Michoacán: Smaller Cartel Groups Unite to Defeat “ El Mencho”

Yaqui for Borderland Beat from: Vanguardia

Originally Published by La Silla Rota

The expansion of the CJNG in Mexican territory continues, therefore, small cartels have come together to stop "El Mencho". 

In recent weeks, and even months, the violence in Michoacán lands has skyrocketed, the fighting has become constant , while the number of dead are soaring.

Just another day in a Michoacán school

A teacher taught classes inside the classroom room, when his voice was overwhelmed by the detonations of several firearms. The teacher and the students are thrown to the ground , one of the minors manages to take out his cell phone and records the moments.

In the recording of barely 10 seconds the minors on the floor murmur and even laugh in the middle of the shooting.                                                   
According to local media, it is a dispute between drug gangs, basically a dispute between the Jalisco Nueva Generación cartel (CJNG) and other smaller criminal organizations that allegedly have united to go against the Jalisco.

It is a dispute to stop the advance of the organization led by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, "El Mencho" ,  public enemy number one in the country of Mexico and one of the most sought after by the United States government .

The Drug Control Administration (DEA for its acronym in English) and the Attorney General of the Republic (FGR) say that the CJNG is the criminal organization with the most presence in Mexico. The Mexican Gov't says the Cartel controls eight states of the country, however, the Americans has it is in 28 entities.

                                                                    Image from Zeta

Be that as it may, one of them is Michoacán, the entity where "El Mencho" was born and where his financial arm, wife and brothers-in-law are native: "Los Cuinis".

When the CJNG separated from the Sinaloa cartel and began its expansion into Mexican lands, Michoacán was one of the first states where they entered.

However, they did not do it alone. From the hand of a weakened "Familia Michoacana" they entered the entity. "El Mencho" became a compadre of Jesús Méndez, "El Chuchín", who is the son of José de Jesús Méndez, "El Chango Méndez", co-founder of the "Familia Michoacána".

The cartel also infiltrated and paid some self-defense groups to remove, with the help of state and federal authorities, the "Knights Templarios" , the main threat in Michoacán.

Thus, in the first half of the past six years, Servando Gómez Martínez, "La Tuta", leader of the Knights Templar was one of the main objectives, until he was captured in 2015.

Later, the road was left free for the CJNG, who made the Michoacán lands one of its bastions.

                                       "El Mencho" on left, one of the few photos available

The port of Lázaro Cárdenas , for the export and import of drugs, chemical precursors and even minerals, is the main importance of Michoacán for organized crime, as well as the sowing of drugs in its fertile lands.

However, currently criminal gangs, some that helped them get to Michoacán, seek to stop the advance of the CJNG .

"The Viagras" are one of the groups that allegedly dispute "El Mencho" and his criminal group.

 "Papa Smurf"

It is a criminal group led by the Sierra Santana brothers , who began as self-defense member of Michoacán along with Estanislao Beltrán, better known as "Papa Smurf" .

There, Nicolás Sierra Santana, nicknamed "El Gordo Viagra" gained the trust of the then Commissioner for Security and Integral Development in Michoacán, Alfredo Castillo Cervantes , who incorporated them and his group as elements of the Rural Force.

After the fall of the main members of the "Knights Templar", "The Viagras" began to take power seizing the business of drug trafficking in La Tierra Caliente.

Since before the capture of "La Tuta"; "The Viagras" and "Papa Smurf," as well as other self-defense groups, were accused of being funded by the CJNG.

"La Tuta"

The theory of the supposed alliance was strengthened when they captured Jordyn Axel Villa, alias "El Yordin" or "El H" , nephew of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes.

However, it transcends that at that time the CJNG and "Los Viagras" had already broken and that "El Yordín" had betrayed his uncle by choosing the Sierra Santana.

Another of the groups that are part of this alliance to stop "El Mencho" are the "Knights Templar" and the cells that are left of them.

According to the FGR, there are two cells that emanate from the "Knights Templar": the band "El Tena", which operate in Aquila, Coahuayana, Coalcomán de Vázquez Pallares; and "El Gallito", with presence in Tumbiscatío and Apatzingán.

"El Tena"

"Los Tena" are led by Fernando Cruz Mendoza, "El Tena", who is known to have been part of the "Knights Templar" since their years of criminal boom.

Even in 2014 the name of Fernando Cruz Mendoza appeared among the list of Templar leaders that the self-defense groups sought to stop.

While the band "El Gallito" is led by Homero González Rodríguez. It is known that he is the first cousin of Nazario Moreno, "El Chayo", founder of the "Knights Templar".

More unidentified local criminal gangs could be part of this dispute against the CJNG.

"El Mencho" and his men have not remained with their arms crossed, in addition to responding to the armed attacks they have placed blankets , ie "narco mantas", with messages accusing members of the Attorney General's Office of the State (FGJE) of receiving bribes from "Los Viagras".

In the last four years, the number of murders increased by 70% in Michoacán, according to official data, when it passed 955 cases in 2015, the year in which "La Tuta" was arrested; to 1,623 during the past year.

Meanwhile, during the first two months of this 2019, intentional homicides reached 284 cases in Michoacán lands, placing the entity in the top ten of the most violent in the country.