During the week a municipal policeman who recruited people to work for a criminal group was also arrested. And criminal groups exchanged narcomensajes in the streets of Tijuana.
Zeta Investigation
Saturday, September 5, at nine o'clock, it was the last time the Tijuana men living in Mexicali, Juan Antonio Rodriguez Moreno, spoke with one of his sisters. He told her that he was headed to a property owned by the family in Tijuana delegacion de La Presa, and he said he had an appointment.
He explained that Elihu Quezada Ibarra contacted him and he will have a meeting with him, he explained that Elihu had asked him to meet because he wanted to fix things up before the trial that they had for the land they were visiting.
This litigation is recorded in file 284/2004, started 11 years ago by the First Civil Court, in which Oscar Jaime Rodriguez, Luz Maria Moreno Moreno and Joaquin Rodriguez Moreno (killed in 2008) are disputing the property to Quezada.
Rodriguez Moreno, 67, an Administrative Sciences professor at the UABC and UNEA universities, had left Mexicali on his way to Tijuna, in transit to the family property. He was accompanied by engineer Martin Dimas Palafox Cervantes and this assistant, Dionisio Arevalo. According to what was said by the families, they would make a demarcation of the lands owned by the Rodriguez family, located at kilometer 14.5 in Valle Bonito. But they disappeared.
Between Sunday 6 and the morning of September 7, the families sought on their own and talked to all media to report them as missing and ask for support to find them. On Monday afternoon they filed the missing person report with the Attorney General of the State (PGJE).
For three days and seven hours, no one heard anything from any of them, until Tuesday September 8 at four in the afternoon, when those aboard the Pegasus helicopter of the Ministry of Municipal Public Security of Tijuana -including a son of the professor - spotted a burned vehicle in a steep canyon located on the property of the Rodriguez family.
At the opposite end of the property, from three in the afternoon, more than a dozen ministerial police sweep the area, but work from the air was faster. It was difficult for the elements of the corporations to get to the car.
The location of the vehicle was reported at about four in the afternoon, just over an hour, and the officers confirmed that it was the Jeep Grand Cherokee, 2000 model, which was the same vehicle driven by the three missing men, the original color of the car could not be identified because he was completely burnt, inside just piles of ashes, wires and some bones were visible.
In the car they found the BGA-80-15 plates, owned by a family member by the name of Cruz Rodriguez.
Following the discovery, the PGJE opened a preliminary investigation 342/15/201 for the murder of three unknown individuals "completely charred."
On the right side of the truck, one or two meters above they found maps and documents that belonged to the the Rodriguez family and were in possession of the three men, whose disappearance was reported to the PGJE the night of 7 September.
Also near the vehicle a cell phone and several cans of beer were located, including one already cut, which was used to take some form of liquid accelerant to burn the vehicle.
Thus, the authorities confirmed it was the truck of the missing man, but ratify the identity of the ashes and bones was impossible to verify at the time and they to require DNA testing.
Incineration cause under investigation
Although officially the possibility of an accident has not been ruled out, investigators considered that to be unlikely the reason of the accident.
They explained that the local road to the ranch of Rodríguez, is at 20 meters of the ravine where the vehicle was found.
Additionally, beer cans were found around the jeep, as to suggest that they were drunk, "but taking that in consideration which police don't believe it happened, they wouldn't lost control for 20 meters.
"In addition, the property documents were outside the car, evidently removed and checked before the jeep was set on fire."
A police officer from another corporation that was in the area said: "The situation does not match the possibility of that type of accident, the inclination of the slope could not have caused the truck to explode." The car rolled about 100 meters into the ravine.
Neighbor dispute
As part of the investigation, the same day they located the car and the charred bodies, judicial police went to ranch of Elihu Quezada Ibarra. Local police informed the investigators that they had received reports of armed men at that property, but when the PGJE arrived, there was only a night watchman dozing.
The only public legal precedent of Quezada, in additional to the litigation with Rodriguez, is dating back to October 2002. It began, when elements of the Attorney General's Office (PGR) raided the Adlsi ballroom in fraccionamiento Murúa owned by the son of Elihu, David Quezada.
The place was where Rafael Loza Cruz, a DEA informant reported that he was kept when kidnapped a week earlier. The property had basement, a fake sink that gave access to tunnels and exit to two streets.
Following up on the same investigation, on November 6, federal agents entered the White Horse Ranch at Kilometer 14.5 Carretera Libre Tijuana-Tecate, owned by Quezada Ibarra. Press reports indicate that they found horses a black bear, three lions, a tiger and a score of ostriches.
In none of the two buildings they located the owners. The PGR said publicly they are somehow involved in drug safekeeping and kidnapping, however, there is no record of any arrest or detention.
Meanwhile, the Judiciary Power reports two injunctions requested by Quezada Ibarra: numbers 852- 1 / 102.5 / 4215, promoted the 19 December 2012 in the case of the land; and 1/0195/2001-III, which began in the Eighth District Court.
Two brothers killed
Before Mr. Juan Antonio Rodriguez Moreno had been involved in a violent disappearance and possible murder, two of his brothers were gunned down.
Miguel Angel Rodriguez Moreno was the first of the brothers whose body was located in January 1988, he was a former Public Prosecutor in Tijuana, publicly known. Among his possessions they found credentials that accredited him as an employee of the PGJE, although he had quit his job in the institution.
This guy was one of the protagonists of the note "The mafia invades Baja California," by Jesus Blancornelas published in edition Zeta on September 20, 1985.
In the text, the story of a military operation that ended with the capture of two agents of the PGJE Juan Jose Padilla and Jesús Martínez Colmenares, who confessed of protecting drug warehouses in colonias Libertad, Cacho and Cerro Colorado all under orders of his boss Rodríguez Moreno.
Details show that in September 1985, Miguel Angel Rodriguez Moreno personally appeared at a warehouse located at 528 Aquiles Serdan Street in Colonia Libertad, to prevent two federal agents they incidentally encountered to denounced their illicit business.
Rodriguez was a friend and partner in the law firm of Edgardo Leyva Mortera, brother of then Governor Xicotencatl Leyva Mortera and, according to two arrested officers, they trafficked drugs to the United States, the officers received $2000 to $3000 dollars per month to protect the warehouse, and up to $50,000 for letting go drug traffickers arrested with drugs. Most went into the pockets of Manuel Rodriguez. An arrest warrant was issued against him, but he crossed into the United States and evaded capture.
Joaquin Rodriguez Moreno was shot dead on a Friday afternoon of June 13, 2008, when he arrived to a meeting of the Farmers National Confederation at a restaurant located in the downtown area of Mexicali.
The General Director of the Bachelors College of Baja California during the tenure of Leyva Mortera, was shot twice in the head when he was getting off of a pick-up Ford 1999.
According to witnesses, the assailant didn't even ran to get away from the crime scene, he walk away eastward down the Reforma alley, on the way he threw away the gun-a .45-cal on the roof of one of the houses.
Rodriguez Moreno was a member in the State Electoral Commission of the peasant league, representing the municipal committee of the CNC Playas de Rosarito.
The election for the Cenecista State Leader was scheduled for Sunday 15, for that reason the election commission where Joaquin Rodriguez Moreno was a participant was in session that Friday morning in the premises of the league located beside the state PRI, on the Boulevard López Meteos, near the Civic Center. That after noon members of the electoral committee chose to move to the BIC restaurant -located by Peritus Street and Alley Reforma, opposite of the School of Fine Arts.
The BIC is a restaurant frequented by PRI old-guard, since previously the state offices of the Institutional Revolutionary Party were located on top of the old Municipal Market, almost opposite corner of the establishment.
Former educational official, also director of CONALEP Puebla was lying on the floor in a fetal position and seriously wounded. He stayed for about half an hour until the ambulance arrived, they moved to Al Mater Private Hospital, where he died minutes later.
No one was arrested for the crime, and the daily Mexicali didn't mention the former official on the obituary section.
More killed
The escalated insecurity goes beyond homicides in Tijuana. With 68 murders in the city, August was one of the most violent of the months in 2015, however, the authorities recorded a total of 168 criminal events where there was the presence of firearms, and 100 incidents from injured people with guns and robberies.
Ten murders were committed in the first ten days of September, 13 if the charred remains that were found on September 8 inside a van burned in the bottom of a ravine in Valle Bonito are added.
Nine of the homicides were committed in the week ending. On Friday 4 before three in the afternoon, an armed man with cap and black hood, entered the Granite Express business fraccionamiento El Lago; he went straight and pointed the gun at the head of the owner, Victor Manuel Salazar Rueda. The video reveals that he tried to fire but the gun jammed, he leaned back, then the victim took a folding chair and tried to hit him, but the thug had already pulled the jammed bulled and reloaded the gun.
Four shots hit Salazar, one in the head. He died in a private hospital. He had no criminal record.
The Toyota Corolla car plates 3NNE109 from California State used by the attackers, was found in a parking space in Plaza Insurgentes.
On Monday September 7th authorities found a rotting corpse of an unidentified man with a pipe in his head, they left him lying on a dirt road near the Puente La Encantada, 500 meters from Boulevard 2000.
On Tuesday, September 8, between two and three o'clock, they found the three charred bodies and, after ten at night, the PGJE was informed of the death of Jorge Javier Lliles Ortiz, he was shot inside his home in colonia Obrera segunda sección.
On Wednesday, reports came in about three murders early morning. The body of a man full of bullets was found in Pórticos de San Antonio, another one in colonia Chihuahua and the third one on the river channeling by Benton bridge.
Municipal police arrested
As part of police operations, on September 3, after his henchmen gunned down a man in colonia Independencia, Miguel Antonio Serrano Juarez "El Vampi" was arrested, he is an active municipal police officer with ten years in the force.
When he was arrested he was among those assigned to the Operation Trust in Zona Centro, before that in La Presa delegation, but he was relocated because it was reported to have links with drug dealers in the area.
According to statements provided by his accomplices, Roberto Ruiz and Mauricio Cervantes, they did not know that "El Vampi" was a cop, they just knew he was their boss, " he was discreet" and added: "That dude moves all the connects in Valle Verde" and offered them money to "do a hit in colonia Independencia"
The information collected from the detainee and his accomplices place the police officer as a "recruiter"; he will pay police from various delegations for information regarding police operation; and when he needed some other criminal activity, he will offer money to criminals to move drugs or kill a rival.
Serrano was consigned for drug dealing, because the Second judge denied an "urgent order of apprehension" for the murder for which he was arrested. In his first statement he finally accepted paying cops and criminals for criminal activities. Even his "mob boss", whom he did not identify - will pay him a fee for each opponent narcomenudista arrested by him or the police who he recruited. But he said he has never killed anyone.
Narco Banner War
Additionally, during the week several narco banners were hung in Tijuana bridges, at least four banners with messages of threats between cartels, which publicly reported the names of suspected criminals. They also sought to evade their responsibility in the escalated violence, ensuring that all the those killed were involved on criminal activities.
On September 4, on a bridge over Insurgentes Boulevard, a message allegedly from Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) again exposed the names of some alleged members of the Sinaloa Cartel, and according to them, they are killing and kidnapping innocent people. The blanket was handwritten with a pile of words and spelling errors. It read:
"MARCO TULIO CARRILLO GRANDE “ EL MARLON” EX MUNICIPAL LUGARTENIENTE DEL “AKILES”, LUIS FRANCISCO LOZANO BELTRAN ALIAS “EL LICO” O “EL PAKITO” JEFE DE SICARIOS DEL AKILES, VICTOR HUGO MEJIA LOPEZ “EL GRIEGO” O “EL YOGURT” o “CHECO” ESCOLTA Y JEFE DE SICARIOS DEL AKILES, JUAN ENRIQUE ROCHIN CERVANTES “EL PETERPAN” o “FELIPIN” ENCARGADO DE BATAKAS, DAVID HERNANDEZ MENDEZ “EL FADERS” , SICARIO Y SECUESTRADOR DE LAS SOBRINAS DEL MAYO ZAMBADA AL SERVICIO DEL PETER, RAUL MIRANDA ORDAZ “EL ALEJO” O “EL RULAS”, JEFE DE VARIAS CELULAS CRIMINALES AL SERVICIO DEL AQUILES, JUAN CARLOS DOMINGUEZ PARRA “300 o EL CHUECO” o “JAIVA”.
PINCHES LACRAS SECUESTRADORES “AKI ES CABRON CON CABRON NO INOCENTES USTEDES TAMBIEN TIENEN FAMILIA RESPETEN PUTOS NO SEAN MUGROSOS SI SIGUE CORRIENDO SANGRE DE INOCENTES LES REGRESAREMOS LA CORTESIA AKI EN LA TIA JUANA, EL CIELO ES COLOR PERLA, FUERA DE LA PLAZA RATAS TRAICIONERAS Y SECUESTRADORES NOSOTROS AYUDAMOS A LA GENTE Y NO LA ROBAMOS NI SECUESTRAMOS MUCHO MENOS COBRAMOS PISO NO VIVAN DE LO QUE LA GENTE GANA CON ESFUERZO RATAS MUERTOS DE HAMBRE.
TIJUANA TIENE NUEVO DUEÑO “SR MENCHO CTNG Y CJNG” PURO TIJUANA"
Marco Tulio Carrillo Grande "El Marlon" Former Municipal Police Officer, and "Achilles" lieutenant, Luis Francisco Lozano Beltran aka"El Lico" or "El Pakito "head of sicarios for"Achilles", Victor Hugo Mejia Lopez "El Griego" or "El Yogurt"or "Cheko" bodyguard and CHIF of hitmen for "Achilles", Juan Enrique Rochin Cervantes "El Peter Pan" or "Felipin", in charge of hitman crews, David Hernandez Mendez "El Faders" hitman and kidnapper of the nieces of "Mayo Zambada" working under the orders of "El Peter", Raul Miranda Ordaz "El Alejo" or "El Ruelas" head of several criminal cells under "Achilles", Juan Carlos Dominguez Parra "300" or "El Chueco" or "Jaiva"
Fucking scum kidnappers "It is Criminal vs Criminal not against innocents" You have family also, "Have respect fuckers" ... Don't be so low, if "You Keep Spilling Innocent Blood" We will do the same to you , here in "La Tia Juana" ( Tijuana ) the sky is still pearl (A response to the saying by CDS members "The Sky is Green" in reference to "La Rana", saying it is still pearl is a reference to Jalisco Guadalajara Which is Known as "La Perla Tapatia" or the "Tapatia Pearl"). "Get out of the Plaza" treacherous rats and kidnappers. We help the people, we don't steal, kidnap or tax people, don't make a living with other people's hard earned money, you greedy rats.
Tijuana has a new owner. Mr. Mencho. CTNG and CJNG are here!
Five days later, on September 9, three narco banners were hung on a bridge in Lazaro Cardenas, another one in the pedestrian bridge in Morelos Park, and one in Soler division.
It was made in a printing workshop, all capital letters without accents, and at the bottom was a timber to avoid to be bend with the wind and it read:
“CARTELES DE OTROS ESTADOS, SEGUIREMOS TUMBANDO INTRUSOS COMO LO HEMOS ESTADO HACIENDO HASTA AHORITA, MAÑA CONTRA MAÑA, LISTOS PARA CONTINUAR CON LA PELEA, LA LIMPIA ES PARA TRAER EL ORDEN A LA CIUDAD, FIRMA EL C.A.F.
Carteles (Narco Traffickers) from other states we will continue killing intruders like we have been doing until now, Criminal vs Criminal, ready to continue the fight, the cleansing is to bring back the order to the city, Atte CAF.
While another sign warned:
“TIJUANA NO TIENE NUEVO DUEÑO, ES EL CARTEL ARELLANO, DEJEN DE ILUSIONAR Y DE QUERER ENGAÑAR A LA GENTE LA PLAZA ES DOMINADA POR GENTE NATIVA DE TIJUANA, NO POR CARTELES DE OTROS ESTADOS, SEGUIREMOS TUMBANDO INTRUSOS COMO LO HEMOS ESTADO HACIENDO HASTA AHORITA, MAÑA CONTRA MAÑA, LISTOS PARA CONTINUAR CON LA PELEA, LA LIMPIA ES PARA TRAER EL ORDEN A LA CIUDAD, FIRMA EL C.A.F.”
“Tijuana doesn´t have a new owner, the Arellano Cartel still rules, stop dreaming and stop trying to fool the people, this territory is ruled by native people from Tijuana, not by cartels from other states, We will keep killing intruders like we have been doing up until now Criminal vs Criminal, ready to continue the fight, the cleansing is to bring back the order to the city, Atte CAF.
On these acts of preliminary investigations with out progress, only the Secretary of State Security, Daniel de la Rosa Anaya, said to reporters that we can not validate the information contained in these messages.
On Thursday September 10 there was an unofficially report of another banner hung in front of the Macroplaza. ZETA reported to the PGJE and the secretariats of State Security in Tijuana, and they said to ignore the fact, they also deny that any staff had removed the message.
Three vehicles full of drugs abandoned
Just a few meters from the international line to the United States at the San Ysidro border crossing, a truck was abandoned with 27 kilos of marijuana, wrapped in 22 packets, at approximately nine o'clock on Thursday September 10th.
The Chevrolet pick-up unit with American plates 93164B1, was on one of the left lanes of the international crossing on the Mexican side.
According to preliminary investigations, security video observed two men getting off from the vehicle, and they walked away from area via Puente Mexico.
In another vehicle, 320 kilos of crystal meth were seized inside a black Grand Cherokee SUV with American plates.
On Friday, September 4, at 3:30 pm, members of the Mixed Operations Base BOM, were conducting a routine patrol in El Salado, in the town of Colonet delegation Ensenada, when they saw the parked vehicle.
Upon review the vehicle they found the drug known as crystal meth, weighing 320.46 kilograms; 405 containers and 82 plastic bags.
The drugs and vehicle were taken by the Public Prosecutor's Office.
In another abandoned vehicle in the parking lot of Plaza Monarca, in Cerro Colorado Delegation in Tijuana, 25 packages of marijuana were found on September 9, which in total amounted to 100 kilos.
When searched by members of the Criminal Investigation Agency (CIA) of the Attorney General's Office, the car parked in the shopping center from the day before, had inside drug packaging in the trunk, which were delivered the Public Prosecutor's Office.
Also in the colonia Chapultepec Alamar, elements of the State Preventive Police and the Army seized 449,014 kilograms of marijuana.
On Friday September 4th a couple were arrested with 71.15 kilograms of marijuana, the drugs and the vehicle were seized.
According to the PGR, the detainees are, Rodrigo Barraza Olivas, 27 years old, who was caught loading the drugs to a Toyota on Andador Canal st. On board of the unit was Alejandra Mireya Arratía Vela, 29.
Subsequently, on Monday, September 7, the officially practiced diligently search warrant at the home of the couple, 377,864 kilograms of the same type of drug they were located in a basement.
On September 9, a thousand 315 kilograms of marijuana were found in the false bottom of a truck tract from San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, to Tijuana, where PVC pipes were transported.
The same day, in the hidden compartment of a boat parked off the coast of San Diego, California, 95 packages with 220 kilograms of marijuana were seized and three Mexican nationals were captured, one of them with permanent residence in the United States. $290,000 dollars were also seized.
Confiscated arsenal
On September 3, Joel Perez Delgadillo, 30 years old, was captured with weapons and drugs in the Loma Dorada neighborhood of Tijuana. He was arrested for possession of seven AR-15 .223 caliber weapons; besides 650 cartridges, 600 .223 and 50 .25 caliber.
6.74 kilos of crystal meth and 150 grams of cocaine were also found in the vehicle.