Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

Episode 85: The Many Lives of Los Zetas and Fight for Control of Tamaulipas

In the ever-changing world of Mexican cartels, it often is hard to "know the players without a scorecard." Such is the case as cartels battle for control of the Mexican state of Tamaulipas and the lucrative border town of Nuevo Laredo.
In this Episode, I trace the lineage of the infamous Los Zetas cartel to one of the prime combatants in Nuevo Laredo, the Cartel del Noreste or CDN. I also discuss other Zeta-related splinter groups, including the Zetas Vieja Escuela, or Old School Zetas.
Finally, I look at the now fractionalized Gulf Cartel, and discuss its several groups, including the Scorpions, Cyclones, Metros, and Rojos, including their interactions and common grounds.

Episode 84: Did Narco Traffickers Partially Fund an AMLO Presidential Campaign ?

Recent headlines trumpeted reports that the DEA head investigated allegations that narco traffickers had provided millions of dollars to a presidential campaign of current Mexican President Andres Manual Lopez Obrador ("AMLO").
In this Episode, I examine the reports of the DEA's investigation into the allegations that the traffickers provided funds to AMLO's 2006 campaign. To do so, I look at the state of Mexican politics and cartels in 2006, describe the key figures in the alleged cooperation between the traffickers and the AMLO campaign, and walk through the investigation itself. Finally, I speculate on what these revelations could mean for Mexican-American relations and cooperation in the fight against the cartels, now and in the future.

Episode 83: A Fresh Look at Recent Event in Mexico

The ongoing battles between CDS, CJNG, and the military for control of the Mexican state of Chiapas have been widely reported in the news for the last few weeks.
In this Episode, I look into the crisis in Chiapas by tying together various events occurring over the better part of the last decade to understand what led to the current events. 
In particular, I look at the fracture between the Los Chapitos and El Mayo factions of CDS that arose in the aftermath of the arrest and extradition of El Chapo.  I then consider the capture of Ovidio Guzman and the apparent peace treaty between El Mayo and Los Chapitos, and reveal the events of the last year evidencing that treaty, including the capture of El Nini. Finally, I discuss how these events have led to the CJNG and CDS battles in Chiapas.  

Episode 82: A Retired FBI Agent’s Inside Look into the World of MS-13

Daniel Brunner boasts an impressive 29 years of combined service in federal law enforcement and the U.S. Navy. Serving 20 years as a Special Agent in the FBI, Mr. Brunner developed a wide area of expertise including vital Latin and South American geopolitical subjects, encompassing facets such as China's involvement, organized crime ranging from gangs to cartels, nuances of local business practices, corruption, the prevailing political atmosphere, and intricate local due diligence.
In particular, Mr. Brunner, working with other federal agencies and the offices of the U.S. Attorneys, investigated the criminal enterprise known as MS-13 and was able to utilize RICO to charge numerous members of MS-13, not only for individual crimes but also for participating in the broader criminal activities of the gang as a whole. 
In this Episode, Mr. Brunner discusses the rise of MS-13 as an international criminal organization, its evolution over time, the relationship between MS-13 and the Mexican cartels, and the efforts of law enforcement to bring MS-13 to justice.

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.