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. Mario Iglesias-Villegas, also known as the Grim Reaper, and Arturo Shows Urquidi,also known as Chous,were convicted on several drug trafficking, weaponand money laundering charges. We havecharged Chapos four sons with leading a criminal enterprise built on trafficking tons of deadly drugs into our nation,money laundering, and murder. Director of Media Relations Kelly Thornton (619) 546-9726 . The head of a group of assassins for the Sinaloa drug cartel was sentenced to life in prison Thursday in U . Also, a former police officer with the Jurez police department had been on the opposite side of the Sinaloas. ", 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. A Congressional Research Service report details the scope and activities [PDF] of Mexicos drug trafficking groups. Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 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. It's time for the United States to get serious about stopping the flow. 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. Mexico later deployed twenty-five thousand National Guard members to secure its borders, which some experts say increased violence and diminished the countrys cartel-fighting capacity. The witness, who admitted to being in the team, looked on as violent images filled the screens in the courtroom. American-made guns trafficked through Florida ports are destabilizing the Caribbean and Central America and fueling domestic crime. Jay Inslee says he wont seek a fourth, How to watch King Charles royal coronation, Montana legislator sues House speaker over censure, Monday forecast: Beautiful start to the week, Slightly cooler Monday; chance of showers this week, 92 on Sunday! Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador (2018present). ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. As Mexico gained popularity as a drug route, the strength of its criminal organizations grew, especially that of the Sinaloa cartel, which benefited from Guzmns innovative methods of smuggling, notably through tunnels, and his extensive use of bribes. At least 29 people were killed during the bloody operation to arrest of the son of Mexican drugs kingpin "El Chapo", the Mexican authorities say. And in 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized more than 50 million fentanyl-laced pills, more than double the amount collected the year prior, the Justice Department said. The witness said Marrufo ordered him to be killed and for his men to mutilate his body. On Wednesday, jurors in the case heard more testimony from witnesses. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Culiacn alone saw 116 murders, 24 of them policemen. Iglesias became a member of the Sinaloa Cartel under Joaquin "Chapo" Guzman-Loera in early 2008. Video, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, Shooting suspect was deported four times - US media, Yellen warns US could run out of cash in a month, King Charles to wear golden robes for Coronation, More than 100 police hurt in French May Day protests, Disney faces countersuit in feud with Florida, NFL player's daughter, aged two, drowns in pool, Explosion derails train in Russian border region, MasterChef Australia host Jock Zonfrillo dies. The Mexican cartels (The Sinaloa, Los Zetas, The Gulf Cartel, and the Knights Templar, most notably) and their known drug associates continue to escalate gratuitous acts of retaliation and often record the executions . by Richard Haass Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. The Chapitos allegedly used cargo aircraft, private aircraft, submarines and other submersible and semi-submersible vessels, container ships, supply vessels, go-fast boats, fishing vessels, buses, rail cars, tractor trailers, automobiles, and private and commercial interstate and foreign carriers to transport their drugs and precursor chemicals. Nationwide, the country registered 493 drug-related deaths that month, 64 of them . While the Sinaloa Cartel remains under the leadership of Zambada Garca, its local bosses have broad decision-making power, which makes it difficult to estimate how much of an overall toll this violence has had on the group. Several other defendants indicted in El Paso in 2012 have pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to more than two years in prison. by Olivia Angelino, Thomas J. Bollyky, Elle Ruggiero and Isabella Turilli This timeline traces the role of the outside forces that have beleaguered eastern Congo since the end of the colonial era. most significant drug trafficking threats, technologically advanced, sophisticated, and violent, significant foreign narcotics traffickers, created dozens of smaller, more violent drug gangs. New U.S. Justice Department indictments contain this image of armed gang members allegedly associated with the Chapitos network of the Sinaloa cartel. . Retired El Paso DEA leader gives somber view of drug problem. A video showed a Mexican cartel lining up. Several other drug and weapon charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement, according to court records. April 20, 2023 The indictment alleges that for years, Joaqun Guzmn Loeras (El Chapo) sons have destroyed lives and communities through drug trafficking and violence: their time is up, said DEA Special Agent in Charge Shelly Howe. His body and anothers, which appeared to be stripped of clothing, were laid out on a street on a busy avenue in Jurez in another image shown by U.S. prosecutors. Mexican President Andrs Lpez Obrador said Mexican forces had acted responsibly to look after the civilian population and avoid innocent victims. / CBS News. April 25, 2023 Europe Program, What Northern Ireland Teaches Us About Ending the Ukraine War, Article Iglesias-Villegas, 36, and Shows Urquidi, 50,were among24 alleged Sinaloa cartel members indicted in 2012 overtheir roles in the drug organization. "There was a lot of fear, people were scared," Ms Goldbas said. Immigrants waiting 10 years for court date in U.S. Juarez plans new migrant shelter near border, U.S. to open foreign centers in bid to stop migration, Migrants continue streaming into Brownsville, Border sector chief: Were ready for end of Title, El Pasoan to lead regional ICE removal operations, BestReviews.com - Top gifts to make everyone happy this spring, Surprise your mom with one of these Mothers Day, Mothers Day inspo: This foot massager has 20,000, Drew Barrymores Walmart collection is perfect for, Best Mothers Day gifts for the budding plant mom, Best Mothers Day Gifts for moms obsessed with books, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. with Heidi Campbell and Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, Mexicos Long War: Drugs, Crime, and the Cartels. "The pioneers in hanging bodies were the Zetas cartel during the war against the Sinaloa Cartel in Coahuila and Tamaulipas states around the '90s," said David Saucedo, a Mexico-based security analyst. Ukraines Counteroffensive: Will It Retake Crimea? Although he was arrested and sentenced to more than 20 years in prison in 1993, he continued to be a key figure in the cartel, and, according to various reports, he gained full control of the organization in 1995. 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. Officials claimedIglesias-Villegas was a "significant participant in the death of thousands of people in Ciudad Juarez from 2008 to 2011.". He also created a new national police force, or gendarmerie, of several thousand officers. Marrufo interrogated the man in a safe house, the witness said. The two are accused of being involved in the Sinaloa cartels operations in Jurez in connection to murders, kidnappings, and drug trafficking. Helicopter gunships were deployed from the authorities to support the ground operation. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Investigators say the accused part of the "Chapitos" network facilitated the purchase of the precursor chemicals of fentanyl from China, manufactured the deadly drug in Mexico, and then worked to smuggle the substance into the U.S. Four Chinese nationals and one Guatemalan national were charged with supplying fentanyl ingredients to the 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. Updates? One also was convicted in thekilling of a U.S. citizen in the Wedding Murders" case. The government registered more than 120,000 homicides [PDF] over the course of Calderns term, nearly twice as many as during his predecessors time in office. Monaco highlighted the need to combat drug trafficking and fentanyl proliferation on social media, telling reporters on Friday that she and DEA Administrator Anne Milgram met with social media companies last week discuss how social media companies "must do more to stop the sale of fentanyl on their platforms.". President Biden inherited a tense security relationship with Mexico, with bilateral cooperation focused mostly on migration, COVID-19, and trade. The Good Friday Agreement offers lessons for trying to end the war between Ukraine and Russia. Based in southwestern Mexico, Guerreros Unidos (United Warriors) broke away from the BLO in 2009 and became involved in the heroin trade. Omissions? President Caldern declared war on the cartels shortly after taking office. I found him. Experts attribute this to the continued fallout from the kingpin strategy, territorial feuds, and cartel fragmentation. These indictments were made possible by our cooperation with local, state, and federal partners. It was me or him.. No civilian deaths have yet been reported. "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. All schools across the whole state of Sinaloa were closed on Friday, the local government body overseeing education said. After Mexican traffickers smuggle wholesale shipments of drugs into the United States, local groups and street gangs manage retail-level distribution in cities throughout the country. On her back, the cartel members wrote I extort people for La Lnea. A rose was placed on top of her in the image of her body. Updated on: April 14, 2023 / 7:23 PM CJNG, which routinely faces off with its No. The attorney general said the U.S. government would work to seek their extradition to face charges on American soil. Cartel Gunmen Civil liberties groups, journalists, and foreign officials have criticized the Mexican governments war with the cartels for years, accusing the military, police, and cartels of widespread human rights violations, including torture, extrajudicial killings, and forced disappearances. The Chapitos subsequently amassed greater control over the Sinaloa Cartel by allegedly threatening and causing violence against Damaso Lopez Nunez, his family, and his associates and, as a result, became principal leaders and drug traffickers within the Sinaloa Cartel. She was asked if she was married, if she had kids, if she wanted to make a statement. And while Zambada-Imperial was certainly once a power player in the Sinaloa Cartel, seven years is an age in criminal terms. But many drug policy experts say this won't slow fentanyl deaths. Federal officials on Friday detailed the Chapitos' gruesome and cruel practices aimed at extending their power and amassing greater wealth from testing the potency of the fentanyl they allegedly produced on prisoners to feeding victims of their violence to tigers in order to intimidate civilians. 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. By 2007, Mexican cartels controlled an estimated 90 percent [PDF] of the cocaine entering the United States. 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. Thousands of Mexicansincluding politicians, students, and journalistsdie in the conflict every year. The charges stem from a decades-long, multi-district investigation by the Southern District of California, the Department of Justice Criminal Divisions Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, the Northern District of Illinois, and their law enforcement partners. 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 . . Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Iglesias-Villegas was one of the drivers of the vehicles used during the kidnapping of the victims, the affidavit states. Two reputed Sinaloa drug cartel members were convicted for their roles in the criminal organization. April 28, 2023. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. Weekly. The woman who had been recorded was flanked by a man with a rifle as she asked questions. Sinaloa Cartel Leader Hunted After Killing Priests, Baseball Players and US Tourist. In August 2022, a judge ordered the former attorney general who oversaw the original investigation to stand trial on charges of forced disappearance, failure to report torture, and misconduct. Suspect in "killer clown" case pleads guilty in 1990 murder of Florida . They were then told the bus was "at risk" and the driver was informed he needed to "stop and hide". With U.S. assistance, the Mexican military captured or killed twenty-five of the top thirty-seven drug kingpins in Mexico. While other organizations expanded into human trafficking and extortion, among other activities, the Sinaloa cartel remained largely centred on drugs. According to the DEA, the "rapid expansion of its. 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. Homicides declined in the first years of Pea Nietos presidency. Los Rojos. The US State Department says he and his brother Joaqun are currently overseeing approximately 11 methamphetamine labs in the state of Sinaloa, producing an estimated 1,300- 2,200kg (3,000-5,000lb) of the drug per month. The International Crisis Groups Falko Ernst visualizes Mexicos war against the cartels. The two are accused of being involved in the Sinaloa cartels operations Jurez in connection to murders, kidnappings, and drug trafficking. The United States and South Korea are marking their seventy-year alliance with a state visit amid tighter defense collaboration. During interrogation, Campos told authorities he distributes illegal narcotics for the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico, according to the criminal complaint. For the . Mexican authorities have been waging a deadly battle against drug cartels for more than a decade, but with limited success. The cartel was founded in Mexico's Sinaloa state and now operates in 17 Mexican states, and by some estimates, in as many as 50 countries. Religion and Foreign Policy Webinars, A Conversation with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, Virtual Event The FBI wants the four Chinese nationals captured and is offering a $1 million reward, though taking them into custody to face charges in the U.S. will likely prove difficult. 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. 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. by Will Freeman 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 . In sweeping indictments, the Justice Department targeted two dozen operatives in the Chapitos network of the Sinaloa cartel. Within this centralized political structure, drug trafficking groups cultivated a wide network of corrupt officials through which they were able to gain distribution rights, market access, and protection. The US announced an award of $5m for information leading to Mr Guzmn-Lpez's arrest. 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. The six-month surveillance operation to capture Mr Guzmn-Lpez had the support of United States officials, Mr Sandoval said. "Law Enforcement also took possession of millions of dollars in drug proceeds which were destined to be returned to the Cartel in Mexico. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. What was a simple all-out war between the Sinaloa cartel and the Arellano's for control of the "Tijuana plaza" the coveted territory to traffic narcotics into the United States has now. The indictment describes the cartels alleged drug transportation and distribution networks; its financial infrastructure that has laundered hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit proceeds; and the extensive use of violence to maintain power, including an internal power struggle. 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.. He also provided security forstash houses, where thousands of kilograms of cocaine were unloaded, officials said. 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. Families and communities across our country are being devastated by the fentanyl epidemic. Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Another splinter group of the BLO, Los Rojos operates in central and southwestern Mexico and relies largely on kidnapping and extortion. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The discussion between the attorneys and judge Montalvo suggested an error had been spotted in an early version of the transcription. He was extradited to the United States the following year.
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