The trooper discovered $69,050 wrapped in cellophane and $152,082 in two shoe boxes, and agents believe the first amount was the money sent by Antonio Ortiz and the second amount was money intended for River-Beltran, according to the indictment. All rights reserved. DENVER Details of an eight-month investigation into a Colorado-based drug trafficking organization with links to a Mexican cartel have been released in a grand jury indictment. Sinaloa Cartel is one of the oldest and most successful drug cartels in Mexico. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. On Aug 19., the indictment says, state troopers stopped Anali Saavedra Flores on I-25. Tarango-Rodriguez said in the calls that the "buttons" Rivera-Beltran had were not good. ", RELATED: A mom lost her son to an overdose. Mexican drug cartels also convert wealthy Chinese nationals' Renminbi (RMB) to US dollars at a lower rate than the prevailing market rate. He faces a mandatory life sentence with no possibility of parole. This is probably not the last time you hear about CJNG as it is more willing to engage in violent confrontations with rival cartels and security forces. Employees roll joints behind the sales counter at Medicine Man marijuana dispensary in Denver. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Nuevo Laredo is the worst of all the border cities for kidnapping US citizens. The suspected traffickers sold meth, heroin, cocaine and fentanyl pills in Colorado and transported funds from the drug sales to groups in California, and then eventually to Mexico, according an indictment in the case. Mexican authorities have yet to comment on Mata's and Martnez's alleged links to the notorious criminal organization. Well cartels and Mexican maryjuana did take a hit in Colorado. Prez's brother, Alejandro Prez, was unharmed and told Univision that he saw the moment his sibling was shot at point-blank range. During the call, the indictment says, Rivera-Beltran mentioned being "hot" and that "they were going to do better," and that three loads had been taken by law enforcement. Rivera-Beltran then called Antonio Ortiz and old him "s*** went to hell," and that they needed to save what they could because there was a lot of "work," believed to be drugs, at the house, according to the indictment. The U.S. war on drugs began under the administration of Pres. The following items were discovered when investigators searched the Kearney Street address, according to the indictment: According to the indictment, that Corvette was the same vehicle driven by Rivera-Beltran during the two drug deals with undercover officers, according to the indictment. KRDO NewsChannel 13 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation. 13 gangs and cartels that are working together in Texas - mySA According to the indictment, the investigation began in April, when DEA agents learned that Samuel Padilla-Romo was selling methamphetamine in the 18th Judicial District and Denver metro area. Sign up for the 9NEWSLETTERright now to get cant-miss stories, Next and Broncos content, weather and more delivered right to your inbox. The Sinaloa Cartel Is Controlling Water in Drought-Stricken Mexico "Water is now a valuable asset for us, and as it becomes more scarce, the more we will fight to make sure we have enough," a. Investigators said Rivera-Beltran began negotiating with a person later identified as Juan Francisco "Guerito" Sarabia-Mancinas for pounds of meth and pills believed to be fake 30-milligram oxycodone pills. Map shows drug smuggling routes into Texas used by cartels - mySA The Mexican Mafia (Spanish: Mafia Mexicana), also known as La eMe (Spanish for "the M"), is a Mexican American criminal organization in the United States. In 2012 the Mexican Competitiveness Institute issued a report saying that Mexicos cartels would lose as much as $1.425 billion if Colorado legalized marijuana. We bet you won't be able to guess the #1 U.S. city that is crowded by these violent Mexican drug cartels. Of the 17 defendants, 11 are from Mexico, four from El Salvador, and two are from California. Investigators believed the group was connected to a Mexican cartel, a criminal complaint said. Investigators said Rivera-Beltran's comments proved he knew about the drugs at the stash house (some of which were discovered in the locations he mentioned), as well as his participation in the drug conspiracy and clean-up efforts, according to the indictment. Interactive map reveals when you may see SNOW. The vehicles driven by Trevizo and Peterson pulled into the carport. Crime scene photo at Taco Star. Disclosure: 13 US Cities That Are Crowded By Mexican Drug Cartels is originally published at Insider Monkey. Inside Matt Hancock's 41-hour battle to save his career when photo of 'a snog and heavy petting' Will Vladimir Putin's empress pay the ultimate price for his war on the West? Meth pipeline into Midwest reveals CJNG drug cartel's 'honey hole' There are sooo many opiate addicts in colorado from high school to your grandma its crazy. Chinese nationals aren't allowed to transfer their wealth outside of China, so they are willing to pay Mexican drug cartels a premium for the cartels' US dollar cash holdings in exchange for RMB payments in China. A lot of "somebody's" are buying this stuff cause the shipments keep coming and the dollars keep going to the cartels? Flores was identified as Ortiz's girlfriend and told troopers she had driven from Phoenix to Denver to see her boyfriend. It alleges that El Potosino was a front company used to funnel drug money through Mexican restaurants in Colorado and Wyoming. LOL, the Zetas were saying don't bother kidnapping those two, they are so stupid their families wouldn't want them back. Mexican drug cartels control vast swaths of the US drug market, but that influence remains heavily slanted in favor of the vaunted Sinaloa cartel. Treasury sanctions eight Mexican. The six restaurants and El Potosino which means the one from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, an area associated with drug cartels are accused in a drug-money laundering scheme in the sealed federal complaint filed in November. They spoke about introducing Escamilla to another undercover agent as well as purchasing some "blues," which investigators knew to be fentanyl pills, the indictment says. 17 Alleged Mexican Cartel Operatives Charged in Colorado - Breitbart A wiretap order was signed for Padilla-Romo's phone number in May, and agents learned that he was negotiating drug deals with multiple individuals including Luis "Chilo" Jacob Zytacua, who the indictment says also negotiated the purchase of guns. We are pleased to provide the experience and expertise of Victor Manual Galarza Abizaid, considered a subject matter expert by the 22nd and 13th Judicial Districts in the State of Colorado in criminal interdiction, narcotics, narcotics investigations and the Mexican Cartels.Victor has been in active service as a Law Enforcement officer since 2011. Rivera-Beltran said he believed he was followed by law enforcement a few days earlier, according to the indictment. Hundreds of Mexican soldiers were sent to the border city of Juarez Friday after a prison face-off between members of two rival cartels caused a riot and shootouts that killed 11 people, most of . They Bombs Away, Mexico, Yemen, and Somalia! Here are our rankings using DEA's data: Los Zetas Cartel is the only Mexican cartel that uses New Orleans as a major hub. Mexican Mafia - Wikipedia Taking over a trade once ruled by drug cartels and turning it into an all-cash business could make pot shops prime targets for extortion, black-market competition and robbery. On Nov. 1, the indictment says Rivera-Belran received a call from a Mexican phone number, and spoke about losing the car with three "boxes," which agents believed to be fentanyl pills, and sod that "it was very hot and that it all went to hell. Access all of our premium content, get unlimited digital access and more! The-CNN-Wire & 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. In August, the indictment says, agents began wiretaps on the phone number that belonged to Rivera-Beltran. The five men were shot and killed when Surez, a resident from San Antonio, Texas, refused orders to pull over. All rights reserved. Even back before the break of the war, US gov was warning against going there. The Sinaloa cartel was once led by the notorious drug boss known as Joaqun "El Chapo" Guzmn. WE HAVE THE BEST OF THE BEST AND ITS SO AFFORDABLE NOW..25 FOR AN 1/8.COLORADO HAS THEIR SHIT TOGETHER AND HAS CHOSEN TO GO AFTER THE HARD DRUGS AND LET THE GOOD PEOPLE SMOKE THEIR WEED!!!! The eight companies sanctioned on Thursday all claim to either be financial services or real estate firms and are either based in Puerta Vallarta or Guadalajara, according to the Treasury. Give us another trillion $$$$$$$$$$$ to 'serve and protect' you!Tele '9Wants to Know examined a situation report from the US Department of Justice National Drug Intelligence Center, which says the Juarez and Sinaloa cartels are active in five Colorado cities. Is comparing Colorado Springs' and Denver's homeless populations fair or unfair? 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Its only been a week, so we still have to sit back and see how this will play out, Denver Police spokesman Sonny Jackson told FoxNews.com. Luis Martnez, who was shot two times and remained in an induced coma as of Friday, was also an alleged member of the Cartel del Noreste, according to his Facebook account. Comments are open to Gazette subscribers only. Todays action exposes this CJNG scheme and also serves as a warning to potential victims, many of whom are elderly, she added. On Aug. 17, agents intercepted a call between Rivera-Beltran and Miguel Diarte, and the indictment says they learned Diarte was transporting a large load of narcotics from Los Angeles to Aurora. They also spoke about "almonds" and how Beltran-Beltran would not be paying Escamilla a courier fee because of a $5,000 debt. Seven of the defendants are considered fugitives. Its owner, Hilario Montejano-Aleman, also operates the local Viva El Taco at 5945 N. Academy Blvd. We are committed to dismantling and removing the threat posed by these criminal organizations flooding American communities with dangerous narcotics, said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. (File, courtesy of KKTV). RELATED: DEA warns of increase in fake prescription pills containing fentanyl, meth. The indictment said Ortiz was heard in the background of the calls talking to Rivera-Beltran. A wiretap order was also signed for Zytacua's phone number, the indictment says. Sinaloa cartel | History, Activities, Leaders, & Facts | Britannica Legal Statement. Boogie! it goes to MN,IA,MI,WI states like that. However, his mother, Jennifer Castillo, showed proof of a Texas-issued temporary license plate and said she had title of the vehicle, which Surez purchased in February. Surez was chased by two Army pickup trucks before he lost control of his own and crashed into parked vehicle. Our ranking methodology is quite simple. While the wiretap investigation was beginning, the indictment says an undercover officer was introduced to Saul Ramon Rivera-Beltran. Executions, not just of petty dealers but of prominent business executives, livestock farmers and peasant leaders. Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) is the youngest of the top 6 Mexican drug cartels. The locally grown hydroponic or high grade weed has not even slowed the Mexican weed sales? Their families would laugh and say keep them. However, after the cartel was involved in the 1985 torture and murder of a U.S. drug . NOBODY AND I MEAN NOBODY IN BOULDER WANTS THAT SHIT WEED FROM MEXICO!!! They've inspired songs and telenovelas. The US government has described the Sinaloa Cartel as one of the largest drug-trafficking organisations in the world. Rivera-Beltran then called Maritza, and, according to the indictment, asked if she found food and money in the house and said "that was a good stash house." The Jalisco New Generation cartel, which reportedly provided security for the Sinaloa cartel before splintering off, is considered by the Drug Enforcement Agency to be a top US threat and the best-armed criminal group in Mexico, according to a report from the Congressional Research Service. She is a proud Ohioan, champion for local libraries, volunteer reading tutor and an expert ice cream connoisseur (mint chocolate chip!). Contact the writer at 719-636-0362 or find her on Twitter: @njKaitlinDurbin. And in 2015, he crawled through an opening in a shower area that led to a mile-long tunnel, escaping the maximum-security Altiplano Federal Prison near Toluca, Mexico. Wow, cross and walk down the streets of Nuevo Laredo as everyone there stairs at you. The Sinaloa cartel is the oldest cartel. The rest of the funds were smuggled back in secret vehicle compartments. "Mexico is already in Colorado without the risks," the agent, who requested anonymity, said of the state's heavy pre-existing cartel presence. Peterson and a confidential informant said that cocaine was provided by Adrian Santana, and the indictment says Peterson showed text messages from Santana instructing him to pick up the drugs at 6600 Kearney Street. Stay up to date with what you want to know. POLL: How will the Rockies fare this season in the NL West? Commerce City Police Department officers identified the driver as Trevizo and a passenger as Misael Acosta-Garcia. "There has also been evidence of the utilization of cryptocurrencies by Mexican TCOs as a means by which to transfer their wealth internationally" said the DEA. Market data provided by Factset. Heres how to unlock the dirt, Year-round gardening: Plant this, not that native edition, Tom Sizemore, 'Saving Private Ryan' actor, dies at 61, Attendance data dive: Local performing arts groups may never fully recover, PHOTOS: The Classical Academy falls to Resurrection Christian in state quarterfinals, PHOTOS: Cheyenne Mountain hockey beats Durango 5-0 in semifinals, Brewers' Bracket: Vote for your favorite Colorado Springs breweries, Colorado Springs Mayoral Race | 2023 candidates and issues, GAZETTE PODCASTS | News, Sports, Cold Cases and Lifestyle, Sign up for our newsletters and get news that matters sent to your inbox, By KAITLIN DURBIN Mexico Drug War Fast Facts | CNN FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2020 file photo, a policeman drives past town hall in Apaseo El Alto, Guanajuato state, Mexico. The fix for 2020 and for 2022 started in 2017, with appointment to election positions of individuals being bribed through the mortgage scheme and through monies being laundered by the appointment of phantom individuals. "They have found that it's easier to grow and process marijuana in Colorado, ship it throughout the United States, than it is to bring it from Mexico or Cuba," Elder said. He also told the informant a load he was waiting for had arrived, and he could give the informant 40 pounds of meth, according to the indictment. Rivera said Escamilla had left Colorado to deliver the $170,000, which agents knew to be a lie because Escamilla's GPS pings were still in Colorado, the indictment says. Sinaloa Cartel - InSight Crime Example video title will go here for this video. A sixth shooting victim, who was wounded and is fighting for his life at a local hospital, also belongs to the same criminal organization. Guzmn, widely known as El Chapo, was considered the worlds most powerful drug lord until his federal conviction this month on 10 counts of drug trafficking, money laundering and use of a firearm in decades of grisly killings to further his drug enterprise. A 2020 report prepared by the Congressional Research Service says the cartel originated in western. How the Avocado Became Key to Mexican Drug Cartel Turf War - Newsweek Mexican drug cartels move in on California's shadow marijuana industry That same day, agents confirmed the car was in the woman's address in Phoenix, Arizona, according to the indictment. Founded in the late 1980s, it was for many years headed by the notorious drug. The Marijuana Enforcement Division of the Colorado Department of Revenue, the primary enforcement office responsible for overseeing the production and sale of the retail marijuana, did not return repeated attempts by Fox News.com for comment. In addition to the 6.57 kilograms of cocaine packed for distribution, the indictment says officers also found $7,117 in the glovebox. Drug gangs unleash violence in northern Mexican cities : NPR Antiono Ortiz the said that he wanted Escamilla to transport $70,000 for him as well, and Rivera-Beltran called Escamilla the next day to confirm the amounts he was taking on the trip. He then asked Maritza if she found the "water" in the air duct and the "work" hidden in a closet, and spoke about what authorities found and took, including the Corvette, the indictment says. [The sniper rifles flowing to Mexican. The U.S. has suspended imports of Mexican avocadosas the lucrative fruit continues to play a key role in the turf wars between drug cartels. This organization is alleged to have moved large amounts of meth and cocaine from Mexico to Colorado, with devastating impact on communities in their wake. The Colorado Springs restaurants, meanwhile, all remain open. Rivera-Beltran also said that he found customers in Arizona who were buying 5,000 to 7,000 fentanyl pills, according to the indictment. Colorado pot shops likely targets of cartels, say experts The indictment says Tarango-Rodriguez also told Rivera-Beltran that it would be done very quickly, which agents believed to be in reference to the drug deal. Last week, the US government also took action against a network of Sinaloa Cartel members and associated entities for their involvement in providing chemicals to super labs that produce illicit drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine for the cartel once run by the notorious drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzmn. Guzman-Loera is the leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, becoming involved in drug trafficking in the late 1980s. U.S. Legalization of Marijuana Has Hit Mexican Cartels' Border Trade - Time 02-22-2022. A sixth. The . The CJNG is believed to be engaging multiple rival organizations, the Sinaloa cartel in particular, in violent turf wars in several areas on Mexico's west coast. Richard Nixon. No arrests have been made, but a cashier told The Gazette that all employees in the restaurant that night then returned to Mexico. RELATED:. Daily Briefing Were concerned with the public consumption right now, Jackson said. Feds: 30 indicted in cartel-connected drug trafficking group - KMGH Los Zetas Cartel is also the only Mexican cartel that uses Dallas as a major hub. The car was eventually picked up by Rivera-Beltran after an unsuccessful attempt by Guadalupe Ortiz, and they both drove to Dallas, Texas, arriving on Sept. 18, the indictment says. According to the US Treasury, who coordinated with the Mexican government, the perpetrators of the fraud have at times falsely claimed to represent US government entities. In June 1993, Guzman-Loera was arrested in Chiapas, Mexico and sentenced to a 20-year prison term. The WORST care homes in England: Interactive map reveals the lowest-rated 2,530 residences - so is An intelligence report obtained by TV Azteca indicated that Wilberto Mata, one of the five young men killed by soldier in the northern border city of Nuevo Laredo, was an alleged member of the Cartel del Noreste ( Northeast Cartel), Gustavo Surez, an American from San Antonio, Texas, was a purported member of the Northeast Cartel, according to a Mexican intelligence report. Also on Sept. 18, the indictment says, Beltran-Beltran called Rivera-Beltran about Escamilla bringing $100,000 or $105,000 to Phoenix, which was later seized by authorities. Drug seized by authorities in a years-long investigation. A friend dedicated a post to Mata with a photo of him holding a rifle and the name of the criminal organization spelled across under its initials. But the general consensus is that the Mexican cartels will not quietly relinquish the Denver market. After a K9 alerted the presence of narcotics in the trunk, the indictment says, authorities discovered a $5,000 stack from her purse, and she gave them Ortiz's phone number, which stopped working shortly after. Happy Halloween, Borderland Beat. Copyright 2020 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Best Mexican Restaurants in Colorado Springs, El Paso County: Find Tripadvisor traveler reviews of Colorado Springs Mexican restaurants and search by price, location, and more. Surez, who hours before the incident had learned he was going to be a father for the first time, was shot 12 times and died. The next day, the indictment says, agents arranged surveillance on I-70 in Summit County of a car rented in Arizona by Diarte. On Sept. 29, the indictment says Rivera Beltran called Antonio Ortiz and they spoke how they didn't have anyone bringing heroin to Colorado, and said that Alberto "Chemo" Sanchez Rodriguez could even though he usually only transported money. Then I wonder where shipment after shipment, literally TONS of that weed from Mexico is going? Documents filed Wednesday . It is believed to have a more horizontal structure, as an organization of allied factions, frequently working together but often in control of different aspects of the drug production, trafficking, and distribution processes. Can we get the government now to give the Pentagon another trillion trillion $$$$$$$$$$$$????? Gulf Cartel is the only Mexican cartel that uses Detroit as a major hub. Fountain woman to get no jail time for sexually assaulting 13-year-old, mother unhappy with plea deal. Rafael Caro Quintero, a drug lord known as "the narco of narcos" who was behind the killing of a US drug enforcement agent in 1985, has been captured by Mexican forces nearly a decade after.