The Sonora Independent Cartel, Contenido en Español and Los Pepos

APRIL Q&A!

Hey! Welcome back to my monthly correspondence dispatch where every 15th of the month I open up my ‘ask me a question’ box on Instagram (click here to go to my IG) and find your answers three days later here, on the Correspondence section. I enjoy keeping in touch with you! I tried to group all of the similar questions the best I could, and if I left yours out it was probably because I couldn’t understand it.

Hope you enjoy our correspondence!

Best,

Luis

El Paso, TX, Mar.17 2024

What’s happening with Ovidio’s trial?

Ovidio’s next in-person hearing is set for next June, where we will know more about if he will be going to trial or take a deal. In the meantime, on March 3 the prosecutors submitted a notice letting his attorneys know they are still gathering “more wire taps” on Ovidio, which allegedly will be sealed. It will be interesting to later know who and what were on those wire taps…

More about Amado Carrillo…

I’m not sure there is much more to add on a cold story like the one regarding Amado Carrillo. I would love to know more details on his relationship with Mexican TV personality Paco Stanley, but not much details are available!

I think those stories on how the Juarez Cartel embedded with politicians and TV personalities in the 90’s would be great to hear. So if any of you have some stories to tell, please reach out!

Why don’t you expose the mafia drug cartels and bankers in D.C. and gun suppliers?

The white collar criminals are 100% the ones allowing international mafias to operate and to fund their way up. BUT it is extremely difficult to go after them and expose them for what they are due to the lack of proof. The system works in a way in which everything they do is either legitimized or is an endless chain of command where no one is really to blame. Of course, you can say this name or the other, but without solid proof of their direct involvement or an official document pointing at them for their crimes…it ends up just being gossip.

Is Fuerza Regida taking the threats from cartels serious?

I think that is something only Fuerza Regida or his management can tell you.

Is there any light at the end of the tunnel over narco-violence or is it getting worse?

I think both can be true: the criminal violence in Latin America is definitely getting worse, especially because they went from being drug cartels to become criminal enterprises/criminal insurgencies.

At the same time I think there is light at the end of the tunnel, but countries need to work together. That’s where these criminal enterprises benefit: from the lack of agreement, from the useless blaming between countries and from corruption all across the continent. It does seems like an utopia, but I do think that’s the only way this will ever stop. The extreme violence, not the drug or crime issue.

Colombia locals cartels against Mexican or they working together?

In the actual cocaine trade business Colombians are seen only as producers and not strongly involved in trafficking directly to the US. Nonetheless there is an interesting power shift currently developing: Colombians are using Ecuador as proxy, while Mexicans are too, because of the strategic position of Ecuador and its lack of a strong state. Also, because a lot of the drugs stashed in Ecuador are heading to the European market, a market that neither the Mexicans or the Colombians have yet claimed in full. If Europe is the goal, the Colombians don’t really need the Mexicans…so this could mean a huge growth by Colombian mafias.

Has the cartel or government ever ask you to stop investigating?

I’ve never faced a direct threat by the cartel asking me to stop investigating. I usually do my investigations with the knowing of criminal organizations, first of all to make sure I’m safe, secondly to make sure that what I’m saying, finding, learning is accurate and first hand reported. There has been times where the subject of my investigations go against what a criminal organization wants genera population to know, but there is always a way to get the story while not putting myself at risk…

Ocran Leaks es el Mini Lic?

If you go to my previous posts in ‘Correspondence’, you’ll find several answers to this topic! But short answer: no.

¿Le gusta Miguel Comando? Saludos viejito.

Lo escucho compadre, seguro que si! Saludos.

Current situation in Michoacán. Your thoughts.

Michoacán has been one of the states where the example of criminal enterprises and a failed state is more evident. Michoacán is currently seeing a strong fight for territory, but also for representation, by one major criminal organization: CJNG, while several other cartels, smaller ones, have tried to ally against them, never succeeding. Another thing to note in Michoacán is not only the lack of a state of law, but a paired agenda between the state and criminal actors.

What’s the future war on drugs look like?

I think we will see more of it online, with propaganda-like videos. More of it away from drugs and more into natural resources. And also more intertwined with local politics.

Currently listening to one of Ioan Grillo’s books, do you have any (in the works)?

I’m moving at the pace of a handicapped snail…but I think I have something solid for the long run! Ioan’s books are always fire!

¿Para cuándo en español?

Bien pronto carnal, estamos grabando un podcast semanal en Spanish! Creo que les va a gustar el formato.

Where is La Barbie?

La Barbie is currently serving 49 years of prison time.

Who is the current leader of the Sinaloa Cartel after ‘El Chapo’

The Sinaloa Cartel has been a group of different families heading the organization, sometimes at peace, sometimes at war…currently ‘El Mayo’, ‘Los Chapitos’ and two other unnamed families are at the top of the organization.

When does el güero Palma get out?

I’m more than sure that El Güero will get out of prison in a coffin. Federal judges have been denying his requests for humanitarian release due to his age and health…

‘Los Aretes’ More on them please…

I’ll try to make an explainer on la Cafetera…explaining how the family stopped being on top, new players, and new factions. In the meantime, watch ‘El Bordo Podcast’, a very interesting interview with one of the main players is soon to be out!

What about the distribution of the cartels here in the U.S.?

Mexican drug cartels operate in the US through buyers and brokers. Several of them swear loyalty to the organization, but since in the US there are no insurgencies, or armed branches of a cartel, but single operators, the representation of cartel looks very different. That said, almost every single state in the US has cartel presence to one extent or the other…specially small towns.

Can you make a video on Juan Orlando Hernández?

Will try to…one of the major criminals currently alive!

What ever happened to Tolín Infante?

Tolín Infante is still in prison, in a Oaxaca max serving time.

¿Alguna vez conociste al Nini o pensaste en entrevistarlo?

Nunca lo conocí, tampoco se me ocurrió entrevistarlo. Probablemente sería un personaje interesante, pero ahora toca seguir su juicio y su muy probable extradición.

Is ‘El Chapo’ currently in prison?

As far as I know yes. He was just denied a motion to be able to see his wife, Emma Coronel and his daughters.

Any plans to interview the Flores twins?

I would love to. At some point we had a couple of calls, but at the end an interview was not possible. They do have a very interesting story to tell, although I think they had already shared most of it.

You going on Ed’s Manifesto?

Hopefully soon! Every time I travel to TJ he’s not in, or I’m out of time.

Who is the closest to being captured in the Narco World?

I wouldn’t be able to see the future nor I have access to investigations, but I’m guessing we will be seeing a lot of major target from CDN arrested and extradited in the next months. Also, I could guess Alfredo Guzmán could be soon arrested, he is now target number 1 for US and Mexico authorities when it comes to the Sinaloa Cartel.

What got you into this?

It began with the dream of becoming a journalist and a quest to find what happened to five of my friends murdered in Ciudad Juárez. In the opinion section I have a full detailed story on what and how I got into this.

When is the next appearance on the Shawn Ryan Show?

Pretty soon! Expect something different from the next time I’m at Shawn’s!

¿Cuándo va a sacar toda la entrevista del mini completa?

Yo espero que pronto. Voy a comenzar un proyecto en español y voy a echar una pensada a ver si cabe esa entrevista en ese proyecto!

Interested in links between cartels and South Africa

I have nothing on S.A., but would love to learn more!

Do you think Mexico leads the Latin American world if it got the cartel situation solved?

I think it still does. Mexico financially, culturally and in terms of education is leading Latin America. I do think that if Mexico gets rid of the violence spread out through the country, Mexico could become a powerful country and be at the same level of Canada and the United States.

¿Qué alianzas has escuchado que se han formado en Ciudad Juarez?

No he escuchado alianzas recientes. Lo que he escuchado es la presencia más fuerte del CJNG operando junto a La Empresa y muchas más divisiones dentro de lo que era el Cártel de Juárez.

Are you planning on interviewing someone from Los Chapitos in regard to El Mini?

I would love to, I’ve always said that Ivan Guzmán must have one of the most interesting stories to tell, a new version of things.

What is going on in Sonora with the Sonora independent and Sinaloa cartels. Is is safe to travel?

Right now Sonora is one of the most violent regions in Mexico. The Sonora cartel, formerly operating for the Sinaloa Cartel, has split, generating extreme violence. Also ‘Los Chapitos’ are fighting for that turf with their best men. I think it is safe to travel depending where, what for and with who.

Will the USA intervene northern Mexico?

I truly don’t believe this will happen. It is really on no-ones interest to enter Mexico as an armed force. It could lead to a massive break of bilateral relations, and would open the doors for Mexicans to actually claim political asylum. I think it has become a talking point used to earn votes.

Luis, un detallito: ¿Por qué no haces contenido en español?

En eso andamos hermano. Estamos ya grabando y editando los primeros episodios de un nuevo proyecto en español que espero guste!

What ever happened to Vicentillo?

El Vicentillo has been living under a new identity in northern U.S. A recent photo shared here at saga revealed his face at the Washington International airport.

Have you looked into FESC (policía estatal de BCN) hay muchos videos de sus abusos.

Los estoy recopilando…creo que pronto voy a escribir algo de los famosos ‘Pepos’.

Safest area in Mexico?

Without a doubt the safest state in Mexico is Merida. For any reason no cartels are operating in Merida, no spread out violence has been registered in the past five years.

Who is the current leader of Juárez?

I don’t think there is a current leader. The city is split in several factions, mostly former Juarez cartel members who are now creating new smallest organizations. But also the Sinaloa Cartel is undergoing something similar in the city.