4 Assassins of 'Aquiles' detained
Authorities with a strategic safety task force in Tijuana, were conducting patrols and survelliance of side streets in colonias, and arrested four men, belonging to a cell under the command of Aquiles, Alfredo Azarte Arteaga. Aquiles is considered the most prominent trafficker in Tijuana, under Ismael Zamabda.
Rumors abound, as always, that he and his brother Rene Azarte Garcia, 'La Rana', have 'switched' from Zambada, and are currently operating independently. La Rana and Aquiles are said to be fighting for control of Zona Norte, allegedly responsible for the murder of Luis Manuel Toscano, 'El Mono', gunned down at a taco stand in La Mesa, earlier this month. The task force observed four men fighting in the street, amongst each other. After their arrest they explained they were fighting over drug sales and their drug operation, and also admitted to several murders, recently. They were arrested in possession of weapons in various calibers, and drugs, in quantities and packaging that indicated they were being sold at a retail level.
Arrested were, Gilberto Garcia Hernandez, 42, 'El Clown', Carlos Alberto Espino Servin, 33 'El Chiuqlin', Duarte Juan Carlos Verdugo, 20 'The Assassain', Jose Luis Castillo, 'El Pepe' age 23. These men will be detained for awhile, or maybe post bail immediately, and be back on the street. What I find more interesting, is the backgrounds on each of these men. Like a 20 year old, nicknamed 'The Assassin'. Do they have families? Many do. How do they spend their time? These are the faces of the violence and crime at a street level.As you move up the ladder, the clothes are designer, the shoes expensive, the local more exotic. That will never happen for most of these faces, that cycle in and out of the news stories. These are the fourth tier positions, the bottom/entry level. You want in? Move some crystal. Settle some scores. Control some tientidas. You get paid in product, you probably use the product. Spend most days and night involved in the politics of the retail drug trade, which fuels the violence in the city. Life is as cheap as the crystal you smoke.
Sources: AFN Tijuana