In addition to drug trafficking, the Sinaloa Cartel is also involved in money laundering, kidnapping, and human trafficking. Sinaloa Cartel co-founder, portrayed in 'Narcos' series, could be - MSN 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. Authorities noted that Sinaloa, along with other cartels, had become increasingly involved in the distribution of fentanyl, which contributed to the growing opioid crisis in the United States. On Friday, the Treasury Department also announced sanctions against two Chinese companies for their role in supplying the precursor chemicals. Most of the illicit drugs entering the United States that are seized by authorities are discovered at official ports of entry, of which there are more than three hundred. Garland said Friday that the Sinaloa Cartel is "largely responsible" for the increased fentanyl trafficking into the U.S. A further 1,000 troops are being sent to Sinaloa to help with ongoing security measures. by Will Freeman Asia Program. 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.' Video Shows The Moment Mexican Security Forces Captured The How the Beltran Leyva, Sinaloa Cartel Feud Bloodied Mexico Today, we say, no more. Iglesias-Villegas also was convicted for his participation in the kidnapping and eventual murder of Horizon City residentSergio Saucedo, officials said. Its origins can be traced to the Guadalajara cartel, which was one of Mexicos largest crime organizations in the early 1980s. 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. 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. 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. President Caldern declared war on the cartels shortly after taking office. 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. "Law Enforcement also took possession of millions of dollars in drug proceeds which were destined to be returned to the Cartel in Mexico. Iglesias became a member of the Sinaloa Cartel under Joaquin "Chapo" Guzman-Loera in early 2008. But the alliance forged in blood should now evolve to be powered by chips, batteries, and clean technology. Culiacn alone saw 116 murders, 24 of them policemen. How to Prepare for the Future After Seven Decades of the U.S.-South Korea Alliance, In Brief All schools across the whole state of Sinaloa were closed on Friday, the local government body overseeing education said. It was me or him.. In Cancun alone there was 540 murders last year. The US had put out a reward of up to $5m (4.2m) for information leading to his arrest or conviction, as well as that of three of his brothers who are also thought to have kept their positions of command in the group. U.S. officials estimate that CJNG supplies more than one-third of the U.S. drug market. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. He was accused of being the head of a group of Sinaloa cartel sicarios, or hit men. April 19, 2023 ", 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. While other organizations expanded into human trafficking and extortion, among other activities, the Sinaloa cartel remained largely centred on drugs. "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. 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. . The incident prompted mass demonstrations, with protesters demanding answers about the abductions and expressing their exhaustion with Mexicos endemic corruption, violence, and other crime. U.S. says it 'infiltrated' the Sinaloa drug cartel in the fight against Guzman, who was reputed to be a billionaire, pulled off a series of Houdini-like escapes from Mexican. Several other defendants indicted in El Paso in 2012 have pleaded guilty. Twenty-four hours of terror as cartel violence engulfs Mexican city A video showed a Mexican cartel lining up. Jalisco splintered from Sinaloa in 2010 and is among Mexicos fastest-growing cartels, with operations in more than two-thirds of the country. is currently serving a life sentence in a federal prison in Colorado after being convicted in 2019 of numerous drug and murder conspiracy charges. Nationwide, the country registered 493 drug-related deaths that month, 64 of them . Accident; Beating; Beheading; Cartel; Cops; Crime; . 1 nemesis, the Sinaloa Cartel, dominates the majority supply of everything from methamphetamine and heroin to the devastating synthetic opioid. Defense attorneys asked where the video was from and questioned if the transcript was accurate. Murders, dismemberment, mockery of the corpse of a murdered gang member Since then, all four brothers have been arrested or killed, but their loyalists continue to operate throughout Mexico. Melted in acid and faces stitched on footballs - The Sun CBS News Poll: How GOP primary race could be Trump v. 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His hugs not bullets approach seeks to address the socioeconomic drivers of organized crime by creating job opportunities. Cartel Gunmen 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. https://seegore.com/rival-cartel-leaders-wife-beheaded/ Shows Urquidi was accused of smuggling drugs, weapons and cash through tanker trucks and airplanes. The Chapitos are alleged to have repeatedly and consistently obtained and transported multi-ton quantities of cocaine from and through Central and South America, including Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala, into Mexico, stored that cocaine throughout Mexico, and transported it across the U.S.-Mexico border for further distribution throughout the United States. In 2014 Guzmn was apprehended in Mazatln, Sinaloa, Mexico, but the following year he escaped from prison through a tunnel. The cartels and the drug trade fuel rampant, to tens of thousands of homicides in the country each. April 28, 2023. It's time for the United States to get serious about stopping the flow. Theres nothing like lazy summer days relaxing on the patio. At least 29 people lay dead, including 10 members of the military and 19 alleged cartel shooters, while 35 soldiers were wounded. El Paso Live presents events for month of May, First Republic Bank seized, sold in fire sale to, Washington Gov. All the witnesses who worked forthe cartel and the jailhouse informant eachadmitted they were hoping their testimony in the case would result in their prison sentences being reduced. We may have been far from it but we were close enough to see many people driving pretty fast in the opposite direction.". You are also agreeing to our, For media inquiries on this topic, please reach out to, AMLOs Hugs Not Bullets Is Failing Mexico, Mexican Migration Could Be the First Crisis of 2021. 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. The informant also testified that Shows Urquidi confessed to playing a key role in the killing of fellow Mexicanstate police Officer Jesus Rodrigo Fierro-Ramirez. The group formed when the Beltrn-Leyva brothers split from Sinaloa in 2008. 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. And Guzmn, the 32-year-old son of former Sinaloa cartel. Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( A video posted on social media appears to show passengers crouching and cowering in their seats. 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. And while Zambada-Imperial was certainly once a power player in the Sinaloa Cartel, seven years is an age in criminal terms. Another splinter group of the BLO, Los Rojos operates in central and southwestern Mexico and relies largely on kidnapping and extortion. The cartels flourished during the seven decades that Mexico was ruled by a single party, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). 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. Mexican President Andrs Lpez Obrador said Mexican forces had acted responsibly to look after the civilian population and avoid innocent victims. U.S. sanctions Sinaloa drug cartel, once run by 'El Chapo' - CNBC 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. Other charged individuals include operators of secret labs in Mexico where fentanyl is made, weapons dealers who help the Sinaloa Cartel arm its security, and money launderers who funded the operations. Are you in Mexico and have been affected by the issues raised in this story? 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 initiative has evolved to reflect the priorities of national leaders. In Mexico, the cartels use a portion of their vast profits to pay off judges, officers, and politicians. But on Monday, Mexican President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador blasted the U.S. for spying on the Sinaloa cartel without first gaining his government's permission. Updated on: April 14, 2023 / 7:23 PM The Bush administration focused heavily on providing Mexico with security-related assistance, including counternarcotics and counterterrorism support. The team used a stolen Jeep to transport the bodies, he said. 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. 10 murder victims' bodies dumped in front of Mexico governor's office According to the Justice Department, between August 2021 and August 2022, 107,735 people died of drug overdoses in the United States, two-thirds primarily from fentanyl. Latin America Studies Program, Religion and Foreign Policy Webinar: Religion and Technology, Virtual Event In 2017, Americans spent $153 billion [PDF] on illegal drugs, including cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine. 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. But during and after the arrest, 10 soldiers and 19 . by Stephen Sestanovich 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. He also recalled the kidnapping of a man named Sergio Salcedo who was moved from one safe house to another in Jurez. Law enforcement officers also acted as bodyguards forhigh ranking members of the cartel, according to testimony. 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. Yeah some people get outraged over shootings. They have become a formidable force against the cartels in states including Guerrero and Michoacn. Iglesias was the head of a group of Sinaloa Cartel sicarios (assassins) until his arrest in 2012. 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. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Over the last 15 years, murders became ever more violentand ever more public. "The violence gave rise to Ciudad Juarez being named the deadliest city in the world.. Mexican drug cartels resume tactic of hanging bodies from bridges No civilian deaths have yet been reported. A Congressional Research Service report details the scope and activities [PDF] of Mexicos drug trafficking groups. Iglesias-Villegasalso was convicted of five counts of violent crimes in aid of racketeeringand one count each of conspiracy to kill in a foreign country, and kidnapping and aiding and abetting kidnapping. The PRIs unbroken reign finally ended in 2000 with the election of President Vicente Fox of the conservative National Action Party (PAN). 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. He also created a new national police force, or gendarmerie, of several thousand officers. Mexico's Long War: Drugs, Crime, and the Cartels It splintered from the Gulf Cartel in 2010 and held sway over swaths of eastern, central, and southern Mexico. 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. Burning vehicles are seen blocking a road following the arrest of Ovidio Guzmn-Lpez. Dozens of politicians were killed ahead of the countrys midterm elections in 2021, with many of the deaths attributed to the cartels. The witness said his hands were ordered cut off as a message not to steal from 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. For the . The bodies of eight men and two women were. Former Sinaloa drug cartel members and associates, along with law enforcement, continued to testify about the notorious criminal organization as the second week of the "Wedding Murders . The US announced an award of $5m for information leading to Mr Guzmn-Lpez's arrest. 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. Watch: Buses burn and block roads on the streets of Culiacan, Mexico. Iglesias-Villegas, 36, and Shows Urquidi, 50,were among24 alleged Sinaloa cartel members indicted in 2012 overtheir roles in the drug organization. What has Mexico done to stem the drug trade. Read about our approach to external linking. 2023 www.elpasotimes.com. The indictment offers the most comprehensive look yet at the operations of the Sinaloa Cartel dating back 15 years. 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.
sinaloa cartel murders