In addition to trafficking drugs, Garca brego would ship cash to be laundered, in the millions. [325] The Gulf Cartel also bribes journalists to persuade them not to mention any violent incidents in the media. The arresting officer, a FJP commander, is believed to have received a bullet-proof Mercury Grand Marquis and US$500,000 from a rival cartel for enacting the arrest of Garca brego. [360], In May 2013, Aurelio Cano Flores (alias El Yankee) was sentenced to 35 years in prison for conspiring to import multi-ton quantities of marijuana and cocaine into the United States. [242] Authorities are still trying to understand how the prisoners escaped. The cartel believed responsible for the armed kidnapping last week that killed two American tourists and a Mexican woman in Matamoros, Mexico, issued an apology letter and handed over five of . Those who were more loyal to the Crdenas family stayed with the Rojos, while those loyal to Jorge Eduardo Costilla Snchez, like Flores Borrego, defended the Metros. El notario 135 de Oaxaca fue capturado en Italia por agentes de la Interpol; est acusado de tres delitos. [220] After the PRI lost the presidency in 2000 to the National Action Party (PAN), the arrangement between the government and the cartels was lost, as well the pax mafiosa. Cities such as Mazatln and Culiacn can look appealing on travel websites (and visually offer some amazing Spanish architecture) but beware of the region's sketchy people. [141] The street confrontations generated a wave of panic among the population and caused the publication and broadcast of messages through social networks like Twitter and Facebook, reporting the clashes between authorities and the cartel members. [186] The U.S. National Drug Threat Assessment mentioned that the drug trafficking organizations like the Gulf Cartel tend to be less structured in U.S. than in Mexico, and often rely on street gangs to operate inside the United States. In 2010, authorities discovered the bodies of 72 migrants from Central America who had been killed by the Zetas, a ruthless group that broke from the Gulf drug cartel in the mid-2000s. [302][303][304] Investigators believe that more unreported kidnappings have occurred in nearby locations. [276] In addition, within the Gulf Cartel there is believed to be two groupsthe Rojos and the Metros. [181], InSight Crime explains that the fundamental disagreement between the Rojos and the Metros was over leadership. [168] Others explained how his death allowed Jorge Eduardo Costilla Snchez to take full directive of the cartel, and that would tighten relations with Colombia and straighten the Gulf Cartel's path, something quite difficult with Antonio Crdenas as co-leader. The alert also reminded U.S. citizens that this particular part of Mexico is a "Level 4: Do Not Travel," which is the highest warning in the U.S. State Department's travel advisory system. On Friday March 3, four U.S. citizens werekidnapped after a brazen attack carried out by multiple gunmen in the northern Mexico border city of Matamoros. [185] Thomas A. Shannon, a U.S. diplomat and ambassador, stated that criminal organizations like the Gulf Cartel have "substantially weakened" the institutions in Mexico and Central America, and have generated a surge of violence in the United States. [330] They have also been reported to steal vehicles. [178], Unconfirmed information released by The Monitor indicated that two leaders of the Rojos, Meja Gonzlez and Rafael Crdenas Vela, teamed up to kill Flores Borrego. [165][166] United States President, Barack Obama, called the President of Mexico, Felipe Caldern, congratulating him and the Mexican forces for the operation in Matamoros, and reiterated his effort against organized crime. Both the Mexican and U.S. government increased their efforts to apprehend Crdenas Guilln. Agencias de inteligencia de Estados Unidos espiaron a miembros del Crtel del Golfo el mes pasado, cuando un grupo de hombres armados secuestraron a cuatro viajeros norteamericanos en Matamoros, dos de ellos perdieron la vida. [345] The products sold can be clothing, TVs, video games, music, computer programs, and movies. Drug Wars: Narco Warfare in the twenty-first century. [138], The confrontations started around 10:00am, and extended to 06:00pm, around the time Crdenas Guiln was killed. Unbelievable! [357][358][359], On 21 July 2009, the United States DEA announced coordinated actions against the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas drug trafficking organizations. Their network is international, and is believed to have dealings with crime groups in Europe, West Africa, Asia, Central America, South America, and the United States. [278] Below is the basic structure of the cartel: It's worth noting that there are other operating groups within the drug cartels. A woman who traveled to the Mexican border with the four Americans who were kidnapped said that she warned police when the group didn't return on schedule. [176] The arrests of Marco Antonio Cortez Rodrguez alias Escorpin 37 and of Josu Gonzlez Rodrguez alias Escorpin 43the two who were hospitalized after the shootout of 5 November 2010allowed for the Mexican forces to understand the structure of Los Escorpiones. "[295] And, there are several kidnapping rings of the Gulf Cartel throughout several parts of Tamaulipas. "[232] Months later, Hernndez Flores finally recognized that several parts of Tamaulipas were "being overrun by organized crime violence. Definition of Matamoros in the Definitions.net dictionary. The Gulf cartel apologized Thursday after two U.S. citizens were killed in an armed abduction last week in Mexico. [58], As confrontations with rival groups heated up, Osiel Crdenas Guilln sought and recruited over 30 deserters of the Mexican Army's elite Grupo Aeromvil de Fuerzas Especiales (GAFE) to form part of the cartel's armed wing. [255], The Exclsior newspaper mentioned that the police forces in the state of Tamaulipas are the "worst paid in Mexico" despite being "one of the states hardest hit by violence. Three members of the Gulf Cartel including one of its leaders were killed during a shootout with the army and state police in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, on Friday night, authorities said. [36] His prosecutors, however, tried Garca brego as a U.S. citizen because he also had an American birth certificate, although Mexican authorities claimed the certificate was "fraudulent. "[315], Extortion Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said in astatementMonday that the Americans were kidnapped at gunpoint and that an "innocent" Mexican citizen died in the attack. [252] CNN mentioned that the state government of Tamaulipas later recognized "their inability to work with the federal government. They came under fire shortly after entering the city of Matamoros from Brownsville, at the southernmost tip of Texas near the Gulf coast, the FBI said in a statement Sunday. [178] Each of these groups were identified by their radio codes: the Rojos (The Red ones) were based in Reynosa; the Metros were headquartered in Matamoros; and the Lobos (The wolves) were established in Laredo. [120] On the other hand, other sources reveal that Los Zetas separated from the Gulf Cartel to ally with Beltrn-Leyva Cartel, which led to conflict between them. Garca brego was convicted for 22 counts of money laundering, drug possession and drug trafficking. [39] Hours after the judge told Garca brego that he was going to spend the rest of his life in prison, the death penalty was out of the question for the prosecutors. [45][46][47], Following brego's 1996 arrest by Mexican authorities and subsequent deportation to the United States, a power vacuum was left and several top members fought for leadership. Photographs from the scene viewed by the AP show a white minivan with the driver's side window shot and all of the doors open. [19] It grew significantly in the 1970s under the leadership of kingpin Juan Garca brego. [349] The Mexican drug cartels that operate in the area are currently employing gang members to distribute drugs and conduct other criminal activities on their behalf. Before the standoff, he was regarded as a minor player in the international drug trade, but this incident catapulted his reputation and made him one of the most-wanted criminals. [65] Among the original defectors were Jaime Gonzlez Durn,[66] Jess Enrique Rejn Aguilar,[67] Miguel Trevio Morales,[68] and Heriberto Lazcano,[69] who would later become the supreme leader of the independent cartel of Los Zetas. Advocates have been warning for years that migrants were being kidnapped, extorted and killed in north Mexican border towns such as Matamoros, Reynosa and Nueva Laredo as they waited their turn. [352] Due to its multifaceted transportation networks and proximity to major production areas right across the border in Mexico, Texas is a major hub for drug trafficking. [206] Confrontations between these two groups have paralyzed entire cities in broad daylight. [347], Police impersonation The cartel condemned the violence in a . [363][364] He was arrested with a female companion identified as Miriam "M" and is accused of being responsible for recent violence in Tamaulipas[365], In March 2023, a splinter faction from the Gulf Cartel called the Scorpions Group publicly accepted responsibility for an incident where four Americans were kidnapped, which ended in two of the victims being killed. On Tuesday, Mexican and U.S. officials said two of the four U.S. citizens were found dead and two are alive. The Americans were found as a result of joint search operations, according to the attorney general in Tamaulipas, but how officials ultimately located and rescued them remains unclear. The agency's San Antonio Division office said in a statement Sunday that the vehicle came under fire shortly after it entered Mexico. [87], The former leader of the Gulf Cartel, Osiel Crdenas Guilln, was captured in the city of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, on 14 March 2003, in a shootout between the Mexican military and Gulf Cartel gunmen. [331], Money laundering [143] La Jornada newspaper mentioned that over 80 SUV's packed with gunmen fought to protect Crdenas Guilln, and over 300 grenades were used in the shootout that day. The Gulf Cartel (Spanish: Crtel del Golfo, Golfos, or CDG)[7][8] is a criminal syndicate and drug trafficking organization in Mexico,[9] and perhaps one of the oldest organized crime groups in the country. McGee wasscheduled to have cosmetic surgeryin Matamoros last Friday, and the other three were meant to cross back into the United States and reconvene with Orange in Brownsville within 15 minutes of dropping her off. [225] PRI's main opposition party, the PAN, claimed that government elections in Tamaulipas are likely to encounter an "organized crime influence. [336], Arms trafficking Information and translations of Matamoros in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. [301], In the United States, the Gulf Cartel has been responsible for several kidnappings, primarily in the McAllen metropolitan area. [277] The modus operandi ("mode of operation") of the Gulf Cartel changes whenever the United States attempts to strengthen their domestic policy in reinforcing the borders. Americans who survived Matamoros cartel kidnapping break silence on 'nightmare' in Mexico. According to El Universal, there are several music videos on YouTube that exalt the power of this armed group through narcocorridos. [310] La Jornada mentioned that before the rupture with Los Zetas in 2007, the corridor of Reynosa, Tamaulipas was often used for human smuggling. While in prison, Crdenas and Arellano formed an alliance to defend themselves from the Sinaloa and Juarez Cartels,[267] who had also allied with each other, and were planning to take over the smuggling routes and territories of the Gulf and Tijuana Cartel. [332] Bars and casinos are often the hubs for money laundering of the drug cartels. However, being a border city, U.S. citizens who live in Brownsville or elsewhere in Texas frequently cross to visit family, get medical care or shop. [122] Soon after his death, Los Zetas demanded the Gulf Cartel to hand over the killer, but they didn't, and observers believe that triggered the war. Local media often avoid reporting on such incidents out of safety concerns. said that she warned police when the group didn't return on schedule. The incident escalated as Crdenas Guilln threatened to kill them if they did not comply and as his gunmen prepared to shoot. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. [126][127], Osiel Crdenas' brother, Antonio Crdenas Guilln, along with Jorge Eduardo Costilla Snchez (El Coss), a former policeman, filled in the vacuum left by Osiel and became the leaders of the Gulf Cartel. [35] Wearing slacks and a striped shirt, Garca brego was immediately extradited to the United States where he was interviewed by an FBI agent, and confessed to have "ordered people murdered and tortured", bribed top Mexican officials, and smuggled tons of narcotics into the United States. The amount of fentanyl seized by Mexican authorities nearly quintupled between 2019 and 2020. . Please enter valid email address to continue. [135] Other sources mention that one news reporter was also killed in the crossfire. [13] The members of the Gulf Cartel are known for intimidating the population and for being particularly violent.[14]. "[226], The Exclsior newspaper reported that the former governors of Tamaulipas, Manuel Cavazos Lerma (19931999), Toms Yarrington (19992004), and Eugenio Hernndez Flores (20052010) have had close ties with the Gulf Cartel. [192], The Gulf Cartel is believed to have ties with the 'Ndrangheta, an organized crime group in Italy that also has ties with Los Zetas. according to the think tank InSight Crime. De acuerdo con una revisin de documentos clasificados por The . [32], Garca brego's arrest was even subject to allegations of corruption. According to the police report filed by Orange and reviewed by CBS News, the group was reported missing by Orange on Saturday. [88] He was one of the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, which was offering $2million for his capture. [16][17] Originally known as the Matamoros Cartel (Spanish: Crtel de Matamoros),[18] the Gulf Cartel initially smuggled alcohol and other illegal goods into the U.S.[17] Once the Prohibition era ended, the criminal group controlled gambling houses, prostitution rings, a car theft network, and other illegal smuggling. A un mes de que se registrara el secuestro de cuatro ciudadanos estadounidenses en la ciudad de Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mxico, dos sobrevivientes del secuestro revelaron que sus captores del crtel mexicano trataron de obligarlos a que tuvieran relaciones sexuales entre ellos. officials. For example, the drug producers and suppliers,[284] although not considered in the basic structure, are critical operators of any drug cartel, along with the financers and money launderers. That official also spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the case. [193] Reports indicated that the Gulf Cartel was using the BlackBerry smartphones to communicate with 'Ndrangheta, since the texts are "normally difficult to intercept". [97] Lieutenants that were once loyal to Crdenas began following the commands of Lazcano, who tried to reorganize the cartel by appointing several lieutenants to control specific territories.Morales Trevio was appointed to look over Nuevo Len;[98] Jorge Eduardo Costilla Snchez in Matamoros;[99] Hctor Manuel Sauceda Gamboa, nicknamed El Karis, took control of Nuevo Laredo;[100] Gregorio Sauceda Gamboa, known as El Goyo, along with his brother Arturo, took control of the Reynosa plaza;[101] Arturo Basurto Pea, alias El Grande, and Ivn Velzquez-Caballero alias El Talibn took control of Quintana Roo and Guerrero;[102] Alberto Snchez Hinojosa, alias Comandante Castillo, took over Tabasco. Garca brego bribed the agent in an attempt to gather more information on U.S. law enforcement operations. [184], The Gulf Cartel has important cells operating inside the United Statesin Mission, Roma, and Rio Grande Cityfor example, and their presence is expanding. The video appears to show some of them may be wounded. Officials previouslyconfirmedthat a Mexican citizen was killed in the initial attack. The move comes at a time when the criminal organization has been linked to a wave of fear that continues to sweep through the border city of Matamoros as numerous kidnapping and extortion cases go unreported . [197] Although cocaine is not grown in Africa, Mexican organizations, such as the Gulf Cartel, are currently exploiting West Africa's struggling rule-of-law caused by war, crime and poverty, to stage and expand supply routes to the increasingly lucrative European illegal drug market. The Gulf Cartel, a drug cartel based in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, was founded in the 1930s by Juan Nepomuceno Guerra. [121] Other sources mention that what initiated the conflict between them was when Samuel Flores Borrego, alias El Metro 3, lieutenant of the Gulf Cartel, killed Sergio Pea Mendoza, alias El Concorde 3, lieutenant of Los Zetas, due to a disagreement for the drug corridor of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, whom both protected. [311] People smuggling is currently controlled by a cell within the Gulf Cartel known as Los Flacos, dedicated to the kidnapping and smuggling of undocumented migrants as far as South America to the United States. Williams reportedly received a gunshot wound to the leg. The FBI told CBS News that they were fired upon by drug cartel factions, and the white van they were driving crashed. [17], By the 1980s, Garca brego began incorporating cocaine into the drug trafficking operations and started to have the upper hand on what was now considered the Gulf Cartel, the greatest criminal dynasty in the US-Mexico border. The buses made great transportation, as Antonio Ortiz noted since they were never stopped at the border. MATAMOROS, Mexico, March 9 (Reuters) - Suspected drug cartel members on Thursday handed over five purported henchmen as a would-be apology for the abduction of four Americans . Flemming, Gary. [362], On 30 June 2019, Mario Alberto Crdenas Medina, the son of Osiel's brother Mario, was arrested in the state of Mexico. Victims of violence in Matamoros and other large border cities of Tamaulipas often go uncounted, because the cartels have a history of disappearing the bodies of their victims. The Return of El Contador On October 30, 2020 rumors spread online that "El Contador" was released from prison following judges declaring in June that his arrest was illegal. It is situated on the southern bank of the Rio Grande (Ro Bravo del Norte), 28 miles (45 km) from the Gulf of Mexico and across from Brownsville, Texas. 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