Proceso has a story this week about my book, The Last Narco, (as well as some of their own reporting on Chapo) but I thought I should mention that the lead statement in their story, that the US and Mexican authorities allowed Chapo to escape from Puente Grande, is wrongly attributed to me. Samuel Gonzalez Ruiz, the former SIEDO prosecutor, made this claim, and the DEA refutes it.
Just thought I'd clarify that.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Excellent story about US corruption
Washington Post has a great story about US-side corruption. Link in title of this post
Well said, Mr. Calderon
"I think the main thing we have in common with Colombia is that both of our countries suffer from U.S. drug consumption," Calderon said in response to Hillary Clinton's comments comparing Mexico to Colombia 20 years ago. "We are both victims of the enormous American consumption of drugs, and now the sales of weapons."
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Zetas and more
Apparently the military arrested a top Zeta in Monterrey on Aug. 29. Juan Francisco Zapata Gallegos, aka El Billy, was the jefe of the Monterrey plaza, or drug smuggling turf.
That's a pretty big bust, given the trouble Los Zetas have been causing in Monterrey of late. Of course, it doesn't mean they won't replace him, but it's still a good get. I didn't see it reported much, so thought I'd mention it now.
Incidentally, anyone know how much a jefe de plaza makes these days? According to a counter-drug official I talked to a while back, the jefe of the Ciudad Juarez plaza makes around $1 million a week. Not bad, if you can survive it for, well, a week or so. I welcome any input on what other jefes de plaza make if anyone knows.
Again incidentally, I am once again predicting that El Lazca, the head of Los Zetas, will be the next man to fall. I know I'm kinda all over the place with these unfounded predictions, but I'm guessing that I'm guessing right this time.
PS - El Universal has a piece on La Barbie's arrest, and the apparent story behind the officially concocted story. I wouldn't want to be in Garcia Luna's shoes. If he made up the story about the operativo, then I reckon he's getting a serious grilling from Calderon right now. Would be interesting if he were to survive allegations of cartel links only to be removed for taking credit for a raid that never happened.
That's a pretty big bust, given the trouble Los Zetas have been causing in Monterrey of late. Of course, it doesn't mean they won't replace him, but it's still a good get. I didn't see it reported much, so thought I'd mention it now.
Incidentally, anyone know how much a jefe de plaza makes these days? According to a counter-drug official I talked to a while back, the jefe of the Ciudad Juarez plaza makes around $1 million a week. Not bad, if you can survive it for, well, a week or so. I welcome any input on what other jefes de plaza make if anyone knows.
Again incidentally, I am once again predicting that El Lazca, the head of Los Zetas, will be the next man to fall. I know I'm kinda all over the place with these unfounded predictions, but I'm guessing that I'm guessing right this time.
PS - El Universal has a piece on La Barbie's arrest, and the apparent story behind the officially concocted story. I wouldn't want to be in Garcia Luna's shoes. If he made up the story about the operativo, then I reckon he's getting a serious grilling from Calderon right now. Would be interesting if he were to survive allegations of cartel links only to be removed for taking credit for a raid that never happened.
more on la barbie
So the word on the street is that La Barbie was actually busted for speeding, and when asked by the police what he was doing and who he was, he admitted to being a drug trafficker -ie, he turned himself in.
More to come on this when I know more: if this is true, one would have to wonder where the story about more than 1,000 federal police storming his villa came from.
More to come on this when I know more: if this is true, one would have to wonder where the story about more than 1,000 federal police storming his villa came from.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Sinaloa
Apologies for those who are in Mexico and follow this more closely than I do, but I just stopped chatting to a Sinaloan friend, and was told that Jesus Vizcarra, the gubernatorial candidate who allegedly had ties to El Mayo Zambada, has left the country to a new life in San Diego.
This is news to me, in part, because I had no idea he had lost this summer's gubernatorial elections. I had simply assumed he'd won. While a lot of media attention was focused on the PRI falling in Oaxaca, I didn't see anything on the PRI being toppled in Sinaloa (Not that this means it wasn't reported, i just didn't see it). The PRI has never been out of power in Sinaloa, and as we all know, was responsible for the nice little behind-the-scenes arrangement with the local narcos.
Good for the people of Sinaloa, voting for change even if change may bring with it uncertainty and fear. As my friend says, "Where there's PAN, there's more terror. Where there's PRI, they make agreements with the narcos and there's less terror."
This is news to me, in part, because I had no idea he had lost this summer's gubernatorial elections. I had simply assumed he'd won. While a lot of media attention was focused on the PRI falling in Oaxaca, I didn't see anything on the PRI being toppled in Sinaloa (Not that this means it wasn't reported, i just didn't see it). The PRI has never been out of power in Sinaloa, and as we all know, was responsible for the nice little behind-the-scenes arrangement with the local narcos.
Good for the people of Sinaloa, voting for change even if change may bring with it uncertainty and fear. As my friend says, "Where there's PAN, there's more terror. Where there's PRI, they make agreements with the narcos and there's less terror."
Monday, September 6, 2010
Pena Nieto the super hero
Prior to several of the videos about La Barbie's arrest on El Universal's web site, a short ad featuring Enrique Pena Nieto has been running. The effect of this is interesting. Even though I know full well that Pena Nieto had very little to do with the capture of La Barbie (it did occur in his state, however, so he may or may not have been notified of the operativo) I am left with the comforting thought that he and security are synonymous. Excellent ad placement, PRI, most excellent.
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