Cartels, Conspiracies, and Camarena

In this Episode, I look at the recent disclosure of President Trump's directive to the Pentagon to begin using military force against certain Latin American cartels and what it might mean for Mexico and Venezuela. I then discuss the Department of Justice's recent decision to NOT seek the death penalty in its pending cases against El Mayo, Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, and Rafael Caro Quintero.  In par...

In this Episode, I provide an update on El Mayo's case, discuss Ovidio's guilty plea, and look at the discovery provided by the government to Caro Quintero's defense team. I then look at the complimentary and sometimes competitive roles of DEA and HSI and examine realignments of responsibilities and oversight proposed by the Trump administration that could place the DEA in a subordinate role to th...

In this Episode, I examine the CJNG - Los Chapitos alliance, particularly in light of the Chapitos' civil war with La Mayiza.   Specifically, I discuss reports on the formation of the alliance and the actions that led to its formation. I also look at how the alliance fits with the DEA's Nation Drug threat Assessment's CJNG analysis. Finally, I discuss some empirical evidence of CJNG's response to...

On May 14, seventeen members of El Chapo's family crossed from Tijuana to San Diego where they were met and whisked away by U.S. agents. In this Episode, I discuss this event, including the identities of some of the family members. In addition, I look at the events that preceded this event, including plea negotiations by Ovidio and Joaquin, a potential split within Los Chapitos, and the reaction o...

In this Mother's Day episode, I first discuss pea agreement between the U.S. government and Ovidio Guzman and what it really means. Next, I look at the arrest of a husband and wife from Sandy, Utah, who have been indicted on charges of smuggling and selling oil from Mexico for the benefit of Mexican cartels.   Finally, I address some shameful comments from retired DEA agent Hector Berrellez.

In this Episode, I dissect the Complaint in the recently filed federal litigation by the Camarena family against Rafael Caro-Quintero, Ernesto Fonseca, Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo, and the Sinaloa Cartel. In addition to discussing the causes of action and certain jurisdictional elements, I look at the factual allegations in the Complaint to look at several issues relating to the Camarena case.  Sp...

It has been around 9 months since El Mayo and Joaquin Guzman were flown to the United States and arrested and it's been almost exactly 7 months since the fighting between Los Chapitos and La Mayiza broke out in Culiacan.   In this Episode, I look at the prevailing theories on the rendition of El Mayo, the structure of CDS, and the key questions asked when the violence started. I then discuss some...

In this Episode, I first discuss some recent news events, including the dismantling of a huge methamphetamine laboratory in Zacatecas, I then look at the sentencing of El Menchito, the son of CJNG leader El Mencho in a D.C. federal court. Finally, I discuss some recent reports and articles discussing the ways the Scheinbaum administration is changing the Mexican government's actions against the ca...

In this Episode, I look at the recent "extradition" of 29 narcos from Mexico to the United States and identify the most prominent figures who were extradited and the significance of their extraditions. In particular, I discuss the extradition of Rafael Caro Quintero, and I discuss whether he will face charges relating to kidnapping, interrogation, and murder of Agent Kiki Camarena. I also give my...

As Los Chapitos continue to suffer from the arrest and capture of more leaders, and given the reports of Ivan's narrow escapes, many pundits have proclaimed the demise of the Sinaloa Cartel. In this Episode, I look at the arrests of key leaders within Los Chapitos and discuss the status of Los Chapitos today. I then examine the repercussions of both the disruption in CDS and the possible collapse...

Forty years ago today, DEA Special Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena was abducted outside the American consulate in Guadalajara.  Agent Camarena was subsequently interrogated, brutally tortured, and murdered. In this Episode, with my guest Steve Duncan, we discuss Agent Camarena's legacy and impact, the efforts of the Enrique S. Camarena Foundation to educate the nation's youth on the dangers of drugs...

In this Episode, in addition to touching on some recent news, I discuss the plethora of reports asserting that many of the main cartel figures in custody in the U.S. are engaged in plea negotiations with federal prosecutors.   Specifically, I discuss the nature and prevalence of plea agreements in the federal criminal justice system.  Then I look at the specific reports of plea discussions with Ov...

In this Episode, I discuss the Camarena case with James Kuykendall. Significantly, in addition to discussing some little-known facts about the case, Mr. Kuykendall directly addresses many claims, rumors, and inuendo, including many raised by Hector Berrellez and others in The Last Narc.  

In this Episode I discuss the recent re-arrest of El Mini Licenciado who had been given an early release from federal custody as a reward for information on drug traffickers and the Sinaloa Cartel and, most importantly, his testimony against El Chapo.   I also examine the long-standing policy of the US and the DOJ to "reward" narco traffickers who provide information deemed valuable to the governm...

In this Episode, I first discuss the widespread costs in Culiacan as a result of the CDS civil war, including an estimated $1 billion lost by Culiacan-area business. Next, I discuss reports that the plan for Joaquin to betray El Mayo and arrange his rendition to the U.S. was the result of El Chapo's long held desire for his sons to turn themselves in for better deals and to secure better lives.  I...

Retired DEA Agent Leo Silva has written a fascinating book titled "Reign of Terror" chronicling the rise and fall of Los Zetas. In this Episode, Leo and I discuss his book, his career in the DEA, and his inside view of the ascendence of Los Zetas and the factors that lead to their demise.  During our discussion, Leo shares personal insights revealing the enormous cost of the fight to bring down Lo...

One week after the election of Donald Trump, we are getting an idea of some of the policies his administration will adopt that likely will affect the US's relationship with Mexico and both countries' concerns with the cartels and drug trafficking. In this Episode, I assess some of these potential policies of the next Trump administration and the emerging policies of the Scheinbaum administration. ...

Juan Jose Esparragoza Moreno, aka El Azul, may not be the most known of the drug traffickers in Mexico's cartel history but he had one of the most interesting careers, which I discuss in this Episode. Born in the same town as El Chapo, El Azul worked for the DFS, is credited as being a leader in the so-called Guadalajara Cartel, and was jailed for his involvement in the murder of Agent Kiki Camare...

In this Episode, I update the ongoing battle within the CDS between Los Chapitos and La Mayiza, now under the control of Mayito Flaco by reference to three issues. First, I look at the difficult circumstances encountered by President Scheinbaum in her first month in office. Second, I examine the stark numbers in terms of killed, injured, and missing in Sinaloa and how Mexico's military is or may b...

In this Episode, I re-cap the recent news and events in the ongoing war between Los Chapitos and MZ in Culiacan. Then I discuss the trial of El Menchito who was convicted in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia this week.  In particular, I examine the witnesses against El Menchito, including cooperating witnesses with both reasons to testify for the government and, in several cases...

In this news report Episode, we discuss the violent confrontations between "armed civilians" rocking Culiacan since early morning. Most significantly, we look at the many reports of audio recordings confirming that Ismael Zambada Sicairos ("Mayito Flaco"), the presumed leader of the Mayo Zambada faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, has authorized or instructed his hitmen to attack Los Chapitos in Culiac...

In this Labor Day edition of the podcast, I look at three interesting developments in the last few days. First, I discuss Osiel Cardenas Guillen's release from federal prison.  Specifically, I discuss the fact that he was placed in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the reports that he will be turned over to Mexican authorities on Monday. Second, I look into reports that Jorge...

The government's case in the Zuno II trial rested largely on the testimony of two former Jalisco State Police officers, Jorge Godoy and Rene Lopez Romero.  In this Episode, I look into the backgrounds of these two men and specifically discuss their admissions to having been employed by Ernesto Fonseca and witnesses to and participants in various crimes including the torture and murder of American...

In the two Zuno trials, prosecution witness testified to several alleged conspiracy meetings to discuss and plan the abduction of Agent Camarena.  In this episode, we assess the credibility of those allegations and of the witnesses themselves.   Specifically, we discuss the number of alleged meetings (as many as 10 over 3-4 months), the number of people at the alleged meetings (more than 70), the...

Today's Episode concludes my three-part analysis of the abduction of Agent Camarena from outside the America consulate.  Specifically, in this Episode I reach some conclusions regarding the abduction including conclusions regarding the participation and statements of Rene Lopez Romero, the veracity of Agent Berrellez's discussions on the abduction, and the participation of Caro Quintero.  Finally,...