As previously noted, however, one of the major tools currently used in the drug war, the certification process, seems only to aggravate the rift between the two countries. A video of one of the helicopters taking off can be seen below. AFP, "Mexico's foreign minister rejects claim official had part in drug trade," 6/2/99, internet. There is very little grass-roots opposition to the cartels among the Mexican people. While a charade may be undertaken to placate the Americans, there is no rational reason for the Mexican government to mount any kind of substantive effort that would inhibit the flow of these much needed dollars. Jalisco cartel now has presence in 28 states: US Congress The town of Los Herrera is located in the Municipality of Santiago Papasquiaro (in the State of Durango). Interestingly, he seems to be working most closely with Colombian President Pastrana in developing a solid political base for the notion (Associated Press, 10/9/00). Governments have notoriously short attention spans. It could be argued however, that these were basically token seats, for the PRI maintained its iron hold on the nation's political scene. Reuters, "Accused Mexican drug lord had vast empire, paper says," 9/29/96, internet. Unfortunately, there are still a number of details that remain to be worked out; what will American agents be allowed to do when in Mexico; how will extradition matters be handled; will American agents be permitted to carry their U.S.-issued firearms when on duty in Mexico? The United States has also steadily increased its interdiction efforts, particularly in the area of personnel deployment. AFP, "Chiapas police fire on pro-rebel protesters," 1/12/98, internet. Run by Carlos Castano, this vigilante group has turned to taxing cocaine and heroin producers, shippers and distributors to generate the revenue necessary to finance its military operations. The current mayor of Mexico City, for example, is from an opposition party. 34-36. (6) The plan was never able to be fully realized, for on July 4, 1997, Carrillo Fuentes died while undergoing plastic surgery. The police tracked down and arrested seven Cali Cartel leaders, including the Rodriquez-Orejula brothers. A ride across the border that cost an illegal $200 a few years ago now runs anywhere from $800 to $1,200 (see generally, Zarembo, 1999). 9. Wren, Christopher S., "Mexican role in cocaine is exposed in U.S. seizure," New York Times, 5/3/96, p. C19. O'Day (2000) provides numerous case studies of Mexican military operating north of the border. A recent U.S. government report stated that the Hank family has been so closely linked to drug trafficking that they are now seen as a serious threat to the United States (AFP, 6/2/99). New deals were in the making between the Colombian and Mexican cartels. Obviously piggybacking off of a newly developed border bribery system, the cartels will be able to sidestep the border interdiction points and move their commodities more readily into the U.S. markets. Colonel," Newsweek, August 16, 1999, p. 37. Mexican officials, in reaction to Clinton's threat of de-certification in 1997, lashed back, accusing the world's biggest drug consumer of hypocrisy. While covert operations most certainly continue, the U.S. does run the risk of international embarrassment when and if they become publically uncovered. The Sonora Cartel was founded by Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo, who although imprisoned, appears to still be a major player in the new formed Federation, in part because he is the uncle of the Felix-Arellano brothers. In addition, given that financial turmoil has often accompanied changes in the presidency (most recently the above noted Salinas to Zedillo transition), these funds will be able to ease any economic disruptions that may arise during the next transition. Everyone had to do it" (AFP, 5/30/99). Ramos, an active PRI player, was commonly acknowledged to have been involved for many years in a multi-national auto-theft ring with underworld figures from Argentina and Colombia. Carrillo Fuentes was on top of the world. the only way they got him was by backstabbing which they did. As far back as 1957, the AFP, "Mexican television host murdered for drug debts - prosecutor," 8/27/99, internet. The capital, Mexico City, lays claim to being the largest city in the world. The U.S. estimates that roughly $5 billion a year is being "mailed" to Colombia. The 2000 certification also had its foes on Capital Hill. incarcerated in Mexico City. on prior indictments in Miami, Florida. He then assured the reporters that they would release more information within the next 24 hours. Office of National Drug Control Policy Director, Barry McCaffrey has indicated that "both sides are going to use off-set locations. With more than $6 billion a year of much needed U.S. currency pouring into the Mexican economy from legals and illegals working north of the border, half of which likely comes from illegals (the so-called 'wet-back dollars'), American law enforcement can expect little serious help from the Mexican government in this arena (AFP, 10/30/00). they dont rent those trucks an choppers its thiers the USA gave it to them. The human trafficking business is becoming increasingly dangerous and violent, particularly along the southern California border near San Diego. Associated Press, "Non-Panama presence hurts drug fight," 7/30/99, internet. Raul has since been apprehended and is currently serving a 27 1/2 year prison sentence for the murder of a political rival (he is currently in a medium security prison outside Mexico City). As of this writing, the cartels are moving with great success, perhaps too much success, for the street level law enforcement community reports that drug supplies are up, purity is up, and prices are down. Centralized law enforcement data banks need to be developed and maintained on an international level. The Army and the National Guard had launched a joint operation to capture Gerardo Soberanes Ortiz, alias El G1, in the dark of night hours in the northern part of Durango City. The video further revealed that the army regiment was deployed in a strategic military context to protect the clandestine airstrip (Frontline, 10/10/00). Durango Cartel - EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki Additionally, two other candidate hopefuls pulled out of the preliminaries as soon as Labastida announced his candidacy. This figure represented approximately one percent of the This benefactor was Sinaloa Cartels El G1. 84-101. I am ill today, so could search further so this helps, I will try and translate and post..@6:17 still looking for the vid and thank you, i did go into the DEA history archives and pulled good info about the organization, they are huge and good businessmen with longevity.I am posting it now as an add on, They once had 90% of the chicago heroin. This came as a welcome breath of fresh air to the Mexican government. Similar to the model established in previous years, at the proverbial 11th hour before the 1999 certification decisions were to be revealed by President Clinton, then Mexican Interior Minister Francisco Labastida, announced a $500 million anti-drug strategy that would be implemented over the next three years (AFP, 2/4/99). Amado Carrillo Fuentes (/ f u n t s /; December 17, 1956 - July 4, 1997) was a Mexican drug lord who seized control of the Jurez Cartel after assassinating his boss Rafael Aguilar Guajardo. Stopping them, however, has proved to be an extremely difficult task. Brant, Martha, "Most wanted kingpin?" There will be no public interest in ridding Mexico of the cartels, at least until a replacement for the lost $40 billion can be found. Some say he was trying to Chapuliniar. As the Panama Canal changes ownership in the coming months, American military presence and the accompanying airborne surveillance efforts in Central America will become diminished. Some are artistic photos and others are simply panoramic photos taken by amateurs and friends who simply like Los Herrera.See more photos . slow the rate of change) in the post-Diaz era. For a period of time, the Colombians supplied the bulk of the drugs to the Mexicans, who then trans-shipped those products primarily into the United States. AFP, "Mexican opposition unites to oust long-ruling party," 8/4/99, internet. He knew the identity and even selected Mexican policemen who were to be trained at Fort Bragg, North Carolina for special Mexican anti-drug forces. 19, launched in 1979, targeted the Herrera family trafficking organization and The Felix-Arellano brothers of the Tijuana cartel, for example, openly employ off duty (and perhaps a few on-duty) state police as their body guards. This arrangement did not last long, and a number of meetings were held between Mexican and Colombian cartel leaders in the early 1980s, shortly after the connection was made. cocaine, while supplying the precursor chemicals from Chile and Guatemala. Most of the Original cartel de durango guys are retired or dead.. most herreras sided with cartel de juarez in the 2000s and got kicked out by CDS around 2011. Los Herrera are still in Durango y siguen agarrados de los chongos con los Barrera. Dollars sent home by Mexican workers located in America have become a crucial and integral component of the Mexican economy, surpassing American investment in Mexico by nearly one billion dollars per year (AFP, 10/30,00). Instead of paying with cash, the Colombians would forfeit half of their cocaine shipments to Garcia-Abrego who then took the risk of selling, but also took the profits (Lupsha, 1995:90). its "Heroin Highway," a drug trafficking network that stretched from Tavia was rushed to the hospital but remained disabled for over a year after the incident. Malherve was released from jail on a technicality a few weeks after the United States certification was finalized (Brant, 1997). One of the more notable being Yolanda Figueroa who wrote a book on the Gulf Cartel. Trejo was in charge of many drug trafficking investigations under the Salinas administration. As noted in the body of this paper, the most dominant terrorist groups seem to be the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN) who have a combined force of some 20,000 members.