CJNG gains on Zeta "Red Triangle" territory

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat from Reforma

The Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel (CJNG) has gained territory in Puebla for control of the “huachicol” (fuel theft gas or diesel).

Two groups, one from Veracruz and the other from Tamaulipas, have made a presence in the territory of Puebla to face Roberto de los Santos, alias "El Bukanas", considered the main leader of the Red Triangle, located in the municipalities where the Minatitlán-Mexico pipeline is located.

"El Bukanas" is linked to Los Zetas, the  group that has controlled the theft of Pemex fuel through clandestine connections installed in its pipelines.

Military sources told REFORMA that the CJNG managed to gain territories where the "El Bukanas" operated  the fuel lines, which caused them to move to states such as Hidalgo and Tlaxcala.

Although the CJNG has gain control of the theft of fuel in municipalities near the capital, its objective is to control the so-called Red Triangle, in the municipalities of Quecholac, Palmar de Bravo, Tepeaca, Tecamachalco, Acajete, Amozoc and Acatzingo, where the inhabitants work for cells from "El Bukanas", according to official information.

The Army and Navy deployed some 600 elements in the area to avoid confrontations between the groups of huachicoleros and have targeted the capture of their leaders.

The presence of groups linked to the CJNG was detected by federal and state authorities since last October with military operations against "El Bukanas", who hides in the Sierra Poblana.

At the end of that month, a shootout was reported between groups of huachicoleros in different municipalities of Puebla, with the balance of 12 people dead.

The State Prosecutor General's Office (FGE) confirmed that another huachicolero leader identified as Jesús Martín, "El Kalimba", was killed in the shooting.

"The Kalimba" tried to modify his fingerprints and his face through aesthetic surgeries so as not to be identified by the authorities or by his rivals.

Two weeks later, a narcomanta signed by the CJNG appeared hanging on a bridge of Ecological Peripheral in the City of Puebla, and warned revenge for the death of "The Kalimba."

On March 20, the corpses of two men executed, handcuffed and with a message allegedly signed by the CJNG were located in the Tepalcayuca neighborhood of Puebla.

Last Thursday, three narcomantas signed supposedly by the CJNG appeared in two points of Puebla and one of Tlaxcala.

In the message, the criminal group threatened Roberto de los Santos, "El Bukanas", and the businessman Othón Muñoz, "El Cachetes", who was arrested by the Navy for his links with the huachicoleros, but is currently free.