Blog dedicated to reporting on Mexican drug cartels
on the border line between the US and Mexico
.

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Mayo Flaco Criminal Group "MF" Make Incursion Into Imala, Sinaloa, A Plaza Controlled By Los Chapos Or La Chapiza.

 "Char" and "Obscuro" for Borderland Beat 

NOVEMBER 18, 2024

MF GROUP IN IMALA, SINALOA 

The Mayo Flaco criminal group made an incursion with innumerable armored pickup trucks full of gunmen in the early hours of Monday, September 18, 2024, from Sanalona, Sinaloa, a stronghold for the Mayo Zambada organization into Imala, Sinaloa, controlled by La Chapiza Cartel. Local civilians from Imala reported that the criminal group that entered vandalized several homes, an electricity outage was reported as a result of several utility posts forcefully knocked down, and gunfire was heard for about one hour off and on. While the MF group was causing havoc in Imala, military and local police, did not make a presence to control the situation; they showed up hours after the criminal group left. Important to note that Sanalona is about 17 kilometers from Imala although the MF group entered Imala there is no confirmation as of yet if they seized the Imala Plaza from La Chapiza or Los Chapos. 

IMAGES OF THE AFTERMATH IN IMALA, SIN






MF ON SOCIAL MEDIA 

The MF group published several videos on social media platforms, which showed their criminal activity in Imala, Sinaloa. In specific pictures the criminal cell posed in front of the town square 


(24.8571163, -107.2169109)










SOURCE: LUZ NOTICIAS,
PERNICIOUS PROPAGANDA 

U.S. Sanctions The 'Bonques Brothers' And Five Others; Accused Of Trafficking Fentanyl From Nayarit

 "Char" for Borderland Beat 

This article was translated and reposted from RIODOCE 

Author | Editorial Staff

Date | November 19, 2024

Time | 1:32 pm


The US Treasury Department announced sanctions against the Bonques brothers' network and five other individuals, who smuggle fentanyl and other drugs from Nayarit, as well as being associated with the Jalisco Cartel - New Generation (CJNG).

The other five Mexicans sanctioned by the Treasury Department and members of the gang associated with the CJNG are José Adrián Castillo López, Luis Alonso Navarro Quezada, Erandiny Jazmín Arias Ponce, Araceli Castillo Peinado and José Sinue Castro Álvarez.

According to OFAC, the “Bonques Brothers” gang is led by Roberto Castellanos Meza, alias Beto Bonques, and is made up of his brothers; Ivan Atzayacatl, Giovanni and Juan Carlos, associates and close associates of CJNG leader Ruben Oseguera Cervantes el Mencho.

 The Bonques brothers have strong ties of cooperation with Audías Flores Silva, El Jardinero, the CJNG's regional leader in the state of Nayarit for the trafficking of all types of drugs and money laundering.

“The Bonques Brothers are one of the most prominent families in the state of Jalisco, dedicated to heroin trafficking, who during the 1990's played a preponderant role in controlling part of the market in the state of California,” according to OFAC.


The network that was subject to sanctions by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) alleges that the nine-person group is a key part of the CJNG's drug trafficking operations.

All of those sanctioned are subject to asset forfeiture and the freezing of bank accounts held in states and territories subject to U.S. financial laws, in addition to facing federal drug trafficking charges.




SOURCE: RIODOCE 

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

CDN Leader "El Huevo" Juan Treviño-Chavez Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Charges in US

"Socalj" for Borderland Beat


Juan Gerardo Treviño-Chavez also known as "El Huevo" pleaded guilty in a federal court in San Antonio, Texas today to 15 counts related to his involvement in drug trafficking throughout Mexico and the United States as a former leader of the Cartel del Noreste under his uncles Omar and Miguel Treviño-Morales.

Chilpancingo Public Security Secretary Arrested for Mayor's Decapitation in Guerrero

 "Socalj" for Borderland Beat

On October 1, 2024, the capital city of Guerrero inaugurated a new Mayor, Alejandro Arcos Catalán. 6 days later, his decapitated head was found on the roof of a pickup truck, his body found stuffed inside of the truck. 

It was a grim reminder of the violence that had occurred leading up to the June elections that saw nearly 40 political candidates assassinated throughout the country. Authorities announced the recent arrest of a retired military Captain who became a special prosecutor, and recently in charge of security for Chilpancingo for his involvement in the murder.

This arrest was also a reminder of the collusion and corruption between cartels, local gangs, politicians and law enforcement in the region that has seen battles between gangs allied with larger cartels including the Los Ardillos and Los Tlacos.

La Chapiza Captured Four Mayo Flaco Gunmen Including A Commander For “MF” Group. Allegedly Damaso Lopez Serrano “El Mini Lic”, Is Working Closely With Ismael Zambada Sicairos “Mayo Flaco” In The War Against La Chapiza In Sinaloa

 "Char" for Borderland Beat 

NOVEMBER 18, 2024

DAMASO LOPEZ-SERRANO 
EL MINI LICENCIADO 

Interrogation videos continue to intensify as the La Chapiza or Los Chapos VS Mayo Flaco criminal groups continue to wage war on one another. The faith of the four interrogated Mayo Flaco "MF" gunmen has already been sealed, but before they meet their end, La Chapiza members are interrogated. 

 

The MF commander captured by La Chapiza is Luis Alberto Sanchez Quintero. While being interrogated, Luis Alberto claims that his immediate boss is David Lopez and that the latter received orders from Damaso Lopez Serrano, "El Mini Lic," who works directly with El 19. Moreover, El 19 is a lieutenant of Ismael Zambada Sicairos, "Mayo Flaco," leader of the Mayo Zambada criminal organization. 

 

The four Mayo Flaco gunmen were allegedly captured near the syndicate Eldorado, Sinaloa, and it is important to add that the Eldorado Plaza is now controlled by the Mayo Flaco criminal organization. The La Chapiza or Los Chapos criminal group has made it a priority to recuperate the Eldorado Plaza as heavy fighting has been reported in recent days. 

SPECIAL THANKS TO SOL PRENDIDO FOR THE TRANSLATIONS


LA CHAPIZA INTERROGATES MF GUNMEN 

Part 1

Sicario: What’s your name?

Captive #1: Manuel Quintero. 

Sicario: What about you?

Captive #2: Javier Areti.

Sicario: And you?

Captive #3: Jose Pérez. 

Sicario: What about you commander?

Captive #4: Luis Alberto Sánchez Quintero. 

Sicario: Which mob de you being to?

Captive #4: To the David López mob. 

Sicario: The David López mob, huh? And who’s giving out the orders? 

Captive #4: Mini Lic. 

Sicario: Who does Mini Lic answer to?

Captive #4: El 19. 

Sicario: Is this the Maria Fernanda mob?

Captive #4: Yes. 

Sicario: What exactly were you guys thinking, that shit was going to be so easy to come here?

Captive #4: It did seem like an easy task for us. But shit went sideways for us. 

Sicario: How much are you guys getting paid for this?

Captive #4: The truth is that we’re not even being paid.  

Sicario: Are you being paid with crystal meth?

Captive #4: Yes, straight fucking meth. 

Sicario: What happened to that fucking support you guys were supposed to receive? 

Captive #4: He didn’t send us any backup. We were sent to the front like canon fodder to be executed. 

Sicario: Who’s in charge in El Dorado?

Captive #4: Who’s in charge in El Dorado? That would be the Chapiza mob. 

Sicario: Who’s in charge in El Dorado you fuck? You gang of dicks should already know that the Chapiza mob is in charge in the city of El Dorado. Don’t ever forget that. 

Part 2


Sicario: How many of your operatives have the Chapos gunmen killed off?

Captive I honestly don’t know the actual amount. But the numbers are high. 

Sicario: What exactly were you fuckers thinking, that it was going to be so easy or what? 

Captive: Well, it did look easy for us. However, once you’re face to face with the situation at hand it becomes something else altogether. We did run into a good amount of an opposing force. 

Sicario: What about your backup?

Captive: Well, they never come through for us. We’re told that they’re on their way but they never arrive. 

Sicario: If  you guys aren’t being paid then why don’t you all just get the fuck out of here and go back to wherever it is that you’re from? 

Captive: The truth is that we all regret what we’ve done here because we’re promised so much and never given anything in return. 

Sicario:  If that’s the case then why don’t you just leave this area then?

Captive: We’re all held under threat here. Our families are also under threat. We’re being forced to work here. That’s how things really are for us. We’re being paid with drugs. 

Sicario: What all did Mini Lic promise you guys?

Captive: He promised a lot of things but nothing was ever fulfilled. 

Sicario: More than likely he promised you guys some ranches. 

Captive: Yes, some ranches. Along with so many other things. And that we’d be bosses as well. But that just wasn’t the case. We were nothing more than cannon fodder. 

Sicario: What message would you like to send out to your friends in the rear?

Captive: It’s in your best interest to study, I’m sorry, to work an honest job. Don’t bother getting involved with the underworld. As it is we’re screwed here and it’s over for us. 

Sicario: Don’t bother coming against the Chapos mob because it isn’t as easy as it looks. However, if you want to keep trying to come against us this is how your lives will end. Just like this gang of dumbasses that you see here…




Monday, November 18, 2024

6 Tons Of Marijuana Plantation Found And Destroyed In Culiacan: Sinaloa

"Char" for Borderland Beat 

This information was posted from RIODOCE

Author | Editor

Date | November 18, 2024

Time | 2:48 pm


On November 16, the Navy members were flying over the area in a helicopter when they located the plantation in Zalate de los Ibarra, Culiacán, Sinaloa; they descended to the ground and incinerated the plants.


In collaboration with the Attorney General's Office (FGR), elements of the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar), located and destroyed a plantation with approximately 22,113 marijuana plants, weighing 6,633 kilograms, in Culiacán, Sinaloa, according to national media, informed the agency.

The authorities did not specify whether the plantation belonged to a specific criminal group.


Saturday, November 16, 2024

“El Güero Pulseras” Is Not In Custody: Harfuch Gives Wrong Information About The Operator Of ‘Mayo Zambada And Mayo Flaco'

 "Char" for Borderland Beat 

This information was posted by Latinus 

In a radio interview, the Secretary of Security asked for “an apology for the misunderstanding” about the arrest: “It was a drafting error”.

NOVEMBER 11, 2024 


Jesus Esteban, alias “El Güero Pulseras”, is not in custody as mentioned by the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar Garcia Harfuch, in Tuesday's morning conference.

In an interview with Radiofórmula, Secretary García Harfuch asked for “an apology for the misunderstanding” about the arrest: “It was an editorial error”.

Sources consulted by Latinus affirmed that “it was a confusion” the information mentioned by Harfuch about this alleged operator of drug trafficker Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. 

The Secretary of Security said earlier that the subject was arrested on Monday in a raid carried out in Chiapas by the Secretary of National Defense, the Attorney General's Office, the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of Security. 

The head of the SSPC commented that it was intelligence and investigation work that led to the location of “El Güero Pulseras” in a place that was used to store illicit objects and armor vehicles used by criminal groups.

During the raid, 935 kilos of marijuana, 54 long firearms, 545 magazines, 65 boxes with hundreds of cartridges, one armored vehicle, nine cars and three motorcycles were also seized.

The FGR also said that the property and the weapons seized were handed over to the Public Prosecutor's Office, which will open an investigation against whoever or whoever is responsible for the crimes of carrying a firearm and possession of cartridges and magazines for the exclusive use of the Armed Forces.

For several months, Chiapas has been suffering an escalation of violence and insecurity due to disputes between drug trafficking groups in the region. According to organizations and activists, the Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartel - New Generation, as well as the self-proclaimed Chiapas and Guatemala Cartel, play a leading role on the border with Guatemala.

With information from EFE

Court Confirms Release of CJNG Cartel Founder 'El Mencho's' Wife on Organized Crime Charges

 "Char" for Borderland Beat 

This information was posted from Nmas 

The wife of 'El Mencho' was arrested for the first time, in 2018, but was released on parole after paying a guarantee of more than one million pesos

November 15, 2024 | 12:07 hrs CST

By: Mario Torres 


A Federal Court of Appeals in the State of Morelos upheld the order of non-indictment against Rosalinda González Valencia, wife of Nemesio Oseguera, alias El Mencho, leader of the Jalisco Cartel - New Generation (CJNG), for the crimes of organized crime in the modalities of crimes against health and operations with resources of illicit origin.

In May 2018, El Mencho's wife was arrested in the municipality of Zapopan, Jalisco, but was conditionally released after paying a guarantee of more than one million pesos.

In November 2021, Rosalinda was arrested for the second time, in compliance with an arrest warrant for the crime of operations with resources of illicit origin.

Will El Mencho's Wife Get Out of Jail? 

A federal judge decided not to sentence the detainee to criminal proceedings for the crime of organized crime, and the Attorney General's Office (FGR) filed an appeal against the decision.


The file was turned over to the Collegiate Court of Appeals, with residence in Xochitepec, Morelos.


In the list of agreements of the Federal Judiciary Council (CJF) it was informed that this Thursday, November 14, 2024, the Collegiate Court of Appeals confirmed the order of non-indictment for the crimes of organized crime in the modality of against health and operations with resources of illicit origin.


However, Rosalinda Gonzalez will continue in prison, after a five-year sentence against her for the crime of operations with resources of illicit origin, which was issued in December 2023, is still in force.


SOURCE: NMAS

Armando Gomez Nuñez 'Delta 1' To Be Indicted For Crimes Against Health: Jalisco

 "Char" for Borderland Beat

This information was posted by EL OCCIDENTAL

Armando G, 'Delta 1' to be indicted for crimes against health in the form of simple possession of methamphetamine hydrochloride

NOVEMBER 15, 2024


Román Ortega / El Occidental

A District Judge sentenced Armando “G”, alias “Delta 1” or “Máximo”, identified as the leader of the elite cell of assassins known as “Deltas” of the Jalisco Cartel - New Generation, to criminal proceedings.

The Attorney General's Office informed that Armando “G” will be prosecuted for crimes against health in the modality of simple possession of methamphetamine hydrochloride, as well as carrying a firearm, possession of magazines and cartridges for the exclusive use of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

The arrest of “Delta 1” took place last Monday, October 28, at 5:03 p.m. on Patria Avenue between Lago Superior and La Presa Avenue, in the Lagos del Country neighborhood, the same neighborhood where he was captured four years ago.


At the time of his capture, the national guards seized his vehicle, a long gun with 10 rounds, plastic bags containing one kilo 53 grams of methamphetamine and three magazines with a total of 49 useful cartridges.

In addition to the indictment, the District Judge based in Almoloya de Juarez, State of Mexico, ordered that he be remanded in custody at the Federal Center for Social Readaptation number 1 “Altiplano” and four months for the complementary investigation.

Delta 1 controlled illicit activities in Puente Grande

According to federal investigations, “Delta 1” has its area of influence in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara. In addition to the fact that he was responsible for the attack committed on May 21, 2018 in the Chapultepec area, against Luis Carlos Nájera, former state prosecutor in the past administration headed by former governor Jorge Aristóteles Sandoval Díaz.

Armando Gómez, also known as “Máximo”, was arrested for the first time on June 21, 2020 in the streets of Colonia Jardines del Country, in the municipality of Guadalajara.

The reasons why Gómez Núñez regained his freedom after being captured in 2020 are still unknown.


No Information From Prosecutor's Office On Alleged Death Of Leader Of The La Linea Jesús Salas Aguayo "El Chuyin"

 "Char" for Borderland Beat 

This information was posted by LA OPCION DE CHIHUAHUA 

NOVEMBER 16, 2024

WRITTEN BY: EDITOR M

Ciudad Juarez - The District Attorney's Office of the Northern Zone, informed that it has no information on the alleged death of Jesus Salas Aguayo, El Chuyin, who was identified by the DEA as the head of La Linea in the state of Chihuahua. 

Gabriela Cita, spokesperson for the prosecutor's office in Ciudad Juarez, said this morning that we have no information on the facts.

This agency would be in charge of removing the bodies and investigating the alleged murders.

Since yesterday, two versions have emerged, one that El Chuyin was executed by his own criminal group and the other that his death occurred due to a heart attack while traveling in a vehicle on the highway that connects Villa Ahumada with the Benito Juarez ejido.

Neither was supported by the authorities.






Friday, November 15, 2024

Arrest Of Omar Felix Loaiza 'El Pelon' Or ' El 08' Of The 'Chapitos' Accused Of Coordinating Offensive Against The 'Mayos' In Culiacan, Sinaloa, Confirmed

 "Char" for Borderland Beat 

This article was translated and reposted from RIODOCE 

Author | Editor

Date | November 15, 2024

Time | 7:42 am


On Thursday, Army and National Guard forces captured Omar Felix Loaiza, alias “El Pelon” or “El 08”, who is accused of being the head of Los Chapitos in Sonora and of coordinating the criminal group's offensive against the Los Mayos faction since September 19.

He is also identified as a generator of violence in Baja California, according to the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection, Felix Loaiza coordinated in those states, “the cross-border trafficking of drugs, migrants and weapons, in addition to the production and marketing of fentanyl, bound for Arizona, United States, among other crimes such as kidnapping and extortion”.

The arrest was made after, “with the information gathered and evidence obtained, a control judge issued a search warrant to search a home located on Guadalajara Street in the Las Quintas neighborhood, where after corroborating his identity, an arrest warrant was served for organized crime with the purpose of committing crimes against health in the form of drug trafficking, firearms trafficking and human trafficking”.

According to the head of the SSPC, Omar García Harfuch, the arrest was made in coordination with the Secretariat of National Defense (Defensa), the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar), the National Guard (GN) and the Attorney General's Office (FGR).

Government information states that “between August 6 and September 19 he remained in Sonora until, after suffering a murder attempt in General Plutarco Elías Calles, he returned to Sinaloa, possibly due to the beginning of the conflict between Los Chapitos and Los Mayos”, due to the kidnapping and delivery to US authorities of Ismael el Mayo Zambada García.






SOURCE: RIODOCE 

Thursday, November 14, 2024

Breaking News: Omar Felix Loaiza "El Pelon" Or "El 8" Of The Los Chapitos Faction And Plaza Boss In Sonoyta, Sonora, Was Captured After A Successful Raid

 "Char" for Borderland Beat 

NOVEMBER 14, 2024 



Omar Felix Loaiza "El Pelon", "El 8," was captured after a successful raid by Mexican federal forces. El Pelon was closely affiliated with the Los Chapitos criminal faction and was the current plaza boss of Sonoyta, Sonora. 


INFORMATION WILL BE UPDATED SOON...


Tales of Los Zetas: A Nephew for Nephew

By Itzli.

The infamous murder of “Lalo” Moreira by Los Zetas is revisited to incorporate long overlooked details.



Killing of a Zeta

Piedras Negras, October 3, 2012, 3:00 PM. Located across the border from Eagle Pass, Texas, this city was the site of an afternoon shootout involving a special police group within the Coahuila government. Five members of Los Zetas were reported to have been killed in this clash with authorities. It would later be said that one of those killed was named Alejandro Treviño Chávez.


Death of “Lalo” Moreira

Ciudad Acuña, October 3, 2012, 9:15 PM. Twenty-five year old José Eduardo “Lalo” Moreira Rodríguez was a well known individual in this border city across from Del Rio, Texas that is located sixty miles northwest of Piedras Negras. A son of former governor Humberto Moreira Valdez and nephew of the then current governor Rubén Ignacio Moreira Valdez, Lalo Moreira was the Director of Public Works, a department which often helped impoverished areas of the city. He had future aspirations of being elected mayor of his home town of Ciudad Acuña.


After spending much of the day with the mayor and local media, Lalo Moreira was to attend the dedication of a sports field at 6:00 PM. Around 5:45 PM a friend of his called to make sure he was still coming; he replied that the police chief had asked to see him and would be on his way as soon as he found out what the police chief needed. After Lalo Moreira failed to arrive at the event a search began and his dead body was found shortly after 9:00 PM.


The Prevailing Version of Events

The vast majority of reporting on the death of Lalo Moreira presents a relatively straightforward story. Alejandro Treviño Chávez was a nephew of the second in command of Los Zetas, Miguel Ángel “Z-40” Treviño Morales. Enraged, “Z-40” ordered that Lalo Moreira be murdered in an act of vengeance, though “Z-40” has since tried to deny this and one line of information claimed it was Heriberto “El Lazca” Lazcano Lazcano, leader of Los Zetas, that made the order. 


Regardless, the leadership of Los Zetas contacted Ciudad Acuña police chief Rodolfo Castillo Montes, who had long been corrupted by the cartel. Under the false pretense of needing to speak with him in person, the police chief lured Lalo Montes to a location where police officers Jorge “El Taka” Tenorio Takajasi and Víctor “La Iguana” Landeros Sifuentes kidnapped him and handed him over to Carlos Arnulfo “El Flaco” Flores Flores and Rubén “El Shaggy” Sifuentes Cadena, members of Los Zetas that killed Lalo Moreira . Thereafter, Los Zetas hung banners in Ciudad Acuña that contained the phrases “family for family” and “nephew for nephew” which is the key piece of information connecting the killings of Alejandro Treviño Chávez and Lalo Moreira.


A Narco State

To have a better understanding of these events it is best that we take a general look at Los Zetas in Coahuila before we move forward. Once dominated by independent drug traffickers, Los Zetas began their expansion into that state in 2004 while Enrique Martínez y Martínez was governor


Then came the administration of the father of Lalo Moreira, Humberto Moreira Valdez, which began in December 2005. There is no doubt that Los Zetas had managed to corrupt the governor; Coahuila became one of their strongholds and Piedras Negras, their second most important city for trafficking drugs into the United States. 


Things began to change in December 2011, when Rubén Ignacio Moreira Valdez became governor. At first it seemed that Los Zetas had managed to corrupt him as well. Then in April 2012 Alberto José “El Paisa” González Xalate, regional leader of Los Zetas, was arrested in the capital city of Saltillo. Just over three months later war broke out within Los Zetas. 


As Los Zetas looked to replenish their ranks, a mass prison break took place in Piedras Negras on September 17, 2012. It was said the media was afraid to report on shootouts and arrests that were taking place in and around the city days prior. By September 25th GATES were deployed to Piedras Negras and the following day the situation escalated as Los Zetas fought against GATES and members of the military


The dynamics had changed greatly. Grupo de Armas y Tácticas Especiales (GATES) had been formed by Rubén Moreira in 2011 but it seems that they had never been deployed against Los Zetas prior to this time frame. Additional clashes between Los Zetas and GATES took place thereafter, including October 2, 2012 that left four dead and, as previously mentioned, five killed on October 3, 2012.


A Broken Pact Motive

The prevailing version of events is straightforward, Alejandro Treviño Chávez is killed by forces connected to the Coahuila government and hours later Los Zetas kill a relative of the governor, a nephew for nephew is the price paid for the death of a family member of “Z-40”. 


Yet an article from nearly a month later adds a different context to the motivations of Los Zetas. The report cites information from a high ranking source within Mexico’s attorney general’s office (Procuraduría General de la República/PGR) that claims that “Z-40” had a non-aggression pact with the Coahuila state police. Thus, Alejandro Treviño Chávez being killed in a shootout with GATES goes beyond a nephew of “Z-40” being killed, by deploying GATES in the first place the non-aggression pact had been broken.


The general absence of operations against Los Zetas while Humberto Moreira was governor of Coahuila serves as circumstantial evidence that a non-aggression pact was in place back then and it seems that this extended into the early part of the administration of Rubén Moreira. In the summer of 2016 a financial operator of Los Zetas was a witness in court and, when asked about the murder of Lalo Moreira, he seemingly alludes to the non-aggression pact when he stated “It was ordered by ‘Z-40’ because they killed his nephew. They didn’t respect the agreements”. 


The Secret Kidnapping Motive

According to the prevailing version of events Alejandro Treviño Chávez was killed in Piedras Negras around 3:00 PM and Lalo Moreira was last in contact with his friend at 5:45 PM. Thus, for these events to be connected everything had to have transpired in the course of at most three hours. When one considers this it seems to be a very narrow timeframe as the leadership of Los Zetas needed to first learn of Alejandro’s death, make a decision to act in a way that had great potential for fallout against the cartel, contact the police chief to lure Lalo Moreira, and coordinate this with the members of Los Zetas that conducted the killing.


Unlike the vast majority of reporting, articles written by Chivis for Borderland Beat claimed that Alejandro was killed a day prior, on October 2, 2012, and the banners containing the phrases “family for family” and “nephew for nephew” were hung as a threat the evening before Lalo Moreira was murdered. As previously mentioned, a shootout in Piedras Negras did take place that afternoon and left four cartel members dead. Assuming this is the incident in which Alejajandro was killed, instead of three hours, Los Zetas would have had over 24 hours to react to the nephew of “Z-40” being killed and orchestrate the murder of Lalo Moreira.


An extended timeline of events can be derived from the previously mentioned article as it presents a dramatically different scenario. While the PGR source stated that Lalo Moreira was killed because the non-aggression pact had been broken, a document from the Mexican Federal Police mentioned allegations that Alejandro was not killed during the October 3, 2012 shootout. Instead, claims existed that he had been kidnapped by Coahuila state police officers at some point prior and his dead body was dumped at the scene of that event, which prompted Los Zetas to murder Lalo Moreira.


The Multi-Motive Theory

While the prevailing version of events surrounding the deaths of Alejandro Treviño Chávez and Lalo Moreira is simple and straightforward, we have seen that two alternative motivations for the actions of Los Zetas have been reported. Taking this into account perhaps there is a theory that can be constructed that would incorporate all these possibilities.


Assuming that the rumored non-aggression pact between Los Zetas and the Coahuila state government was true, governor Rubén Moreira Valdez had violated the agreement by September 26, 2012 at the latest from the perspective of Los Zetas, as by that date GATES were clearly deployed in Piedras Negras. If this was at the very least a partial motive for Los Zetas actions, this opens up the possibility that the timeline of events began up to a full week before Lalo Moreira was murdered. Perhaps there was an initial phase in which the leadership of Los Zetas were angry at Rubén Moreira for deploying GATES in Piedras Negras and had yet to decide how to react.


As the actions taken against Alejandro Treviño Chávez appear to be the principal driving factor for the murder of Lalo Moreira, one would be tempted to delve into his general history to search for relevant information. A member of Los Treviño Chávez within the extended Treviño Morales family, he was the son of Juan Francisco “El Kiko Ozuna” Treviño Morales. Very little is known about him in comparison to his brothers Juan Francisco “El Kiko” Treviño Chávez and Juan Gerardo “El Huevo” Treviño Chávez. In the article that we have previously referenced for motives it states that Alejandro had no known ties to organized crime and he did not appear in government alert records. 


Nevertheless, some reporting indicates that Alejandro was a head of plaza for Los Zetas in an unspecified city. It would be tempting to ascribe him to Nuevo Laredo as it is said he lived in Laredo and one high ranking member of Los Zetas, Salvador Alfonso “La Ardilla” Martínez Escobedo, assumed he had been killed in that city when he learned of Alejandro’s death. Another possibility is Piedras Negras; on September 9, 2012 their head of plaza was arrested and may have briefly been succeeded by an individual known as “El Chango”. It is possible that Alejandro was assigned as head of plaza in Piedras Negras at this point, having previously operated in Nuevo Laredo. Regardless of the position he held within Los Zetas, it appears that Alejandro Treviño Chávez was in Piedras Negras when GATES operations were being conducted in that city. 


Amidst a lack of details one can speculate that in one of these events Alejandro was “kidnapped” in the sense that he was taken by authorities who did not officially report his capture. Working under the assumption that Alejandro Treviño Chávez had been captured by the Coahuila government, one would expect that Los Zetas would seek to react to the situation in one form or another which brings us back to the question of who authorized subsequent actions. 


“El Lazca” is sometimes blamed based upon reporting of text messages between him and “La Ardilla” on October 3rd in which “El Lazca” informs “La Ardilla” had been killed in Piedras Negras and that he had “already taken care of the matter” which was assumed to be a reference to ordering the killing of Lalo Moreira. Furthermore, a line of reporting indicates that “El Lazca” had ordered Miguel Ángel “Alfa Metro” Rodríguez Díaz, regional leader of Los Zetas in northern Coahuila including Piedras Negras and Ciudad Acuña who was arrested October 14, 2012, to oversee the matter.


This begs the question, was it the killing of Alejandro Treviño Chávez or his kidnapping that was the motivating factor to react. If we assume the latter, at some point after Alejandro was kidnapped “El Lazca” ordered “Alfa Metro” to plot revenge against governor Rubén Moreira. One often overlooked aspect to all of this is that Lalo Moreira was not the only individual that Los Zetas considered killing. According to Carlos Moreira Valdez, a brother of Rubén and Humberto Moreira, banners were hung by Los Zetas in various cities across Coahuila in the days before October 3, 2012 that threatened “they were coming for one of the Moreira” family members. In an interview weeks later, Humberto Moreira stated that Lalo Moreira was not the only individual being sought, Los Zetas had an order to kill “a nephew of the governor, at the same time they were searching for a son of one of my sisters”.


Within this working theory October 3, 2012 becomes critical as it is the day in which all these threads come together. Alejandro Treviño Chávez was being held by forces of the Coahuila government. Los Zetas were publicly threatening the Moreira Valdez family and searching for at least two nephews of governor Rubén Moreira. That afternoon authorities dumped the dead body of Alejandro in Piedras Negras, most likely in an attempt to present his killing as having taken place during a shootout rather than at the hands of Coahuila police. 


In any scenario one would expect for “Z-40” to be enraged over a family member being killed, within this framework the stage was already being set by “El Lazca” to act against a nephew of Rubén Moreira. It has been reported that lookouts informed “El Lazca” about the death of Alejandro immediately after the shootout. He informed “La Ardilla”, telling him it took place in Piedras Negras and that “Z-40” should be notified. 


This may be the key to rectifying the fact that the majority of the versions of events state that “Z-40” ordered the murder of Lalo Moreira. The plot was already under way to locate a nephew of Rubén Moreira. Perhaps “Z-40” was allowed to make the final decision as to which one was to be killed, a relatively unconnected nephew or the son of the governor under which Los Zetas grew in power in Coahuila, and so took place the murder of Lalo Moreira. 


Ongoing Uncertainty

As previously mentioned, the prevailing narrative is simple and straightforward, a nephew for a nephew, Lalo Moreira was killed by Los Zetas to avenge the death of Alejandro Treviño Chávez. Other pieces of information exist and can be incorporated into a working theory, yet for the most part they have been reported only once without being addressed elsewhere. Thus it is tempting to dismiss these lines of information as unsubstantiated rumors.


One possibility that stands out is the allegation that Alejandro was essentially kidnapped by Coahuila government forces as it opens up a number of questions. Assuming this was the case, did authorities know his location prior to the operation or was he merely captured by sheer luck.  If the prior was the case, who authorized his capture? Perhaps it was governor Rubén Moreira but even this leads to the question, what was his reason for doing so?


With this in mind it is worth noting that some reports indicated that a message was left along with the body of Lalo Moreira but its contents have never been revealed. Following this murder Los Zetas severed direct ties with Rubén Moreira, instead choosing to use an intermediary and in time they lost control of the state they once dominated. Humberto and Rubén are no longer on speaking terms; Humberto blames Rubén for the murder of Lalo Moreira and they have both publicly attacked the other.



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