Cartel members fired hundreds of rounds and hurled grenades and jugs of gasoline. This case is another example of how CJNG is increasingly vying for turf in Michoacn, the birthplace of its leader, Rubn Oseguera Cervantes. It has an army of 5,000 members . The strategy: Make it illegal for any U.S. citizen or company to spend money at a cartel-affiliated business. She recruited helpers, too, and they frequently made deposits of less than $10,000 amounts small enough to dodge federal reporting requirements at bank branches in Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee,as well asGreensboro and Winston-Salem,North Carolina. Furthermore, it's part of their propaganda drive to recruit the many youths seeking that "narco"-glamorized life, flashed and filtered by images of beautiful women, mounds of money and a depository of deadly arms. I don't want to put my wife, my family in danger.'". . CJNGs increased distribution of fentanyl across the country has helped the synthetic opioid unseat heroin as the nations No. Alton Strupp and Matt Stone, Louisville Courier Journal. CJNG burns rivals face alive as a way of mocking his nickname Ghost Rider. Known as CJNG, the cartel is a global powerhouse, detected on every continent except Antarctica. But they didn't know about dogged sheriff's detective John Walker, who developed informants and bought drugs while undercover. "That's the type ofterrorists were dealing with here.". For 53-year-old El Mencho, success did not come early. "I was surprised that CJNGs efforts and tentacles were reaching into Kentucky, that they had expanded their reach that rapidly, said Evans, who previously headed the Louisville Field Division. "If he was, I didnt charge him enough.". Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Cartels target tourist destinations along Oregon coast for illegal drug distribution. Armas used the couple's home as a drug stash house, paying them with enough meth for their daily fix. It also forbids any U.S. bank to approve loans or credit card transactions for those CJNG-backed enterprises. UNCENSORED VIDEO BELOW / New horrifying video shows three CJNG cartel members beheading two men from a rival cartel in Mexico. We see them operating illegal marijuana farms in southern Oregon.". Walker realized he wasn't the only one watching this drug ring. The investigation documented how in each new community, CJNG uses local traffickers who can blend in to sell their drugs, with no regard for their race or ethnicity. He can be contacted atIortiz@breitbart.com. "As well as the violence and corruption that puts at risk the neighbor with which the United States shares an enormous land border, and in which thousands of U.S. companies operate, and U.S. citizens live.". Maciasand Sosa were convicted of meth trafficking and money laundering and are serving 31 and 15 years, respectively, in federal prison. Why is The Courier Journal reporting on a deadly Mexican drug cartel? A cartel member even worked at Kentucky's famed Calumet Farm, home to eight Kentucky Derby and three Triple Crown winners. Police grabbed him, finding two kilos of fentanyl stuffed in a backpack. "Anyone who does the same will suffer. On April 13, 2017, federal agents arrested Maciason his way to Calumet Farm. Betrayal led to the drug ring'scollapse. Somewhere deep in Mexico's remote wilderness, the worlds most dangerous and wanted drug lord is hiding. Alarmed by CJNG's surging violence in Mexico andcontinued expansion across this country, U.S. officials have pushed back. Last year, there were 2,513 killings in tourist hotspot Tijuana . Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password. Those who tried to run were tortured, killed and sometimescannibalizedby fellow recruits in what U.S. federal agents describe as a disturbing riteof passage. "My family knows Im not that person. Bizarre / Cartel / Murder / Pure Gore. All rights reserved. Armas also asked them to repackage large amounts of drugs and sell out of their home to users as well as mid-level dealers. More:US drug czar wants India to stem flow of chemicals used by Mexican cartels for fentanyl. Armas also used a former nurse from Clatsop County who was battling addiction to cart drugs from Hillsboro to the coast. "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.". Its extreme savagery in Mexico includes beheadings, public hangings, acid baths, even cannibalism. The government also alleges that Los Cabos targeted law enforcement in Tijuana, killing at least three police officers. 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. ", More:Ignoring cartel danger, Mexican families scour wilderness for missing loved ones' remains. Known as CJNG, the cartel is a global powerhouse, detected on every continent except Antarctica. "Theyre killing the next generation, and one of them was my son," Brenda Cooley said. Pineda Penaloza and his crew were convicted of drug trafficking and are now in federal prison. However, authorities did find bullet casings. From the shadows, he continues to lead CJNG with ruthless authority. The knives stabbed into the corpse fixed boards with messages to the body, one of which read "the traitor" in Spanish, Vice reports. "A very big, increasing problem. There, he built a thriving drug trafficking business, but the city's dominantcartel ordered him to leave when leaders became threatened by his success. Additional Video Update: There is an additional video of a fight against state police that took place in the town of Tizapn El Alto. Since the arrest and extradition to the U.S. of Sinaloa frontman Joaqun "El Chapo" Guzmn in 2016, analysts say that the CJNG has steadily encroached on new terrain including Tijuana bringing with it a recipe for bloodletting and groups waginga war of dominance. ", The mother of his two youngest children wrote a letter saying: "He is one of the greatest fathers that there is. He paid couriers to return the drug profits to him. Known as "El Mencho," he's remained in hiding for years and is on the DEA's Most Wanted list. They stormed a hideout west of Guadalajara, but the cartel leader climbed into a vehicle and was rushed to safety. His attorney, Noel Grefenson, declined comment for this story. "If you provide information to the Mexican government, its probably the last thing you would say.". In a Nov. 5 tweet, after nine people including six children with dual U.S.-Mexican citizenship were killed by cartels(though different ones than CJNG), President Donald Trump vowed to assist Mexican officials "in cleaning out these monsters. According to Mexico News Daily, more than 500 people in communities around the municipalities of Aguililla and Buenavista have deserted their homes and fled in fear for their lives as the fighting soars. Here you'll find all collections you've created before. More:Mexico-US investigation links cartel downing of military helicopter to Oregon gun supplier, "I know that what I committed was wrong, but believe me, I'm not the worst person here. Treasury Department officials stood with Sessions and announced more sanctions on businesses linked to CJNG and its affiliate, Los Cuinis. FBI agents lauded Walker's work, which helped the Bureau and Homeland Security Investigations expose an extensive drug distribution cell that targeted the Pacific Northwest. Warren traveled to six cities in the U.S. and reviewed thousands of documents in more than 100 court cases and sought prison interviews with more than two dozen cartel members and associates. Jalisco New Generation, often referred to as CJNG, is another Mexican cartel that emerged in 2010. But in America, few know who he is or why his rise to power matters. And court records detail how the cartel lures those who need money to serve as drug or cash couriers or money launderers. After agents toppled the Oregon drug network in 2018 and arrested 23 suspects, there were murders in Mexico that U.S. investigators suspect were meant to scare and silence potential witnesses in the Portland case. Those who refuse bribesare threatened or killed. And, according to reports by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, CJNG and its rival, the infamous Sinaloa Cartel, are the top two suppliers fueling the deadliest drug epidemic in U.S. history. When authorities arrested him, they found twoassault rifles, one inscribed with "Menchito" little Mencho and anotherengraved with"CJNG 02 JR.". But two years later, agents discovered he had slipped back into the U.S., returned to Portland and resumed trafficking cocaine and meth and had added heroin to his offerings. All rights reserved. It's still a little shocking when you can tie it together and say for certain that's where it came from.". 17. Farfan agreed to forfeit $100,000, and the judge ordered him to remain on supervised release for five years after he serves his time in prison. He knew that cartels have connections inside U.S. prisons. He handed the bag to Noe Antonio Machado-Medrano, then age 23. He quickly amassed a privatearmy, with CJNG members recruitingor kidnappinghundreds of men in their 20s and boys as young as 12. Dozens of couriers throughout the U.S. would then collect the drug profits and use the dirty moneyto buy scrap and fine gold. "Police and civilians are dying, and the CJNG and continues unfettered, flooding the U.S. with methamphetamine and other drugs," Tabor added. June 15, 2021 4:10 PM PT. The Jalisco Cartel New Generation (Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacin - CJNG) is a criminal group that has evolved as a result of killings, captures and rifts in older cartels. A young woman en route to selling street food was also fatally struck by a stray bullet through a car window. 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. Walker then secured search warrants to monitor social media accounts, where drug ring members chatted in code on Facebook Messenger. In America, Hispanic workers find themselves looked atwith suspicion because of political rhetoric that brands the drug trade and immigration as one and the same, say advocates for those workers. Drug dealers may not have worried about being caught here, in Clatsop County, a 90-minute drive northwest from the bustling city of Portland. On April 6, the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against Carlos . For an overview of the Pjaros Sierra versus Crtel Jalisco Nueva Generacin (CJNG) conflict, please see this previous Borderland Beat story. hammering his body with at least three bullets, stolen cars converted into armored vehicles to drones and high-powered machine guns. The cartel circulates these images of torture and execution on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites to spread fear and intimidation. On the run and out of sight, El Mencho is described by some veteran agents as a ghost. They also contacted more than two dozen accused cartel members or CJNG associates in prison and traveled to Mexico City, Guadalajara and 15 U.S. cities to see firsthand the far-reaching repercussions of El Menchos cartel. Both are now in prison for money laundering, and her sister, who has two children living in Kentucky, faces deportation. He co-founded Breitbart Texas Cartel Chronicles project with Brandon Darbyand senior Breitbart management. 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. "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. Immigrants, some fleeing criminal violence themselves, can be victimized by cartels on both sides of the border and unfairly targeted by U.S. political rhetoric or perceptions stoked by cartel crime. Authorities identified one of the four victims as Rey Jose Poblete Ramos, a man with a lengthy criminal history. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. "Our community is paying a steep price," said Carlos Guevara, a senior policy adviser for UnidosUS, Americas largest Latino civil rights organization. [CDATA[ This time, as Farfan oversaw his drug business, FBI agents mounted an investigation against him. There, amid the lush pastures and white rail fences, a Mexican immigrant with asinister secret quietly groomed prized thoroughbreds at historic Calumet Farm, according to court records. Tifa Winters. In 2017, Walker led a raid on a couple of Clatsop drug houses, teaming with Seaside, Cannon Beach and Oregon state police. Most people don't associate drug trafficking with the scenic tourist destinations along the Oregon coast, but Mexican cartels seek less scrutiny there. Next steps crucial, experts say. Yet, no sooner had authorities busted Kentucky's CJNG ringthan the cartel replaced Macias, sending in another team. The cartels, including CJNG, are feeling empowered because of the rampantviolence in Mexico, said Paul Craine, a retired DEA supervisor who oversaw the U.S. hunt for El Chapo. It could hide 9 kilos of drugs and a pile of cash. If you have drugs in your community, and I don't think there is any community that can say they don't have any, it is coming from the drug cartels. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel). Critics say the Mexican president, known as AMLO, seems more concerned about using federal troops to keep South Americanimmigrants out of his country than challenging the cartels. While some moves targeted the cartels finances, others were more personal. The gruesome crimes took place in Mexico's state of Colima. Investigators believe Bustos fled to Mexico. The cartel has run brothels in Mexico, often using teens and women forced into CJNG's web. I would like to be able to be with them. Man filmed eating dead body parts of rival Cartel member. Two years earlier, they stumbled onto a drug business at the same auto repair shop allegedly run by suspect Jose Cruz Gutierrez Bustos. CJNGmembers or associates would sell drugs to traffickers inWisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Georgia, California, Texas, Kentucky, Illinois and North Carolina. Americans who may not know of CJNG today should take note, Dodds said. Investigators uncovered three main pieces of the puzzle that revealed a snapshot of how this drug ring thrived. In an international operation that stretches back to 2011 dubbed "King's Gold," Homeland Security investigatorsin Chicago uncovered a money laundering organization that funneled more than $101 million to CJNG and another cartel. A larger probe was underway by Washington County Sheriff's WIN Team, the Westside Interagency Narcotics task force that includes agents with the FBI, Hillsboro and Beaverton police and the Oregon National Guard County-Drug investigators. In cases in which immigrants resist the cartel's offer, CJNG members often threatened violence to them or their loved ones back in Mexico, according to court cases and law enforcement officials. He was not a millionaire," Beaumont said. Moreover, the U.S. lacks the authority to make arrests in foreign countries, said Evans, a senior DEA official. The DEA's Donahue said many were taken toremote paramilitary camps where they were trained asassassins. "When Eduardo got involved in this he was a very young man, and it was because of a family connection an uncle who had been involved in Mexico organized crime for decades," his attorney, Matthew A. Schindler, told The Courier Journal, referring to Victor Farfan. 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. This short film details The Courier Journal's investigation into CJNG and its leader, El Mencho, began in early 2019 and what was uncovered. In their 20s and boys as young as 12 kidnappinghundreds of men in their 20s and as! A little shocking when you can tie it together and say for certain that 's where it came.. `` that 's the type ofterrorists were dealing with here. `` hammering his body with at cjng cartel killings bullets... Trafficking and money laundering, and her sister, who developed informants and bought drugs undercover! 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