Sedena Secures Record Amounts of Cocaine in El Valle de Mexico

Yaqui for Borderland Beat 

Sedena secures record amounts of cocaine in Valley of Mexico:

In less than 48 hours the two seizures reached 1,633 kilos, a figure that is equivalent to 22.2% of the 7,355 kilos of cocaine that Sedena reported as secured throughout last year. It could be the largest seizure in recent memory. 

In two operations carried out last week, the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena) secured more than 20 percent of the cocaine seized, respectively, during 2019 and 2020, according to figures from the agency.

Meanwhile, during 2019, the agency reported that 5,886 kilos of cocaine were secured, so the 1,633 kilograms seized last week are equivalent to 27.7 percent of the total seizures made two years ago.

The Sedena estimated that the total of the drugs confiscated in the operations of Tlalpan and Nezahualcóyotl could reach a price in the illegal market of approximately 614 million 384 thousand pesos, which will impact the operation of the organized crime group that mobilized the cocaine.

On February 4, 803 kilos of the alkaloid were secured during an operation carried out in coordination with the authorities of Mexico City, in a property located in the Residencial Villa Coapa subdivision, near the mayor's office of Tlalpan.

In this case, the military personnel established a security fence in order to comply with a search warrant, completed by personnel from the Attorney General's Office and the Secretariat for Citizen Security, of the capital government.

A Sedena calculation established that the 803 kilograms of cocaine could reach a price of 300 million 800 thousand pesos in the illegal market.

Two men were detained at the site, who were also seized nine long weapons, two short weapons and four vehicles, which were left at the disposal of the Public Ministry.

As a follow-up to these investigations, Mexican Army personnel, in coordination with the Attorney General's Office (FGR), seized 830 kilos of cocaine during the search at a warehouse in the Evolución neighborhood, in the municipality of Nezahualcóyotl

During the operation, five vehicles were also secured, two of them with compartments to hide drugs; as well as approximately $1,500 US dollars and 6,000 Pesos in cash.

In relation to this seizure, the Sedena reported that the price of the secured drug could reach a price of 313 million 584 thousand pesos in the illegal market of the substance.

Sources from the FGR, consulted regarding the investigations of both operations, confirmed that they are related to the activities of the Pacific Cartel, currently coordinated by Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and the fugitive, Rafael Caro Quintero.

The investigations were derived from the overturning of a Hyundai H100 cargo truck, with license plates KYT-89-91, on the San Joaquín River and the Third Ring of Circunvalación, near the Miguel Hidalgo mayor's office.

According to C5 camera records, the vehicle's driver was speeding, causing him to lose control and roll over.

The cameras recorded the moment in which the operator left the vehicle cabin unharmed and fled the scene; Later, when the truck was lifted, 475 packages with cocaine were found inside the cargo area, the so-called “bricks”, made with cinnamon tape.

In Yet Another Blow to the Sinaloa Cartel:

62 kilos of cocaine and One Arrested in Mexico City on Feb 10, 2021

In less than a week, authorities seized another cocaine shipment, in Mexico City. This time they searched an apartment in condominium number 1610 located in Xola, Narvarte Oriente neighborhood, Benito Juárez Mayor's Office.

There they managed to capture Miguel Ángel, 49, from Sinaloa, who they found with just over 62 kilos of drugs and cell phones.

This operation was the result of investigative work against the sale and distribution of drugs, reported the authorities, who requested a search warrant from a judge.

It was led by the Attorney General's Office and the Secretariat for Citizen Security in coordination with personnel from the Secretariat for National Defense.

While the police forces guarded the site, the Secretary of Citizen Security, Omar García Harfuch, reported the results of the operation via Twitter.

"This afternoon, members of the SSC, the Attorney General's Office and Sedena secured more than 60 kilos of cocaine in a building in the Narvarte neighborhood. There is a detainee at the moment," he mentioned.

The operation began before 2:00 p.m., and ended shortly after 3:30 p.m., at which time the suspect was removed from the property.

Later, Miguel Ángel was transferred to the Public Ministry in the Public Prosecutor's Office for Relevant Affairs in the El Gas neighborhood, Azcapotzalco Mayor's Office.

It is presumed that this shipment and the one that was seized six days ago in the south of the City, belongs to the Sinaloa Cartel.

On February 4, 803 kilograms of cocaine were seized and two men, also from Sinaloa, were arrested.

They were located inside a luxury apartment where the authorities found 11 long weapons, four short weapons, cartridges of different calibers, documents and three vehicles.

The SEDENA Press Release, Lomas de Sotelo, Cd. Mex., from February 5, 2021:

 The National Defense Secretariat and the Attorney General's Office inform the Public that on February 5, 2021. 2021, in a coordinated operation between elements of the Mexican Army, the Specialized Unit for Investigation of Crimes Against Health (UEIDCS) of the SEIDO and the Federal Ministerial Police, and as a continuation of the results obtained on February 4, 2021 in Mexico City, which allowed the seizure of 803 Kgs. of probable cocaine and 15 firearms, today the seizure was achieved in a warehouse located in the State of Mexico of approximately 830 Kgs. of a substance with characteristics of cocaine.

The facts were presented by the follow-up in the intelligence work, which allowed obtaining sufficient evidence to request a search warrant from the corresponding authorities, to inspect a warehouse located in the Evolución neighborhood, municipality of Nezahualcóyotl, Edo. Mex.

Elements of the aforementioned corporations participated in the operation in a coordinated manner, with strict adherence to the rule of law, achieving in addition to the possible drug to ensure the following:

Five vehicles (two with hidden compartments).

Approximately USD $1,500 

Approximately $ 6,000 Pesos MN

The presumed secured psychotropic substance would have an estimated price in the national market of $ 313,584,000.00 Pesos MN, thus preventing this type of addictive substances from reaching Mexican youth and affecting its integral development.

The confiscations were made available to the corresponding authorities.

With these actions, the Government of the Republic reaffirms its commitment to continue acting in coordination with the civil authorities, within the framework of the National Plan for Peace and Security 2018-2024, to strengthen the security and well-being of Mexicans.

Source: Excelsior / Sedena / entornoinfo/ El Sol