At first, he supervised work crews at his uncle's construction business building houses, Roberto's attorney, Robert Salisbury, said. But he ended up working for his Uncle Victor. American authorities are still seeking his extradition to the U.S. to face drug charges. FBI agents led a raid at the couple's home on Oct. 24, 2018, arresting the 51-year-old military veteran and his 53-year-old wife. ", Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Parra Pedroza and Pineda Sanchez received 13 and 15 years, respectively, in prison after both pleaded guilty to money laundering. In June, operatives attempted to assassinate Mexico City's police chief, Omar Garcia Harfuch hammering his body with at least three bullets and slaying two of his bodyguards. CJNG's Kentucky strategy has been repeated in town after town across America, in places better known for cheese, cows and corn. More:US drug czar wants India to stem flow of chemicals used by Mexican cartels for fentanyl. "He was very minutely involved. Irma Isaisa Jasmine Arroyo, 10, whose body was found maimed and semi incinerated on 28 January in the city of Tecoman. Here you'll find all collections you've created before. Balaclava-clad members of the CJNG released a video claiming responsibility for the killings it later emerged that the victims had no connection to organised crime whatsoever. "That puts a target on my back," he told his attorney. Next steps crucial, experts say, US drug czar wants India to stem flow of chemicals used by Mexican cartels for fentanyl, Ignoring cartel danger, Mexican families scour wilderness for missing loved ones' remains, This small-town Oregon bricklayer had a side hustle: Gun supplier for Mexican drug cartel, Mexico-US investigation links cartel downing of military helicopter to Oregon gun supplier, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. I hate violence," according to a transcript of the hearing, with Farfan appearing before the judge from prison on Zoom. Both are now in prison for money laundering, and her sister, who has two children living in Kentucky, faces deportation. Because it's here, A short film: What Courier Journal uncovered about Jalisco New Generation Cartel's El Mencho. Many court documents in the Farfan case remain sealed, hiding secrets shared by drug ring members and associates, and some involved in the case opted not to talk because of the volatility of the Mexican suppliers. At least three people including a pregnant woman in her early 20s languish in critical condition in Guanajuato,Mexico, after their hands were chopped off and their bleeding bodies were thrown from the back of a truck last week. Police arrested Farfan in October 2018 as he and Montes drove toward California on Highway 99 near Roseburg, nearly three hours south of Portland, while towing a car. A judge sentenced Roberto to three years in custody in January 2021. Flames leftMoralesdisabled and disfigured. Uncensored versions of the videos can be seen below. Brenda and Karl Cooley of Louisville certainly didnt know his name when their son Adam overdosed on fentanyl in March 2017. Eduardo mulled over his future. Agents arrested him in 2006, and he was convicted of illegally reentering the U.S. and trafficking cocaine and meth. A veteran Jalisco police officer, whoasked not to be identified for his safety, said CJNG has officials on its payroll at thelocal, state and federal levels. Pointing to more than 70,000 Americans who overdosed and died in 2017, Coleman said, Were fighting a war for our families, and (the cartels) are winning.. It could hide 9 kilos of drugs and a pile of cash. Soldiers seized a couple of modified and armored trucks at a warehouse in the municipality of Camargo during a patrol on Saturday, local media reported. Maciasand Sosa were convicted of meth trafficking and money laundering and are serving 31 and 15 years, respectively, in federal prison. It hauled inmore than 3 kilos of fentanyl, the synthetic opioid so potent that an amount as small as Abraham Lincoln's cheek on a pennycan be fatal. Mexico's CJNG is currently making a series of territorial incursions around the country to take control of key fuel theft, drug trafficking, and human smuggling regions. Beginning in 2015, the U.S. Treasury Department designated El Mencho a "kingpin," along with his brother-in-law, Abigail Gonzlez Valencia, leader of the Los Cuinis cartel. The Elite Group is the top tier enforcement wing of the Jalisco New GeneralCartel, often referred to as CJNG. More unchecked opportunities. "When they shot the helicopter out of the sky is when everyone respected CJNG as a powerhouse cartel and a rival of Sinaloa,"Donahue said. Many were scared silent and to this day no Mexican suppliers have faced justice for these crimes. On the run and out of sight, El Mencho is described by some veteran agents as a ghost. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE AN ACCOUNT, SIGN UP FOR ONE HERE. For an overview of the Pjaros Sierra versus Crtel Jalisco Nueva Generacin (CJNG) conflict, please see this previous Borderland Beat story. Most people don't associate drug trafficking with the scenic tourist destinations along the Oregon coast, but Mexican cartels seek less scrutiny there. While the CJNG makes no effortsto hide its beef with adverse cartels and Mexican military and law enforcement, civilians are all too often caught in the cryptic crossfire. The DEA's Donahue said many were taken toremote paramilitary camps where they were trained asassassins. Eight soldiers and Morales partner died. Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook For example, a Lexington waitress seekingcash to pay fordental assistant courses ended up making bank deposits that she didnt know were for CJNG, according to court transcripts. For two years, Farfan's nephew, Eduardo Alvarez Farfan, was scared silent. "If one wants to gain power, control and territory, it's a must that they conquer non-alliance cartels and gain the assistance of police and government entities to assist them in their global success.". Investigators uncovered three main pieces of the puzzle that revealed a snapshot of how this drug ring thrived. The incident is only one of many deeds of bloodshed to have been carried out by the CJNG, whose barbarity is said to be on ascendance in recent weeks and months spilling on to U.S. soil and livelihoods. Farfan pleaded guilty in November 2021 to trafficking drugs and illegally reentering the U.S. and was the last of 23 defendants in the case to admit guilt. The Michoacan Attorney Generals Office revealed that the bodies were removed and the scene was largely cleaned by the perpetrators. Dozens of couriers throughout the U.S. would then collect the drug profits and use the dirty moneyto buy scrap and fine gold. There's a lot of family back in Michoacn.". Farfan refused to talk to agents or prosecutors. "He spoke with Mexican-based members of the conspiracy, met interstate couriers and directed subordinates," prosecutors noted in a government motion to keep Farfan locked up pending trial. In America,ElMenchoexpectscartel members and associates to avoid violence, hidewealth anddisguise their CJNG affiliations, agents say. A pool of blood forms on the floor. Drug dealers may not have worried about being caught here, in Clatsop County, a 90-minute drive northwest from the bustling city of Portland. killing on turf wars between the Jalisco cartel and its rivals as it expands into new territory. Legal Statement. The victims' wrists were tied using ligatures to prevent them all from bleeding to death. Mexican Cartel Members Behead Two Men. He and Helida Montes, his partner for 16 years, settled their two children in Oregon City as Farfan grew his business, roping in two of his nephews. Last year, there were 2,513 killings in tourist hotspot Tijuana . A cartel member even worked at Kentucky's famed Calumet Farm, home to eight Kentucky Derby and three Triple Crown winners. Alarmed by CJNG's surging violence in Mexico andcontinued expansion across this country, U.S. officials have pushed back. The case took place in Marcos Castellanos, Michoacan, where gunmen stormed a funeral service and forced mourners to line up against a wall before opening fire. Hearing the word "cartel" uttered in open court instantly rattled Eduardo. He isn't your typical cartel leader. All rights reserved. The cartel's expansion into smaller, unexpected communities began to mushroom about five years ago as U.S. intelligence analysts tracked its movements far beyond border towns and major hubs. But betrayal awaited, "We see these nodes or pockets of cartel-related activity springing up in small, rural towns on the east side of Washington, in metropolitan areas like Portland and Seattle. In Seaside, known for commercial fishing and timber, traffickers easily established a strong customer base. Paying semitruck drivers to haul hidden caches of drugs into the U.S. and return cash to Mexico. Next steps crucial, experts say. "What are they doing way out in the middle of nowhere?" 21 258 33 0. Authorities identified one of the four victims as Rey Jose Poblete Ramos, a man with a lengthy criminal history. All rights reserved. Echeagaray pointed out that CJNG, although very violent, does not target civilians systematically. "And that his uncle had manipulated him and used him and his cousin. He had a 1999 aggravated felony drug conviction in Multnomah County and was deported in 2001. The cartel alsorecruitsspies in theMexicangovernment and policeto keep its leaders out of jail and avoid drug busts. Bizarre / Cartel / Murder / Pure Gore. He was thought to be one of the leaders of Carteles Unidos. It's a common and effective tactic used by many cartels. The group has also upped the ante for sea and air authority too fighting the likes of Sinaloa and the vestiges of Los Zetas and Los Pelones to take heed over the vital port of Chetumal and the Yucatan Peninsula, according to ananalysisby InSight Crime. "They send their businessmen out into the U.S. to look for areas of opportunity." He agreed to talk to agents only about certain drug crimes, including detailing his actions and his uncle's actions inside the U.S., after a judge released him from jail on bond and after his elder family members gave him their blessing. His boss, Eddie Kane, Calumet's general manager, declined repeated requests for comment. He was not a millionaire," Beaumont said. Cartels target tourist destinations along Oregon coast for illegal drug distribution. El Menchos powerful international syndicate is flooding the U.S. with thousands of kilos of methamphetamines, heroin, cocaine and fentanyl every year despite being targeted repeatedly by undercover stings, busts and lengthy investigations. Hearing more details, the investigator, who asked not to be identified to protect his work, acknowledged to The Courier Journal: "Its a great strategy.". Provided by McCracken County Sheriff's Department. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. "I still expected that they would be in markets in the Southwest, a little bit into some of the other major corridors, such as Atlanta and Chicago, Evans said. And he realized he faced a mandatory minimum of 10 years if convicted at trial and would miss watching his 6-month-old son grow up. Those who tried to run were tortured, killed and sometimescannibalizedby fellow recruits in what U.S. federal agents describe as a disturbing riteof passage. 13 Mexican police officers were killed in an ambush, sold heroin to two undercover police officers, fired Russian-made rocket-propelled grenade launchers, Investigators uncovered a hidden hub of stash houses, state trooper working with a DEA task force nearly brought down El Mencho, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Roberto never talked to agents or prosecutors. He got his first glimpse of CJNGs success when he was overseeing drug cases in Los Angeles, a key cartel hub. 1 nemesis, the Sinaloa Cartel, dominates the majority supply of everything from methamphetamine and heroin to the devastating synthetic opioid. By 2018, the CJNG became the second most powerful cartel in Mexico, and was believed to have over 100 methamphetamine labs throughout the country. While Luis Alderete maintains his innocence,court records show that his brother, Roberto Alderete, identified Luis asa cartel lieutenant. She got her older sister, a struggling single mom, involved to make quick money. In the past, student filmmakers have been kidnapped and tortured to death, journalists frequently killed before they can even begin to probe a likely CJNG crime, dozens of lawmakers and judges have been butchered and death threats have haunted scores of Mexican officials. While some moves targeted the cartels finances, others were more personal. It was run by a deported felon who kept sneaking back across the border. To help Maciassmuggle drugs into the U.S., cartel leaders used a Toyota Camry with a secret compartment on the armrest that opened through a sequence of steps: Turnon the heater. She has extensively reported from war zones including Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Burma, and Latin America investigates global conflicts, war crimes and terrorism around the world. On April 6, the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against Carlos . The judge said Farfan's attorney negotiated "a very significant break for him," cutting his possible prison time in half, considering sentencing guidelines called for a sentence of 30 years. The information leaks make catching El Mencho extremely difficult, he said. Their current. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, 17 555 49 1. The unending stream of narcotics has contributed to this countrys unprecedented addiction crisis, devastating families and killing more than 300,000 people since 2013. "Police and civilians are dying, and the CJNG and continues unfettered, flooding the U.S. with methamphetamine and other drugs," Tabor added. 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