Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

Episode 81: The Enigma that is Juan Ramon Matta Ballesteros (Part 2)

For the first episode of 2024, I conclude our examination into the life and career of Honduran trafficker Juan Ramon Matta Ballesteros.
In this Episode, I look at the allegations connecting Matta to the Camarena kidnapping, including his alleged presence at Lope de Vega and his escape from Mexico City shortly after the Camarena abduction.  I also examine his role in connecting Felix Gallardo with the cocaine traffickers from Colombia.
Matta's connection to the Honduran airline company SETCO also is discussed, as well as his alleged relationship with the CIA.
Finally, I look at Matta's legacy, the tremendous breadth of his connections and influence, and I discuss a personal conversation I had with Matta.

Episode 80: The Enigma That is Juan Ramon Matta Ballesteros (Part 1)

Juan Ramon Matta Ballesteros played a pivotal role in the expansion of drug trafficking from Colombia to Mexico and to the United States in the 1970s and 1980s. Moreover, many allege he and his company were significant actors in the U.S.'s proxy war in support of the Contras seeking to overthrow Nicaragua's Sandinista government. Matta also may have been involved in the kidnapping and murder of DEA Agent Kiki Camarena.
In this Episode, the first of two, we look at Matta's upbringing and his introduction to crime. We also investigate Matta's deep connection to the Honduran military and its role in Matta's rise to being a prolific trafficker. Finally, the Episode discusses Matta's capture in Apil 1988, his transportation to the United States, and the criminal proceedings against him.

Episode 79: The Capture of El Nini and Other Key Recent Events

Last Wednesday, El Nini, the head of security for Los Chapitos and head of Los Ninis, was arrested in a mid-day raid on a house in Culiacan.  In this Episode, we examine the capture of El Nini and, most significantly, we discuss the possible reasons behind his capture and its timing. Notably, we discuss suggestions that his capture was part of a secret agreement between the Mexican military and Los Chapitos.
We also discuss the death of El Mago, a key figure of Los Chapitos in Los Angeles, and discuss whether his murder is related to his connection to Ivan Archivaldo. 
Lastly, we look at the capture of Juan Carlos Pizano, CJNG's Tapalpa plaza boss, who was said to be responsible for last Sunday's attack on military personnel in Teocalciche, Jalisco, that left three soldiers dead and three wounded.  

Episode 78: Amado Carrillo Fuentes - Who Was He, What Did He Do, and is He Still Alive?

My recent viewing of season 3 of Narcos: Mexico, which features Amado Carrillo Fuentes in one storyline, coupled with recent discussions about his death, led me to look more into the life, career, and death of The Lord of the Skies.
In this episode, we look at Amado's rise from one of twelve children in Sinaloa, to the tutelage he received from old school traffickers Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo, his uncle, and Pablo Acosta Villarreal, to his rise to the leadership of the Juarez Cartel.
We also examine his ill-fated alliance with, first, Pablo Escobar, and, later, the Cali Cartel.
Finally, we discuss the pressures that led Amado to seek the plastic surgery and lipo suction in a Mexico City hospital that led to his death, as well as the continuing rumors that he faked his death.  

Episode 77: A 1986 US Embassy Memo on the Mexican Legal System and the Camarena Case

A September 1986 memorandum from the US Embassy in Mexico City to the State Department in Washington D.C. sought to "clear up some of the confusion that has been created by efforts to explain Mexican legal proceedings using US definitions" and to "promote a greater understanding of the differences between the Mexican and U.S. legal systems."
In this Episode, we highlight the key differences discussed in the memorandum, including the burden of proof on a criminal defendant in Mexico, the unique elements of a trial in Mexico, and the active role of Mexican judges in the prosecution of a criminal case.
We also take a brief look at the memorandum's discussion of the status of the Camarena-related trials, including the identification of key defendants detained by Mexican officials.   
 
 

Episode 76: Using Social Networking Analysis to Understand Mexican Cartels and the Nature and Strengths of CDS and CJNG

Policy decisions regarding Mexican cartels should be driven by careful analysis coupled with a deep understanding of the cartel network structure in Mexico and its primary actors, i.e., CJNG and CDS. Social network analysis is a tool that can be used to evaluate these critical issues.  
In this Episode, we discuss social network analysis and recent reports applying this methodology to Mexico's cartels. Those reports provide critical insight on the key differences between CDS and CJNG, the breadth and scope of the cartel network in Mexico, and possible outcomes if the power and strength of CDS or CJNG are diminished in the future.

Episode 75: More Analysis of the Crisis of Guns Trafficked to Mexico and the Subjective Nature of the Truth

In this Episode, we discuss some current events including the devastation in and around Acapulco caused by Hurrican Otis and the end of Red Ribbon Week.
We then look at the Biden administration's announced intent to complete part of the border wall in Starr County, Texas.
Next, we add to the discussion last week about the trafficking of guns and other weapons from the U.S. into Mexico, including analysis of some of the underlying causes of this continuing problem.
Finally, we discuss the differences between facts and truth, and focus on the subjective nature of truth. We also comment on the flaws of a position, asserted by many, that "I know the facts and I know the truth." Not a truth but the truth.

Episode 74: Guns In Mexico: Accepting the Disturbing Truths

The prolific trafficking of guns and weapons from the U.S. into Mexico is a significant and tragically overlooked issue in the war on drugs and the Mexican cartels. 
The easy access to a legal inventory of guns in Texas and other state and lucrative prices on the secondary market has flooded some Mexican border towns – including remarkably violent ones – with guns and weapons, which often make their way into the hands of criminals and Mexican cartels.  
In this Episode, we discuss some of the root causes of this gun trafficking problem, the involvement of Americans in the trafficking process, and recent interdiction efforts by a variety of American agencies.  

Episode 73: US Military Action Against Mexican Cartels: The Threats and the Realities

In this Episode, we look at the political dialogue surrounding the possible use of US military forces against Mexican cartels, as part of the effort to address the fentanyl crisis.  The pledges of Republican presidential candidates are examined, as well as the role of a Congressional committee investigating the issue.  We also consider some of the difficulties any military action would encounter, including the possibility of retaliation against Americans in border towns, the identification of cartel members, and the sheer size of Mexico.  Finally, we address the possible current cooperation between the two governments in light of recent actions in Culiacan and elsewhere.  

Episode 72: More on the Extradition of Ovidio Guzman and an Analysis of the Varied Factors Impacting Cartels and Drug Trafficking

In today's Episode, we share some additional thoughts and information on Ovidio Guzman, his extradition, the speed of the extradition process, and what might be expected going forward.
Next, we look at three recent articles discussing different aspects of cartels and the drug trade. One article describes the socio-economic factors driving Mexican youth to join cartels, one looks at the economic impact of the cartels in Mexico, and the last calls for greater cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico to combat the cartels.
Then, in conclusion, we highlight the number of factors contributing to the proliferation of cartels and the rise in drugs flowing into the U.S., while noting that professed solutions that fail to address these several factors ultimately are destined to fail.