Jesus Adalberto Gonzalez Avitia ("Chuy Lavadas"), a high-ranking Gulf Cartel member in Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas, was arrested by state policemen yesterday. He had only lasted about a month as the "self-declared" plaza boss of Rio Bravo. Authorities arrested him along with Hector ("El Orion"); they were in possession of several firearms, bags filled with narcotics and two bullet-proof vests.
In August 2019, media outlets reported
that Chuy Lavadas was killed near the Reynosa and San Fernando municipalities. He was identified as a high-ranking member of Los Metros, a Gulf
Cartel faction based in Reynosa. Pictures of what investigators thought was his
corpse circulated on social media. However, Chuy Lavadas faked his death to
confuse authorities and rival gangsters.
In May 2020, citizen journalists in
Tamaulipas reported that Chuy Lavadas was alive and had declared himself the
regional boss of Rio Bravo. They said that he was planning to create his own cartel faction.
Criminal career
Chuy Lavadas's criminal career was marred by alliances and betrayals. He reportedly started his criminal career as a sicario (hitman) under Gulf Cartel regional boss Samuel "Omega 2". After his boss's death, he worked out of the Rio Bravo plaza and help oust Rafael Cardenas Vela ("El 900"), who then fled to the U.S. in 2011 and was arrested.
He then worked under Reynosa-based kingpin Mario Armando Ramirez Trevino ("X-20") as a member of Los Panteras. This faction, mostly based in Reynosa, was at war with Los Ciclones, another Gulf Cartel faction in Matamoros.
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| Chuy Lavadas faked his death in 2019; pictures of this corpse wrongly identified as his circulated online |
In May 2014, Chuy Lavadas's colleague Juan José Rodríguez García ("Pantera 11" AKA "Juan Perros, Jr.") was arrested. Chuy Lavadas then joined Los Metros faction under Juan Francisco Carrizales Lara ("El 98"), Luis Alberto Blanco Flores ("M-28" AKA "El Pelochas") and possibly Armando León García ("Choco" AKA "M-90").
After the first two were arrested in 2016 and 2019, respectively, Chuy Lavadas had a short stint with Los Ciclones before turning against them in an attempt to control the Rio Bravo plaza.
After the first two were arrested in 2016 and 2019, respectively, Chuy Lavadas had a short stint with Los Ciclones before turning against them in an attempt to control the Rio Bravo plaza.
Background and recent events
Rio Bravo Municipality shares the U.S.-Mexico border with Donna, Texas, and part of its urban area with Reynosa, the most populated city in Tamaulipas. It is a lucrative drug corridor for organized crime groups and has been under dispute for several years.
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| Chuy Lavadas holding a firearm inside a pick-up truck; this picture was leaked on social media in 2019 |
In April, Borderland Beat reported the mass murder of 7 warehouse employees in Reynosa. Rumors stated that the attackers were likely part of the faction headed by Comandante Maistrin, who heads the Rio Bravo plaza.
Chuy Lavadas is not the first Gulf Cartel boss to fake his own death. Also in April of this year, Borderland Beat reported that kingpin Filiberto Caudillo Salinas ("El Fili") was killed in a clash with rival gangsters. He had faked his death in 2017.
Chuy Lavadas is not the first Gulf Cartel boss to fake his own death. Also in April of this year, Borderland Beat reported that kingpin Filiberto Caudillo Salinas ("El Fili") was killed in a clash with rival gangsters. He had faked his death in 2017.
16 dead 30 disappearded in Oaxaca.
ReplyDeleteIts unfortunate the presumed end result is inaccurate. The word would be a better place without individuals like him.
ReplyDeleteWell if he faked his death once make him dead for real. One less cockroach.
ReplyDeletemetros, ciclones and CDN all want him dead, he's probably gone already. But you won't see any headlines.
DeleteStfu
DeleteI wonder if Betito faked his death too. Never trusted the photos, even with the fake tattoo
ReplyDeleteLIKE BROLY BANDERAS
ReplyDeleteIf you convince the authorities that you're dead count your blessings and retire from cartel life.
ReplyDeletenice work MX. and Itzli too.
ReplyDeleteGracias, Chivis!
Delete@12:26-
ReplyDeleteBroly was nothing like this guy. Bad comparison. Broly was not hiding, unlike this guy who faked his death. Last I heard, Broly went to Spain and is doing well. The easy story to believe is that Broly was killed years ago. I don't think so. He did have some intelligence, folks....