The cells of 'El CAF'

Juan Sillas Rocha, 'El Sillas', or 'Ruedas', the disruptive and manic CAF operative, claims that his former boss, Fernando Sanchez Arellano has 11 or more cells operating in Tijuana, and abroad.

In his opening declarations, Sillas, admits that Alfredo Azarte Arteaga, 'El Aquiles', is a force in Tijuana, and that the Azarte brothers, La Rana and Aquiles are well positioned financially, and have influence on at least three branches of Government, including elements of the Army.

This is in accordance with the general consensus from the US and Mexican authorities, that depict the group of Engineer, as a weakened criminal operation, clinging to scraps. Sillas, through his post arrest interrogations, and confessions has offered a conflicting viewpoint, which shows that people of Engineer, are active, and in power in Tijuana. Sillas says the Engineer still has a firm grasp on drug smuggling and distribution, in San Diego, and northern California.

He didn't offer a further description or information about the Engineer, but gave authorities a list of more then a dozen operators in his service, including former 'Narco juniors' from the 1990's, former police officers, and gang members from San Diego, Barrio Logan, a long term CAF affiliate and support network. The groups have been in the command of a long list of captured or killed Arellano Felix lieutenants, including Jorge 'El Cholo' Briceno, and Gustavo 'El EP1' Riveria. Many are only mentioned by nicknames, and little else is known, besides the information taken from Sillas.

'El Pelioni', who operates in the Tijuana area, near Agua Caliente, the casino owned by Jorge Hank Rhon. Not known whether engages in retail or wholesale trafficking.

'El Kieto' manages the flow and coordination of drugs being sent to Tijuana, operates from Cancun (a Zetas stronghold) from radio and cell phone communication.

'El Mostro' who also manages drugs coming north, possibly from Guadalajara.

E' Chikaka', who was formerly under 'El Marquitos', Juan Sillas former lieutenant turned rival.

Manuel Nunez Lopez 'El Dos Balas', known as 'The Bullet', was arrested in Tijuana, in September 2008, in the early weeks of the Teo/CAF conflict. Recently released from a Mexico City prison, has returned to the city of Tijuana, an independent operator, who works closely with CAF traffickers.

Mario Montes de Oca, 'El Mario', rumored to be the brother of captured CAF lieutenant, 'The Blind Man', who was arrested in 2008.

'El Turbo', who moved between the CAF and Teo groups, until settling back with CAF in 2010, formerly in the group of 'El Cholo'.

'El Bibi' of whom the authorities know nothing.

Already known to the public, Mexican authorites and the FBI and DEA, are several others.

Melvin Qutierrez 'El Camacho', or 'El Melvin', longtime CAF operator since the 1990's, from Barrio Logan, his face appears on the wanted poster released by the DEA in January 2009. Believed to control elements of retail drug dealing in Tijuana, and wholesale trafficking to San Diego.

Julio Cesar Sales Quinoez 'El M4', who wasn't been referenced since December 2009, in relation to the ongoing struggle, at that time between Teo and the group of Engineer. His cell was the one most damaged by his conflict with El Teo, practically destroyed in the war. He no longer leads a group of assassins, but is engaged in wholesale drug smuggling.

Armando Perez, who in October 2010 viciously murdered his girlfriend in a bathroom as San Diego City College, where she attended classes. Perez escaped to Tijuana, where he has had CAF ties since the early 90's, Perez is believed to have been involved in the attempt on Jesus Blancornelas, editor of the Zeta in 1997.

El Sillas also gave authorities lists of former Tijuana municipal police, many already known to the public and the authorities.

Juan Lorenzo Vargas Gallardo, who worked in coordination with 'Sillas' to kidnap and murder 'Los Teos', and their associates.

Enrique Guerreo Jorquera, a known close associate of Sanchez Arellano, who was rumored to have been captured in Tijuana at a horse race in 2010, but evidently was not. Sanchez Arellano sent him to work with 'El Aquiles', to watch for his interests, his responsibility includes maintaining ties with the police force. He 'plays for both teams', but with the permission of his boss. His name was mentioned in May 2011, in Wikileaks, when an informant claimed he heard Jorquera discuss the murder of a DEA agent in Tijuana.

Others included were 'The Bachelor', who controlled the cell which contained 'El Sica', the young 'halcon' detained in late October 2011. Eduardo Gonzalez Tostado, "El Mandil' who lived in Chula Vista, San Diego, and was kidnapped by Los Pallios, and rescued in June 2007, was also named. He was an operator of the Arellano's before his kidnapping, smuggling thousands of pounds across the border, in addition to maintaining legitimate business interests in the United States. Tostado was assumed to be a protected witness, but engages in trafficking, still.

There are also arrest warrants for the 'top tier' CAF members, Fernando Sanchez Arellano, Manuel Galindo Aguirre, (El Caballo), Edgardo Leyva Escandon, Fernando Valenzuela Avila, Paul Solomon Sauceda, 'El Paul', and Paul Rodriquez Pala, 'The Matthew'. No arrest warrant as yet been issued for Endeina Arellano Felix, though several sources have claimed she controls the cartel, in accordance with Sanchez Arellano, who may be her son. During the time of the Teo conflict, Sanchez Arellano was said to have five active cells, now there are more then a dozen, which points to restructuring and regrouping of the Tijuana cartel.


Sources, Zeta Tijuana. All credit is with them, as I just reworded their article. I just want to release the information to this venue, not an attempt to pass their work off as my own.