Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

On May 14, seventeen members of El Chapo's family crossed from Tijuana to San Diego where they were met and whisked away by U.S. agents. In this Episode, I discuss this event, including the identities of some of the family members. In addition, I look at the events that preceded this event, including plea negotiations by Ovidio and Joaquin, a potential split within Los Chapitos, and the reaction of the Mexican government.  Finally, I discuss the role these events might have played in the apparent alliance between Los Chapitos and CJNG and what it all means for the future of CDS.   

In this Mother's Day episode, I first discuss pea agreement between the U.S. government and Ovidio Guzman and what it really means. Next, I look at the arrest of a husband and wife from Sandy, Utah, who have been indicted on charges of smuggling and selling oil from Mexico for the benefit of Mexican cartels.   Finally, I address some shameful comments from retired DEA agent Hector Berrellez.

In this Episode, I dissect the Complaint in the recently filed federal litigation by the Camarena family against Rafael Caro-Quintero, Ernesto Fonseca, Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo, and the Sinaloa Cartel. In addition to discussing the causes of action and certain jurisdictional elements, I look at the factual allegations in the Complaint to look at several issues relating to the Camarena case.  Specifically, I look at the nature of the so-called Guadalajara Cartel, the motives for the abduction of Agent Camarena, and some unknown or disputed facts relating to Agent Camarena's abduction.  

It has been around 9 months since El Mayo and Joaquin Guzman were flown to the United States and arrested and it's been almost exactly 7 months since the fighting between Los Chapitos and La Mayiza broke out in Culiacan.   In this Episode, I look at the prevailing theories on the rendition of El Mayo, the structure of CDS, and the key questions asked when the violence started. I then discuss some recent events, including actions by the followers of Chapo Isidro.   Finally, I identify the biggest winners and losers thus far in the fight for control of CDS.

In this Episode, I first discuss some recent news events, including the dismantling of a huge methamphetamine laboratory in Zacatecas, I then look at the sentencing of El Menchito, the son of CJNG leader El Mencho in a D.C. federal court. Finally, I discuss some recent reports and articles discussing the ways the Scheinbaum administration is changing the Mexican government's actions against the cartels and the impact on those changes resulting from the tariff threats by the Trump administration.  

In this Episode, I look at the recent "extradition" of 29 narcos from Mexico to the United States and identify the most prominent figures who were extradited and the significance of their extraditions. In particular, I discuss the extradition of Rafael Caro Quintero, and I discuss whether he will face charges relating to kidnapping, interrogation, and murder of Agent Kiki Camarena. I also give my opinion on the person to blame if Caro does not face those charges. Finally, I provide my conjecture about the motivations of the Mexican government and suggest that President Scheinbaum did not cave to tariff pressures from President Trump but, instead, extradited the narcos as part of her long-term plan for dealing with the cartels.  

As Los Chapitos continue to suffer from the arrest and capture of more leaders, and given the reports of Ivan's narrow escapes, many pundits have proclaimed the demise of the Sinaloa Cartel. In this Episode, I look at the arrests of key leaders within Los Chapitos and discuss the status of Los Chapitos today. I then examine the repercussions of both the disruption in CDS and the possible collapse of Los Chapitos and show how those effects may be felt in all of Latin America, as well as other places in the world. Finally, I hypothesize about what might happen if Ivan is captured and how such a capture might affect the CDS as a whole.   

Forty years ago today, DEA Special Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena was abducted outside the American consulate in Guadalajara.  Agent Camarena was subsequently interrogated, brutally tortured, and murdered. In this Episode, with my guest Steve Duncan, we discuss Agent Camarena's legacy and impact, the efforts of the Enrique S. Camarena Foundation to educate the nation's youth on the dangers of drugs, and we discuss the possibility of more closure coming for the family and friends of Agent Camarena.  

In this Episode, in addition to touching on some recent news, I discuss the plethora of reports asserting that many of the main cartel figures in custody in the U.S. are engaged in plea negotiations with federal prosecutors.   Specifically, I discuss the nature and prevalence of plea agreements in the federal criminal justice system.  Then I look at the specific reports of plea discussions with Ovidio Guzman, Joaquin Guzman, and El Mayo, including what each may offer to prosecutors and possible impediments to plea agreements. Finally, I consider the value and wisdom of some of the government's plea-bargaining strategy and question how long that strategy can (or should) continue. 

In this Episode, I discuss the Camarena case with James Kuykendall. Significantly, in addition to discussing some little-known facts about the case, Mr. Kuykendall directly addresses many claims, rumors, and inuendo, including many raised by Hector Berrellez and others in The Last Narc.  

In this Episode I discuss the recent re-arrest of El Mini Licenciado who had been given an early release from federal custody as a reward for information on drug traffickers and the Sinaloa Cartel and, most importantly, his testimony against El Chapo.   I also examine the long-standing policy of the US and the DOJ to "reward" narco traffickers who provide information deemed valuable to the government. Specifically, I consider whether this policy has yielded results sufficient to justify its costs. 

In this Episode, I first discuss the widespread costs in Culiacan as a result of the CDS civil war, including an estimated $1 billion lost by Culiacan-area business. Next, I discuss reports that the plan for Joaquin to betray El Mayo and arrange his rendition to the U.S. was the result of El Chapo's long held desire for his sons to turn themselves in for better deals and to secure better lives.  I also look into the reports that those concerns were heightened with the 2023 arrest of Ovidio.  Finally, I address reports of an alliance between Los Chapitos and CJNG, including the belief of some that the alliance will place Ivan Archivaldo at the pinnacle of Mexican drug traffickers.    

Retired DEA Agent Leo Silva has written a fascinating book titled "Reign of Terror" chronicling the rise and fall of Los Zetas. In this Episode, Leo and I discuss his book, his career in the DEA, and his inside view of the ascendence of Los Zetas and the factors that lead to their demise.  During our discussion, Leo shares personal insights revealing the enormous cost of the fight to bring down Los Zetas -- on both sides of the border.  

One week after the election of Donald Trump, we are getting an idea of some of the policies his administration will adopt that likely will affect the US's relationship with Mexico and both countries' concerns with the cartels and drug trafficking. In this Episode, I assess some of these potential policies of the next Trump administration and the emerging policies of the Scheinbaum administration.  Specifically, I look at border policies in general, the potential designation of cartels as terrorist groups, economic policies, mass deportations, and a variety of political issues in Mexico.  

Juan Jose Esparragoza Moreno, aka El Azul, may not be the most known of the drug traffickers in Mexico's cartel history but he had one of the most interesting careers, which I discuss in this Episode. Born in the same town as El Chapo, El Azul worked for the DFS, is credited as being a leader in the so-called Guadalajara Cartel, and was jailed for his involvement in the murder of Agent Kiki Camarena. After his release from jail, El Azul worked in the Juarez Cartel alongside Amado Carrillo Fuentes, was said to be a consigliere to El Chapo, a friend of El Mayo, and a leader in CDS. Everywhere he went he was a negotiator and mediator, earning the monicker the "Peacemaker" from US investigators.   Finally, his reported death in 2014 remains shrouded in controversy, much like that of his former mentor Carillo Fuentes.   

In this Episode, I update the ongoing battle within the CDS between Los Chapitos and La Mayiza, now under the control of Mayito Flaco by reference to three issues. First, I look at the difficult circumstances encountered by President Scheinbaum in her first month in office. Second, I examine the stark numbers in terms of killed, injured, and missing in Sinaloa and how Mexico's military is or may be addressing the violence. Finally, I discuss various reports that a new alliance has formed or soon may be formed -- an alliance between Los Chapitos and CJNG, possibly including the Morena political party.  

In this Episode, I re-cap the recent news and events in the ongoing war between Los Chapitos and MZ in Culiacan. Then I discuss the trial of El Menchito who was convicted in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia this week.  In particular, I examine the witnesses against El Menchito, including cooperating witnesses with both reasons to testify for the government and, in several cases, deep opposition to the CJNG and El Mencho. Finally, I draw parallels between El Menchito's trial and the trials of Ruben Zuno Arce, and I express my concerns over the potential for the desire for convictions to overwhelm the commitment to justice.  

In this news report Episode, we discuss the violent confrontations between "armed civilians" rocking Culiacan since early morning. Most significantly, we look at the many reports of audio recordings confirming that Ismael Zambada Sicairos ("Mayito Flaco"), the presumed leader of the Mayo Zambada faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, has authorized or instructed his hitmen to attack Los Chapitos in Culiacan.  We also consider whether this is the "war" some expected after Joaquin Guzman apparently duped El Mayo into a meeting and abducted him, eventually flying El Mayo to the US and into the custody of the FBI.   

In this Labor Day edition of the podcast, I look at three interesting developments in the last few days. First, I discuss Osiel Cardenas Guillen's release from federal prison.  Specifically, I discuss the fact that he was placed in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the reports that he will be turned over to Mexican authorities on Monday. Second, I look into reports that Jorge Humberto Figueroa Benitez (El 27 or El Perris), who, according to some, replaced El Nini, was the one who physically tied up El Mayo and put him in the back of the pickup truck. I also consider whether this indicates a larger role for Los Chapitos in addition to Joaquin, particularly in light of recent stories that Ovidio Guzman has been placed into the witness protection program.  Finally, we consider the violent clashes in Culiacan late last week, the premature rumors of Ivan's capture, and who the real targets of the Mexican military might have been.   

The government's case in the Zuno II trial rested largely on the testimony of two former Jalisco State Police officers, Jorge Godoy and Rene Lopez Romero.  In this Episode, I look into the backgrounds of these two men and specifically discuss their admissions to having been employed by Ernesto Fonseca and witnesses to and participants in various crimes including the torture and murder of American citizens.  Moreover, Lopez even claimed to have participated in the abduction of Agent Camarena and nevertheless received money and immunity for his testimony.    I also look at the highly dubious timing of statements from both men implicating Ruben Zuno Arce, coming only days after the affirmance of the new trial order and after many DEA interviews without implicating Zuno.   Finally, I discuss the untold number of witnesses presented to the DEA and the unknown amount of money paid to potential and actual witnesses, including Godoy and Lopez. 

In the two Zuno trials, prosecution witness testified to several alleged conspiracy meetings to discuss and plan the abduction of Agent Camarena.  In this episode, we assess the credibility of those allegations and of the witnesses themselves.   Specifically, we discuss the number of alleged meetings (as many as 10 over 3-4 months), the number of people at the alleged meetings (more than 70), the high-profile people alleged to have been at some of the meetings, the inconsistencies between the testimony regarding the alleged meetings between Zuno I and Zuno, and, finally, the internal inconsistencies within the Zuno II testimony of Jorge Godoy. 

Today's Episode concludes my three-part analysis of the abduction of Agent Camarena from outside the America consulate.  Specifically, in this Episode I reach some conclusions regarding the abduction including conclusions regarding the participation and statements of Rene Lopez Romero, the veracity of Agent Berrellez's discussions on the abduction, and the participation of Caro Quintero.  Finally, I discuss the near perfect timing of the abductors and the questions presented by that timing.  

Again this week, the arrests of El Mayo and Joaquin Guzman Lopez have dominated the cartel-related conversation.  In this Episode, I look at the latest reports and rumors regarding the events that lead to the plane carrying El Mayo and Joaquin landing in New Mexico and the two men being taken into custody. I then discuss the possible power vacuum created by El Mayo's arrest and refer to articles from two experts on the issue.  Finally, I review letters from Senator Chuck Grassley written to several officials raising the specter of inter-agency rivalry that led to stand down orders when investigators had gotten close to capturing Alfredo Guzman and other Chapitos.

The HUGE news this week was the arrest of Ismael Zambada (El Mayo), a leader and founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of El Chapo and one of Los Chapitos. In this Episode, I discuss the known facts about the arrests and consider the primary theories on how the arrests occurred.   I also look at what the arrests could mean for the stability of the CDS, and the potential for power grabs by CJNG and other cartels.  Finally, I examine the abduction of Dr. Humberto Alvarez Machain from Mexico, U.S. Supreme Court decisions regarding his abduction and the extradition treaty between the United States and Mexico, and how that precedent might apply to the rendition of El Mayo.

Many of the alleged witnesses to the abduction of Agent Camarena case provide narratives of the abduction that are both inconsistent over time and irreconcilable with each other.  In this Episode, I explore these inconsistencies focusing in particular on the names of the alleged participants, descriptions of the abduction location, and the some of the alleged details about the abduction, including the alleged participation of a consulate employee who, one alleged witness claims, identified Agent Camarena to his abductors.   

In this Episode, I examine the abduction of Agent Camarena, focusing particularly on the timeline of events surrounding the abduction.   Initially, I discuss the known facts that present a narrow, and very specific, time frame when the abduction could have occurred. Next, I look at the statements of alleged witnesses and others regarding the timeline for the abduction.  This analysis demonstrates that none of these statements appear to fit within the required timeframe, calling into question the veracity and credibility of these sources.

In this special Episode, my 100th, I reflect back on to the Camarena case and look forward to efforts to clear the record of false narratives and blatant misrepresentations about the case. Specifically, in this Episode, I discuss some of the reasons why the Camarena case is highly personal to me. I also reflect on the need to resolve some unanswered issues surrounding the case in order to honor the legacy of Agent Camarena and to respect the legacy of those who worked with Agent Camarena, those who searched for him, and those who sought to bring his killers to justice. I then consider the false narratives around the case, including those presented by the government in the prosecution of Ruben Zuno Arce and others. Finally, I reflect on the false and malicious claims made by Agent Berrellez and his so-called witnesses in The Last Narc and elsewhere.

In this abbreviated, Father's Day Episode, I discuss a few of the topics focused on in the last few months and add new information or perspectives. Specifically, I look at the "final" results from the Mexican elections and discuss the near super majority of the MORENA party in Mexico's Congress. I also examine the continuing responses by the Mexican markets to MORENA's dominance in the elections.  I also discuss institutional reforms proposed by AMLO, which President-elect Sheinbaum seems to support. I also consider recent data indicating that 2023 was the first year in many to experience a decrease in the number of drug overdoses and propose possible explanations for that change. Finally, I look at recent reports that both El Mayo and El Mencho are close to death and consider the potential ramifications if one or both of these cartel leaders passes. 

Mexico's national elections on June2 were historic in many respects.  Most significantly is that Mexico elected its first woman, and first Jewish, President, and did so by an unprecedented margin.   In this Episode, I discuss the election and look toward Mexico's future by discussing the reaction of the Mexican markets to Mrs. Scheinbaum's election and evaluating how her presidency could impact Mexico's relationship with the United States. I also consider how outgoing President Lopez Obrador could influence Mexican policies even after he leaves office. Finally, I try to distill the myriad factors to assess potential changes in the Mexican government's efforts to combat the cartels.     

On June 2, Medico is likely to elect the first female President in a North American country. In addition to electing a President, the elections will fill the 628 seats of the bicameral federal Congress, eight state governorships, the Mexico City mayorship, and more than 20,000 local offices. In this Episode, I consider the Mexican elections by looking at the two primary candidates for the presidency and their positions on key issues.  I also look the violence in the lead up to the elections, and the role of the cartels in the electoral process.  Finally, I address AMLO's role as the outgoing President, and what it says about Mexico's democracy, today and in the future.  

The efforts of Mexican cartels to launder the hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit profits in the U.S. have been a focus of law enforcement and regulators on both sides of the border.  In this Episode, I discuss an analysis of those laundering efforts published in the Journal of Illicit Economies and Development.   The article, among other topics, details incidents of corruption at the highest levels of the Mexican government. The article also discusses the money laundering statutes in the United States.  The article provides a case study of money laundering by Los Zetas through the quarter horse racing industry in the U.S.  The authors then present several examples of systemics corruption in the Mexican government at the state level.  Finally, we discuss the six proposals for reform the authors suggest might assist in stemming the flow of illicit funds into the U.S.  

Last week, the DEA presented its annual National Drug Threat Assessment (NDTA). In this Episode, I discuss some of the more significant observations in the NDTA.  Specifically, I look at the NDTA's description of the Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartels, including their leadership structures, drug trafficking patterns, international presences, and other illegal activities. I also present the NDTA's findings on the illegal drug threats in the United States, identified by seizures and overdose deaths.  

The use of social media has become an integral part of the operation of Mexican cartels and has expanded their reach and influence in new and profound ways.   In this Episode, I look at the narrative themes in the cartel's social media presence, as well at the specific operational strategies and objectives fueled by social media.  I also examine the Combating Cartels on Social Media Act of 2023, a bill currently pending in Congress. Finally, I discuss current trends in cartels' social media use, and the propaganda "boosts" often unintentionally provided to cartels by news and other media outlets.  

This last week, news reports highlighted the arrest of Abraham Oseguera Cervantes (alias "Don Rondo"), the older brother of CJNG leader El Mencho. In this Episode, I discuss not only Don Rondo's arrest but also the arrest of other relatives of El Mencho, including another brother (El Tony Montana), his son, daughter, and wife. Specifically, I discuss the often overly dramatic and misleading press reports surrounding these arrests and I examine the utility of this approach, one that has been used by the U.S. and Mexican governments, as well as those in other Latin American countries.  

Earlier this month, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the implementation of Operation Border Spike, which it called the next step in the CBP's strategy to combat fentanyl and other synthetic drugs.  Operation Border Spike begins with a focus on the Nogales, Sonora plaza and the plaza's boss.   In this Episode, I give a brief overview of the city of Nogales, and then focus on the elements of Operation Border Spike, as announced by CBP.  I then provide a brief history of the man at the head of the Nogales plaza -- Sergio Valenzuela Valenzuela.   In particular, I look at Valenzuela's rise to power and his close relationship with CDS leader El Mayo Zamabada.  

One of the more profound impacts of the Cartel wars has been the focus on the violence in many areas of the country, and corresponding diminishing attention to Mexico's rich and diverse history, culture, and economy. In this Episode, I look at this concept through the lens of Ciudad Juarez. Specifically, I examine the city's fascinating history, as well the rise and fall of the Juarez Cartel.  Next, I look at the current Cartel battles for control of the city and the economy in Juarez today. Finally, I put a human face on the cartel influences in Juarez by looking at the tragic impact the violence has had on the children of Juarez, their education, and their families.   

I frequently get asked what I the major issues in the fight against the Mexican cartels and the fentanyl crisis.  In response, in addition to other issues, I often talk about the demand for illegal drugs in the United States and elsewhere and the economic realities in much of Mexico that precipitate participation in the cartels. Recently, I read two interesting and compelling articles that add to the analysis, and I discuss each in this Episode. The first article presents five policy areas Presidential aspirants should address in connection with the fight against the cartels.  Those policies points are foreign policy changes, strategies to deal with the cartels, southern border strategies, declare the cartels narco-terrorists, and a uniform domestic anti-narcotic strategy.  I look at and discuss each of these policies.   The second article discusses the Mexican military's unique role within the Mexican government and the risks to democracy presented by that role.  In this Episode, we look at the critical features of the Mexican military highlighted by the article and the ways in which those features impact the war on fentanyl and efforts by both Mexico and the United States, separately or bilaterally, to combat the cartels.   

Last week, while on a spring trip road trip with my daughter, we passed by the town of Florence, Colorado and ADX Supermax, the most secure prison in the country, housing our most dangerous and notorious prisoners, including infamous former cartel leader, El Chapo Guzman. My curiosity spurred, this Episode discusses the impetus for the construction of Supermax, the prisoners placed in Supermax, and how they are segregated within the prison.  Next, we look at the cells and daily lives of prisoners at Supermax face.  Finally, examine some litigation and complaints regarding the prison, including those from El Chapo who says he endures inhumane and unfair conditions.  

May 5 marked 39 years since the tragic discovery of the bodies of Agent Camarena and Captain Zavala.  Since there is a significant amount of disinformation about the discoveries and surrounding events, this Episode provides facts to set the record straight. Initially, we discuss Commandante Pavon Reyes and the kidnapping of Captain Zavala, identifying the widely disseminated false narratives. Next, we describe the massacre at Bravo Ranch and the subsequent discovery of the bodies of Agent Camarena and Captain Zavala.  Finally, we examine the reasonable inferences of a conspiracy arising from the Bravo Ranch facts.

In an early January episode, I discussed the just-released reports that claimed the DEA had investigated information that drug traffickers had funneled millions of dollars into the 2006 presidential campaign of current Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.  In that discussion, we questioned the impact of those reports could have on bilateral relations, especially in light of speculation that they have been leaked by U.S. actors or agencies. In this Episode, I look at recent claims that the reports in fact have impaired cooperation between the two countries, including pausing a planned operation to capture and arrent CJNG leader El Mencho. I also look at reports that Genero Garcia Luna, a key figure in the administrations of Presidents Vicente Fox and Felipe Calderon, took a multi-million dollar bribe from El Mayo while serving as the director of the Federal Investigative Agency in the Fox administration.

China's role in the drug trafficking enterprises of the Mexican cartels is often discussed, but often without significant specificity or detail. In this Episode, I explore the services provided by Chinese criminal organizations to the cartels, prominently in the supply of precursor chemicals and in money laundering.   I also look at the role of the Chinese government and its potential to disrupt the Chinese organizations aiding the cartels, especially in areas relating to cryptocurrency and other virtual assets.    Finally, I speculate about the future of the cartel-China relationship by discussing, among other issues, potential conflicts in Europe and possible fractionization of the cartel system in Mexico. 

In the ever-changing world of Mexican cartels, it often is hard to "know the players without a scorecard." Such is the case as cartels battle for control of the Mexican state of Tamaulipas and the lucrative border town of Nuevo Laredo. In this Episode, I trace the lineage of the infamous Los Zetas cartel to one of the prime combatants in Nuevo Laredo, the Cartel del Noreste or CDN. I also discuss other Zeta-related splinter groups, including the Zetas Vieja Escuela, or Old School Zetas. Finally, I look at the now fractionalized Gulf Cartel, and discuss its several groups, including the Scorpions, Cyclones, Metros, and Rojos, including their interactions and common grounds.

Recent headlines trumpeted reports that the DEA head investigated allegations that narco traffickers had provided millions of dollars to a presidential campaign of current Mexican President Andres Manual Lopez Obrador ("AMLO"). In this Episode, I examine the reports of the DEA's investigation into the allegations that the traffickers provided funds to AMLO's 2006 campaign. To do so, I look at the state of Mexican politics and cartels in 2006, describe the key figures in the alleged cooperation between the traffickers and the AMLO campaign, and walk through the investigation itself. Finally, I speculate on what these revelations could mean for Mexican-American relations and cooperation in the fight against the cartels, now and in the future.

The ongoing battles between CDS, CJNG, and the military for control of the Mexican state of Chiapas have been widely reported in the news for the last few weeks. In this Episode, I look into the crisis in Chiapas by tying together various events occurring over the better part of the last decade to understand what led to the current events.  In particular, I look at the fracture between the Los Chapitos and El Mayo factions of CDS that arose in the aftermath of the arrest and extradition of El Chapo.  I then consider the capture of Ovidio Guzman and the apparent peace treaty between El Mayo and Los Chapitos, and reveal the events of the last year evidencing that treaty, including the capture of El Nini. Finally, I discuss how these events have led to the CJNG and CDS battles in Chiapas.  

Daniel Brunner boasts an impressive 29 years of combined service in federal law enforcement and the U.S. Navy. Serving 20 years as a Special Agent in the FBI, Mr. Brunner developed a wide area of expertise including vital Latin and South American geopolitical subjects, encompassing facets such as China's involvement, organized crime ranging from gangs to cartels, nuances of local business practices, corruption, the prevailing political atmosphere, and intricate local due diligence. In particular, Mr. Brunner, working with other federal agencies and the offices of the U.S. Attorneys, investigated the criminal enterprise known as MS-13 and was able to utilize RICO to charge numerous members of MS-13, not only for individual crimes but also for participating in the broader criminal activities of the gang as a whole.  In this Episode, Mr. Brunner discusses the rise of MS-13 as an international criminal organization, its evolution over time, the relationship between MS-13 and the Mexican cartels, and the efforts of law enforcement to bring MS-13 to justice.

For the first episode of 2024, I conclude our examination into the life and career of Honduran trafficker Juan Ramon Matta Ballesteros. In this Episode, I look at the allegations connecting Matta to the Camarena kidnapping, including his alleged presence at Lope de Vega and his escape from Mexico City shortly after the Camarena abduction.  I also examine his role in connecting Felix Gallardo with the cocaine traffickers from Colombia. Matta's connection to the Honduran airline company SETCO also is discussed, as well as his alleged relationship with the CIA. Finally, I look at Matta's legacy, the tremendous breadth of his connections and influence, and I discuss a personal conversation I had with Matta.

Juan Ramon Matta Ballesteros played a pivotal role in the expansion of drug trafficking from Colombia to Mexico and to the United States in the 1970s and 1980s. Moreover, many allege he and his company were significant actors in the U.S.'s proxy war in support of the Contras seeking to overthrow Nicaragua's Sandinista government. Matta also may have been involved in the kidnapping and murder of DEA Agent Kiki Camarena. In this Episode, the first of two, we look at Matta's upbringing and his introduction to crime. We also investigate Matta's deep connection to the Honduran military and its role in Matta's rise to being a prolific trafficker. Finally, the Episode discusses Matta's capture in Apil 1988, his transportation to the United States, and the criminal proceedings against him.

Last Wednesday, El Nini, the head of security for Los Chapitos and head of Los Ninis, was arrested in a mid-day raid on a house in Culiacan.  In this Episode, we examine the capture of El Nini and, most significantly, we discuss the possible reasons behind his capture and its timing. Notably, we discuss suggestions that his capture was part of a secret agreement between the Mexican military and Los Chapitos. We also discuss the death of El Mago, a key figure of Los Chapitos in Los Angeles, and discuss whether his murder is related to his connection to Ivan Archivaldo.  Lastly, we look at the capture of Juan Carlos Pizano, CJNG's Tapalpa plaza boss, who was said to be responsible for last Sunday's attack on military personnel in Teocalciche, Jalisco, that left three soldiers dead and three wounded.  

My recent viewing of season 3 of Narcos: Mexico, which features Amado Carrillo Fuentes in one storyline, coupled with recent discussions about his death, led me to look more into the life, career, and death of The Lord of the Skies. In this episode, we look at Amado's rise from one of twelve children in Sinaloa, to the tutelage he received from old school traffickers Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo, his uncle, and Pablo Acosta Villarreal, to his rise to the leadership of the Juarez Cartel. We also examine his ill-fated alliance with, first, Pablo Escobar, and, later, the Cali Cartel. Finally, we discuss the pressures that led Amado to seek the plastic surgery and lipo suction in a Mexico City hospital that led to his death, as well as the continuing rumors that he faked his death.  

A September 1986 memorandum from the US Embassy in Mexico City to the State Department in Washington D.C. sought to "clear up some of the confusion that has been created by efforts to explain Mexican legal proceedings using US definitions" and to "promote a greater understanding of the differences between the Mexican and U.S. legal systems." In this Episode, we highlight the key differences discussed in the memorandum, including the burden of proof on a criminal defendant in Mexico, the unique elements of a trial in Mexico, and the active role of Mexican judges in the prosecution of a criminal case. We also take a brief look at the memorandum's discussion of the status of the Camarena-related trials, including the identification of key defendants detained by Mexican officials.       

Policy decisions regarding Mexican cartels should be driven by careful analysis coupled with a deep understanding of the cartel network structure in Mexico and its primary actors, i.e., CJNG and CDS. Social network analysis is a tool that can be used to evaluate these critical issues.   In this Episode, we discuss social network analysis and recent reports applying this methodology to Mexico's cartels. Those reports provide critical insight on the key differences between CDS and CJNG, the breadth and scope of the cartel network in Mexico, and possible outcomes if the power and strength of CDS or CJNG are diminished in the future.