'El Chapito Leal' Detained in Tijuana

"J" for Bordrland Beat; TY to "Milo"

In the second high profile arrest of the week, elements of the Army in Tijuana, arrested Octavio Leal Hernandez, known as 'El Chapito Leal'. Hernandez, rose to a position of prominence, after the arrest of Juan Francisco Sillas Rocha, last November in Tijuana.

Sillas Rocha was considered a lieutenant of considerable importance to the CAF, under Fernando Sanchez Arellano, though Sillas had a turbulent and troubled relationship with his superiors.  Subsequent to his arrest, 'Chapito Leal' was appointed to lead the men under Sillas command, engaging in drug trafficking, and the carrying out of kidnapping and murder, at the behest of upper management.

In March of this year, Chapito Leal was profiled in an edition of Zeta Tijuana, raising his profile in the eyes of the general public, and law enforcement.  His name was also in the news, after an incident last month in Tijuana, where a kidnapping victim, freed himself from his captors, killing them, and two others, in a bloody escape attempt.  The victim was gunned down by police, after carjacking an SUV, while handcuffed, holding an assault rifle.  The victim was later found to be a Sinaloa Cartel member, of some stature, who was being held in a safehouse in La Mesa, which investigations revealed to be operated by members of Leal Hernandez's crew.

Chapito Leal also participated heavily in the battle against Teodoro Garcia Simental, 'El Teo', or 'Tres Letras', from 2008-2010, while he was serving as confidante to El Sillas.  It is said Leal Hernandez was behind the kidnapping of Diane Lopez Uriarte, sister of Raydel Lopez Uriarte, 'El Muletas', Diane was kidnapped, with her boyfriend, several weeks after the apprehension of "El Teo', in an attempt by the Sanchez Arellano faction to push out those still loyal to Teo.  She as released, unharmed, her boyfriend was found murdered on the street, and 'El Muletas' was taken into custody roughly two weeks later.

Leal Hernandez was also involved in the kidnapping of the nieces of Ismael Zambada, 'El Mayo', acting on orders from El Sillas', the trio were lifted from a fast food restaurant in Tijuana, shortly after arriving at the airport.  The kidnapping, apparently unauthorized by El Ingeniero, estranged Sillas from his boss, and Sillas was 'left on his own', put to the side, and eventually fled Tijuana.  When he returned, in the fall of 2011, he was arrested, after an attempted murder, of a former associate, 'El Marquitos', and Leal Hernandez was given his former superior's position.

Last night, in the Agua Caliente Hills subdivision, Leal Hernandez, and an associate, tried to flee from the Army, and were stopped.  In their possession was about 180 kilos of marijuana, 30,000 in cash, 200 rounds of ammunition, and four guns.  Three vehicles were also seized.  Chapito Leal was said to engage in retail drug sales in Tijuana, as well as transferring wholesale shipments across the border.   He is originally from the state of Puebla, and is known to spend time there, and in Ensenada, when Tijuana became uncomfortable, due to the authorities, or rivals.  It is unknown how this will impact the group of Sanchez Arellano, Chapito Leal was one of roughly 15 cells, detailed in a December 2011 issue of Zeta Magazine, which profiled the lieutenants and crew loyal to CAF, from information obtained by El Sillas.

Note: Link to another story about Octavio Leal Hernandez, please visit this link

Sources: AFN Tijuana, Zeta Tijuana; Borderland Beat archives