Borderland Beat
Two of the biggest drug cartel believed to be on the brink of extinction, the Beltran Leyva and the Gulf Cartel, have shown signs of life in various regions of Mexico for so far this year.
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The Gulf cartel (CDG) and the Beltran Leyva organization (BLO) have recently reappeared in various parts of the Mexico, including the corridors in the northeast and western Mexico, strategically valuable regions for the production and trafficking of drugs.
Video from the archives.
The CDG
After years of a bloody war with Los Zetas, the Gulf Cartel recently took control of most of the industrial center of Monterrey, which had been under the rule of the Zetas since around 2010, around the time when they were separated from CDG and both cartels began a battle throughout the Northeast.
Intelligence analysts of the Mexican government, as well as independent agencies that provide crime monitoring service such as Southern Pulse have establish that at least three quarters of the metropolitan area of Monterrey - which includes the municipalities of Apodaca, Garcia, General Escobedo, Guadalupe, Juarez, Monterrey, San Nicolas de los Garza, San Pedro Garza Garcia, Santa Catarina and Santiago - are currently under the control of the Gulf Cartel.
The resurgence of the Gulf Cartel is even more surprising when one considers the arrest of their main leader, Jorge Eduardo Costilla Sanchez, alias "El Coss." Security analysts consulted by InSight Crime speculated that this resurgence of the CDG in Monterrey can also be the cause of the deterioration of Los Zetas, who lost its leader, Heriberto Lazcano Lazcano, “El Lazca and who have been victims of intense infighting in recent months.
Video from the archives.
The BLO
According to experts the Beltran Leyva Organization (BLO) an ally of Los Zetas were also thought to be wiped out, but have recently made a presence in other parts of the country by challenging their former boss, the Sinaloa Cartel.
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The final blow for the BLO was said to come during the alleged death of Adolfo Jauregui Felipe Meza, alias "El Paletero", a lieutenant of the cell "Sinaloa Sonora," where Beltran Leyva and Los Zetas were steadily recovering their territory.
With the repeated blows that the Beltran Leyva cartel have managed to give to the Sinaloa cartel in their own turf in the state of Sinaloa, the emergence of a new stronghold tied to its national alliance with Los Zetas and the Juarez cartel, appears to have allowed the Beltran Leyva cartel to become what once made them one of the most feared cartels in Mexico.
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The Beltran Leyva also seems to be gaining on the legal front as well. The case against five senior retired military officers, who were allegedly part of their structure, is falling apart, this according to a judge of the Attorney General's Office.
Perhaps most important, one of its main leaders, the infamous Alfredo Beltran Leyva, alias "El Mochomo" has not yet been extradited to the United States and, according to some, continues to run the organization from his prison.
Source:Mexico Rojo
Two of the biggest drug cartel believed to be on the brink of extinction, the Beltran Leyva and the Gulf Cartel, have shown signs of life in various regions of Mexico for so far this year.
Independent analysts from law enforcement agencies consulted by InSight Crime concluded that two Mexican drug cartels than were previously thought to be weakening due to internal infighting, pressure from Mexican authorities and constant attacks from rival cartels actually seem to be regaining strength.
The Gulf cartel (CDG) and the Beltran Leyva organization (BLO) have recently reappeared in various parts of the Mexico, including the corridors in the northeast and western Mexico, strategically valuable regions for the production and trafficking of drugs.
Video from the archives.
The CDG
After years of a bloody war with Los Zetas, the Gulf Cartel recently took control of most of the industrial center of Monterrey, which had been under the rule of the Zetas since around 2010, around the time when they were separated from CDG and both cartels began a battle throughout the Northeast.
Intelligence analysts of the Mexican government, as well as independent agencies that provide crime monitoring service such as Southern Pulse have establish that at least three quarters of the metropolitan area of Monterrey - which includes the municipalities of Apodaca, Garcia, General Escobedo, Guadalupe, Juarez, Monterrey, San Nicolas de los Garza, San Pedro Garza Garcia, Santa Catarina and Santiago - are currently under the control of the Gulf Cartel.
The resurgence of the Gulf Cartel is even more surprising when one considers the arrest of their main leader, Jorge Eduardo Costilla Sanchez, alias "El Coss." Security analysts consulted by InSight Crime speculated that this resurgence of the CDG in Monterrey can also be the cause of the deterioration of Los Zetas, who lost its leader, Heriberto Lazcano Lazcano, “El Lazca and who have been victims of intense infighting in recent months.
Video from the archives.
The BLO
According to experts the Beltran Leyva Organization (BLO) an ally of Los Zetas were also thought to be wiped out, but have recently made a presence in other parts of the country by challenging their former boss, the Sinaloa Cartel.
Since December of 2009 experts began to speculate that the organization of the Beltran Leyva were destined to fade away after the death of their leader Arturo Beltran Leyva, alias the "Jefe de Jefes" or "El Barbas," and following the arrest of other leaders like Sergio Villarreal, alias "El Grande" and Edgar Valdez Villarreal, alias "La Barbie."
The final blow for the BLO was said to come during the alleged death of Adolfo Jauregui Felipe Meza, alias "El Paletero", a lieutenant of the cell "Sinaloa Sonora," where Beltran Leyva and Los Zetas were steadily recovering their territory.
With the repeated blows that the Beltran Leyva cartel have managed to give to the Sinaloa cartel in their own turf in the state of Sinaloa, the emergence of a new stronghold tied to its national alliance with Los Zetas and the Juarez cartel, appears to have allowed the Beltran Leyva cartel to become what once made them one of the most feared cartels in Mexico.
The Beltran Leyva also seems to be gaining on the legal front as well. The case against five senior retired military officers, who were allegedly part of their structure, is falling apart, this according to a judge of the Attorney General's Office. Perhaps most important, one of its main leaders, the infamous Alfredo Beltran Leyva, alias "El Mochomo" has not yet been extradited to the United States and, according to some, continues to run the organization from his prison.
Source:Mexico Rojo