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. DENVER Some Colorado restaurants are tied to Mexican drug lord Joaquin Guzman, also known as "El Chapo," according to court records filed in Cheyenne, Wyoming. 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. By Adry Torres For Dailymail.com During the call, the indictment says, Rivera-Beltran mentioned being "hot" and that "they were going to do better," and that three loads had been taken by law enforcement. Based in the city of Guadalajara, CJNG is the fastest growing drug cartel and the second biggest player in the United States. The indictment says six rectangular bricks with "CHANEL" stamped on them that tested positive for cocaine were found in the vehicle. Click to skip ahead and see the list of top 5 cities that are crowded by Mexican drug cartels. A meeting was set for May 1, when, the indictment says, the informant met with Padilla-Romo in the parking lot of the Safeway at 201 E. Jefferson Ave. in Englewood, and exchanged $1,600 for 210.1 grams of meth. Scott Simon talks with Vice News Correspondent Emily Green about the increased role of Mexican drug cartels in the avocado and lime business. "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.". The notoriously violent Jalisco cartel has responded to Mexico's "hugs, not bullets" policy with a policy of their own: the cartel kidnapped in mid-May 2021, several members of an elite police force in the state of Guanajuato, tortured them to obtain names and addresses . I am a regular poster to bb and I live in Boulder, We have 50,000 college students and more hippies then woodstock, We have more medical marijuana dispensaries than starbucks and ALOT of people smoke weed in this city, If the cartels are here they stay hid really well, The police are so lax on tokers here you could blow smoke in their face and they would smile, From a business perspective I'm sure Boulder is a giant cash cow for them. Inside the vehicle, the indictment says, investigators found 5,636.88 grams of cocaine also packaged as bricks with the word "CHANEL" stamped on them. 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. 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. Our ranking methodology is quite simple. The extortion of 80 small-town mayors. More than 400 soldiers have now turned up the city after . The 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office said the following defendants will be prosecuted in Douglas County: RELATED: 2 Colorado nurses illegally took controlled substances at work, U.S. Attorney's Office says. In case of a tie, we rank the city with more powerful cartels higher. plus 'Those cities are Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction, and Longmont. Peterson and a confidential informant said that cocaine was provided by Adrian Santana, and the indictment says Peterson showed text messages from Santana instructing him to pick up the drugs at 6600 Kearney Street. 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. Agents discovered several calls between Padilla-Romo and Tarango-Rodriguez where they spoke about prices for pounds of "work," which investigators believed to be meth, according to the indictment. The Sinaloa cartel was once led by the notorious drug boss known as Joaqun "El Chapo" Guzmn. Based on calls and surveillance, the investigators said, it was clear a drug transaction took place for more than seven grams of meth. WASHINGTON Two sons of notorious drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman have been indicted on drug conspiracy charges, the Justice Department s. The accused leader of the group, Candelaria Vallejo-Gallo, was indicted under a charge of Continuing Criminal Enterprise, also known as the federal "drug kingpin" statute, authorities said. "Mexican drug cartels in Boulder (Nanooo Nanooo), NORAD Central/ Air Force Academy and Dullsville-Pueblo, too. You can get killed for just walking around the east side. The indictment contains 45 counts, including an asset forfeiture allegation against the stash houses that were used to hide the drugs. 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 . On Aug. 25, an undercover agent called Jorge Escamilla and had a conversation about "hides and traps in vehicles" before, the indictment says, the conversation turned to Rivera-Beltran. NOBODY IN THE SURROUNDING DENVER AREA WANTS THAT SHIT NEITHER!!! South Texas remains a redoubt of the Gulf cartel, despite that organization's clashes with Mexican law enforcement, rival cartels, and between internal factions. You might want to lay off the coffee and keep an eye on the soapbox because you are tripping over it. 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. He told the informant the trap cars he ordered were not ready and had to be redone. drug cartel, an illicit consortium of independent organizations formed to limit competition and control the production and distribution of illegal drugs. Its owner, Hilario Montejano-Aleman, also operates the local Viva El Taco at 5945 N. Academy Blvd. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The bullet-hole riddled roof of a church, the site of a bloody cartel battle in El Limoncito. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo, File). 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 . Dunque also relayed the information that many Mexican drug cartels are now . Ryan Saavedra is a contributor for Breitbart Texas and can be found on Twitter at @RealSaavedra. In addition to the 6.57 kilograms of cocaine packed for distribution, the indictment says officers also found $7,117 in the glovebox. Colorado Springs mayoral candidates address affordable homeownership. 02-22-2022. With everyone able to buy the high grade maryjuana from dispenseries and or knowing someone who can, no one wants the Mexican brick weed even if it has improved. On Nov. 1, the indictment says Rivera-Belran received a call from a Mexican phone number, and spoke about losing the car with three "boxes," which agents believed to be fentanyl pills, and sod that "it was very hot and that it all went to hell. Juarez Cartel is also the only Mexican cartel that uses El Paso as a major hub. A Mexican cartel assassin butchered one of his rivals, cut his heart out and took bites from it in harrowing footage posted online as a warning to other gang members. 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. 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). It is also the most significant drug trafficking organization in the United States. Too funny for words! The car was stopped by state troopers. Chinese nationals aren't allowed to transfer their wealth outside of China, so they are willing to pay Mexican drug cartels a premium for the cartels' US dollar cash holdings in exchange for RMB payments in China. 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. On June 10, undercover officers bought two ounces of heroin and 500 fentanyl pills during their first meeting in the parking lot of the Target at 7930 Northfield Boulevard in Denver, the indictment says. There are at least 13 U.S. cities that are used as distribution hubs by the Mexican drug cartels. Happy Halloween, Borderland Beat. The vehicles driven by Trevizo and Peterson pulled into the carport. After multiple messages were exchanged, the indictment says, surveillance captured them meeting at a gas station, hugging and Zytacua getting in and out of her car. The eight companies are Servicios Administrativos Fordtwoo, S.A. de C.V., Integracion Badeva, S.A. de C.V., JM Providers Office, S.A. de C.V., Promotora Vallarta One, S.A. de C.V., and Recservi, S.A. de C.V, Corporativo Title I, S.A. de C.V., Corporativo TS Business Inc, S.A. de C.V., and TS Business Corporativo, S.A. de C.V. Treasury has previously sanctioned entities related to the cartel and individuals critical to its operations. Comments are open to Gazette subscribers only. The Biden administration has sanctioned eight Mexican companies it says are involved in a timeshare fraud scheme benefiting the Jalisco cartel, a notorious drug organization that the US government says traffics a significant proportion of the illegal fentanyl and other drugs that enter the US. Mexican cities have seen widespread arson and shootings by drug cartels. In June 1993, Guzman-Loera was arrested in Chiapas, Mexico and sentenced to a 20-year prison term. Access all of our premium content, get unlimited digital access and more! The two seized deposit boxes, tied to Monicas Taco Shop, contained more than $800,000, the complaint said. Todays action exposes this CJNG scheme and also serves as a warning to potential victims, many of whom are elderly, she added. Inside Matt Hancock's 41-hour battle to save his career when photo of 'a snog and heavy petting' Will Vladimir Putin's empress pay the ultimate price for his war on the West? Tarango-Rodriguez went into the address and returned with two trash bags, which the indictment said were given to occupants of Trevizo's vehicle. A third victim, Alejandro Trujillo, died from being shot five times. Rivera-Beltran specifically mentioned that a load of drugs agents believed to be cocaine that was arriving the first week of September, lamented that one of his loads had been taken, and offered the informant "1,000 almonds" which investigators believed to be fentanyl pills, according to the indictment. "Due to its territorial dominance over areas in northeastern Mexico, the Gulf cartel smuggles the majority of its drug shipments between the Rio Grande Valley and South Padre Island in south Texas," the DEA's report says. It alleges that El Potosino was a front company used to funnel drug money through Mexican restaurants in Colorado and Wyoming. Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) is the youngest of the top 6 Mexican drug cartels. A seventh restaurant with ties to Colorado Springs also was named in the complaint. The Sinaloa cartel is the oldest cartel. 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. kaitlin.durbin@gazette.com, Colorado Springs restaurants appear to be implicated in alleged drug money laundering scheme, expected to be sent to Colorados maximum-security prison in Florence, 16-year-old Nathaniel Czajkowski was shot to death in Albertacos, Feds: El Chapo's sons indicted on drug conspiracy charges, Survey: Coloradans happy with State Patrol, but not traffic safety, Two teens accused of using cocaine at Colorado Springs high school, Alex Murdaugh trial: Autopsy photos shown, and witnesses paint graphic picture as trial continues, Stimulus update: Direct payment worth up to $400 to be available for Massachusetts residents in 12 days, New downtown Colorado Springs transit center plans updated, councilman calls it a 'boondoggle'. A money transfer station at the grocery store was used to send some of the proceeds back to Mexico. 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. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. They go by nicknames like "The Little Queen" and "The Missus.". BLO activities remain more dispersed throughout the United States, with heavier concentrations in areas with large heroin markets," said the DEA. Legal Statement. Joaquin Archivaldo Guzman Loera . Treasury sanctions eight Mexican. On Sept. 20, the indictment says, Rivera-Beltran called Escamilla, who said he had about $170,000, and told Escamilla to bring $120,000 and leave $50,000. "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 . The Biden administration has sanctioned eight Mexican companies it says are involved in a timeshare fraud scheme benefiting the Jalisco cartel, a notorious drug organization that the US government . Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting. The DEA said the organization was led by Saul Ramon Rivera-Beltran, 30, of Thornton, who would order drugs and have couriers pick them up. He reportedly operated under the aliases of 'El Gus' and 'El Baby Syko.'. Here are our rankings using DEA's data: Los Zetas Cartel is the only Mexican cartel that uses New Orleans as a major hub. 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. Five pounds of heroin and four pounds of cocaine were also seized during the investigation, which began in 2018. There are reasons to doubt the cohesion of the Sinaloa cartel, especially in light of the protracted incarceration of its nominal leader, Joaqun "El Chapo" Guzmn, and recent reports of infighting between factions of the group in Sinaloa state, its heartland. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. "Consistent with previous years, the Sinaloa Cartel maintains the widest national influence, with its most dominant positions along the West Coast, in the Midwest, and in the Northeast. Heroin is where their making money. Rivera-Beltran said he believed he was followed by law enforcement a few days earlier, according to the indictment. 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. Escamilla gave a trooper permission to search the truck and said there was only money in there, the indictment says. Joaquin Guzman-Loera (AKA's Chapo, Chapo Guzman, El Rapido) is a Mexican National. According to the indictment, the investigation began in April, when DEA agents learned that Samuel Padilla-Romo was selling methamphetamine in the 18th Judicial District and Denver metro area. The cartels and the drug trade fuel rampant corruption and. Its origins can be traced to the Guadalajara cartel, which was one of Mexico's largest crime organizations in the early 1980s. Texas' most dangerous gangs are Tango Blast and associated Tango cliques, with an estimated 19,000 members, Texas Mexican Mafia, with about 4,100 members, Latin Kings, with 1,300 members, and Mara . The six restaurants and El Potosino which means the one from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, an area associated with drug cartels are accused in a drug-money laundering scheme in the sealed federal complaint filed in November. @ 4:00 PMThe article is about cartel presence in Colorado among other things. Los Zetas Cartel is also the only Mexican cartel that uses Dallas as a major hub. The coalition's members operate in concert to protect themselves, relying on connections at the highest levels and corrupting portions of the federal police . Juarez Cartel is the only Mexican cartel that uses Oklahoma City as a major hub. Gustavo Prez died after he was shot two times on the side and on the right forearm. Were concerned with the public consumption right now, Jackson said. 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. Gulf Cartel is the only Mexican cartel that uses Detroit as a major hub. Zambada now is assumed to head the Sinoloa Cartel. One veteran border narcotics agent told FoxNews.com Colorado's legal pot industry will find it hard to keep the criminals from horning in on a lucrative business they once controlled. Rodriguez said he flew to Arizona the previous night to pick up the car which was purchased by a friend and drive it to Denver, the indictment says. as well as other partner offers and accept our, NOW WATCH: This is how Mexican drug cartels make billions selling drugs, an offshoot of the Sinaloa cartel around 2010, violent turf wars in several areas on Mexico's west coast. Then I wonder where shipment after shipment, literally TONS of that weed from Mexico is going? Last week, the US government also took action against a network of Sinaloa Cartel members and associated entities for their involvement in providing chemicals to super labs that produce illicit drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine for the cartel once run by the notorious drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzmn. At least 10 different "target telephones" were monitored over the course of the investigation, according to the indictment. RELATED: DEA warns of increase in fake prescription pills containing fentanyl, meth. A sixth. The ban on Mexican avocados has been lifted, but an economist and a student at the Miami Herbert Business School both say that cartels are the real threat to this popular green fruit in the United States. 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. The restaurants would buy food from El Potosino and accept invoices for items they did not order or receive so checks could be cut to the company and Aguilar-Martinez, 48, who is in the U.S. illegally, the complaint said. All rights reserved. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. A cellphone of Jose Aguilar-Martinez, who purported to own the unregistered wholesale distributor El Potosino Foods, had significant contact with suspected cocaine distributors in the city and in Pueblo and was linked to Guzmns and Zambadas trafficking, the complaint says. Drug cartels are extremely well-organized, well-financed, efficient, and ruthless. Four members of the army were placed under arrest Thursday and each face homicide, bodily injury and disobedience charges, Jonathan Aguilar did not survive after he was shot in the temple by a Mexican soldier after the vehicle he was riding in crashed into a parked vehicle in the border city of Nuevo Laredo, Jennifer Castillo (right) found out Sunday morning after her son Gustavo Surez (left) has been killed by the Mexican military that his girlfriend was expecting the couple's first child, Jennifer Castillo said that her son Gustavo Castillo had purchased his Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck in February and that the vehicle's temporary license plate had been removed by the soldiers who were involved in the deadly shooting, Wilberto Mata is said to have links to the Northeast Cartel, a criminal organization that operates in Nuevo Laredo, a northern Mexico border city across from Texas, Wilberto Mata, an alleged Northeast Cartel member, reportedly had a criminal background record in San Antonio, Texas, 22:55 03 Mar 2023, updated 23:04 03 Mar 2023, Luis Martnez, who survived after he was shot twice and is in an induced coma, was part of the cartel's special force 35th battalion.