/elena-toledo/2016/10/12/the-new-generation-of-the-mexican-cartels/

Three Cartel Soldiers Killed Near Rio Bravo

RIO BRAVO, Tamaulipas — Mexican marines killed three cartel gunmen during an operation at a stash house that turned into a 30 minute shootout.

The raid took place this week when Mexican Marines surrounded a house that had previously been identified as a Gulf Cartel stash house. In response to the siege, the gunmen called for backup and began to fire at authorities. Additional Gulf Cartel SUVs arrived at the scene to provide backup to the gunmen.

A video taken by local residents captured the audio of the ongoing gun battles. The two residents can be heard joking about the fighting and discussing publishing the video online. In northern Tamaulipas, cartel gun battles have become an almost daily occurrence that are largely ignored by news outlets. Local residents have developed a cavalier attitude in response. . . 

Source: http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2016/12/09/video-3-cartel-gunmen-killed-raid-near-texas/

Manufacturing Grenades on the Southern Border

A Tuesday raid conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as well as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement netted six individuals in Texas, including one who was in the country illegally, all for manufacturing grenades and selling them to undercover agents.

The proximity to the southern border, as well as the involvement of an illegal alien, brought up issues of violence and border security yet again. . . 

Source: http://conservativetribune.com/atf-chilling-move-in-texas-danger/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=PostUp&utm_campaign=CTDailyEmail&utm_content=2016-12-08

CJNG Sicarios in Baja California

Border Violence: The Most Wanted CJNG Sicarios in Baja California

Original Article at ZETA

During the last two years, state authorities denied the presence of the CJNG in Tijuana, however their presence was detected by police forces when they became victims of armed attacks.

CJNG started with the control of the area of Sanchez Taboada, and they extended their presence by taking control of  La Presa, El Florido, Cañadas, Terrazas, Villas del Campo and the entrance to Tecate. Today, 8 of the 10 most wanted for murder, are CJNG recruits.

The names of minor criminals, drug dealers and thief’s are being summed up to the list of investigations for murder in Tijuana, their numbers continue to rise, and they don’t do anything but to fatten the list of the Most Wanted, which was created by the Coordination Group of Baja California, and shows the lack of coordination between the Government of Peña Nieto and the Coordination Group of Baja California.

The wallet of criminals who are presumably involved in murders identify by the Coordination Group, according to declarations from the Secretary of Public Security of Baja California, Daniel de la Rosa Anaya, in 2014 there were 64 names. In November 18, of 2016, De la Rosa informed that they are concentrating their efforts on those 10 that head the list. . . 

Source: http://www.rightsidenews.com/us/homeland-security/border-violence-the-most-wanted-cjng-sicarios-in-baja-california/

Arizona Ranchers Fear Cartels More than Immigrants

On a sweltering summer evening in southern Arizona, dozens of carpet-soled moccasins lie along the portico of a ranch 20 miles from Mexico, serving as a reminder of one of the biggest problems on the border: not illegal immigration, but drug trafficking. 

Interrupted only by the cicadas, Jim Chilton, a fifth-generation rancher, and his wife Sue explain that Mexican drug mules, who routinely traverse their 50,000 acres of land, cover the soles of the moccasins — which are then worn over shoes — with carpet to avoid leaving tracks that US border agents could follow. . . .

Source: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d181cc8c-765e-11e6-bf48-b372cdb1043a.html#axzz4Jn8lc56w

Border Insecurity Is An Existential Threat To America

By Molly O'Toole

“In comparison to other global threats, the near collapse of societies in the hemisphere with the associated drug and [undocumented immigrant] flow are frequently viewed to be of low importance,” Kelly told Defense One. “Many argue these threats are not existential and do not challenge our national security. I disagree.”

Source: http://www.defenseone.com/threats/2014/07/top-general-says-mexico-border-security-now-existential-threat-us/87958/

No Security Surge For Cartel Lands

By Cartel Chronicles

MONTERREY, Nuevo Leon — Authorities in this border state have postponed sending security reinforcements to the highways and rural areas adjacent to the war zone known as Tamaulipas. The reduction in security will allegedly take place until authorities are able to train additional police forces.

The cartel violence that has proliferated along the border in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas and threatens to spill over to Nuevo Leon began in recent days with the murder of a regional cartel leader known as Comandante Aguila, Breitbart Texas reported. The violence had been escalating in in recent months on another front as two rival factions of the Los Zetas cartel continue to fight for control of lucrative drug trafficking and distribution routes, Breitbart Texas reported. . . 

Source: 

http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2016/09/06/mexico-cancels-security-surge-cartel-lands-texas-border/http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2016/09/06/mexico-cancels-security-surge-cartel-lands-texas-border/

Panther Cartel Members Found Dead

By Cartel Chronicles

On Tuesday afternoon, Mexican authorities in the neighboring state of Nuevo León discovered the bodies of Gumercindo “El Aguila” Gamez Villarreal and Teofilo Saul Rodriguez, who is believed to be a cartel member part of the group known as Panteras or “Panthers”. The discovery was made when authorities in Nuevo Leon responded to calls about an abandoned vehicle in the town of General Bravo . . 

Gang Pastor Financier For MS 13

Walking out of prison three years ago, Marvin Ramos Quintanilla seemed to turn over a new leaf after a life of crime and gangland violence.

He got a city government job working in community development, and also ran a business selling used cars imported from the U.S. He joined an evangelical church, where his family was regularly seen worshipping, and even got ordained as a pastor.

Then on July 28, Ramos was arrested along with several alleged leaders of the feared Mara Salvatrucha gang, which has been designated an international criminal organization by the U.S. government. Salvadoran authorities also seized thousands of dollars in cash long with properties, businesses and bank accounts. . . 

Source: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2016/08/26/el-salvador-arrests-gang-pastor-for-allegedly-wokring-as-financier-for-ms-13/

Cartels Cloning Police and Military Vehicles

The recent discovery of cloned vehicles took place last week when Mexican authorities spotted a convoy of SUV’s with cartel gunmen. Military troops tried to stop the convoy setting off a rolling gun battle as the cartel gunmen tried to elude capture.





Source: http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2016/08/15/drug-cartel-gunmen-found-cloning-mexican-military-police-vehicles-texas-border/

Treasury Designates Top Sinaloa Cartel Associates

Treasury Designates Top Sinaloa Cartel Associates

8/16/2016

​

Action Targets Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Associates of

Sinaloa Cartel Leaders Ismael Zambada Garcia and Joaquin Guzman Loera

 

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated two Mexican nationals and two Mexican companies pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act).  Juan Manuel Alvarez Inzunza, a money launderer, and Jose Olivas Chaidez, a key narcotics trafficker, have been designated as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers (SDNTs) for materially assisting, supporting, or providing services to the Sinaloa Cartel and/or high-ranking Sinaloa Cartel members, including Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman Loera and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada Garcia and his top lieutenants.  OFAC has also designated two Culiacan, Sinaloa-based companies, Nueva Atunera Triton, S.A. de C.V. and Operadora Eficaz Pegaso, which are owned, controlled, or directed by, or acting for or on behalf of, Juan Manuel Alvarez Inzunza.  As a result of today’s action, all assets of those designated that are within U.S. jurisdiction or are in the control of U.S. persons are frozen, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.

 

“The designation of Juan Manuel Alvarez Inzunza and Jose Olivas Chaidez represents a strategic blow to the Sinaloa Cartel’s ability to move illicit drugs and launder drug trafficking proceeds into Mexico, Central America, and South America,” said John E. Smith, Acting Director of OFAC.  “This action builds on our continued effort to disrupt Mexican drug cartels by targeting the money launderers who provide support to organizations such as the Sinaloa Cartel and cartel leaders such as Mayo Zambada and Chapo Guzman.”    

 

Juan Manuel Alvarez Inzunza is a Mexico-based money launderer and drug trafficker who provides key money laundering services to high-ranking Sinaloa Cartel members.  These members include senior Sinaloa Cartel lieutenants Jose Guadalupe Tapia Quintero and Alfonso Limon Sanchez, both of whom operate on behalf of Sinaloa Cartel leaders Ismael Zambada Garcia and Joaquin Guzman Loera.  A Chiapas, Mexico-based Sinaloa Cartel associate, Jose Olivas Chaidez, oversees a multi-national narcotics trafficking cell that distributes bulk quantities of cocaine to Southern California.  Alvarez Inzunza assisted Olivas Chaidez with transmitting million dollar quantities of drug proceeds from the U.S. to Mexico and throughout Central and South America.  Alvarez Inzunza was arrested by Mexican authorities in March 2016.           

 

Today’s designation also targets two companies, Nueva Atunera Triton, S.A. de C.V., a tuna fishing company, and Operadora Eficaz Pegaso, a money services business, both of which are owned and controlled by Alvarez Inzunza.  

 

This OFAC designation was taken in coordination with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the government of Mexico.  This designation is part of a larger effort to use financial sanctions to aggressively dismantle Mexican drug trafficking organizations.

 

Since June 2000, more than 1,900 entities and individuals have been named pursuant to the Kingpin Act for their role in international narcotics trafficking.  Penalties for violations of the Kingpin Act range from civil penalties of up to $1,414,020 million per violation to more severe criminal penalties.  Criminal penalties for corporate officers may include up to 30 years in prison and fines up to $5 million.  Criminal fines for corporations may reach $10 million.  Other individuals could face up to 10 years in prison and fines pursuant to Title 18 of the United States Code for criminal violations of the Kingpin Act.

Los Zetas: Mexico's Most Dangerous Cartel

Los Zetas: Inside Mexico’s Most Dangerous Drug Gang

Hal Brands

In January 2009, retired Mexican general Mauro Enrique Tello Quiñones took command of a special police task force charged with combating drug-related violence in Cancún, the popular tourist town located in Quintana Roo state. The assignment lasted all of one week. In early February, Tello and two aides were kidnapped and killed. Before murdering Tello, assailants broke both of his arms and legs and subjected him to ghastly, prolonged torture. The incident provoked shock across Mexico; the governor of Quintana Roo called it “truly horrible.” Even by the standards of the increasingly violent drug war that has consumed Mexico of late, this crime stood out for its brazenness and brutality. In short, it bore all the marks of an attack by the notorious paramilitary group known as Los Zetas.¹

Los Zetas Transnational Impact

Los Zetas is one of the most powerful and violent cartels of the seven primary cartels currently operating in Mexico. In addition to drug trafficking, it is accused of money laundering, human trafficking, kidnapping, extortion, intellectual property theft, and executions, making it a truly “polycriminal” organization. Part of its strength comes from its strategy of taking over territories where criminal activity already flourished and co-opting that activity for itself. While Mexico bears the brunt of the violence stemming from this drug trafficking organization (DTO), Los Zetas’ reach extends throughout Central America, the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. The actions of this group have significant transnational impact, generating instability and demanding resources wherever it operates.

Los Zetas Recruiting Americans

The Mexican Cartel, Los Zetas, has been vigorously expanding its U.S. connections and influence since at least 2010, a confidential FBI document shows.

The recently leaked FBI bulletin was published by the equal information advocacy website Public Intelligence. It says U.S. gangs formed by both Mexican and non-Mexican Americans are actively collaborating with Los Zetas in drug dealing and enforcement activities on both sides of the border.

The bulletin also noted a shift in their recruiting methods. In the "past, accurate FBI reporting indicated Los Zetas previously focused its recruitment on members with prior specialized training... However, current FBI reporting indicates that Los Zetas is recruiting and relying on non-traditional, non-military trained associates."

Security analysts and law enforcement organizations say the cartel, which is currently Mexico's most powerful, is also now working side-by-side with organizations that would have been immediate rivals a few years ago. Rather than spend resources on turf wars, the criminal groups now cooperate, providing one another with greater reach.

In the U.S., Los Zetas have established business relations with gangs like Tango Blast and Los Piojos in cities that range from Houston to Chicago -- a city the Drug Enforcement Administration says is home to more than 100,000 gang members.

These ties don't mean the gangs are now part of the Zetas hierarchy, but this novel approach could still herald new crime waves.

"Many of the gang members that work with Zetas are just work for hire," said George W. Grayson, co-author of "The Executioner's Men: Los Zetas, Rogue Soldiers, Criminal Entrepreneurs, and the Shadow State They Created. "You may want to extort money, so you hire an American-based or a bi-national gang to participate in the extortion. You can pay them without inducting them into the cartel."

Across America, Los Zetas operatives have reportedly been doing just that. According to the FBI and to recent trials, the Mexican cartel has hired American gang members to steal cars for them and to assist them in smuggling weapons across the border. In addition, men allegedly linked to Los Zetas have started U.S. business ventures as part of an effort to launder millions of dollars of drug money.

The United States has, in fact, become a major operations hub for drug cartels. Like Los Zetas, several other Mexican cartels have moved parts of their businesses north, according to a recent in-depth investigation by the Associated Press, raising concerns among experts and security officials.

"It's probably the most serious threat the United States has faced from organized crime," Jack Riley, head of the DEA's Chicago office, told the AP.

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/los-zetas-recruiting-americans-2010-fbi-document-shows/story?id=19014852