Mexican drug cartels also convert wealthy Chinese nationals' Renminbi (RMB) to US dollars at a lower rate than the prevailing market rate. It is understood that the mutilated corpse in the video belongs to a gunman working for the Sinaloa Cartel, whose former leader, Joaqun Archivaldo Guzmn Loera, otherwise known . A sixth shooting victim, who was wounded and is fighting for his life at a local hospital, also belongs to the same criminal organization. "We still don't know what the fall out will be but when there is this much money involved the potential is great for groups to want capitalize.". A friend dedicated a post to Mata with a photo of him holding a rifle and the name of the criminal organization spelled across under its initials. Mothers, grab your sons and hold them tightly. BLO activities remain more dispersed throughout the United States, with heavier concentrations in areas with large heroin markets," said the DEA. Four soldiers were placed under arrest Thursday for the murder of the five men. The attacks are in response to the arrest of El Chapo's son Ovidio Credit: AP. 'Yes, the Boulder area could be a giant cash cow for the Department of Homeland Security Cartel! Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. No arrests have been made, but a cashier told The Gazette that all employees in the restaurant that night then returned to Mexico. Also in June, Tarango-Rodriguez continued to make calls on a third phone number that was being monitored by agents, and the indictment says he told a user he was going to sell 500,000 "small blue ones," which investigators believed to be 30-milligram fentanyl pills, in Kansas. 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. And in 2015, he crawled through an opening in a shower area that led to a mile-long tunnel, escaping the maximum-security Altiplano Federal Prison near Toluca, Mexico. Five minutes later, the indictment says, Trevizo called Tarango-Rodriguez and told him he had arrived. This organization is alleged to have moved large amounts of meth and cocaine from Mexico to Colorado, with devastating impact on communities in their wake. The extortion of 80 small-town mayors. 13 US Cities That Are Crowded By Mexican Drug Cartels, Death toll in strike on Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia rises to 11 - officials, UPDATE 1-Bankman-Fried can have flip phone, limited internet while on bail, US proposes, China's economy, government revamp in focus as parliament set to open, The U.S. government is turning up the heat on TikTok here's the latest, Bankman-Fried can have flip phone, limited internet while on bail, US proposes. You have permission to edit this article. However, no firearms were recovered from their pickup truck. "Mexico is already in Colorado without the risks," the agent, who requested anonymity, said of the state's heavy pre-existing cartel presence. The state of Colorado was the first to officially legalize marijuana and to offer recreational marijuana in 2014. . On Aug. 2, the indictment says, Zytacua called Amanda Bidgood and negotiated the sale of two grams of meth for $100 to Bidgood. 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. Through these calls, the agents determined Tarango-Rodriguez was Padilla-Romo's source of drugs, according to the indictment. Juarez Cartel is the only Mexican cartel that uses Oklahoma City as a major hub. They each face homicide, bodily injury and disobedience charges. While the wiretap investigation was beginning, the indictment says an undercover officer was introduced to Saul Ramon Rivera-Beltran. Los Zetas Cartel is also the only Mexican cartel that uses Laredo as a major hub. Comments are open to Gazette subscribers only. Seven of the defendants are considered fugitives. Jalisco New Generation Cartel is the only Mexican cartel that uses New York City as a major hub. The U.S. has suspended imports of Mexican avocadosas the lucrative fruit continues to play a key role in the turf wars between drug cartels. Tarango-Rodriguez said in the calls that the "buttons" Rivera-Beltran had were not good. On Sept. 17, the indictment says, Rivera-Beltran called and offered money to Jose Guadalupe Ortiz to drive both of them to Texas, then Arizona. Legal Statement. Guzmn is a known escape artist as well. Documents filed Wednesday . (YouTube) Mexican authorities believe a body found wrapped in plastic and left . it goes to MN,IA,MI,WI states like that. Scott Simon talks with Vice News Correspondent Emily Green about the increased role of Mexican drug cartels in the avocado and lime business. Troopers located the box and found about 728.8 grams of heroin, about 2.32 kilos of several pre-packaged blue 30-milligram fentanyl pills and about 32.3 grams of meth seized from Ernestina Montoya, a passenger in the car, according to the indictment. Richard Nixon. There were 234,062 undocumented immigrants apprehended at the Texas-Mexico Border in 2015, a drop from the previous year which saw 315,803 people seized, according to the presentation. "This was an industry here that created a lot of challenges," Daniels told WDVR television news in Denver Jan. 7. The Marijuana Enforcement Division of the Colorado Department of Revenue, the primary enforcement office responsible for overseeing the production and sale of the retail marijuana, did not return repeated attempts by Fox News.com for comment. He had previously changed his profile image to the logo of the criminal organization's special forces 35th battalion. They set up a perimeter around the area and insisted those inside turn themselves in. Sinaloa Cartel is one of the oldest and most successful drug cartels in Mexico. A short time later, the indictment says Austin Peterson and Anita Bateman arrived in a vehicle used to transport cocaine to Denver. 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. Specifically, the indictment says Zytacua had calls with users about the cost of 30 milligram pills, which agents believed to be fake fentanyl pills masked as M30 oxycodone pills. Drug seized by authorities in a years-long investigation. Two days later, the indictment says, Tarango-Rodriguez called Rivera-Beltran, and investigators said it was clear that Rivera-Beltran was nervous about going to a party after the search warrant was executed. During the spring of 2020 as Covid-19 was sweeping the world and Mexico, Mexican and international media became mesmerized by how various Mexican criminal groups, including the Sinaloa Cartel . You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here. Too funny for words! 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. But the general consensus is that the Mexican cartels will not quietly relinquish the Denver market. Based in the city of Guadalajara, CJNG is the fastest growing drug cartel and the second biggest player in the United States. Daily Briefing The Defendants from El Salvador are Lara Zamora-Cruz, age unknown; Claudia Lisseth-Lara, 41, (naturalized); Vilma L. Zamora, 67; and Jose Chica-Orellana, age unknown. "Mexican drug cartels in Boulder (Nanooo Nanooo), NORAD Central/ Air Force Academy and Dullsville-Pueblo, too. He reportedly operated under the aliases of 'El Gus' and 'El Baby Syko.'. In a second picture that was posted online, Mata is seen with a rifle and an army fatigue green vest that appeared to have grenades concealed. FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2020 file photo, a policeman drives past town hall in Apaseo El Alto, Guanajuato state, Mexico. I can buy a pound in texas for 300 to 400 and bring it to MN and sell for 1000-1500 and thats where all the shit brick trees go, Mexican drug cartels are getting into the game of hydroponics. San Diego's largest cash seizure ever may shed light on an overlooked aspect of the drug trade >>, In many instances, the Sinaloa cartel and other Mexican cartels partner with street gangs in the US particularly the MS-13 to sell the drugs to consumers. ", RELATED: A mom lost her son to an overdose. A report by the agency's National Drug Intelligence Center says the Juarez and Sinaloa. Escamilla then had a conversation with Nancy Vargas, and told her he had a suitcase/bag in his house that she needed to remove, as well as guns and money, according to the indictment. They go by nicknames like "The Little Queen" and "The Missus.". Rivera-Beltran also said that he found customers in Arizona who were buying 5,000 to 7,000 fentanyl pills, according to the indictment. Todays action exposes this CJNG scheme and also serves as a warning to potential victims, many of whom are elderly, she added. After consenting to a vehicle search, Diarte told the troopers someone put a box in his suitcase and was going to pay him $10,000 to transport it to Los Angeles, the indictment says. Our children stronger than we give them credit. According to the DEA, these six Mexican drug cartels generate tens of billions of dollars every year and employ a multitude of financial transactions and arrangements to launder and smuggle their earnings into Mexico. In late June, the indictment says Zytacua continued speaking to multiple customers about selling cocaine, meth and heroin. "This group I put together is designed specifically to protect product, people, and money. (File, courtesy of KKTV). Stay up to date with what you want to know. "The Sinaloa Cartel exports and distributes wholesale amounts of methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, and heroin in the United States by maintaining key distribution hubs in Phoenix, Los Angeles, Denver, and Chicago, among other cities," the DEA reports. The coalition's members operate in concert to protect themselves, relying on connections at the highest levels and corrupting portions of the federal police . The same drug cartels causing chaos on the U.S./Mexico border are also active in Colorado. Mexico's long-running drug war . According to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Sinaloa Mexican Drug Cartel is known to be the dominant drug cartel in both California and Colorado. They've inspired songs and telenovelas. Mexican drug cartels control vast swaths of the US drug market, but that influence remains heavily slanted in favor of the vaunted Sinaloa cartel. New Terms of Use; New Privacy Policy; Your Privacy Choices; Closed Captioning Policy; Help; Contact Us; This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or . "And that's extremely scary.". On July 20, the indictment says, Tarango-Rodriguez began discussing a drug deal with Martin Ivan Trevizo, and decided on a carport at 6600 Kearney Street as a meeting location. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. It is the 4th most powerful Mexican drug cartel operating in the United States. During a two-year investigation spanning several states, federal agents and the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Joint Task Force recovered more than 123 pounds of methamphetamine, 500 oxycodone. Mexico's president, Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador, rode to power in 2018 on the slogan "hugs not . A Colorado Springs food distribution company and at least six local Mexican restaurants are linked to the Sinoloa Cartel and drug lordsJoaqun El Chapo Guzmn-Lorea and Ismael El Mayo Zambada-Garcia, says a recently released federal complaint providing the first evidence of cartels operating in Colorado Springs. It is based in Culiacn, Sinaloa state, Mexico. Market data provided by Factset. Joaquin Archivaldo Guzman Loera . "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. Legal Statement. In 2012 the Mexican Competitiveness Institute issued a report saying that Mexico's cartels would lose as much as $1.425 billion if Colorado legalized marijuana. Jackson said he would not speculate as to if or which cartels may decide to infiltrate the legitimate businesses or how. I want to congratulate the outstanding federal, state, and local law enforcement cooperation that resulted in this highly successful operation. As the smoke settles from the first week of legal marijuana sales in Colorado, experts are warning that sanctioned pot dealers could become targets for the very folks they put out of business. Guzmn, widely known as El Chapo, was considered the worlds most powerful drug lord until his federal conviction this month on 10 counts of drug trafficking, money laundering and use of a firearm in decades of grisly killings to further his drug enterprise. Trevizo and Tarango-Rodriguez then drove separately to a residence at 6841 Locust St. "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.". An intelligence report that was reviewed by TV Azteca claimed Mata had a criminal background record in San Antonio, Texas. "They have found that it's easier to grow and process marijuana in Colorado, ship it throughout the United States, than it is to bring it from Mexico or Cuba," Elder said. Crime scene photo at Taco Star. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. "Any way you plan it out, there's going to be a large amount of cash around," he 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 Sinaloa cartel is the oldest cartel. 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. Maybe he was hoping the Zetas would kidnapped that girl because she was stupid enough to follow him there. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Sinaloa cartel was once led by the notorious drug boss known as Joaqun "El Chapo" Guzmn. The file also showed that the five victims tested positive for sodium rhodizonate, a sign they may have been carrying weapons and shot at the soldiers during the pursuit. The defendants are alleged to have brought large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine into the United States through California using secret compartments in vehicles. The arrests and indictments of the 17 defendants were the result of a year-long investigation into a Mexican drug cartel operation that smuggled narcotics into the United States from California to Colorado, according to a statement from the Department of Justice. Later that day, they spoke about trying to get a car out of impound, and both said they couldn't rely on Martiza anymore, according to the indictment. A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging 17 defendants for drug trafficking in direct connection with a Mexican drug cartel. FILE - In this Jan. 8, 2016 file photo, a handcuffed Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman is made to face the press as he is escorted to a helicopter by Mexican soldiers and marines at a federal hangar in Mexico City. Synthetic drugs such as meth and fentanyl have fundamentally changed the illicit drug market. Drug cartels are extremely well-organized, well-financed, efficient, and ruthless. Antiono Ortiz the said that he wanted Escamilla to transport $70,000 for him as well, and Rivera-Beltran called Escamilla the next day to confirm the amounts he was taking on the trip. Boogie! The indictment says Escamilla called Antonio Ortiz and told him "everything went to hell and that the police got them." In 2017, 16-year-old Nathaniel Czajkowski was shot to death in Albertacos while eating with three friends, two of whom also were shot. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community Guidelines | KRDO Jobs | FCC Applications |, KRDO FCC Public File | KRDO FCC Applications, Breaking News The Sinaloa Cartel Is Controlling Water in Drought-Stricken Mexico "Water is now a valuable asset for us, and as it becomes more scarce, the more we will fight to make sure we have enough," a. Founded in the late 1980s, it was for many years headed by the notorious drug. Thursdays sanctions were accompanied by an alert issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control in order to make the public aware of telephone, email, and letter scams involving individuals falsely claiming to represent OFAC and requesting payments. OFAC does not collect this type of payment from the public. A seventh restaurant with ties to Colorado Springs also was named in the complaint. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! 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. His Sinaloa Cartel is one of the worlds most prolific, violent and powerful drug cartels, moving billions upon billions of dollars in marijuana, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine, the U.S. Justice Department reports. 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. According to their. 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. He . right now to get cant-miss stories, Next and Broncos content, weather and more delivered right to your inbox. NOBODY AND I MEAN NOBODY IN BOULDER WANTS THAT SHIT WEED FROM MEXICO!!! Nuevo Laredo is the worst of all the border cities for kidnapping US citizens. He later bragged to movie star Sean Penn: I supply more heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana than anybody else in the world. Kaitlin is a public safety reporter with a focus on investigations. Employees roll joints behind the sales counter at Medicine Man marijuana dispensary in Denver. Market data provided by Factset. Investigators said Rivera-Beltran's comments proved he knew about the drugs at the stash house (some of which were discovered in the locations he mentioned), as well as his participation in the drug conspiracy and clean-up efforts, according to the indictment. Rivera-Beltran then called Maritza, and, according to the indictment, asked if she found food and money in the house and said "that was a good stash house." Replicating this kind of aggressive law enforcement take down is critical to breaking the backs of these criminal organizations.. Our ranking methodology is quite simple.