No doubt that CDS and CJNG are the most powerful syndicates in the world. from what I recall he wasn't a user and the people around him weren't allowed either. $1.3 billion in $20 bills weights roughly 14,300 pounds; obviously a massive logistics efforts would be required to count, store, move and eventually deposit this amount of money. The "new" dimension to the money laundering trade will be the enhanced capabilities afforded the cartels due to their increased access to the internet, more powerful computers, and more complicated software. He has openly challenging the policies of the International Monetary Fund (no doubt due to the fact that Mexico, with its August 2000 payment of $3 billion, currently has no outstanding financial obligations to the IMF), and is championing the development of a Latin American union built along the same model as the European Union. All this information may have been passed on to the cartels. Reuters, "Mexican drug raid nets nearly 10 tons of cocaine," 4/24/97, internet. Circulation and sales have plummeted. This paper examines the entities known generally as the Mexican drug cartels, explores the current state of political affairs in Mexico, and looks to the possible future activities of these organizations. Zacatecas: CJNG Responds to Cartel de Sinaloa Video Message They quietly notified the Bolivian authorities of the shipments, leading to the seizure of 4.1 tons of cocaine by Bolivian authorities on September 26, 1995. The strategy involves the cooperation of 13 departments which will use electronic sensor technology designed to detect fields of narcotic plants, to find narcotic shipments and to track suspicious airplanes and vessels. This deal was a major turning point in the fortunes of the Mexican cartels. Commenting on the move to the meth market, Constantine indicated: "The shiftwas a brilliant business decision by these organizations. In addition, the strategy will utilize satellite photography and specialized computer systems in order to coordinate land and sea tracking efforts. His deal making shifted more and more of the cocaine trade routes from the Caribbean to Mexico. The initial Alliance Against Drugs strategy outlined 16 goals, one of which is the establishment of three cooperative Border Task Forces in unspecified locations. It's the latest Sinaloa cartel. This point warrants reiteration. Sinaloa Cartel's El G1, Puppetmaster of Politicians, Arrested in Durango ranches located just outside Culiacan for production of this drug, where he Sinaloa drug cartel run by Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. The raw materials are smuggled into the United States, where meth labs, typically made up of both legal and illegal Mexican immigrants, produce the finished product. Jaimes sons are still in DGO and are well off. been hidden in the candy bars. With the satellite map of Los Herrera will I be able to look for my location? At present, there is no anti-cartel sentiment among the Mexican populous, and that fact has a great deal to do with the longevity and vibrancy of these organized crime entities. AFP, "U.S. condemns release of Mexican 'Robin Hood' killers," 1/6/98, internet. You are the ones who consume all the drugs!" There will be no public interest in ridding Mexico of the cartels, at least until a replacement for the lost $40 billion can be found. More interesting data at the bottom of this page. At least with respect to Mexico, it is little more than a lever to force American political, socio-economic policy onto its less powerful North American neighbor. Colombia on the other hand, currently has a relatively weak cartel presence, but an overwhelmingly powerful terrorist presence. He knew the identity and even selected Mexican policemen who were to be trained at Fort Bragg, North Carolina for special Mexican anti-drug forces. Of all the towns in the municipality, it occupies the number #4 in terms of number of inhabitants. This, combined with the fact that Mexico was under intense pressure to show progress in its war on drug efforts lest it be de-certified, sealed Abrego's fate (see generally Sam Dillon, "Bribes and publicity mark fall of Mexican drug lord," New York Times, 5/12/96, pp. The cartels bring billions of American dollars into Mexico. A heightened sense of professionalism must be developed in the law enforcement community in the international community. The l999 certification was approved in a far less visible fashion than in either 1998 or 1997 (the Senate vote in 1998 was close, however - 54 to 45, UPI, 3/26/98; see also Reuters, 2/26/98), though the matter did draw the ire of political leaders on both sides of the Rio Grande (AFP, 2/26/98; Reuters, 2/4/98). AFP, "Terrorism, drug trafficking named new threats for west," 10/19/00, internet. In March of 1998, Adrian Carrera, the former head of the Federal Judicial Police, was arrested when it was revealed that he had ties with several of the Mexican drug lords. Carlos Hank Rhon has also been associated with Raul Salinas, the former president's brother, who was himself linked to drug trafficking and was ultimately convicted of the murder of one of his brother's political rivals. A third Amezcua brother, Luis, still faces drug-trafficking charges in the U.S. On May 21, 1999 the extradition of Oscar Malherve to the U.S. was also denied. The firearm issue has been of particular concern. UPI, "U.S., Mexico outline drug strategy," UPI, 2/6/98, internet. In September of 1994, 16 officers of the National Institute for Combating Drugs were arrested for accepting bribes for overlooking cocaine shipments. Horacio Brunt, the man credited with the capture of Garcia-Abrego in January of 1996, was dismissed from his position in the August 1996 purge of corrupt Federal officers. At present, it appears that the cocaine trade has dichotomized, with power being shared by Oscar Malherve and the Gulf Cartel in the east, and the Federation in the west. 16. With the kindlier and gentler attitude in place, the drug lords began to return their "coca-bucks" to the Mexican economy. The Mexican government continues to claim that certification is a unilateral and unfairly judgmental process of evaluation, and President Fox has called for its end. heroin into the United States, cocaine trafficking was also a major problem CENTAC AFP, "Mexican television host murdered for drug debts - prosecutor," 8/27/99, internet. Benjamin, Jody A., "Human-smuggling ring interrupted," Lincoln Journal/Star, 10/18/00, p.3. When the value of the peso dropped in 1994-1995, interest rates rose and billions of dollars in bank loans went unpaid. (1) Despite several euphoric eulogies from the press subsequent to that election, the PRI is alive and well, and will most surely mount a comeback, as evidenced by its recent victory in the Tabasco gubernatorial elections (AFP, 10/18/00) The key "player" in the de-facto Mexican political scene is the president. This group is Mexico's largest importer of ephedrine and supplies the other cartels with the finished product, methamphetamine. It has been an important factor in our economy, unquestionably.'" Meanwhile, in June 2020, El 01 was successfully extradited to the US where he currently remains in jail. At this point, it is somewhat unclear. We have located on the Internet several beautiful images of places and locations nearby, so you can see the beauty of this Mexican town. Gmez Palacio, Durango. Though not politically popular, the data clearly indicates that law enforcement/military interdiction alone cannot solve this problem. Las Herreras Map | Mexico Google Satellite Maps AFP, "Top Mexican official, business clan in drug trade: reports," 6/2/99, internet. (13) Recent events have shaken the relationship between the U.S. and Mexico however. President Fox has also called for the European Union to develop closer ties with Mercusor (Associated Press, 10/2/00). He is alleged to have close links to Mexico's most-wanted drug trafficker, the. By 1997, many new, small organizations were jumping into the cocaine market in Colombia. Leadership of this cartel is currently being contested, but Adado' brother Vicente seems now to have gained control. He has also been said to hold significant influential power within the PRI. Their first attempt managed to grab 11 of his hitmen, killing another, however El Arqui and his bodyguards escaped the area during the chaos of battle. Despite an abundance of evidence, no illegal or unethical activity was found to be present by an investigative panel of Mexican authorities. Former Gulf Cartel king-pin Garcia-Abrego, for example, even publically noted the audacity of the Salinas administration coming after him after he arranged with Raul Salinas to have two anti-Salinas candidates killed. In 1994 sheriffs of two border counties were jailed along with a county clerk and a county judge. Bulky and possessing a penetrating pungent odor that is virtually impossible to mask, the movement of marijuana presents very different transport dynamics than does either heroin or cocaine. Different accounts have Raul Salinas, the Gulf Cartel, the Tijuana Cartel, and various members of the PRI party behind the murder. This syndicate has historically controlled the middle area of the Mexican/United States border. In early 1998, they combined forces with the strong central Mexican group, the Sonora Cartel run by the Caro Quintero family of Guadalajara, and formed a new organization they call, "The Federation" (AFP, 2/16/98). Sure. AFP, "Mexico's ruling party approves primary rules," 6/14/99, internet. 9. The accusations presage the tough fight between the Zetas and Sinaloa in Durango. Will the Mexican cartels try their hand in the burgeoning European economies or limit their focus to the western hemisphere? AFP, "Mexican opposition unites to oust long-ruling party," 8/4/99, internet. In May 1999, he did venture a brief 3-day return visit to Mexico for the first time since fleeing the country. The World Court needs to enhance its political capital, substance, and strength. Wonder if theyre with el chapo now or the zetas. Another similar incident occurred in August of 1994, when a jet believed by intelligence to be carrying 10 tons of cocaine landed at Sombrerete, Zacatecas. For the first time, they are bringing large quantities of cocaine into the Mexican market. Mexico was experiencing somewhat of an economic boom in the early and mid-1990s. But the fact remains that the Mexican economy needs the estimated $40 billion plus that flows into the country from the drug trade. AFP, "Mexico's ruling party to adopt more open system for picking candidate," 5/17/99, internet. Jones, Mark, "The certification process and the drug war," Criminal Organizations, May 1999, pp. Peniche was quoted as saying, "Donations of this kind were normal in MexicoIt was part of the system between businessman and politicians. He announced Jaime Herrera used two While Mexico's economic growth for 1998 was greater than expected with a gross domestic produce (GDP) up about 4.8 percent, 45 percent of the population still live in poverty, with more than one-fourth of the population living in extreme poverty (AFP, 2/17/99). He proposed a new plan for business with Colombia. The Army and the National Guard had launched a joint operation to capture Gerardo Soberanes Ortiz, alias El G1, in the dark of night hours in the northern part of Durango City. Do you have a friend in Los Herrera and want to send them a gift through the postal service? AFP, "Fugitive former Mexican official commits suicide in US," 9/15/99, internet. UPI, "Senate reaffirms Mexico certification," 3/26/98, internet. (8) Because Mexico has historically lacked a viable multi-party system and the checks and balances that such a system brings, no such public crack-down has occurred, nor could we realistically expect it to occur given this backdrop. AFP, "Mexico arrests former top cop," 3/28/98, internet. The Colombians agreed to all of this as long as Mexican cartels would leave the Colombian markets in Miami, and the bulk of the east coast to the Colombians. On February 11, 2013, El 02 was arrested in Culiacan, Sinaloa. its "Heroin Highway," a drug trafficking network that stretched from synthetic drugs and marijuana across the border. Under Fuentes, the Juarez Cartel rose to dominance in Mexico. He is accused of embezzling in excess of $700 million (AFP, 9/9/99). President Fox is aggressively pushing the U.S. to end its drug certification program, publicly stressing that the drug problem will not be resolved until America addresses its own corruption problem; "as long as the United States does not end corruption, efforts to curb the illegal drug trade will not be successful"(AFP, 8/19/00). AFP, "Former police chief arrested on drug charges," 2/27/99, internet. O'Day, Patrick and Rex Venecia, "An Ethnographic Study of Drug Trafficking in a Small Mexican Border Town," Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, November 1999, pp. He owned hotels, real estate and an air taxi service in Texas, and even more extensive holdings in Mexico including newspapers, hotels, construction firms, lumber companies, moving businesses, ranches, real estate (Reuters, 9/29/96). Weymouth, Lally, "The End of An Era?" Are the Mexican people, with a paternalistic-aristocratic political tradition that pre-dates the Spanish, truly ready to handle the increased responsibility of a viable two party/multi-party political system? Rather, they seem to be deeply imbedded in the current Mexican socio-political, economic scene. President Zedillo himself has even admitted taking money from Peniche, but the details are not clear (AFP, 5/30/99). As O'Day points out, the drug of choice of the Mexican military is now and has been for years, marijuana. With the suspected drug Move into the money laundering trade.(5). Interestingly, it is estimated that some 90 percent of the weapons toted by cartel members come from the United States. Christian Science Monitor, "U.S.-Mexico united to take bite out of crime," 2/3/98, internet. While there is little hard data, U.S. law enforcement officers stationed on the U.S.-Mexican border have long noted, "where the Mexican army goes, dope flows." (14) Seeing a huge profit margin as a result of the new immigration law, Mexican syndicates have been moving into the people smuggling trade in a more systematic and organized fashion, either taking over "coyote" operations or forcing them into a business arrangement. We are still in the process of carrying out this operation. Rebel leaders such as Emiliano Zapata and Poncho Villa captured the public's attention and generated a significant measure of popular support. The Immigration and Naturalization Service recently announced the hiring of an additional 1,000 agents who will be assigned to patrol the border, primarily in Texas. He has returned several occasions since, including a visit in October of 2000 (AFP, 10/3/00). The American drug fighting certification program is examined, as are other ways of responding to the cartel threat. In June of 1995, co-leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, Hector Luis Palma Salazar, was arrested by the Mexican army in Guadalajara (Bulita, 1997). General Rosso Jose Serrano, director of the Colombian National Police, said in 1997, that Carrillo Fuentes's Mexican organization was overpowering the Colombian drug organizations. In the past five years there have been five very public murders in which the organized crime interests have most certainly played a role, and they are of particular note. Don't fall behind on your mordida! AFP, "Mexican opposition parties discuss on alliance," 5/25/99, internet. returned the majority of their profits to their home in Mexico, using Armando corral (head of Herrera clan and brother of poncho. After all Durango has not had elections in the past 15 or more years since this guy has been operating correct?Finally elections comming up after all these years and now a capture.You sure are smart dude. During personal visits with President Clinton, Al Gore and George W. Bush in August of 2000, he argued for the complete opening of the U.S./Mexican border within the next 10 to 30 years, and proposed an amendment to NAFTA which would allow for a free labor flow between Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. Federal agents executed simultaneous arrests Nov. 15 in the Chicago area and in Laredo, Texas. There are 653 inhabitants. En la comunidad de Los Herreras municipio de Sant. In 1929, the turning point in modern Mexican political history, President Plutarco Elias Calles organized the National Revolutionary Party (the precursor of the modern PRI), returned to the benevolent autocrat model that had been implemented so well for so long by Diaz, and smoothed the transition of power process by instituting a closed system of selecting political successors. In the midst of a heated campaign for the first time in its 70 year history as has been discussed, the matter has spun out of control. The efforts proved to be far too little and too late. And because they are in complete control, they can keep 100 percent of the profits." Pequeo, the amount of the drug to be introduced would reach more than two American Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, House of International Relations Committee, Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, Institute for Fight Against Drug Trafficking, International Multilateral Development Banks. In addition to the macro-economic implications, there were numerous political killings, and street crimes skyrocketed during the "coca-buck" pullout period. In December 2011, El 01 was arrested in Culiacan, Sinaloa, by the Army. (Reuters, 4/17/97) The result of the new immigration law has been a marked increase in the people smuggling trade. Some are artistic photos and others are simply panoramic photos taken by amateurs and friends who simply like Los Herrera.See more photos . Sinaloa control west of the Sierra to tepehuanes. Find out more interesting facts about all the towns in the Municipality of Santiago Papasquiaro (statistics, photos, maps, restaurants) at this link. THE NEW MARKETS The Mexican drug cartels gained their power by monopolizing the lucrative cocaine trade, but cocaine use in the United States has began to slide in the late 1990s, from 6 million users in the mid-1990s to an estimated 1.7 million in 1998 (Reuters, 3/19/98). Money laundering investigative efforts will also continue, especially in light of the highly successful late 1990s effort, Operation Casablanca. AFP, "U.S. Border Patrol whitewashed Mexican border incident: union," 11/03/00, internet. A decades old unwritten rule in Mexico prohibits the indictments of present and former Presidents and cabinet members. All of the Mexican cartels do need to cooperate to some degree in the annual certification process, even those that the government turns on, if they want to survive in the long run. In the beginning, the Colombians would pay the Mexican groups as much as $1,000/kilo to smuggle cocaine into the United States. Their very possession in any significant amount now brings law enforcement attention. AFP, "Mexico frees alleged 'methamphetamine king' wanted in US," 5/19/99, internet. Mexican The cartels began operating as middlemen smugglers for more powerful groups. following information is in the DEA Historical website for the years to The Felix-Arellano brothers of the Tijuana cartel, for example, openly employ off duty (and perhaps a few on-duty) state police as their body guards. The Immigration and Naturalization Service, which began tracking illegal immigrants' gender in 1992, has reported that the number of females apprehended on the Southwest border has increased every year since 1994 to a high of 173,870 for the 1998 fiscal reporting year (Christian Science Monitor, 4/22/99). Among other initiatives, he has called for the creation of a Mexican Truth Commission to examine past atrocities and bring those responsible to justice. The Colombians would then pick up the drugs and resume distribution and sales efforts. Jalisco cartel is the best armed in Mexico - Puerto Vallarta News Authorities have attributed the increase in violence not simply to the increased numbers, but in large part to the drug and immigrant smugglers who are frustrated by the crackdown that has occurred along the border over the past five years. The Colombian profits would take a dive, but they would be alleviated of some of the risks involved in the business. Governments have notoriously short attention spans. It is of interest to note that all of the decisions rendered in all of these cases were made after certification decisions for the year were already in place. The Cali Cartel, although down, still had an intelligence operation in tact. It is in the process of integrating itself into the socio-economic political fabric of both developing and developed nations, is becoming a major force in international finance, and is destined to dominate until the collective political will of "we, the people" is galvanized in opposition. They only kill each other and an occasional "deserving/corrupt" politician. Fuentes arranged for eight multi-ton shipments to be flown from Bolivia straight to Mexico. Herrera (green shoes killed in club in Juarez in the 80's)corral and Juarez invited zetas to Santiago area. In the past few years, the Mexican military has become more and more aggressive in the border regions, shaking down ethnic Mexicans with impunity, regardless of citizenship and regardless of which side of the border they were on. Good job AMLO. Organized transnational crime possess a political as well as a socio-economic threat to Mexico, and to the entire world. What part will the Mexican cartels play in the new Fox government? A "femininization" of the migration trend has been taking place (Christian Science Monitor, 4/22/99). Population coming from outside the State of Durango: Percentage speaking an indigenous language: Percentage who speak an indigenous language and do not speak Spanish: Employed population over 12 years (women): Dwellings with toilet or sanitary facilities: Households with personal computer, laptop or tablet. Meyer, Michael C., and William L. Sherman, The Course of Mexican History, New York: Oxford University Press, 1979. At least two American agents, while assigned to Operation Casablanca, undertook investigative actions while on Mexican soil without the Mexican government's approval. A Constitution was ratified in 1917, giving more political power to the central government, largely in an attempt to quell the violence. For example, cooperative ventures are now underway between the Juarez Police Department and the El Paso Police Department to respond to the stolen vehicle trade between these two cities. Political corruption must be eliminated. Tavia's purge of the police force never took place (Reding, 1995). The list of its authors can be seen in its historicaland/or the page Edithistory:Durango Cartel. Continued movement in this direction will threaten the very foundation of Mexican democracy. GLOBAL PRESS one that popped into my head. Over the past 30 years, the Mexican military has emerged as a major cartel in its own right, and currently has a virtual monopoly in the marijuana transportation business. There is a need for law enforcement coordination and cooperation throughout the international community. This meant that the Mexican cartels now had almost complete control of the cocaine trade in the United States, the largest cocaine market in the world. Any serious effort to root out the cartels likely needs to await the emergence of a greatly improved Mexican economy; they are just too deeply entrenched within the fabric of the Mexican socio-economic culture. (Constantine, 1997). In September of 1999, the Mexican Congress asked the Mexican Supreme Court to intervene and force Zedillo to reveal the exact nature of his relationship with Carlos Peniche. Officers seized 10 Did you know that this town in Durango has 653 inhabitants? Zacatecas state is a leading source of migrants to the United States with seven percent of its 1.3 million people north of the border at any one time and $240 million a year in remittances coming home. This is not a new market of course, but the scope of this industry is expanding of late, and has the potential to even surpass the drug trade in time. This information included the identities of undercover agents and every bit of information about the United States-Mexican intelligence unit used to track major cartel persons. As Abadinsky (2000:257) has pointed out, "the Herrera's did not buy off the power structure in Durango - they are the power structure." They, among many others, would also like to see DEA agents be allowed to carry weapons into Mexico while on assignment (Reuters, 10/22/97). On April 1, 1997, a new and much tougher immigration law went into effect - that date has been called "Black Tuesday" in Mexico (Reuters, 4/17/97), and it has had long repercussions for many, many Mexican families. To a great degree, the "Mexican mud" market is a different market than the "China white" market. its jus da calculations dats hard, it seems like they're starting to crack down on the sinaloa cartel alot more now than before. Members of this syndicate are generally all tied by blood and/or marriage, and as a result, the group has been almost impossible to infiltrate. Five of those charged are alleged members of a Chicago-based cell of the Zetas Mexican drug cartel responsible for transporting millions of dollars in drug proceeds between Chicago and Mexico. In In May of 1996, two United States Customs agents were charged with conspiracy for their roles in a plan to bring 1.2 tons of cocaine into the United States. In response to this admission, Mexican opposition parties have demanded that President Zedillo be subpoenaed in connection to potential illegal contributions received from Carlos Peniche (AFP, 6/1/99).