New Mexicali Police Chief Welcomed with Threat from El Ruso

 "El Armadillo" for Borderland Beat

Photo via @BereniceDiazG on X

On March 19th, the Mexicali city council appointed Julian Leyzaola as the city’s new Secretary of Public Security in Mexicali, marking the third leadership change in just six months. 

Leyzaola, a former police chief in both Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez, is known for his aggressive approach to combating organized crime—earning both praise for his crime-fighting success and criticism for alleged human rights abuses. 

A former military officer, Leyzaola’s tenure as police chief in Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez saw homicide rates drop significantly, though his hardline tactics made him a polarizing figure. In 2015, he survived an assassination attempt that left him paralyzed from the waist down. His influence in northern Mexico’s security landscape has been undeniable. Now though, a new challenge awaits in Mexicali.  

Within days of his appointment, a body and a narcomanta were left with the following message:

"Bienvenido a la capital Leyzaola. Aquí sí te las vas a pelar. No vamos a dejar que se hagan tus huevos, pura verga. Mexicali tiene dueño, aquí si te vamos a matar puto, nosotros no perdonamos, así que ponte verga. ATTE: El Ruso, Poncho de la Lima y Palomo"

Translation:

"Welcome to the Capital Leyzaola, here you are going to have a hard time. We aren't going to let you act tough. Mexicali has an owner, here we are going to kill to you bitch. We don't forgive so watch out. ATTE: El Ruso, Poncho de la Lima y Palomo"

 

Poncho and El Ruso

As Borderland Beat previously reported, Juan José Ponce Félix or "El Ruso" is the leader, and founder of his criminal cell called Los Rusos whose base of operations moved from Agua Caliente De Los Monzon, Sinaloa, to Mexicali, Baja California, by orders of Mayo Zambada to ease off tensions with Los Chapitos in Sinaloa. 

Cipriano Alfonso Peralta Cazares "Ponchito De La Lima" or "P1" is second in command of Los Rusos, and is the right-hand of El Ruso. Both remain loyal to Zambada's heir, Ismael Zambada Sicairos aka "El Mayito Flaco". Los Rusos are actively involved in fighting Los Chapitos in the wake of El Mayo's kidnapping by Los Chapitos last year.

Leyzaola, no stranger to threats and attacks by organized crime groups, laughed off the threats, saying:

“Yo creo que las amenazas son como los recaditos de la primaria. No es la primera vez que yo tengo amenazas; en Tijuana y en Ciudad Juárez me recibieron con algo parecido. Entonces, los delincuentes tratan de intimidar de esa manera a los funcionarios”

Translation:

"I think threats are like those little notes from elementary school. It's not the first time I have been threatened, in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez I was welcomed with something similar. Criminals try to intimidate officials this way."

An interesting aspect of the threat is that it is signed by someone named 'Palomo.' There isn’t much concrete information available online about this figure. A source within Los Rusos I spoke with was reluctant to provide details about Palomo. This unknown character may become a more visible figure in the leadership of Los Rusos in the coming months.