A continuation of events surrounding the drug war and related social issues of Baja California and Mexico. Keeping an eye on Seig Heil Trump. We are still trying to restore all blogs from 2006 which were hacked by Linton Robinson and his team, famous for supporting the Baja Trump Towers on one of his real estate sites. Highlights of Paris-Simone's favorite music !!
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Showing posts with label Anabel Hernandez. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Anabel Hernandez. Show all posts
Is Donald Trump toast? Well, maybe. Just starting to read reactions to Robert Mueller being appointed as Special Counsel to oversee the Trump-Russia investigation, here are a few:
The Democrats are licking their chops. And, unfortunately for us, even Hillary Clinton is getting in the swing, she is forming an "action group". Just remember Mexico, she was/is for the privitization of oil in Mexico. But wait a minute .... what about this :
Okay, so it's a good thing to get rid of the idiot Trump, but what are we left with? Pence and the rest of the neo-fascist lunatics running the US Government. How do we get rid of them? Mike does not think Trump will be impeached, and I am having doubts. We'll see.
***************
Democracy Now! discusses the latest developments in the Anastasio Hernandez Rojas case with John Larson and Christian Ramirez and separate interview with Enrique Morones of the Border Angels (for Spanish translation hit translation button top right hand of page):
Javier Valdez & Anabel Hernandez courtesy Democracy Now !
Democracy Now ! interviews Anabel Hernandez following the execution of the well loved Mexican journalist, Javier Valdez. If you read nothing else or watch no other video, do not miss Amy Goodman's interview of Anabel Hernandez.
Here is coverage of events in Mexico since black Monday of this week, includes link to the 2011 Javier Valdez Cardenas Award Acceptance Speech - please watch:
Locally, the executions are intensifying in Tijuana as well as Ensenada and two more in Rosarito Beach. Additionally there have been shoot outs between Municipal Police and members of organized crime as well as an attack on a PEP officer. To bring us up to speed this morning at 8:14 am Frontera reports the official (finally) count of executions in Tijuana this month stands at 80. The YTD total for Tijuana alone stands at 531. Since this report, there have been more killings and more left wounded. I'll be back with more details, the situation is obviously getting worse or at least there has been no improvement.
P.S. Democracy Now ! repeatedly refers to the drug war as "the so-called drug war". What do you think they mean by that? I think they are on to something. BTW, more moves against Jeff Sessions coming up, I hope. Paris is really having a difficult time adolescing. She broke another lamp & when it fell it broke the glass table top of an end table. She doesn't seem to want to discuss her behavior. 🐶
Is Donald Trump toast? Well, maybe. Just starting to read reactions to Robert Mueller being appointed as Special Counsel to oversee the Trump-Russia investigation, here are a few:
The Democrats are licking their chops. And, unfortunately for us, even Hillary Clinton is getting in the swing, she is forming an "action group". Just remember Mexico, she was/is for the privitization of oil in Mexico. But wait a minute .... what about this :
Okay, so it's a good thing to get rid of the idiot Trump, but what are we left with? Pence and the rest of the neo-fascist lunatics running the US Government. How do we get rid of them? Mike does not think Trump will be impeached, and I am having doubts. We'll see.
***************
Democracy Now! discusses the latest developments in the Anastasio Hernandez Rojas case with John Larson and Christian Ramirez and separate interview with Enrique Morones of the Border Angels (for Spanish translation hit translation button top right hand of page):
Javier Valdez & Anabel Hernandez courtesy Democracy Now !
Democracy Now ! interviews Anabel Hernandez following the execution of the well loved Mexican journalist, Javier Valdez. If you read nothing else or watch no other video, do not miss Amy Goodman's interview of Anabel Hernandez.
Here is coverage of events in Mexico since black Monday of this week, includes link to the 2011 Javier Valdez Cardenas Award Acceptance Speech - please watch:
Locally, the executions are intensifying in Tijuana as well as Ensenada and two more in Rosarito Beach. Additionally there have been shoot outs between Municipal Police and members of organized crime as well as an attack on a PEP officer. To bring us up to speed this morning at 8:14 am Frontera reports the official (finally) count of executions in Tijuana this month stands at 80. The YTD total for Tijuana alone stands at 531. Since this report, there have been more killings and more left wounded. I'll be back with more details, the situation is obviously getting worse or at least there has been no improvement.
P.S. Democracy Now ! repeatedly refers to the drug war as "the so-called drug war". What do you think they mean by that? I think they are on to something. BTW, more moves against Jeff Sessions coming up, I hope. Paris is really having a difficult time adolescing. She broke another lamp & when it fell it broke the glass table top of an end table. She doesn't seem to want to discuss her behavior. 🐶
If you had driven through the toll booth on the Scenic Highway going up to the States on Tuesday morning around 6:00am, you might have noticed the heavy presence of Federal Police standing guard and an increase of Mexican Army walking the traffic lanes at the San Ysidro POE prior to entering the USA. Despite the assurances from Mike Vigil, former Chief of International Operations for the US DEA that the arrest of Damaso Lopez (aka " El Licenciado") would actually forestall more terror and violence throughout Mexico, Mexican experts differ.
To be sure, security forces have been quietly mobilizing in Tijuana since the arrest of Damaso on 05/02 in anticipation of a potential power struggle due to fragmentation of the Sinaloa cartel and the dispute for control between the three divisions of the Sinaloa cartel.
Journalist Anabel Hernández says that after capture, the Chapitos will seek to take over the reins of the Sinaloa Cartel, which would intensify violence in the state
"To attack the Chapitos in the internal battle for power within the Sinaloa Cartel, Dámaso López Núñez had teamed up with the Nueva Generación Jalisco Cartel, the Zetas, remnants of the Beltran Leyva, and with an important fraction of the same Sinaloan cartel, Which caused that the Licenciado had more power and dominion than the heirs of the Chapo Guzmán, reason why it was, undoubtedly, the substitute of the Chapo " , indicated Anabel Hernández for EL DEBATE, journalist and writer specialized in subjects of drug trafficking.
The investigator narrates part of the facts that undress the beginning of the war that Dámaso Lopez untied against the children of Loera Guzmán. After the arrest of the Chapo, the Sinaloa Cartel fractured and began a cruel battle for the leadership of the criminal group. Dámaso Lopez did not hesitate to directly attack everything related to the Chapitos.
For example, the journalist claimed that Licenciado was behind an attack in the mountains in the middle of last year.She explained that he later orchestrated the kidnapping of Ivan and Alfredo Guzmán Salazar, also in August last year.
"After several betrayals and attacks on the so-called ringleaders of the Sinaloan cartel, Dámaso really succeeded as the successor of Joaquin Guzman." These people of the DEA had already confirmed this to me earlier this year, but his reign was very short, Because in turn was betrayed by a hacker who has long been working for him.The videos that have appeared were not by accident, as has been told, it was a betrayal that ultimately led to the capture of Dámaso, " said the journalist .
NEW SUCCESSOR
The writer mentions that it is certain that the violence of the Sinaloa Cartel explodes more in the state, since the sides will seek the command of the group: "Without a doubt, who will want to jump to the control of the fraction or preimperio that had the Bachelor will be its son , Dámaso López Serrano, better known as the Mini-Lic ".However, for the journalist specialized in drug trafficking, "what will make the children of the Chapo claim what they believe theirs," a situation that would add to the violence.
"The groups will seek to give nothing away, and this will result in more deaths in the state of Sinaloa and others in which this cartel has a presence," she said.
Hernandez also said that the Mini-Lic will seek to maintain the alliances that his father had managed to consolidate and with which he managed to keep the Chapo Guzman's children under control.
Anabel Hernández does not doubt that the capture of Dámaso López is real, since from the betrayal of the hacker that delivered videos to the authorities, these already came following the steps.
LOW PROFILE
"Before all this, I had information in which I was told that the Licentiate was a man who loved to be in Mexico City, besides being a guy who had a very, very low profile, and only went out with I suppose that in Culiacan, Eldorado and other places that were of his influence, he used to have more personnel, but in Mexico City he kept almost no staff, so it is not at all strange that he was detained without aggression and without Shoot a single bullet, " she said.
Anabel Hernández talks about the first contact between Dámaso López and Joaquín Guzmán Loera, as well as the brotherhood that was born between them. In her article published in early February of this year titled "The successor of Chapo: Dámaso López Núñez".
Dámaso was deputy director of the prison of Puente Grande, Jalisco, where the Chapo was imprisoned. Inside the criminal created a group of shock called Los Sinaloas, with which they corrupted to custodians and authorities of the penitentiary. Dámaso López was the one who coordinated the flight of the Chapo in 2001. Since then it was the right arm of the capo, until this one was stopped.
"After that began the war against the Chapitos, which had won," said Hernandez.
***************
So we wait and watch; the past two days the Federal Police were not at the toll booth nor were there any very early morning sightings of Army units in the lanes entering the USA at the San Ysidro POE.
April 2017 Homicide/Executions - Tijuana
April of 2017 registered 117 violent homicides/executions in Tijuana, just a few shy of the March total of 121:
Since the start of this month as of 7:30am this morning, there have been twelve, bringing the year to date total of executions in Tijuana alone to 463.
- There was another attack on a Ticketon bus close to the San Ysidro International Line; it was rammed by an RV whose driver fled and was whisked away by a yellow cab. This would make the fourteenth attack on Ticketon buses since May of 2016 and several official complaints have been lodged with no results:
I have not seen this on the other sources yet; Frontera reports that the Ensenada social media warned of gunfire on Avenida Diamante in colonia El Gallo on Wednesday (05/03) night. This was fighting which broke out in front of two rehab center on Avenida Diamante; screams were heard, shots were fired, two arrests were made and the Director of one of the centers was beaten up by men who then fled. Residents are fearful and concerned. Anyone remember the Tijuana rehab massacre a few years back ?
- Zeta reports in two weeks three executions in Tecate and notes in April there was one more: (had to take that off the cache when they were down, hope it comes up)
- Antonio Heras reports the Subcomandante of Police of Tecate Aaron Reyes Herrera gunned down as he was traveling on the road to Ensenada, around 9:30pm Wednesday night. The woman passenger was also injured:
I have tons of reports on Trump the maniac, will be back with those PLUS Paris has a special relationship with Saul Berenson ! Or so she thinks. Actually, Saul Berenson would certainly make a better Secretary of State than that idiot Rex Tillerson.
Stay tuned !
Meanwhile.....
Thought this was appropriate... and you know something's happening here but you don't know what it is, do ya, Mr. Jones.
If you had driven through the toll booth on the Scenic Highway going up to the States on Tuesday morning around 6:00am, you might have noticed the heavy presence of Federal Police standing guard and an increase of Mexican Army walking the traffic lanes at the San Ysidro POE prior to entering the USA. Despite the assurances from Mike Vigil, former Chief of International Operations for the US DEA that the arrest of Damaso Lopez (aka " El Licenciado") would actually forestall more terror and violence throughout Mexico, Mexican experts differ.
To be sure, security forces have been quietly mobilizing in Tijuana since the arrest of Damaso on 05/02 in anticipation of a potential power struggle due to fragmentation of the Sinaloa cartel and the dispute for control between the three divisions of the Sinaloa cartel.
Journalist Anabel Hernández says that after capture, the Chapitos
will seek to take over the reins of the Sinaloa Cartel, which would
intensify violence in the state
"To
attack the Chapitos in the internal battle for power within the Sinaloa
Cartel, Dámaso López Núñez had teamed up with the Nueva Generación
Jalisco Cartel, the Zetas, remnants of the Beltran Leyva, and with an
important fraction of the same Sinaloan cartel, Which caused that the
Licenciado had more power and dominion than the heirs of the Chapo
Guzmán, reason why it was, undoubtedly, the substitute of the Chapo " , indicated Anabel Hernández for EL DEBATE, journalist and writer specialized in subjects of drug trafficking.
The investigator narrates part of the facts that undress the beginning
of the war that Dámaso Lopez untied against the children of Loera
Guzmán. After the arrest of the Chapo, the Sinaloa Cartel
fractured and began a cruel battle for the leadership of the criminal
group. Dámaso Lopez did not hesitate to directly attack everything related to the Chapitos.
For example, the journalist claimed that Licenciado was behind an attack in the mountains in the middle of last year.She explained that he later orchestrated the kidnapping of Ivan and Alfredo Guzmán Salazar, also in August last year.
"After
several betrayals and attacks on the so-called ringleaders of the
Sinaloan cartel, Dámaso really succeeded as the successor of Joaquin
Guzman." These people of the DEA had already confirmed this to me
earlier this year, but his reign was very short, Because in turn was
betrayed by a hacker who has long been working for him.The videos that
have appeared were not by accident, as has been told, it was a betrayal
that ultimately led to the capture of Dámaso, " said the journalist .
NEW SUCCESSOR
The writer mentions that it is certain that the violence of the Sinaloa
Cartel explodes more in the state, since the sides will seek the
command of the group: "Without a doubt, who will want to jump to the
control of the fraction or preimperio that had the Bachelor will be its
son , Dámaso López Serrano, better known as the Mini-Lic ".However, for the journalist specialized in drug trafficking, "what will
make the children of the Chapo claim what they believe theirs," a
situation that would add to the violence.
"The groups will seek to give nothing away, and this will result in
more deaths in the state of Sinaloa and others in which this cartel has a
presence," she said.
Hernandez also said that the Mini-Lic will seek to maintain the
alliances that his father had managed to consolidate and with which he
managed to keep the Chapo Guzman's children under control.
Anabel Hernández does not doubt that the capture of Dámaso López is
real, since from the betrayal of the hacker that delivered videos to the
authorities, these already came following the steps.
LOW PROFILE
"Before
all this, I had information in which I was told that the Licentiate was
a man who loved to be in Mexico City, besides being a guy who had a
very, very low profile, and only went out with I suppose that in
Culiacan, Eldorado and other places that were of his influence, he used
to have more personnel, but in Mexico City he kept almost no staff, so
it is not at all strange that he was detained without aggression and
without Shoot a single bullet, " she said.
Anabel Hernández talks about the first contact between Dámaso López and
Joaquín Guzmán Loera, as well as the brotherhood that was born between
them. In her article published in early February of this year titled
"The successor of Chapo: Dámaso López Núñez".
Dámaso was deputy director of the prison of Puente Grande, Jalisco, where the Chapo was imprisoned.
Inside the criminal created a group of shock called Los Sinaloas, with
which they corrupted to custodians and authorities of the penitentiary.
Dámaso López was the one who coordinated the flight of the Chapo in
2001. Since then it was the right arm of the capo, until this one was
stopped.
"After that began the war against the Chapitos, which had won," said Hernandez.
***************
So we wait and watch; the past two days the Federal Police were not at the toll booth nor were there any very early morning sightings of Army units in the lanes entering the USA at the San Ysidro POE.
April 2017 Homicide/Executions - Tijuana
April of 2017 registered 117 violent homicides/executions in Tijuana, just a few shy of the March total of 121:
Since the start of this month as of 7:30am this morning, there have been twelve, bringing the year to date total of executions in Tijuana alone to 463.
- There was another attack on a Ticketon bus close to the San Ysidro International Line; it was rammed by an RV whose driver fled and was whisked away by a yellow cab. This would make the fourteenth attack on Ticketon buses since May of 2016 and several official complaints have been lodged with no results:
I have not seen this on the other sources yet; Frontera reports that the Ensenada social media warned of gunfire on Avenida Diamante in colonia El Gallo on Wednesday (05/03) night. This was fighting which broke out in front of two rehab center on Avenida Diamante; screams were heard, shots were fired, two arrests were made and the Director of one of the centers was beaten up by men who then fled. Residents are fearful and concerned. Anyone remember the Tijuana rehab massacre a few years back ?
- Zeta reports in two weeks three executions in Tecate and notes in April there was one more: (had to take that off the cache when they were down, hope it comes up)
- Antonio Heras reports the Subcomandante of Police of Tecate Aaron Reyes Herrera gunned down as he was traveling on the road to Ensenada, around 9:30pm Wednesday night. The woman passenger was also injured:
I have tons of reports on Trump the maniac, will be back with those PLUS Paris has a special relationship with Saul Berenson ! Or so she thinks. Actually, Saul Berenson would certainly make a better Secretary of State than that idiot Rex Tillerson.
Stay tuned !
Meanwhile.....
Thought this was appropriate... and you know something's happening here but you don't know what it is, do ya, Mr. Jones.
Since Monday the airwaves and social media have been buzzing over the mass kidnapping of a group of people attending a fiesta at the La Leche restaurant in Puerto Vallarta, the known territory of the Sinaloa cartel. Initially it was reported that Ivan Archivaldo Guzman, son of "El Chapo" Guzman was among those kidnapped. I say "those" because the number of people taken hostage at gunpoint and loaded into several vehicles bounced down from 16 to 11 to 10 to 9 to finally 6 - the women and children attending the fiesta were let go. First reports stated that over four to seven large vehicles were used to whisk the hostages away - authorities now are saying two trucks were used. Authorities are now saying those kidnapped were members of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Anabel Hernandez conferred with relatives of "El Chapo" who indicated that they believed this kidnapping was related to the 06/11/16 armed attack on the house belonging to Consuelo Loera, the mother of "El Chapo" in La Tuna of Badiraguato, Sinaloa. The relatives also stated that they believed it was Alfredo Beltran Guzman, the nephew of "El Chapo" and son of Alfredo Beltran who orchestrated this attack. Government sources at the same time attributed this attack to the former leader of the Guadalajara Cartel, Rafael Caro Quintero, a fugitive from justice. His motivation they thought was unfinished business and supposedly the beginning of a war against the Sinaloa Cartel. However, in the July interview with Proceso, Caro Quintero stated he was no longer in the drug business and he had no war with anyone. In fact, he said that he and "El Chapo" are on good terms.
Anabel's sources confirmed that indeed Ivan was among those kidnapped at La Leche restaurant in Puerto Vallarta. Within this link is the July interview with Caro Quintero, and on the sidebar video of that interview. At this point with these differing initial reports, the thought is could this be an internal war within the Sinaloa cartel - and if so, what does that mean as far as increased violence in our region ? Up to this point in Baja California although having seen a huge increase in the violence, memories of 2007 and 2008 into 2009 return to another in-fight within the Sinaloa cartel where cartel members turned not only against each other, but against the CAF with brazen gunfights in public areas and on public highways.
But wait....although authorities have indicated that the people kidnapped were members of the Sinaloa cartel, they changed to report that this seems directly related to disputes between differing cartels without naming specifically who this other cartel(s) might be. They do mention CJNG activity in the State of Jalisco, which gives us pause. After all, the fight in our locality is between the Sinaloa, CJNG and CAF for territorial control. Does this mean if the authorities are correct, that hostilities in our area will increase ? From Aristegui, their reports except the video they used was removed.
Meanwhile, today Proceso and others report Eduardo Almaguer, the prosecutor of Jalisco confirmed that there is no evidence that Ivan Archivaldo Guzman was among those kidnapped. However, Almaguer did confirm that among the hostages is Alfredo Guzman (Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar) the youngest son of "El Chapo" from his first marriage to Alejandrina Salazar. Apparently Ivan was at the fiesta but he left just moments before the arrival of the armed commando group.
The theorists and speculators on the social media at first immediately believed this was an inner-cartel dispute, some believed that there was government (s) involvement - they argued the basis for the group abduction was to pressure "El Chapo" into not spilling the beans on all the officials and agencies he has and had on his payroll, and others believed this was just a scripted act to confuse authorities and as a revenge for the the re-arrest of "El Chapo" or even perhaps as a warning to the authorities themselves or to anyone and their loved ones who might turn evidence and testify against "El Chapo". Frontera reported that the son of "El Chapo" was possibly implicated in this event, which leads us back to a inner-familia war.
Whatever the case may be with the results and final outcome is not completely clear due to the unpredictable or uncertain moves of organized crime; however Zeta has the best video of the group usurption er sorry... kidnapping.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
courtesy Proceso
UPDATE 08/18:
Here are several reports from the Mexican press with the today's finale from NPR:
- The PGR has taken over the entire investigation. All records, including evidence in seized vehicles, cell phones and other objects will be handed over to SEIDO; there is no mention of the CJNG.
- Everyone is looking for Alfredo Guzman Salazar; that includes the Army, the Marinos, the Federal Police and the PGR, there is no mention of the CJNG.
- A series of press reports naming the CJNG who committed the assault :
- The CNJG is only mentioned as a possible suspect in these abductions; Prosecutor Eduardo Almaguer said on 08/16 that the cartel "...could be involved."
- Note the confusion of exactly how many sons of El Chapo were abducted, both from El Universal and Milenio. Excelsior names the kidnappers as the CJNG. On El Universal, Alexander Hope points the finger at CJNG, however he also states that the people abducted at the restaurant were not members of the Sinaloa cartel. These reports from 08/17:
- Here, NPR's Carrie Kahn quotes Prosecutor Eduardo Almaguer as stating that the kidnappers were members of the CJNG. This was on 08/17, we had not received that information here in Mexico directly from Almaguer :
- On 08/18 NPR interviews Alejandro Hope and David Shirk of SDSU, who note the increased violence in Mexico since the arrest of El Chapo and project a bitter war ahead between the Sinaloa Cartel and the CJNG. Click "Morning Edition" for the audio. This of course is not good news for our region.
UPDATE 08/19 : Apparently, Anabel Hernadez's sources were right in the first place !
Anabel Hernandez
For those of you who are not familiar with Anabel Hernandez, here is a three years old interview with her - muy importante in order to understand the full scope of this story:
- It is almost 4:00 pm in the afternoon and still we have received no reports that the authorities have clearly labeled the CJNG as responsible for the kidnappings at La Leche restaurant in Puerto Vallarta. Not a word.
However, today Carmen Aristegui interviewed both Anabel Hernandez and journalist Jose Reveles. Here are highlights of that interview with attached link, including the audio.
Originally in the Proceso article, Anabel interviewed relatives of 'El Chapo' immediately following the kidnapping at La Leche restaurant. Although the relatives believed at the time Ivan had been kidnapped (which as a matter of fact everyone believed at the time), they also believed that the kidnapping was masterminded by Alfredo Beltran Guzman (nephew of 'El Chapo') as revenge for the 2008 arrest of Alfredo Beltran Leyva aka "El Mochomo".
There are now even more details from that interview: Alfredo Beltran Guzman has realigned himself with the CJNG and the Zetas, as in the days of old. Here then is not only a dispute between the CJNG and the Sinaloa Cartel, but also an internal war within the Sinaloa Cartel. This internal war, Anabel feels is even more serious. Further, her investigations show that both of the Chapo sons were targets and family members have revealed to her that if the worst materializes there will be reactions.
Authorities according to Anabel have already began to prepare for worse case scenarios involving several cities and states in Mexico. Durango has already issued an alert (for violence) for their state; she mentions that other cities and states have issued alerts but does not name them. Presently we do not know if Tijuana and Baja California are under alert.
Journalist Jose Reveles who also participated in the interview noted that the kidnappings were a move by the CJNG most likely prompted by Alfredo Beltran Guzman to take control and dates back to the original feud as previously stated days ago by Anabel.
It's almost midnight and we have been experiencing lost internet connection here for nearly 48 hours, sorry. At any rate, most news agencies have reported that Alfredo Beltran Guzman and the five others kidnapped at La Leche restaurant were released.
- Anabel Hernandez reports that since last Thursday relatives of 'El Chapo' received calls asking for large amounts of money in exchange for the whereabouts of those abducted, in some cases as much as five million dollars. These same relatives also received anonymous calls saying the men were already dead. Another version is that not all of those kidnapped have been released:
- From Zeta: It was the French News agency AFP which reported that Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar along with the five others kidnapped were released the night of 08/19 and were safe and sound in Sinaloa. The AFP source was a relative of 'El Chapo' :
When the computer finally came back on, I checked Aristegui (08/21) and there were no reports regarding the release of the six men..
Importantly there has been no official notification from the authorities that the six men have actually been released and are alive. Which sort of leaves us in limbo. More reports hopefully as they come in....if I can keep a connection here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
UPDATE 08/22: We are still in limbo. There has been no official confirmation of these latest Mexican press releases and plenty of folks are wondering why and if some sort of a deal was made between the CJNG for control of territory and whoever is running the Sinaloa cartel. Going back to the initial Anabel Hernandez report from day one, Ivan according to her sources was also kidnapped; that would make then both sons of El Chapo kidnapped and released. How could this story become so distorted and convoluted ? We may never know.
- Frontera reports this morning that both of El Chapo's sons were kidnapped from La Leche restaurant in Puerto Vallarta and that it was "El Mayo" Zambada who allegedly participated in the negotiations for their release, their information is from Riodoce: 'El Mayo' Zambada habria negociado liberacion de los hijos de 'El Chapo"
Of course, some of the many questions being asked on the social media is exactly what kind(s) of a bargaining chip(s) did the two sons of El Chapo represent other than extended territorial control by the CJNG ? Does this mean that El Chapo is not going to spill the beans ? Will his extradition to the United States still take place ? Perhaps a reduced sentence ? Why hasn't the fubar "drug war" made it into the conversations and banterings between the U.S. Presidential candidates Clinton and Trump ( *gasp*....the mention of their names drives me crazy !) And, if this truly was an accord with regard to territory, will it mean that the violence in our region and the entire nation will subside ? Another one I saw on the internet....who exactly is going to be on the CJNG'S payroll ?
UPDATE/edit 08/23: This story is no longer appearing in the Mexican press. As far as I can see they have moved on to the plagiarism case against Pena Nieto and the teachers strike down in Oaxaca. Back on 08/17 I made a comment on another spot that CBS got the story wrong. This is a correction: They (AP) actually got the story right when they reported that both sons of El Chapo had been kidnapped; however unfortunately now their initial report from AP in Mexico City is not showing up on the internet. Wow, so who are their sources? Sorry CBS.
P.S. Check the Mexican News Links for the latest, I am as usual running behind here.
Everybody do the limbo !
The executions are continuing throughout the region at a rapid pace, I'll be back with those and more progressive reports on the U.S. Presidential election.
Since Monday the airwaves and social media have been buzzing over the mass kidnapping of a group of people attending a fiesta at the La Leche restaurant in Puerto Vallarta, the known territory of the Sinaloa cartel. Initially it was reported that Ivan Archivaldo Guzman, son of "El Chapo" Guzman was among those kidnapped. I say "those" because the number of people taken hostage at gunpoint and loaded into several vehicles bounced down from 16 to 11 to 10 to 9 to finally 6 - the women and children attending the fiesta were let go. First reports stated that over four to seven large vehicles were used to whisk the hostages away - authorities now are saying two trucks were used. Authorities are now saying those kidnapped were members of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Anabel Hernandez conferred with relatives of "El Chapo" who indicated that they believed this kidnapping was related to the 06/11/16 armed attack on the house belonging to Consuelo Loera, the mother of "El Chapo" in La Tuna of Badiraguato, Sinaloa. The relatives also stated that they believed it was Alfredo Beltran Guzman, the nephew of "El Chapo" and son of Alfredo Beltran who orchestrated this attack. Government sources at the same time attributed this attack to the former leader of the Guadalajara Cartel, Rafael Caro Quintero, a fugitive from justice. His motivation they thought was unfinished business and supposedly the beginning of a war against the Sinaloa Cartel. However, in the July interview with Proceso, Caro Quintero stated he was no longer in the drug business and he had no war with anyone. In fact, he said that he and "El Chapo" are on good terms.
Anabel's sources confirmed that indeed Ivan was among those kidnapped at La Leche restaurant in Puerto Vallarta. Within this link is the July interview with Caro Quintero, and on the sidebar video of that interview. At this point with these differing initial reports, the thought is could this be an internal war within the Sinaloa cartel - and if so, what does that mean as far as increased violence in our region ? Up to this point in Baja California although having seen a huge increase in the violence, memories of 2007 and 2008 into 2009 return to another in-fight within the Sinaloa cartel where cartel members turned not only against each other, but against the CAF with brazen gunfights in public areas and on public highways.
But wait....although authorities have indicated that the people kidnapped were members of the Sinaloa cartel, they changed to report that this seems directly related to disputes between differing cartels without naming specifically who this other cartel(s) might be. They do mention CJNG activity in the State of Jalisco, which gives us pause. After all, the fight in our locality is between the Sinaloa, CJNG and CAF for territorial control. Does this mean if the authorities are correct, that hostilities in our area will increase ? From Aristegui, their reports except the video they used was removed.
Meanwhile, today Proceso and others report Eduardo Almaguer, the prosecutor of Jalisco confirmed
that there is no evidence that Ivan Archivaldo Guzman was among those kidnapped. However, Almaguer did confirm that among the hostages is Alfredo Guzman (Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar) the youngest son of "El Chapo" from his first marriage to Alejandrina Salazar. Apparently Ivan was at the fiesta but he left just moments before the arrival of the armed commando group.
The theorists and speculators on the social media at first immediately believed this was an inner-cartel dispute, some believed that there was government (s) involvement - they argued the basis for the group abduction was to pressure "El Chapo" into not spilling the beans on all the officials and agencies he has and had on his payroll, and others believed this was just a scripted act to confuse authorities and as a revenge for the the re-arrest of "El Chapo" or even perhaps as a warning to the authorities themselves or to anyone and their loved ones who might turn evidence and testify against "El Chapo". Frontera reported that the son of "El Chapo" was possibly implicated in this event, which leads us back to a inner-familia war.
Whatever the case may be with the results and final outcome is not completely clear due to the unpredictable or uncertain moves of organized crime; however Zeta has the best video of the group usurption er sorry... kidnapping.
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courtesy Proceso
UPDATE 08/18:
Here are several reports from the Mexican press with the today's finale from NPR:
- The PGR has taken over the entire investigation. All records, including evidence in seized vehicles, cell phones and other objects will be handed over to SEIDO; there is no mention of the CJNG.
- Everyone is looking for Alfredo Guzman Salazar; that includes the Army, the Marinos, the Federal Police and the PGR, there is no mention of the CJNG.
- A series of press reports naming the CJNG who committed the assault :
- The CNJG is only mentioned as a possible suspect in these abductions; Prosecutor Eduardo Almaguer said on 08/16 that the cartel "...could be involved."
- Note the confusion of exactly how many sons of El Chapo were abducted, both from El Universal and Milenio. Excelsior names the kidnappers as the CJNG. On El Universal, Alexander Hope points the finger at CJNG, however he also states that the people abducted at the restaurant were not members of the Sinaloa cartel. These reports from 08/17:
- Here, NPR's Carrie Kahn quotes Prosecutor Eduardo Almaguer as stating that the kidnappers were members of the CJNG. This was on 08/17, we had not received that information here in Mexico directly from Almaguer :
- On 08/18 NPR interviews Alejandro Hope and David Shirk of SDSU, who note the increased violence in Mexico since the arrest of El Chapo and project a bitter war ahead between the Sinaloa Cartel and the CJNG. Click "Morning Edition" for the audio. This of course is not good news for our region.
UPDATE 08/19 : Apparently, Anabel Hernadez's sources were right in the first place !
Anabel Hernandez
For those of you who are not familiar with Anabel Hernandez, here is a three years old interview with her - muy importante in order to understand the full scope of this story:
- It is almost 4:00 pm in the afternoon and still we have received no reports that the authorities have clearly labeled the CJNG as responsible for the kidnappings at La Leche restaurant in Puerto Vallarta. Not a word.
However, today Carmen Aristegui interviewed both Anabel Hernandez and journalist Jose Reveles. Here are highlights of that interview with attached link, including the audio.
Originally in the Proceso article, Anabel interviewed relatives of 'El Chapo' immediately following the kidnapping at La Leche restaurant. Although the relatives believed at the time Ivan had been kidnapped (which as a matter of fact everyone believed at the time), they also believed that the kidnapping was masterminded by Alfredo Beltran Guzman (nephew of 'El Chapo') as revenge for the 2008 arrest of Alfredo Beltran Leyva aka "El Mochomo".
There are now even more details from that interview: Alfredo Beltran Guzman has realigned himself with the CJNG and the Zetas, as in the days of old. Here then is not only a dispute between the CJNG and the Sinaloa Cartel, but also an internal war within the Sinaloa Cartel. This internal war, Anabel feels is even more serious. Further, her investigations show that both of the Chapo sons were targets and family members have revealed to her that if the worst materializes there will be reactions.
Authorities according to Anabel have already began to prepare for worse case scenarios involving several cities and states in Mexico. Durango has already issued an alert (for violence) for their state; she mentions that other cities and states have issued alerts but does not name them. Presently we do not know if Tijuana and Baja California are under alert.
Journalist Jose Reveles who also participated in the interview noted that the kidnappings were a move by the CJNG most likely prompted by Alfredo Beltran Guzman to take control and dates back to the original feud as previously stated days ago by Anabel.
It's almost midnight and we have been experiencing lost internet connection here for nearly 48 hours, sorry. At any rate, most news agencies have reported that Alfredo Beltran Guzman and the five others kidnapped at La Leche restaurant were released.
- Anabel Hernandez reports that since last Thursday relatives of 'El Chapo' received calls asking for large amounts of money in exchange for the whereabouts of those abducted, in some cases as much as five million dollars. These same relatives also received anonymous calls saying the men were already dead. Another version is that not all of those kidnapped have been released:
- From Zeta: It was the French News agency AFP which reported that Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar along with the five others kidnapped were released the night of 08/19 and were safe and sound in Sinaloa. The AFP source was a relative of 'El Chapo' :
When the computer finally came back on, I checked Aristegui (08/21) and there were no reports regarding the release of the six men..
Importantly there has been no official notification from the authorities that the six men have actually been released and are alive. Which sort of leaves us in limbo. More reports hopefully as they come in....if I can keep a connection here.
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UPDATE 08/22: We are still in limbo. There has been no official confirmation of these latest Mexican press releases and plenty of folks are wondering why and if some sort of a deal was made between the CJNG for control of territory and whoever is running the Sinaloa cartel. Going back to the initial Anabel Hernandez report from day one, Ivan according to her sources was also kidnapped; that would make then both sons of El Chapo kidnapped and released. How could this story become so distorted and convoluted ? We may never know.
- Frontera reports this morning that both of El Chapo's sons were kidnapped from La Leche restaurant in Puerto Vallarta and that it was "El Mayo" Zambada who allegedly participated in the negotiations for their release, their information is from Riodoce: 'El Mayo' Zambada habria negociado liberacion de los hijos de 'El Chapo"
Of course, some of the many questions being asked on the social media is exactly what kind(s) of a bargaining chip(s) did the two sons of El Chapo represent other than extended territorial control by the CJNG ? Does this mean that El Chapo is not going to spill the beans ? Will his extradition to the United States still take place ? Perhaps a reduced sentence ? Why hasn't the fubar "drug war" made it into the conversations and banterings between the U.S. Presidential candidates Clinton and Trump ( *gasp*....the mention of their names drives me crazy !) And, if this truly was an accord with regard to territory, will it mean that the violence in our region and the entire nation will subside ? Another one I saw on the internet....who exactly is going to be on the CJNG'S payroll ?
UPDATE/edit 08/23: This story is no longer appearing in the Mexican press. As far as I can see they have moved on to the plagiarism case against Pena Nieto and the teachers strike down in Oaxaca. Back on 08/17 I made a comment on another spot that CBS got the story wrong. This is a correction: They (AP) actually got the story right when they reported that both sons of El Chapo had been kidnapped; however unfortunately now their initial report from AP in Mexico City is not showing up on the internet. Wow, so who are their sources? Sorry CBS.
P.S. Check the Mexican News Links for the latest, I am as usual running behind here.
Everybody do the limbo !
The executions are continuing throughout the region at a rapid pace, I'll be back with those and more progressive reports on the U.S. Presidential election.
If you believe the U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, the recapture of El Chapo was, "...a blow to the international drug syndicate...a victory for the citizens of Mexico and the United States and vindication of the rule of law in our countries."
However in town today we spoke with several Mexican Nationals and asked what their reactions were to the recapture of El Chapo - some of these responses may surprise you:
- "...they knew where he was all the time. The government just wants more money from him."
- " It was done because Pena Nieto's ratings are so low, it was a collaborative effort of all the parties."
- " Did you notice they waited to do this until after the Holidays were over so they would have full coverage?"
- "...this will not change anything, the violence and corruption will continue."
- " They lie about everything, if one lie doesn't work they make up a new one."
- " I don't believe the government."
- "..let us just say that he is extradited - all that means is that he's already agreed to a deal to only expose the lowest levels of government."
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Many of these remarks confirm what sociologist Rodolfo Sorian Nunez stated, that the Mexican Government, "...seems to be unaware of how hard it is to believe them." The remarks are also clearly representative of the sentiments of present date narco experts, social and political intellectuals:
- Anabel Hernandez: Despite his recapture, the El Chapo networks, economic/political power and connections are still in force.
- Dr. Victor Clarke Alfaro: The recapture of El Chapo will not affect the Sinaloa Cartel; with Chapo inside or outside of prison, the group remains strong and its structure is well founded.
- Sergio Aguayo: Although he views the recapture of El Chapo as a positive action and believes the Marinos who participated in it as clean, it will not mean the violence, corruption and impunity in Mexico will end. According to Aguayo what is required for that to happen in Mexico is a comprehensive security policy which centers around and serves the victims and the civil population. He also blasts Obama for not even mentioning last week on his so-called "gun control actions" all of the Mexicans who have been killed by US weapons and is miffed that the Mexican government said nothing either.
- BBC: Commentary after the latest recapture: "...but amid the optimism, many wonder if the rearrest of one of the most wanted criminals in the world represents a major change in the scenario of violence in the country. And the answer is: No."
~~~~~ Aristegui complete coverage:
All the latest news on the recapture of El Chapo including the full Rolling Stone article and Sean Penn (who many people I know including Mike think is a complete idiot) interview with El Chapo here.
Update/Edit 01/12: Vindication of our feelings and opinions towards Sean Penn by the Washington Post, link to the WP article within the Aristegui article.
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Finally, an older article written last July by Ed Vulliamy of The Guardian which puts everything neatly into perspective:
"For a start, it is thanks to the 120,000 dead and 20,000 missing in Mexico’s narco-war that mountains of cocaine go up British, European and American noses. Everyone wants to forget that Britain’s biggest bank, HSBC, was caught, and admitted, laundering Chapo Guzmán’s giddy profits, as was Wachovia bank, a subsidiary of Wells Fargo: hundreds of billions of dollars of Sinaloa cartel blood money, handled with effective impunity inasmuch as no one in either instance was prosecuted, let alone jailed – indeed, most were promoted.
The logical conclusion is what Saviano, his Mexican counterparts Lydia Cacho and Hernández (and I for that matter) have been arguing for years: that the “cops and robbers” model of reaction to events like Guzmán’s escape – indeed, the whole farce of the “war on drugs” – is bankrupt; that the idea of our healthy society fighting outlaw criminals is fantasy. The antics of HSBC and tradition of conviviality between the Mexican state and Guzmán’s cartel turn the idea of some line the sand between criminality and legality into a brazen lie. Just as Guzmán and the new cartels operate within the logic of the “legal” economy, and become major investors in it, so the “legal” economy and polity embrace the cartels."
Sound familiar?
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An update on the Muffin:
Dr. Beth managed to get us into the VCA Animal Specialty Group, we were there yesterday and up until 3:00am the previous morning with Freida who had a bad night. It is an amazing clinic, our Doctor there is Peter G. Slusser DVM, DACVIM Internal Medicine who is outstanding. Fredia had an ultrasound and more blood work - much relief from the results which showed no cancer, growths or polyps but instead a thickened bladder wall due to urinary tract infections. Freida returns in 10 days. Have to recommend this place: VCA Animal Specialty Group - VCAanimalspecialtygroup.com. Just exhausted, violence continues here, will return with those 2015 Baja California figures hopefully tomorrow.
Update/edit 01/12: It seems as though we may have to have an MRI on the Muffin, and of course, this is not good news. I'll be back when I can.
