"What is quite possible is that cartels will hire straw owners who have clean records who can apply for a license, then sell large quantities both legally and on the black market," Villasuso said. Even back before the break of the war, US gov was warning against going there. A sixth. EVERYONE ELSE SHOULD FOLLOW OUR LEAD! RELATED: DEA seizes more than 110,000 fentanyl-laced pills, issues 19 indictments. The suspected traffickers sold meth, heroin, cocaine and fentanyl pills in Colorado and transported funds from the drug sales to groups in California, and then eventually to Mexico, according an indictment in the case. Gulf Cartel is the 5th most influential Mexican drug cartel in the U.S.. Gulf Cartel is also the only Mexican cartel that uses Houston as a major hub. Dunque also relayed the information that many Mexican drug cartels are now . The car was eventually picked up by Rivera-Beltran after an unsuccessful attempt by Guadalupe Ortiz, and they both drove to Dallas, Texas, arriving on Sept. 18, the indictment says. More than 400 soldiers have now turned up the city after . Victor Alvarez Farfan, a native of Michoacn, Mexico, headed the Portland drug ring blamed for bringing large amounts of meth, heroin and fentanyl across the border beginning in October 2017. Employees roll joints behind the sales counter at Medicine Man marijuana dispensary in Denver. I want to congratulate the outstanding federal, state, and local law enforcement cooperation that resulted in this highly successful operation. According to their guilty pleas, they also sent. Most were never released. Twenty-five people have been arrested on drug trafficking charges in the case and five others remain at-large, including four in Mexico. The indictment says six rectangular bricks with "CHANEL" stamped on them that tested positive for cocaine were found in the vehicle. Joaquin Archivaldo Guzman Loera . The undercover officer who first made contact with Rivera-Beltran arranged another drug purchase, and the indictment says $2,200 was exchanged for a pound of meth in the same Target parking lot on June 17. Example video title will go here for this video. That would be one way to break up with someone you don't like, huh? Their families would laugh and say keep them. Rivera-Beltran then called Antonio Ortiz and old him "s*** went to hell," and that they needed to save what they could because there was a lot of "work," believed to be drugs, at the house, according to the indictment. Investigators discovered through calls that Escamilla was picking up a truck from a rental car agency on Sep. 27 and set up surveillance at the location, according to the indictment. Guzman-Loera is the leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, becoming involved in drug trafficking in the late 1980s. We try to spoil when we should understand we haven't spoiled so much, because they know we are working hard for them. Boogie! In Colorado Springs, those are three Taco Star eateries, at 318 N. Wahsatch Ave., 7434 Ridgewood Drive and 605 N. Circle Drive; two Monicas Taco Shops, at 30 E. Fillmore St. and 5829 Palmer Park Blvd. You can go to Tijuana, you can usually kind of fly under the radar for a while in Juarez, but Nuevo Laredo, come on. Heroin is where their making money. The car was stopped by state troopers. Click to skip ahead and see the list of top 5 cities that are crowded by Mexican drug cartels. 'Yes, the Boulder area could be a giant cash cow for the Department of Homeland Security Cartel! Boogie! Jalisco New Generation. The money was seized from alleged members of the Guzman Loera drug cartel . Discovery Company. A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging 17 defendants for drug trafficking in direct connection with a Mexican drug cartel. He had previously changed his profile image to the logo of the criminal organization's special forces 35th battalion. Were concerned with the public consumption right now, Jackson said. The following items were discovered when investigators searched the Kearney Street address, according to the indictment: According to the indictment, that Corvette was the same vehicle driven by Rivera-Beltran during the two drug deals with undercover officers, according to the indictment. A video showed a Mexican cartel lining up. Agents saw Escamilla arrive at the rental car agency, and tracked him back to his home where he loaded the rental truck with several backpacks and a tan bag, the indictment says. In late June, the indictment says Zytacua continued speaking to multiple customers about selling cocaine, meth and heroin. Gustavo Prez died after he was shot two times on the side and on the right forearm. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. They also spoke about "almonds" and how Beltran-Beltran would not be paying Escamilla a courier fee because of a $5,000 debt. (Luis Velarde and Sarah Hashemi/The Washington Post) KRDO NewsChannel 13 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation. The DEA's 2020 National Drug Threat Assessment lists nine Mexican cartels, including El Chapo's Sinaloa Cartel, as the major importers of drugs to the U.S. in 2020. The indictment says Tarango-Rodriguez also told Rivera-Beltran that it would be done very quickly, which agents believed to be in reference to the drug deal. She wants you to know he's more than a number, 2 Colorado nurses illegally took controlled substances at work, U.S. Attorney's Office says, About 3,184.43 grams of 30 milligram fentanyl pills (about 41,500 pills). He notified her Saturday evening that his girlfriend was expecting the couple's first child and shared the positive pregnancy test via a text message. They go by nicknames like "The Little Queen" and "The Missus.". According to newspaper Tribuna San Luis, Municipal Police with the support of the Mexican Army (SEDENA) surrounded a building on Hidalgo Avenue and 20th Street where a vehicle matching this description had been spotted. Its origins can be traced to the Guadalajara cartel, which was one of Mexico's largest crime organizations in the early 1980s. ", RELATED: A mom lost her son to an overdose. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here. COVELO, Calif. Mexican drug cartels are muscling in on America's burgeoning multi-billion-dollar marijuana industry, illegally growing large crops in the hills and valleys of Northern California. These cartels primarily employ Mexican nationals to oversee their distribution operations in the United States. Mexican drug cartels are leading suppliers of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and other illicit narcotics to the United States. The Defendants from California are Juan Carlos Medina-Soberanis, 31; and Erik Parra. WASHINGTON Two sons of notorious drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman have been indicted on drug conspiracy charges, the Justice Department s. Click to see the list of top 5 cities that are crowded by Mexican drug cartels. The Mexican Mafia (Spanish: Mafia Mexicana), also known as La eMe (Spanish for "the M"), is a Mexican American criminal organization in the United States. The Sinaloa Cartel's criminal activity in the Ciudad 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. Of the 17 defendants, 11 are from Mexico, four from El Salvador, and two are from California. This crime, which can defraud victims of their life savings, results in another significant revenue stream for the cartel and strengthens its overall criminal enterprise. It is believed to have a more horizontal structure, as an organization of allied factions, frequently working together but often in control of different aspects of the drug production, trafficking, and distribution processes. "This was an industry here that created a lot of challenges," Daniels told WDVR television news in Denver Jan. 7. They discussed concern over a camera pointing towards the carport, and the indictment says Rivera-Beltran commented that he would go to the residence of Albert Sanchez Rodriguez or somewhere else. The Defense Department said the soldiers acted on their own and shot at the vehicle after they heard a loud noise following the crash. Most notably, the Juarez cartel has reportedly seen its dominance in most of New Mexico eroded by the Sinaloa cartel. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, "Much like the Sinaloa Cartel, CJNG is a poly-drug trafficking organization dealing in wholesale amounts of primarily methamphetamine, but also cocaine, heroin, and marijuana," the DEA notes, adding, "CJNG has drug distribution hubs in the US cities of Los Angeles and Atlanta.". In June 1993, Guzman-Loera was arrested in Chiapas, Mexico and sentenced to a 20-year prison term. "CJNG's rapid territorial expansion is characterized by the organization's willingness to engage in violent confrontations with Mexican Government security forces and rival cartels," as in a 2015 incident in which CJNG gunmen downed a Mexican military helicopter, as well as more recent cases of grisly displays left behind in Tijuana. Rivera-Beltran said he arrived in Phoenix that day around 5 a.m., which was confirmed by GPS, told him to hide the money well, and Escamilla to bring 55 stacks of $100 bills to reduce bulk, according to the indictment. Mexican drug cartels also convert wealthy Chinese nationals' Renminbi (RMB) to US dollars at a lower rate than the prevailing market rate. He also told the informant a load he was waiting for had arrived, and he could give the informant 40 pounds of meth, according to the indictment. Of the 17 defendants, 11 are from Mexico, four from El Salvador, and two are from California. He later bragged to movie star Sean Penn: I supply more heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana than anybody else in the world. Well cartels and Mexican maryjuana did take a hit in Colorado. Our children stronger than we give them credit. Around 6:36 p.m. that evening, Tarango-Rodriguez called Rivera-Beltran and asked if he could use a truck inside Rivera-Beltran's carport for five minutes, according to the indictment. "There has also been evidence of the utilization of cryptocurrencies by Mexican TCOs as a means by which to transfer their wealth internationally" said the DEA. DENVER (AP) - The U.S. Department of Justice says two Mexican cartels are active in five Colorado cities. You have permission to edit this article. Replicating this kind of aggressive law enforcement take down is critical to breaking the backs of these criminal organizations.. Best Mexican Restaurants in Colorado Springs, El Paso County: Find Tripadvisor traveler reviews of Colorado Springs Mexican restaurants and search by price, location, and more. Despite its name, the Mexican Mafia did not originate in Mexico, and is entirely a U.S. criminal prison organization.Law enforcement officials report that the Mexican Mafia is the deadliest and most powerful gang within the California prison . All rights reserved. The violent and powerful Sinaloa cartel forced the Mexican authorities to surrender and hand over El Chapo's son Ovidio Guzman. At least one of the five young men killed by the Mexican military had alleged links to Cartel del Noreste, which operates in the northern border city of Nuevo Laredo across from Texas. Stay up to date with what you want to know. Federal agents seized a slew of drugs in the case, including about 400 pounds of methamphetamine and 15,000 fentanyl pills a powerful synthetic opioid that were disguised as prescription oxycodone, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Denver. Four soldiers were placed under arrest Thursday for the murder of the five men. RELATED:. Mexico's Agriculture Ministry said U.S. health . Joaquin Guzman, the Mexican drug lord known as "El Chapo," entered a Colorado prison known as "the Alcatraz of the Rockies" on Friday to begin a life sentence after being found guilty of a raft of crimes including conspiracy to commit murder. "In recent years, the Gulf cartel has weakened due to the arrest of key leaders in Mexico and intra-cartel conflict, which has led to a decline in its drug trafficking influence in the United States.". We are committed to dismantling and removing the threat posed by these criminal organizations flooding American communities with dangerous narcotics, said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The next day, the indictment says, agents arranged surveillance on I-70 in Summit County of a car rented in Arizona by Diarte. The indictment says Trevizo's vehicle was pulled over by officers after it left the residence. Documents filed Wednesday . Todays action exposes this CJNG scheme and also serves as a warning to potential victims, many of whom are elderly, she added. The Zetas were crossing and kidnapping US citizens and in one occurrence, there were more than 150 US citizens rescued back then. He faces a mandatory life sentence with no possibility of parole. Wow, cross and walk down the streets of Nuevo Laredo as everyone there stairs at you. These interactions help Mexican organizations expand their influence, the DEA reports, and "insulates Mexican TCOs from direct ties to street-level drug seizures and arrests made by US law enforcement.". Colorado Springs Mexican restaurants accused in money laundering scheme with ties to 'El Chapo', Homes built by Covington Homes build community, The Girl Scout Cookie Program feeds entrepreneurial and life skills, Colorado Springs home prices fall to lowest point in nearly 1 years, The science of detecting infectious disease in wastewater arrived with the COVID-19 pandemic, Jamal Murray's big second half serves as last laugh vs. old friend and Memphis Grizzlies, Colorado Sunshine: Team Colorado seeks return to 'The Basketball Tournament', LETTERS: Ducking the real issues; ASC Thrift Shop to close, EDITORIAL: Legislators want local heroin injection sites, At Home: Whats hiding in your rugs? 'My son was a good person and he didn't deserve the way they killed him,' she said. The WORST care homes in England: Interactive map reveals the lowest-rated 2,530 residences - so is An intelligence report obtained by TV Azteca indicated that Wilberto Mata, one of the five young men killed by soldier in the northern border city of Nuevo Laredo, was an alleged member of the Cartel del Noreste ( Northeast Cartel), Gustavo Surez, an American from San Antonio, Texas, was a purported member of the Northeast Cartel, according to a Mexican intelligence report. The Portland-based drug network, which stretched into affluent area suburbs, westbound to Oregon's quaint coastal cities and north into southwestern Washington, is emblematic of a key Mexican. In addition to the 6.57 kilograms of cocaine packed for distribution, the indictment says officers also found $7,117 in the glovebox. Investigators also followed the vehicle driven by Peterson, watched him transfer the items into another truck, and pulled him over, the indictment says. The informant continued to negotiate prices for more meth with Padilla-Romo throughout June, and the indictment says Romo mentioned he was going to get more from Jesus Tarango-Rodriguez. We bet you won't be able to guess the #1 U.S. city that is crowded by these violent Mexican drug cartels. Behind the nicknames of notorious Mexican drug cartel figures In Texas, the many offices appear to have their time spent dealing with cases involving the Sinaloa, Gulf, Juarez, the Knights Templar . Surez, who hours before the incident had learned he was going to be a father for the first time, was shot 12 times and died. Give us another trillion $$$$$$$$$$$ to 'serve and protect' you!Tele '9Wants to Know examined a situation report from the US Department of Justice National Drug Intelligence Center, which says the Juarez and Sinaloa cartels are active in five Colorado cities. On Sept. 29, the indictment says Rivera Beltran called Antonio Ortiz and they spoke how they didn't have anyone bringing heroin to Colorado, and said that Alberto "Chemo" Sanchez Rodriguez could even though he usually only transported money. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Legal Statement. 'The Sinaloa and Juarez cartels are active from the Starbucks locales there in Boulder!' A lot of "somebody's" are buying this stuff cause the shipments keep coming and the dollars keep going to the cartels? [The sniper rifles flowing to Mexican. It has popped around the world, from Hong Kong to Australia and Argentina to Europe. In addition, two related defendants were identified and arrested after the indictment, the district attorney's office said. Now Guzmn is expected to be sent to Colorados maximum-security prison in Florence, the U.S. Penitentiary, Administrative Maximum Facility, better known as Supermax. "In the past 31 days of 2023, there have been 1,937 Mexican Cartel drone's incursions in three South Texas border counties," according to a preview of Martinez's remarks as a witness in the House . If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here. Happy Halloween, Borderland Beat. or redistributed. The state of Colorado was the first to officially legalize marijuana and to offer recreational marijuana in 2014. . The Colorado Springs restaurants, meanwhile, all remain open. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! However, his mother, Jennifer Castillo, showed proof of a Texas-issued temporary license plate and said she had title of the vehicle, which Surez purchased in February. The Defendants from Mexico are: Jose Tapia-Rubio, 58, (naturalized); Selestino Hernandez-Mayo, 45; Fredy Paz-Herrera, age unknown; Bancholas, age unknown, (thought to be from Mexico); Rodrigo Mora-Sanchez, 49, (naturalized); Oscar Mora-Campos, age unknown; Eduardo Jimenez-Sanchez, 37; Changuito, age unknown, (thought to be from Mexico); Um-9584, age unknown, (thought to be from Mexico); Leopoldo Rodriguez-Padilla, Age Unknown; And Heberto Mora-Sanchez, 43.