Another splinter group of the BLO, Los Rojos operates in central and southwestern Mexico and relies largely on kidnapping and extortion. Murders, dismemberment, mockery of the corpse of a murdered gang member. Federal prosecutors said the witness could be used to validate the video and transcription but defense attorneys argued his objectivity may have already been tainted. This prosecution is also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. Arturo Shows Urquidi and Mario Alberto Iglesias Villegas, who are cartel members, are on trial this week in U.S. federal court in El Paso. However, some critics say Calderns decapitation strategy created dozens of smaller, more violent drug gangs. This indictment shows our commitment to aggressively go after those committing financial crimes who are profiting from their illegal activities no matter who they are or where they commit the crime.. Asia Program. Mexican drug cartels are leading suppliers of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and other illicit narcotics to the United States. Zambada still iswanted by the U.S. governmenton several criminal charges related to the Sinaloa drug cartel. "It's no longer enough to protect our children from drug dealers in the park or on the street cornerbecause now those drug dealers ply their deadly trade on social media apps running on the phones in our kids' pockets," Monaco said. . Iglesias-Villegas, 36, and Shows Urquidi, 50,were among24 alleged Sinaloa cartel members indicted in 2012 overtheir roles in the drug organization. But during and after the arrest, 10 soldiers and 19 . The witness said Iglesias was aware of such incidents and was involved. President Caldern declared war on the cartels shortly after taking office. In 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden imposed sanctions on eight members of the group, which is now led by Ismael Zambada Garca and El Chapos sons, known as Los Chapitos.. The other defendants includedJoaquin "El Chapo"Guzman, the reputed head of the cartel, andIsmael Zambada Garcia, who allegedly took over the drug cartel after Guzman was arrested in Mexico in 2016. American-made guns trafficked through Florida ports are destabilizing the Caribbean and Central America and fueling domestic crime. The organizations splinter groups have become more autonomous and powerful, maintaining ties to Jalisco, Jurez, and Los Zetas. Meanwhile, the homicide rate continues to hover around record levels. Mexican authorities have been waging a deadly battle against drug cartels for more than a decade, but with limited success. The cartels that pose the most significant drug trafficking threats [PDF] to the United States, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), are: A curation of original analyses, data visualizations, and commentaries, examining the debates and efforts to improve health worldwide. In 2014 Guzmn was apprehended in Mazatln, Sinaloa, Mexico, but the following year he escaped from prison through a tunnel. VideoOn board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, I didnt think make-up was made for black girls, Why there is serious money in kitchen fumes. In Cancun alone there was 540 murders last year. United States prosecutors played a condensed version of a video with a woman being questioned by members of the Sinaloa cartel. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, Mexican cartels represent the greatest drug-related threat, supplying heroin, marijuana, methamphetamines, and other drugs, to the United States. Beltrn-Leyva Organization (BLO). The woman who had been recorded was flanked by a man with a rifle as she asked questions. Sinaloa drug cartel members found guilty, including 1 for role in 'Wedding Murders' case Aaron Martinez El Paso Times 0:00 0:36 Two reputed Sinaloa drug cartel members were convicted for. In 2017, Mexican authorities extradited Guzmn to the United States, where he is serving a life sentence for multiple drug-related charges. Cartel Gunmen Mexican President Andrs Lpez Obrador said Mexican forces had acted responsibly to look after the civilian population and avoid innocent victims. most significant drug trafficking threats, technologically advanced, sophisticated, and violent, significant foreign narcotics traffickers, created dozens of smaller, more violent drug gangs. Explore in 3D: The dazzling crown that makes a king. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTOs)sometimes referred to as transnational criminal organizationsdominate the import and distribution of cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine in the United States. According to reports, Ismael (El Mayo) Zambada Garca, one of the cartels original members, and Guzmns sons assumed control of the organization, which remained incredibly powerful. The capture in 2016 of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, the ex-leader of the powerful Sinaloa cartel, sparked a struggle for control of northwestern Mexico's crime and trafficking underworld. The unchecked power of organized crime was on full display this October, when hundreds of gunmen for the Sinaloa Cartel laid siege to the city of Culiacn in broad daylight, forcing the. The charges, unsealed today, were announced by Attorney General Merrick Garland, U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman and others at a news conference this morning at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. The Sinaloa Cartel is one of the biggest and most powerful drug trafficking cartels in the world - and also the focus of Netflix's Narcos: Mexico. More than seventy-nine thousand people have disappeared since 2006, primarily at the hands of criminal organizations such as the cartels, though government forces also play a role. U.S. officials say they've identified and infiltrated the Mexican drug organization that's largely responsible for the fentanyl crisis killing tens of thousands of Americans every year. Conversely, Californias booming cannabis industry has prompted traffickers to smuggle U.S.-grown marijuana across the border to Mexico, where lawmakers have yet to fully legalize the drug. Mexicos drug cartels are in a constant state of flux. Allies and Enemies The Sinaloa Cartel's central bond is blood. Reputed Sinaloa drug cartel members set to go on trial Monday in El Paso, El Paso trial of reputed Sinaloa members focuses on drug cartel's operations, methods, Sinaloa cartel members, law enforcement testify in 2nd week of 'Wedding Murders' trial, Reputed drug cartel boss 'El Jaguar' wounded, arrested in Mexican army shootout, 'The worst it's ever been.' Victims Of The Shooting In Culiacan Sinaloa. MEXICO CITY Infamous drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, who was behind the killing of a U.S. DEA agent in 1985, was captured Friday by Mexican forces nearly a decade after walking out of a Mexican. The group is known to have a partnership with the CJNG, using the same transportation networks to move drug shipments to and from the United States. with Heidi Campbell and Paul Brandeis Raushenbush Traffickers employ various tactics to evade detection by U.S. authorities at the border. The two are accused of being involved in the Sinaloa cartels operations in Jurez in connection to murders, kidnappings, and drug trafficking. We may have been far from it but we were close enough to see many people driving pretty fast in the opposite direction.". In the early 2000s, they recruited a young, ex-football player from Laredo named Edgar Valdez Villareal. In 2017, Americans spent $153 billion [PDF] on illegal drugs, including cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine. A related indictment charging three of the brothers was also unsealed by the Southern District of New York. Murders have spiked in Mexico's northern state of Sonora, thanks to the volatile mix of a veteran drug trafficker's alleged return, internal disputes within the Sinaloa Cartel, and an offensive by the powerful Jalisco Cartel New Generation. A video showed a Mexican cartel lining up. He also recalled the kidnapping of a man named Sergio Salcedo who was moved from one safe house to another in Jurez. The group formed when the Beltrn-Leyva brothers split from Sinaloa in 2008. And, he asked him why hed lost a load of drugs. The attorney general said the U.S. government would work to seek their extradition to face charges on American soil. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. You can also get in touch in the following ways: If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Sinaloa cartel leader arrested in connection to 1985 murder Mexico captured infamous drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, who was behind the 1985 killing of a Drug Enforcement Administration agent and . With new politicians in power, cartels ramped up violence against the government in an effort to reestablish their hold [PDF] on the state. Once led by the Chapitos father, Joaquin Guzman Loera, aka El Chapo, and Ismael Zambada Garcia, aka El Mayo, the Sinaloa Cartels members and associates allegedly including the Chapitos smuggled significant quantities of drugs through Mexico and into the United States. Read about our approach to external linking. At least 29 people lay dead, including 10 members of the military and 19 alleged cartel shooters, while 35 soldiers were wounded. Investigations into the students disappearances have purportedly found evidence that authorities, including the police and military, conspired with cartel members in the crimes; the government launched a new inquiry after the students families, human rights groups, and independent experts questioned the handling of the previous investigation. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. Homicides declined in the first years of Pea Nietos presidency. Dozens of vehicles were set alight and at least two planes at Sinaloa airports were hit by gunfire, in attacks blamed on the Sinaloa cartel. April 25, 2023 Theres nothing like lazy summer days relaxing on the patio. It was me or him.. The groom,Rafael Morales Valencia,who was fromColumbus, New Mexico,his brother, Jaime Morales Valencia, and their uncle, Guadalupe Morales Arreola, were kidnapped and killed during a drug war between the Sinaloa and Jurez drug cartels, according to court testimony and court documents. She was asked if she was married, if she had kids, if she wanted to make a statement. Experts point to both domestic and international forces. "The violence gave rise to Ciudad Juarez being named the deadliest city in the world.. Helicopter gunships were deployed from the authorities to support the ground operation. The discussion between the attorneys and judge Montalvo suggested an error had been spotted in an early version of the transcription. Ovidio Guzmn-Lpez, 32, alleged to be a leader of his father's former cartel, was captured in Culiacn and flown to Mexico City on Thursday. Shows Urquidi was accused of smuggling drugs, weapons and cash through tanker trucks and airplanes. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sinaloa-cartel, The Brookings Institution - How the Sinaloa Cartel rules, El Chapo sons charged with smuggling cheap fentanyl to US, El Chapo sons among 28 Sinaloa cartel members charged by US. HSI proudly stands with our local, state and federal partners as we disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations such as the Sinaloa Cartel to end the violence they fuel across the country. Global Climate Agreements: Successes and Failures, Backgrounder The news comes just one day after Garland and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco met with members of Mexican security officials in Washington, D.C. in part to discuss the fentanyl crisis. Beheading By Chainsaw Photo: Mexico Attorney General's Office / via CT Post / Public Domain Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Several other defendants indicted in El Paso in 2012 have pleaded guilty. Mexico, along with China, is also a leading source of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to fifty times more potent than heroin. An official website of the United States government. A witness said Jos Antonio Marrufo, who was at the helm of the Sinaloas operations in Jurez, had a team of people that dealt with murders, kidnappings and dumping of bodies. Gabino Salas-Valenciano, Jesus Rodrigo Fierro-Ramirez and Emigdio MartinezJr. died while their cases werepending in federal court, court records show. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. "There was a lot of fear, people were scared," Ms Goldbas said. For the special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, the work of investigating dangerous criminals never stops. Iglesias-Villegas was one of the drivers of the vehicles used during the kidnapping of the victims, the affidavit states. While there will always be more work to be done, these indictments will continue the dismantlement of an extremely vicious criminal enterprise that has been a primary driver of violence in our communities. Originally a paramilitary enforcement arm for the Gulf Cartel, Los Zetas was singled out by the DEA in 2007 as the countrys most technologically advanced, sophisticated, and violent group of its kind. ", The trial focused on the operation of the cartel and several murders committed by the criminal organization, including the abduction and killing of three people May 7, 2010, during a wedding at a church in Jurez, The killings were referred to throughout the trial as the Wedding Murders.. No customers or employees were harmed, it said. Gulf Cartel. In Mexico, the cartels use a portion of their vast profits to pay off judges, officers, and politicians. The two are accused of being involved in the Sinaloa cartels operations Jurez in connection to murders, kidnappings, and drug trafficking. But many drug policy experts say this won't slow fentanyl deaths. 2023 www.elpasotimes.com. The witness said he had driven a vehicle and transported Salcedo. These partnerships demonstrate our collective commitment to tracking down, apprehending, and dismantling one of the strongest drug trafficking cartels from the top down., Today, the Justice Department is announcing significant enforcement actions against the largest, most violent, and most prolific fentanyl trafficking operation in the world run by the Sinaloa Cartel, and fueled by Chinese precursor chemical and pharmaceutical companies, said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. As the Sinaloa cartel warred with the rival Zetas (another cartel), some victims would be publicly beheaded, or have their murders posted on social media. Prosecutors revealed in a recent indictment that while Sinaloa cartel boss Joaqun El Chapo Guzmn serves a life sentence, his sons have steered the family business into fentanyl, establishing a network of labs churning out massive quantities of the cheap, deadly drug that they smuggle into the U.S. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Two Mexican Air Force aircraft were forced to make emergency landings after they were hit by gunfire from the cartel, Defence Minister Sandoval said. His hugs not bullets approach seeks to address the socioeconomic drivers of organized crime by creating job opportunities. According to the Justice Department, both sides "pledged" to increase information-sharing and cooperation on criminal investigations. Mexico City Assailants left 10 beaten, murdered bodies in front of the governor's office in the north-central Mexican state of Zacatecas on Thursday. Weekly. Iglesias-Villegas also was convicted for his participation in the kidnapping and eventual murder of Horizon City residentSergio Saucedo, officials said. That state was long involved in the illegal drug industry as home to marijuana and poppy crops, and it was also the birthplace of numerous drug traffickers, including Hctor Luis Palma Salazar and Joaqun Guzmn Loera, who was known as El Chapo (Shorty). The U.S. government, despite waging a war on drugs and conducting other counternarcotics efforts abroad, has made little progress in reducing demand. The team used a stolen Jeep to transport the bodies, he said. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The bodies of eight men and two women were. Yeah some people get outraged over shootings. April 25, 2023 As part of a plea agreement, several other drug and weapon charges were dismissed, according to court records. Mexican gangs eventually shifted from being couriers for Colombian criminal organizations, including the infamous Cali and Medelln cartels, to being wholesalers. In recent years, the group has splintered into several factions, including La Lnea, which controls street-level enforcement. Mario De La O Lopez, aChihuahua state police officer, pleaded guilty June 15, 2017, to one count of continuing criminal enterprise. The trials are part of a large indictment by a federal grand jury that included Sinaloa cartel leaders Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman and Ismael "Mayo" Zambada Garcia. By 2007, Mexican cartels controlled an estimated 90 percent [PDF] of the cocaine entering the United States. November 11, 2022 / 6:06 AM / CBS/AP Nine people are dead, including four women, after gunmen burst into a bar and opened fire in the violence-wracked Mexican state of Guanajuato, authorities said. Shows Urquidi allegedly told the informant:How do you think they found him? Director of Media Relations Kelly Thornton (619) 546-9726 . The 49-year-old Sinaloa Cartel member, who is suspected of having killed dozens, goes by the nickname "La Barbie" thanks to his blue eyes. He also created a new national police force, or gendarmerie, of several thousand officers. The cases against the other 14 defendants arepending in federal court. All rights reserved. The Democratic Republic of Congo has been subjected to centuries of international intervention by European powers, as well as its African neighbors. Ivan Guzman Salazar, Alfredo Guzman Salazar, and Ovidio Guzman Lopez El Chapo's son allegedly made hundreds of millions of dollars by sending fentanyl to the U.S., according to the Justice Department. Lock These include hiding or disguising drugs in vehicles or maritime vessels, smuggling them into the United States through underground tunnels, and flying them over border barriers using drones or other aircraft. "Our bus had just passed a spot where it happened - literally, if we had waited another 30 minutes before passing, we would have been in the cross of it. Three brothers remain at large; Ovidio Guzman Lopez was arrested Jan. 5, 2023, by Mexican authorities in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico. Recent Mexican administrations have responded to cartels primarily by deploying security forces, often spurring more violence: Felipe Caldern (20062012). They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Announcing the charges on Friday, Attorney General Merrick Garland and Justice Department officials laid the loss of hundreds of thousands of American lives from fentanyl squarely at the feet of the defendants. More:Reputed Sinaloa drug cartel members set to go on trial Monday in El Paso, More:El Paso trial of reputed Sinaloa members focuses on drug cartel's operations, methods. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. No reason was given for why he was arriving early. The trial began with juryselection Oct. 4, with a verdict reached Friday. The weekslong trial was held in the AlbertArmendarizSr.Federal Courthouse in Downtown El Paso with U.S. District Judge Frank Montalvopresiding. "We've also seen security guards, some in cars and some in big tanks going south. "The United States government is using every tool at its disposal to combat the fentanyl epidemic," Garland said, "Many of us have heard the stories of those who have lost loved ones to fentanyl poisoning. Both men were found guilty ofconspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes,racketeering conspiracy,conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute,conspiracy to import a controlled substance,and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. MEXICO CITY With Sinaloa cartel boss Joaqun "El Chapo" Guzmn serving a life sentence, his sons steered the family business into fentanyl, establishing a network of labs churning out . There were blockades in different parts of the city and residents were urged to stay at home. Many also argue that Mexicos military is ill-prepared to perform police functions. With U.S. assistance, the Mexican military captured or killed twenty-five of the top thirty-seven drug kingpins in Mexico. Renewing America, Backgrounder In the ensuing turf battles, a wave of unprecedented violence swept Mexico. And Guzmn, the 32-year-old son of former Sinaloa cartel. However, after the cartel was involved in the 1985 torture and murder of a U.S. drug enforcement agent, U.S. and Mexican forces cracked down on the syndicate, and by the end of the decade it had broken into various groups, one of which was based in Sinaloa. Aaron Martinez may be reached at 915-546-6249; aamartinez@elpasotimes.com; @AMartinezEPTon Twitter. While still active, LFM has weakened and fragmented in recent years. On that day, convoys of gunmen from El Chapo's Sinaloa Cartel clashed with rival gunmen from the Beltran Leyva Cartel. Though AMLO has framed his strategy as a novel approach, some experts say his actionsincluding deploying a new military-led national guard to boost securityecho his predecessors tactics and are unsuccessful. "The Sinaloa Cartels criminal activity in the Cuidad Juarez and El Paso area included the violence that occurred during the war between the Juarez Cartel and the Sinaloa Cartel, which led to the death of thousands of people in Ciudad Juarez and throughout the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Durango," U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas officials said in a news release. The United States and South Korea are marking their seventy-year alliance with a state visit amid tighter defense collaboration. ", Officials added, "Agents and officers likewise seized hundreds of weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition intended to be smuggled into Mexico to assist the Cartels battle to take control of Juarez and the local drug trafficking corridors. Religion and Foreign Policy Webinars, A Conversation with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, Virtual Event Sinaloa cartel, international crime organization that is among the most-powerful drug-trafficking syndicates in the world. In 2019 he was found guilty on various charges, including drug trafficking. April 28, 2023. Many shops were also looted and gunfire exchanges took place between security forces and gang members. To make the most of your backyard, look for durable and comfortable seating options. Its origins can be traced to the Guadalajara cartel, which was one of Mexicos largest crime organizations in the early 1980s. Renewing America, Timeline The Good Friday Agreement offers lessons for trying to end the war between Ukraine and Russia. by Stephen Sestanovich Guzmans case in the Western District of Texas remains pending, according to court records. Guzman, who was reputed to be a billionaire, pulled off a series of Houdini-like escapes from Mexican. with Heidi Campbell and Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, Mexicos Long War: Drugs, Crime, and the Cartels. Over the course of his six-year term, he deployed tens of thousands of military personnel to supplement and, in many cases, replace local police forces he viewed as corrupt. A report by Bloomberg describes how Sinaloa leader Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman has during the last seven years gained control of drug supply and wholesale . EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Jurors got a reminder of the brutality in the drug trafficking business as images of a woman murdered were on display in federal court on Wednesday. The Chapitos and members of the Sinaloa Cartel also allegedly obtained, manufactured, and transported other drugs, including marijuana, heroin, and methamphetamine, knowing and intending that such drugs would be imported into and distributed throughout the United States. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Retired El Paso DEA leader gives somber view of drug problem, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. A video posted on social media appears to show passengers crouching and cowering in their seats. Iglesias was the head of a group of Sinaloa Cartel sicarios (assassins) until his arrest in 2012. If someone shit talked the Sinaloa cartel and got shot in the street by like 25 men in a standing horizontally in a row then that guy better be thankful cuz they showed mercy. Justine Goldbas, 32, was travelling on a bus through Sinaloa on her way back home to Los Angeles with her husband and eight-year-old son - just before the riots began on Thursday. SAN DIEGO - Four sons of Joaqun Guzmn Loera, the imprisoned former Sinaloa Cartel leader known as El Chapo, were indicted by a federal grand jury for large-scale drug trafficking, money laundering and violent crimes in connection with their assumption of cartel leadership following their father's arrest and extradition to the United States. . In the face of unimaginable pain, those families have shown extraordinary bravery in sharing their stories. 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. The cartels and the drug trade fuel rampant, to tens of thousands of homicides in the country each. As the Mexican government intensified its efforts to arrest suspected drug lords, he eluded capture, but other cartel leaders were imprisoned, weakening organizations and giving rise to splinter groups. Its origins can be traced to the Guadalajara cartel, which was one of Mexico's largest crime organizations in the early 1980s. The militarized crackdown was a centerpiece of Calderns tenure. FILE - This Feb. 22, 2014 file photo shows Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, the head of Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel, being escorted to a helicopter in Mexico City following his capture overnight in the . The defendants, known collectively as the Chapitos, are Ivan Guzman Salazar, Alfredo Guzman Salazar, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, and Ovidio Guzman Lopez. A $15 million reward is being offered for information leading to Zambada'sarrest andconviction. The Sinaloa Cartel has been responsible for a long string of murders throughout its history. The witness said his hands were ordered cut off as a message not to steal from the cartel. A further 1,000 troops are being sent to Sinaloa to help with ongoing security measures.

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