Uruapan, Michoacán: The Interrogation Of Ricardo Sanchez Valencia aka El Ahijado

Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat

Ricardo Sanchez Valencia aka El Ahijado, an assassin within the United Cartels (CU) narrates for the camera his criminal activities for a plaza boss known as “El Pranganas”. 

The fate of this hitman is currently unknown. Nonetheless the video concludes with the belief that this mans life was spared by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. In addition the following video has been deemed safe for all to see. 

Video translation is as follows:

Captive: My name is Ricardo Sanchez Valencia. They call me El Ahijado. And I work for an individual known as “El Pranganas”. He’s the one that brought me into this. I started working with “Pranganas” by stealing, extorting, charging fees, collecting and delivering drugs…

Interrogator: Who were you charging fees and delivering drugs for?

Captive: It use to be that “Pranganas” would deliver it to an individual known as “Pareja”. And “Pareja” would hand over those drugs to me. Here lately “Pareja” doesn’t come around anymore. He’s using a bus to deliver those drugs to me now. 

Interrogator: Where are the cars stolen from and then taken to?

Captive: The vehicles are stolen here in Uruapan. And then they’re taken to Apatzingán at a place known as Altamira. 

Interrogator: Who are those cars turned over to?

Captive: We hand them over to “La Puerca” or “La Rana”. 

Interrogator: Who are these men and where are they from?

Captive: They’re hitmen for “El Seco” (Juan Manuel Montero or Alejandro Ramirez Magaña). One of them is from El Mezquital (Buenavista, Michoacán de Ocampo, Michoacán). And the other guys is from Tepetate (El Tepetate Salvador Escalante, Michoacán de Ocampo, Michoacán). 

Interrogator: Who are the charging fees handed over to?

Captive: We hand over those fees to an individual known as “Buriquis” and the accountant.

Interrogator: What’s the accountants moniker?

Captive: They call him “El Negro”. And “El Buriquis” is a dark skin individual who uses glasses. 

Interrogator: What function does “El Buriquis” have within the criminal structure?

Captive: “El Buriquis” is who tells “Pranganas” where to send us to extort. As well as who all to bring forth as support for “El Seco” in the war against the Jalisco cartel. 

Interrogator: How do you guys extort the businessmen?

Captive: We personally go to the businesses and look at their overall earnings. We then call and threaten them that they have to support “El Seco”. 

Interrogator: Who was being extorted weekly?

Captive: We extorted a wealthy individual known as “Barragán”. He’d give us 10 bales of hay about this tall. 

Interrogator: Who does “El Seco” work for and what other monikers is he known by?

Captive: “El Seco” is also known as “El M-20”, “El Peri” , or “El Seco”. He works for Rigoberto Diaz. 

Interrogator: Why is it that when you’re extorting or stealing vehicles you guys say you’re a part of the 4 letters cartel (CJNG)?

Captive: “El Seco” is being paid for us to say that we’re a part of the 4 letters cartel. Which in turn just heats up the terrain against them. Because the truth of the matter is that here lately we haven’t been so fucking successful. 

Interrogator: Is there something you’d like to add here?

Captive: Yes. I’d like to give many thanks for giving me another opportunity to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel that’s currently here in the city of Uruapan. Once I get out I plan on aligning myself into their ranks.

Unidad de Inteligencia Ciudadana