Drone Footage Shows Assassination of Baja California Sur Narcotics Investigator, Former Governor Cota Montaño's Nephew

"Socalj" for Borderland Beat

Commander Ulises Omar Cota Montaño, of the State Criminal Investigation Agency (AMIC) of the Attorney General's Office of the State of Baja California Sur, was shot dead on Tuesday afternoon in the city of La Paz.

The officer belonged to the Criminal Investigation Agency of the PGJE (General Directorate of Justice of the State of Buenos Aires) and was the nephew of former Governor Leonel Cota Montaño.

Drone Footage Shows Attack

The attack occurred in the Camino Real neighborhood, south of the state capital. According to the PGJE (General Police), a municipal officer reported a deceased person inside a vehicle around 6:00 p.m. Upon arriving at the scene, forensic investigators and investigators confirmed that the person was Commander Cota Montaño.

A video was released online showing the victim's Toyota truck speeding away from his attackers initially and parking down a side road. The drone, likely operated by the gunmen themselves, follows the truck before another pulls up and opens fire on the driver.

Narco Mantas

According to Zeta Tijuana, Ulises had parked in front of his home when the gunmen attacked. It appears in the video that he had been attempting to evade the gunmen in the other truck.

He was traveling home without a guard, despite the fact that the night before he had already been threatened with narco-banners, in which he, another member of the Attorney General's Office named Humberto Yee, a Municipal Police commander named Miramontes, and all the commanders of the Municipal, State Police and the Attorney General's Office were mentioned.

The banners were hung on the night of Monday, April 21, at Montoya High School in Santa Rosalía and another at the San José del Cabo International Airport, in the municipality of Los Cabos.

A body was found dead on Tuesday at noon on the dirt road leading to the San Lázaro dam in San José del Cabo. The body showed signs of violence and was decapitated. He was wearing a sweatshirt and blue pants.

Similarly, at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, on Juan Carlón Street in the Fundo Legal neighborhood of Guerrero Negro (the northernmost municipality in the state), a maroon KIA pickup truck was intercepted by gunmen. A soldier named Roberto "N," a second lieutenant assigned to the 40th Military Zone of the Ministry of National Defense (SEDENA), was traveling in the vehicle, accompanied by a civilian welder.

The attackers fired their high-caliber weapons at the truck, killing the soldier inside. The civilian was taken to a hospital for treatment, where he died minutes later from gunshot wounds.

New narco-banners in Baja California Sur claim responsibility for the execution. On the morning of Wednesday the 23rd, two narco-banners appeared in Guerrero Negro and Santa Rosalía, in the municipality of Mulegé: one at the Colegio de Bachilleres (COBACH) and the second at the Bei Jing Chinese restaurant, respectively.

The narco-message revealed that the armed attack had been carried out by Abraham Cervantes Escareaga, alias "El Babay." This was the message:

"He who warns is not a traitor. Keep supporting the short-legged ones. This is how all the municipalities will remain as they were told. We already know who they are: the municipal authorities, the state authorities, the Attorney General's Office. Sincerely, BABAY."

"El Babay"

Changing Cartel Alliances in Baja Sur 

Shortly after official news announcing, rumors of the investigator's possible connection to organized crime popped up around the web. State Governor Victor Castro Cosío described the recent killings and violence taking place as being part of the war between Los Chapitos and La Mayiza with affiliated groups reorganizing and taking revenge on eachother in the area.

He named Abrahan Vervantes Escareaga, known as "El Babay," as being involved having signed narco mantas in the area after recently being released from Cefereso No. 5 in Veracruz.

“It's a matter of revenge, because just 10 days ago, in Guerrero Negro, we dismantled a very important organized crime cell that surely had ties to the north. Well-organized crime. It wasn't the first time, it's not the first time they put up banners on various bridges or in various public places, and they hadn't carried out their threats. Now they've executed her. A generator of violence who appears there, his nickname ('Babay') has been released. I think it comes from a reorganization,” Castro acknowledged.

"El Babay" was the longtime plaza boss for Los Cabos of San Jose del Cabo until he was arrested in 2017. At the time he was linked to the CJNG for the Tijuana/Baja California Sur area.

These recent narcomantas refer to the rivalry between both characters "El 00 and El Babay" who operate for different factions of the Sinaloa Cartel, Los Chapitos and La Mayiza.

The victim was the nephew of former Governor Leonel Cota Montaño.

"His life example, his love for his family, and his dedication to service will continue to be an inspiration to those of us who had the privilege of knowing him. The institution reiterates its commitment to clarifying the events that led to his death, until justice is achieved. Your legacy lives on. Rest in peace, Commander Ulises Omar," the PGJE published.

“Be witnesses of a man of work, with courage and empathy; as a family member, as a cousin, a nephew, a father: exceptional. Always smiling, always good-natured. Tell the governor and whoever serves as head of the Attorney General's Office to not leave their men and women alone. It's in difficult times that a leader's capacity is demonstrated, and right now is when we need a governor and an attorney general. Let's not allow violence to escalate and reach more families. Today was my cousin, and I have no doubt he did a good job, that he was a man of integrity. Now is the time, Governor, to show what you're made of,” said Manuel Cota, his cousin and a federal representative.

Sources Expreso, Zeta Tijuana, Milenio, Ed Calderon