Tijuana Courtroom Battles: El Aquiles, La Rana, El Max, El Flaquito

"HEARST" for Borderland Beat

Four of the most visible Tijuana cartel leaders have filed amparo cases in order to avoid being arrested by law enforcement. This year, as with many before, the legal teams of famous Baja drug lords can be seen regularly striding through courtrooms in both Tijuana and Mexico City as they seek to shroud their clients in constitutional protection.

El Aquiles

Alfredo Arzate González, alias "El Aquiles" allegedly began his drug trafficking career over a decade ago. He entered into the drug trade by working as a supplier and collaborator of a CAF cell led by Fernando Sánchez Arellano, alias "El Ingeniero". Following the arrest of El Ingeniero, Aquiles allegedly joined the ranks of the Sinaloa Cartel. He now reportedly leads a CDS group alongside his brother René Arzate García, alias “La Rana”.

The US has previously unsealed a January 2015 indictment against Aquiles and other members of the Sinaloa Cartel on charges of trafficking large quantities of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana into the US. The FBI San Diego office offered a reward of $20,000 for information leading to the arrest of Aquiles. 

El Aquiles' lawyers Alejandro O. and Luis Felipe F. filed a writ of amparo on his behalf on January 14, 2020 in the First District Court for Amparo in the State of Baja California. They protested against the right of judicial and ministerial authorities to attempt to "deprive him of his freedom". The judge in response to this filing, answered that there is an arrest warrant against Aquiles and forwarded a certified copy of criminal case 122/2012 which was filed against Aquiles for his probable responsibility in the commission of aggravated homicide and attempted aggravated homicide.

Of note, the Judge asked the complainant to clarify his legal name since he signed his filing as "Alfonso Zárate" rather than "Alfonso Arzate". The kingpin replied that the correct name is Zárate.

El Aquiles wants to end his outstanding Baja California arrest warrant by forcing the courts to resolve the case its based on. The case of Aquiles is delayed because it requires a summons of the victims, presumably of the attempted aggravated homicide; however the victims currently live on the other side of the border in San Diego, California. One of the victims is a US citizen, the other is a citizen of Mexico. The Judicial authorities have been trying for months to locate them in order to deliver the court summons but have been unable to find them currently. 

La Rana

René Arzate García, alias "La Rana" is a Tijuana cartel operator who allegedly leads a Sinaloa cartel group alongside his brother Alfonso Arzate García, alias “El Aquiles”. For many years now, La Rana has been tried by the Baja California Security Coordination Table for drug trafficking, corruption of members of law enforcement and multiple executions that have occurred in Tijuana, orchestrated by the Sinaloa Cartel.

La Rana, via his lawyers, is currently fighting to prevent being detained by Mexican authorities for the purpose of US extradition. Recently, La Rana lost his court battle over an injunction he filed. His injunction was in regards to potentially being detained in Mexico for the purposes of extradition to the US. The US issued a federal arrest warrant for La Rana on July 25, 2014 on charges of conspiracy to import marijuana of 1,000 kilos or more. On November 3, 2016,  the US officially requested that Mexico arrest La Rana on their behalf. 

El Max 

Baja California authorities have said Edwin Antonio Rubio Lopez, alias "El Max" leads a group that works under the Sinaloa Cartel. However authorities have not pinned him down to either Arzates or Uriartes. El Max is based out of the Villa de Campo region of Tijuana. The group he leads has a presence in the East Zone of the city. In October 2020, El Max was named on Baja California's most wanted list. 

He has filed two lawsuits so far in 2021. One lawsuit presented before a Tijuana District Court of Amparo opposes an arrest or production order being used against El Max. The suit also alleges that his last names are not "Rubio Lopez" but "Lopez Rubio". The judge ordered him, on January 22, to specify, under oath, the facts that constitute the background of the challenged act otherwise the lawsuit would be considered as not filed. El Max did not clarify the facts and on February 22, as he was warned, the lawsuit was deemed to have not been filed.

Subsequently, El Max's lawyers went to Mexico City to file another amparo claim against the same arrest warrant in the Sixteenth District Court of Amparo in Criminal Matters. This case is still being processed.

El Flaquito

28-year old Pablo Edwin Huerta Nuño, alias "El Flaquito", is the accused leader of a CAF criminal organization that is currently believed to be working in an alliance with Sinaloa Cartel's Los Chapitos. Zeta Tijuana alleges Flaquito is considered to be somewhat of a "great negotiator" by Baja authorities because he has previously been able to reach agreements with rivals such as Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) groups and non aggression pacts with the Arzate García brothers.

There is currently an arrest warrant out for El Flaquito for criminal Case #6/2020 which centers around several kidnappings. El Flaquito is just one of the accused perpetrators in Case #6/2020, along with Gorky Manuel Zavala Rodríguez, Bernard Olivie Pozo Romero and Jorge Mario Vera Ayala. All four men have been accused of having belonged to a CAF group led by José Luis Escudero Escandón, alias "El Quieto" at the time of these kidnappings.

On January 31, 2020, lawyers Elías Alberto L. and José Alberto S. filed an injunction on behalf of El Flaquito but for a number of reasons (the pandemic, victim summons, possible jurisdiction issues) the case has been delayed. His amparo trial is being held in the First District Court on Amparo in Tijuana, Baja California.

Main Source: Zeta Tijuana

Supplementary Sources: Zeta Tijuana, Chicago Tribune, Buho Legal, El Mexicano, Ensenada Online