Earlier this month, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the implementation of Operation Border Spike, which it called the next step in the CBP's strategy to combat fentanyl and other synthetic drugs.  Operation Border Spike begins with a focus on the Nogales, Sonora plaza and the plaza's boss.   In this Episode, I give a brief overview of the city of Nogales, and then focus on the elements of Operation Border Spike, as announced by CBP.  I then provide a brief history of the man at the head of the Nogales plaza -- Sergio Valenzuela Valenzuela.   In particular, I look at Valenzuela's rise to power and his close relationship with CDS leader El Mayo Zamabada.

One of the more profound impacts of the Cartel wars has been the focus on the violence in many areas of the country, and corresponding diminishing attention to Mexico's rich and diverse history, culture, and economy. In this Episode, I look at this concept through the lens of Ciudad Juarez. Specifically, I examine the city's fascinating history, as well the rise and fall of the Juarez Cartel.  Next, I look at the current Cartel battles for control of the city and the economy in Juarez today. Finally, I put a human face on the cartel influences in Juarez by looking at the tragic impact the violence has had on the children of Juarez, their education, and their families.

I frequently get asked what I the major issues in the fight against the Mexican cartels and the fentanyl crisis.  In response, in addition to other issues, I often talk about the demand for illegal drugs in the United States and elsewhere and the economic realities in much of Mexico that precipitate participation in the cartels. Recently, I read two interesting and compelling articles that add to the analysis, and I discuss each in this Episode. The first article presents five policy areas Presidential aspirants should address in connection with the fight against the cartels.  Those policies points are foreign policy changes, strategies to deal with the cartels, southern border strategies, declare the cartels narco-terrorists, and a uniform domestic anti-narcotic strategy.  I look at and discuss each of these policies.   The second article discusses the Mexican military's unique role within the Mexican government and the risks to democracy presented by that role.  In this Episode, we look at the critical features of the Mexican military highlighted by the article and the ways in which those features impact the war on fentanyl and efforts by both Mexico and the United States, separately or bilaterally, to combat the cartels.

Last week, while on a spring trip road trip with my daughter, we passed by the town of Florence, Colorado and ADX Supermax, the most secure prison in the country, housing our most dangerous and notorious prisoners, including infamous former cartel leader, El Chapo Guzman. My curiosity spurred, this Episode discusses the impetus for the construction of Supermax, the prisoners placed in Supermax, and how they are segregated within the prison.  Next, we look at the cells and daily lives of prisoners at Supermax face.  Finally, examine some litigation and complaints regarding the prison, including those from El Chapo who says he endures inhumane and unfair conditions.

May 5 marked 39 years since the tragic discovery of the bodies of Agent Camarena and Captain Zavala.  Since there is a significant amount of disinformation about the discoveries and surrounding events, this Episode provides facts to set the record straight. Initially, we discuss Commandante Pavon Reyes and the kidnapping of Captain Zavala, identifying the widely disseminated false narratives. Next, we describe the massacre at Bravo Ranch and the subsequent discovery of the bodies of Agent Camarena and Captain Zavala.  Finally, we examine the reasonable inferences of a conspiracy arising from the Bravo Ranch facts.

In an early January episode, I discussed the just-released reports that claimed the DEA had investigated information that drug traffickers had funneled millions of dollars into the 2006 presidential campaign of current Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.  In that discussion, we questioned the impact of those reports could have on bilateral relations, especially in light of speculation that they have been leaked by U.S. actors or agencies. In this Episode, I look at recent claims that the reports in fact have impaired cooperation between the two countries, including pausing a planned operation to capture and arrent CJNG leader El Mencho. I also look at reports that Genero Garcia Luna, a key figure in the administrations of Presidents Vicente Fox and Felipe Calderon, took a multi-million dollar bribe from El Mayo while serving as the director of the Federal Investigative Agency in the Fox administration.

China's role in the drug trafficking enterprises of the Mexican cartels is often discussed, but often without significant specificity or detail. In this Episode, I explore the services provided by Chinese criminal organizations to the cartels, prominently in the supply of precursor chemicals and in money laundering.   I also look at the role of the Chinese government and its potential to disrupt the Chinese organizations aiding the cartels, especially in areas relating to cryptocurrency and other virtual assets.    Finally, I speculate about the future of the cartel-China relationship by discussing, among other issues, potential conflicts in Europe and possible fractionization of the cartel system in Mexico.

In the ever-changing world of Mexican cartels, it often is hard to "know the players without a scorecard." Such is the case as cartels battle for control of the Mexican state of Tamaulipas and the lucrative border town of Nuevo Laredo. In this Episode, I trace the lineage of the infamous Los Zetas cartel to one of the prime combatants in Nuevo Laredo, the Cartel del Noreste or CDN. I also discuss other Zeta-related splinter groups, including the Zetas Vieja Escuela, or Old School Zetas. Finally, I look at the now fractionalized Gulf Cartel, and discuss its several groups, including the Scorpions, Cyclones, Metros, and Rojos, including their interactions and common grounds.

Recent headlines trumpeted reports that the DEA head investigated allegations that narco traffickers had provided millions of dollars to a presidential campaign of current Mexican President Andres Manual Lopez Obrador ("AMLO"). In this Episode, I examine the reports of the DEA's investigation into the allegations that the traffickers provided funds to AMLO's 2006 campaign. To do so, I look at the state of Mexican politics and cartels in 2006, describe the key figures in the alleged cooperation between the traffickers and the AMLO campaign, and walk through the investigation itself. Finally, I speculate on what these revelations could mean for Mexican-American relations and cooperation in the fight against the cartels, now and in the future.

The ongoing battles between CDS, CJNG, and the military for control of the Mexican state of Chiapas have been widely reported in the news for the last few weeks. In this Episode, I look into the crisis in Chiapas by tying together various events occurring over the better part of the last decade to understand what led to the current events.  In particular, I look at the fracture between the Los Chapitos and El Mayo factions of CDS that arose in the aftermath of the arrest and extradition of El Chapo.  I then consider the capture of Ovidio Guzman and the apparent peace treaty between El Mayo and Los Chapitos, and reveal the events of the last year evidencing that treaty, including the capture of El Nini. Finally, I discuss how these events have led to the CJNG and CDS battles in Chiapas.

Daniel Brunner boasts an impressive 29 years of combined service in federal law enforcement and the U.S. Navy. Serving 20 years as a Special Agent in the FBI, Mr. Brunner developed a wide area of expertise including vital Latin and South American geopolitical subjects, encompassing facets such as China's involvement, organized crime ranging from gangs to cartels, nuances of local business practices, corruption, the prevailing political atmosphere, and intricate local due diligence. In particular, Mr. Brunner, working with other federal agencies and the offices of the U.S. Attorneys, investigated the criminal enterprise known as MS-13 and was able to utilize RICO to charge numerous members of MS-13, not only for individual crimes but also for participating in the broader criminal activities of the gang as a whole.  In this Episode, Mr. Brunner discusses the rise of MS-13 as an international criminal organization, its evolution over time, the relationship between MS-13 and the Mexican cartels, and the efforts of law enforcement to bring MS-13 to justice.

For the first episode of 2024, I conclude our examination into the life and career of Honduran trafficker Juan Ramon Matta Ballesteros. In this Episode, I look at the allegations connecting Matta to the Camarena kidnapping, including his alleged presence at Lope de Vega and his escape from Mexico City shortly after the Camarena abduction.  I also examine his role in connecting Felix Gallardo with the cocaine traffickers from Colombia. Matta's connection to the Honduran airline company SETCO also is discussed, as well as his alleged relationship with the CIA. Finally, I look at Matta's legacy, the tremendous breadth of his connections and influence, and I discuss a personal conversation I had with Matta.

Juan Ramon Matta Ballesteros played a pivotal role in the expansion of drug trafficking from Colombia to Mexico and to the United States in the 1970s and 1980s. Moreover, many allege he and his company were significant actors in the U.S.'s proxy war in support of the Contras seeking to overthrow Nicaragua's Sandinista government. Matta also may have been involved in the kidnapping and murder of DEA Agent Kiki Camarena. In this Episode, the first of two, we look at Matta's upbringing and his introduction to crime. We also investigate Matta's deep connection to the Honduran military and its role in Matta's rise to being a prolific trafficker. Finally, the Episode discusses Matta's capture in Apil 1988, his transportation to the United States, and the criminal proceedings against him.

Last Wednesday, El Nini, the head of security for Los Chapitos and head of Los Ninis, was arrested in a mid-day raid on a house in Culiacan.  In this Episode, we examine the capture of El Nini and, most significantly, we discuss the possible reasons behind his capture and its timing. Notably, we discuss suggestions that his capture was part of a secret agreement between the Mexican military and Los Chapitos. We also discuss the death of El Mago, a key figure of Los Chapitos in Los Angeles, and discuss whether his murder is related to his connection to Ivan Archivaldo.  Lastly, we look at the capture of Juan Carlos Pizano, CJNG's Tapalpa plaza boss, who was said to be responsible for last Sunday's attack on military personnel in Teocalciche, Jalisco, that left three soldiers dead and three wounded.

My recent viewing of season 3 of Narcos: Mexico, which features Amado Carrillo Fuentes in one storyline, coupled with recent discussions about his death, led me to look more into the life, career, and death of The Lord of the Skies. In this episode, we look at Amado's rise from one of twelve children in Sinaloa, to the tutelage he received from old school traffickers Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo, his uncle, and Pablo Acosta Villarreal, to his rise to the leadership of the Juarez Cartel. We also examine his ill-fated alliance with, first, Pablo Escobar, and, later, the Cali Cartel. Finally, we discuss the pressures that led Amado to seek the plastic surgery and lipo suction in a Mexico City hospital that led to his death, as well as the continuing rumors that he faked his death.

A September 1986 memorandum from the US Embassy in Mexico City to the State Department in Washington D.C. sought to "clear up some of the confusion that has been created by efforts to explain Mexican legal proceedings using US definitions" and to "promote a greater understanding of the differences between the Mexican and U.S. legal systems." In this Episode, we highlight the key differences discussed in the memorandum, including the burden of proof on a criminal defendant in Mexico, the unique elements of a trial in Mexico, and the active role of Mexican judges in the prosecution of a criminal case. We also take a brief look at the memorandum's discussion of the status of the Camarena-related trials, including the identification of key defendants detained by Mexican officials.

Policy decisions regarding Mexican cartels should be driven by careful analysis coupled with a deep understanding of the cartel network structure in Mexico and its primary actors, i.e., CJNG and CDS. Social network analysis is a tool that can be used to evaluate these critical issues.   In this Episode, we discuss social network analysis and recent reports applying this methodology to Mexico's cartels. Those reports provide critical insight on the key differences between CDS and CJNG, the breadth and scope of the cartel network in Mexico, and possible outcomes if the power and strength of CDS or CJNG are diminished in the future.

In this Episode, we discuss some current events including the devastation in and around Acapulco caused by Hurrican Otis and the end of Red Ribbon Week. We then look at the Biden administration's announced intent to complete part of the border wall in Starr County, Texas. Next, we add to the discussion last week about the trafficking of guns and other weapons from the U.S. into Mexico, including analysis of some of the underlying causes of this continuing problem. Finally, we discuss the differences between facts and truth, and focus on the subjective nature of truth. We also comment on the flaws of a position, asserted by many, that "I know the facts and I know the truth." Not a truth but the truth.

The prolific trafficking of guns and weapons from the U.S. into Mexico is a significant and tragically overlooked issue in the war on drugs and the Mexican cartels.  The easy access to a legal inventory of guns in Texas and other state and lucrative prices on the secondary market has flooded some Mexican border towns – including remarkably violent ones – with guns and weapons, which often make their way into the hands of criminals and Mexican cartels.   In this Episode, we discuss some of the root causes of this gun trafficking problem, the involvement of Americans in the trafficking process, and recent interdiction efforts by a variety of American agencies.

In this Episode, we look at the political dialogue surrounding the possible use of US military forces against Mexican cartels, as part of the effort to address the fentanyl crisis.  The pledges of Republican presidential candidates are examined, as well as the role of a Congressional committee investigating the issue.  We also consider some of the difficulties any military action would encounter, including the possibility of retaliation against Americans in border towns, the identification of cartel members, and the sheer size of Mexico.  Finally, we address the possible current cooperation between the two governments in light of recent actions in Culiacan and elsewhere.