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| Police officers arrive at the house where the two attorneys were killed. |
Civil and commercial lawyers Gustavo Moreno León, 57, and his nephew, Ariel Lambarena Moreno, 42, were shot dead on Friday, May 14, at their home in Ensenada, Baja California.
Recent sources indicate that they had defended several members of the Tijuana and/or Arellano Félix Cartel (CAF) in court.
The homicide was perpetrated at 12:15 p.m. on Paseo de los Sauces Street in the exclusive Loma Dorada subdivision. Before he passed away, Ariel Lambarena was able to make a call to the police asking for help. He was able to provide details that are now crucial to the investigation.
During the call, Lambarena explained how the two gunmen entered the house and shot at them. He added that his uncle Gustavo Moreno was also fatally injured.
When the Ensenada Municipal Police arrived, they found the two lawyers dead inside the house.
Lambarena said over the phone prior to his death that he did not see a vehicle outside the house, but witnesses did report seeing a black vehicle leave the scene. One of the suspected gunmen was described as a bald man who wore a beige shirt and black pants.
The hitmen were accurate; at the crime scene, the State Attorney General's Office (FGE) located only three shell casings.
Officials who are familiar with the investigation confirmed one of the motives being considered is a debt for a commercial transaction in Tijuana.
State investigators confirmed to Zeta Tijuana newspaper that Gustavo Moreno was the lawyer of José Saldaña López ("El Che"), a former member of the CAF. El Che was murdered on November 2016. He was responsible for coordinating drug trafficking activities and was believed to have switched to the Sinaloa Cartel prior to his death.
Two people were arrested for El Che's murder. They were identified as José Manuel “N” and Jorge Alberto Arce Guillén ("El Tigre" or "El Brusco"). The latter was a former Sinaloa Cartel operator under René Arzate Garcia ("La Rana").
Gustavo Moreno litigated in court against Arce Guillen's defense attorney, Rubén Arenivar Garza, who was killed in April 2020, as reported by Borderland Beat.
After El Che's murder, Moreno left Ensenada and continued to practice in Baja California Sur. However, he still owned properties in Ensenada and the Guadalupe Valley.
Possible motives
Both Moreno and Lambarena handled civil and commercial lawsuits although there are sources that say they litigated cases related to drug trafficking as well.
The security cameras at Morenos's house did not record the attack. Unofficial sources reported that the agents had identified a group of hitmen who were circulating in Ensenada and that they came from Tijuana.
Prior to the homicide, the lawyers had received a warning about a debt they had in one of the lawsuits. Their families did not confirm or deny these death threats.
Cartel killing lawyers in Ensenada
In recent years, five lawyers have been murdered in Ensenada. Investigators believe that all of these killings were job-related. As reported by Borderland Beat, these killings have been carried out by cartel members and/or by corrupt officials of the Ensenada Municipal Police force.
On February 7, 2017, attorney Jaime Xicoténcatl Palafox Toscano, nicknamed "El Diablo" in his professional circle, was ambushed while driving home from work. Although the prosecution ruled out any cartel involvement, some investigators said that Palafox Toscano had issues with a cartel over a land dispute. A family involved in the case has even chosen to keep the case on hold until further notice.
As mentioned earlier, another attorney killed was Rubén Arenivar Garza, who was shot dead on April 24, 2020 outside his law firm. His last case was defending CAF kingpin and ex-police officer Ricardo Bozada Alvarado ("El Bozadas"). But he also defended members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the rival Sinaloa Cartel.
"He worked for all sides", an investigator said. "When a lawyer defends a criminal from a certain drug cartel, that criminal group thinks they own that lawyer".
On May 5 of that year, lawyer Erick Alejandro Ruiz Torres was murdered in the parking lot Gastélum Street. Investigators confirmed that Erick was a worked with Arenivar Garza when he was a law student.
On December 31, 2020, lawyer Marcial Morán Blanco was killed. He had been arrested in 2011 for illegal possession of firearms. Members of the Sinaloa Cartel told investigators that Moran Blanco was a high-ranking member of the criminal group in Ensenada.
Main source: Zeta Tijuana
Photo credit: El Mexicano
There no country in the world where you have soo manny killings related to Organized Crime
ReplyDeleteMexico. Then probably Brazil, Honduras, El Salvador, and then maybe Russia or Philippines. My guess.
DeleteWhat about South Africa? No Organized Crime groups there??
Delete9:13
DeleteThat all false information.
3:07 The chinese are expert blackout professionals, but ZEMBLA tv has exposed some laundry of others like the Netherlands, ukrainians, americans, british,
Deletewell shit has to be "bipartisan community coalition based approach"
Tijuana don't play
ReplyDeleteIt ain't just about making the money, but where it comes from too.
ReplyDeleteEverybody talks about CAF being done and destroyed, but the truth is that they have flourished during the past few years. Everybody has ups and downs but CAF has had a presence since the 1980s in Baja California. They where the first cartel to employ trained gunmen and the also the first cartel to approach and recieve support from the Black hand by recruiting Popeye. Long gone are the days of up armored conveys patrolling tijuana. Long gone are the days where they cooked out in LA Liber Alta y baja. CAF also has a strong Presence in San Diego out by East Lake where the Capos and lieutenants lived out in the mansions with horse stables. Real power isn't seen real power is felt when needed but still able to hide out in plain view like they do. Remember CAF did reach out and attacked Manuel Diaz Lerma in Mexicali in broad daylight and still they got away with it.
ReplyDeleteWell said! Straight facts
Deletete faltó decir que también fue ahí donde empezaron con esas mamadas de cobrar piso por trabajar ahí. y de ahí se vino la mataron que se vive ahora por disque ser dueños de la plaza.
DeleteTodos los Carteles matan y cobran piso por dar a otros grupos uso de sus fronteras.
DeleteCAF was always around but I’ve seen their name pop up often since last year here at BB. Maybe b/c Sinaloa is now infighting more? Or b/c CJNG is supporting them more? Honest question.
ReplyDeleteCAF is independent but they keep alliances with different groups currently they have a Truce with los Chapitos but who knows how long that will last.
Delete9:17 caf is fighting cjng now n maybe receiving help from cds....when cjng made a move into tj they had an alliance with caf but it obviously broke
DeleteIt's rumored that El Flaquito isn't under Caf and went independent with CDS as an ALLY ..
DeleteIt's also rumored that more than half of the CAF orginization is no longer working with CJNG
..
El Trapero is still cjng and he's a major player, El Trapero is the #1 for CJNG in Al of BC And BCSur
CAF has balls to defend thier areas, they don't go out expanding like the Baby Killer Cartel aka cjng. It will be great to CAF and CDS to align and kill those rabid salvage killers that want to take all of Mexico.
Delete@11:17, Edwin is still CAF he was sent as a liason with Chapitos, remember Edwin and Nini go way back according to those who know him. CAF as a whole isn't working with CJNG currently, Trapero is a heavy figure but he will eventually fall.
Delete@11:17 where is it rumored? I haven’t heard that.
DeleteGreat question and responses. Thanks, yes, I'm very serious. The level of knowledge on this site is really quite amazing. Granted, I'm sure there is a s ton of bs, but still impressive. Thanks for the info
DeleteWho are the top CAF leaders rn?
ReplyDeleteCAF Became 100% CDS customers
ReplyDeleteJajaja! Si les pasan merca comen y si no a cobrarle a todas las pirujas para mantener a los Patrones y Súper Capos
DeleteNo one will tell you
ReplyDeleteAnything goes in the Wild Wild West.
ReplyDeleteCAF this caf THAT..
ReplyDeleteThey are CHAPULINES that jump on CDS or CJNG nuts to SURVIVE
Caf time was up a long time AGO
Give it UP GROUPIES 😆
Orale El mocoso cap locks kid.
Delete@9:04 niño todos los grupos criminales trabajan con diferentes grupos. As any LEO who works in a border region can tell you there is no honor or loyalty among those groups. The fantasy that most people live in is that if you fall you don't snitch, but the truth is far more different. Everybody bends when they are facing federal mandatory minimums. Todos hablan y nadie sabe
DeleteCall him El Moco kid.lol😂
Delete10:22 correct
Delete@11:34 eL mOcOsO is angry cus CJNG are treated like bitches everywhere.
DeleteEl BULLDOG is the number ONE CAF groupie always acting like he KNOW about CAF
DeleteIf you knew about CAF you would KNOW they are CHAPULINES that HAVE to align WITH cjng or CDS to SURVIVE..
Answer to THAT niñito.. Am I right?
Isn't everyone of them chapulines in the end? I mean really...to say different is to lack knowledge of the human will to survive when facing a gun from all directions. - Miss H
DeleteIsn't everyone of them chapulines in the end? I mean really...to say different is to lack knowledge of the human will to survive when facing a gun from all directions. - Miss H
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DeletePinchie mocoso vava la esculla Mijo, mucho tiepo en El cybercafe.
DeleteLa familia nunca se acabo. Solo se fue a difamar. Esperen otra sorpresa que se esta realizando en el hongo.
ReplyDeleteEse perro BULLDOG no save ni como lavarse Las nachas pero siempre poniendo que save como corre la agua en Tijuana y mexicali..
ReplyDeleteCafetera no tiene el suficiente poder, sicarios o numeros para enfrentar a cjng o a CDS solos. Es la razon que CAF les da Las nachas a CJNG y luego se enojan y brincan con CDS. Parecen viejas pirujas hahahahaha
@ 6:56 así como andas de dolido pareciera que tu le diste las nachas al caf y andas ardido porque te mandaron alv 😂
Delete6:56 yea, after arrellanos got captured CAF lost respect, people and power.
DeleteLol CAF GROUPIES are so in DENIAL there almost as BAD as CDS groupies.. 😆
ReplyDeleteMuch love to all my GROUPIES.. Lol