MEXICALI ? For more than a decade, the Arellano F?lix cartel controlled one of the key drug routes into the United States, across an area that
stretches from the beaches of Tijuana to the irrigated desert farmland of the Mexicali Valley.
In recent months, however, Ismael Zambada Garc?a, a suspected drug trafficker from the state of Sinaloa, has taken over the Arellano's Mexicali turf
and is trying to move into Tijuana, according to U.S. and Mexican law enforcement officials.
The power shift represents the first major crumbling of the Arellano's Baja California empire since the death and arrests of its top leaders last
year. The Mexicali area is considered one of the top three drug crossing zones along the U.S.-Mexico border, surpassed only by Tijuana and Ciudad
Juarez, across from El Paso, Texas.
Zambada, who is known by his nickname, "El Mayo," has also moved into portions of the Arizona border once dominated by the Arellanos, according to
U.S. intelligence.
Some suspect he is cooperating with two other major drug trafficking groups to form a mega-alliance along the entire 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border. If
that effort succeeds, drug-fighting agencies will face a more powerful foe because the triumvirate would be able to focus on business rather than
settling scores.
In Baja California, the power shifts are also expected to disrupt long-standing ties between the Arellanos and some Mexican law enforcement agents,
whose cooperation is critical for any drug cartel to succeed, said Jes?s Blancornelas, a Tijuana journalist who writes extensively about drug cartels.
If Zambada moves aggressively into Tijuana, there's sure be a bloody fight for what is considered the border's most profitable drug corridor, all
those interviewed for this article say. Zambada, 55, once cooperated with the Arellanos, but they've been bitter rivals since the 1990s.
Although U.S. and Mexican authorities have thought Zambada might eventually succeed the Arellanos, they only recently acknowledged his emergence as a
major player.
One Mexican federal investigator, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, says Zambada now controls the Mexicali region, where the
state's capital of Mexicali is located.
Michael Vigil, special agent in charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's office in San Diego, said Zambada's power has indeed grown.
"My personal opinion is that he is the dominant force in Mexicali, though the Arellanos still have people," he said. "I'm not going to say he controls
the plaza, but there is a heavy influence by his organization."
Recent developments illustrate Zambada's growing strength, according to Mexican and U.S. authorities:
The Oct. 14 killing in Mexicali of Carlos Gonz?lez F?lix, a former security coordinator for Ernesto Ruffo, Baja California's governor in the early
1990s. Gonz?lez was once linked to the Arellanos.
The Oct. 20 killing of former federal police commander Miguel Angel Barraza Rodriguez in Mexicali. Barraza, who left his post about a decade ago, was
also believed to have worked with the Arellanos.
The Sept. 3 arrests of three men suspected of being part of a drug trafficking group that stashed marijuana and money in houses in San Diego and in
Riverside County. The DEA's Vigil is positive the drugs came from Zambada's group and through Tijuana.
Mexican intelligence reports indicate Zambada has sent more of his people to the Mexicali region. U.S. intelligence supports those findings and say
the same thing is happening in Tijuana.
"Significant" amounts of marijuana and cocaine believed linked to Zambada's group have been confiscated at the Mexicali port of entry since January,
said Michael Turner, special agent in charge of the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for San Diego and Imperial counties.
Mexican and U.S. anti-drug investigators also say it's likely that three tunnels found this year in Mexicali and Tijuana had been built for Zambada's
cartel.
Law enforcement officials said some of these incidents could be attributed to the small and large drug trafficking groups trying to take advantage of
the Arellanos' weakened state, including some working with Zambada.
But Blancornelas, editor of the Tijuana weekly Zeta, believes that while Zambada's people control drug trafficking in the Mexicali region ? they will
face a serious battle if they try to do the same in Tijuana.
"There isn't a doubt that he wants to come here (Tijuana), but he still can't do that," he said. "They (Arellanos) have been operating here for many
years and there are many people ? lots of people from the past ? who continue to be with them. I think it will be very difficult."
At first glance, the Mexicali Valley doesn't seem worth fighting and dying over. About 100 miles to the east of Tijuana, the harsh desert area
developed slowly as an agricultural zone, bolstered by its proximity to California's extensive highway system.
The Arellanos transported drugs to Baja California from central Mexico, and then up the peninsula through Tijuana or Mexicali into California. At one
point their influence stretched as far east as Nogales, Mexico, according to the DEA.
Zambada developed over three decades what was considered to be a medium-sized drug smuggling group based in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, according to a U.S.
Library of Congress report titled "Organized Crime and Terrorist Activity in Mexico, 1999-2002." He is said to own dairies and ranches throughout
Mexico and is believed to use them as fronts for money laundering. His wife and children are said to live in Mexico's interior.
Over the years, he has allied himself with other cartels who now apparently support his move into Arellano territory.
Investigators say he started moving into Mexicali after the Arellanos suffered two serious blows last year. Ram?n Arellano, who was said to be the
cartel's main enforcer, was killed in a shootout in Mazatlan, where he had apparently gone to kill Zambada. Ram?n's brother Benjam?n, who was believed
to be the cartel's CEO, was arrested a month later.
Mexicali, a city with a population of about 764,900, hasn't seen a notable rise in its annual murder rate of about 120. What is different lately, said
Blancornelas and others, is that many of the targets have current and former ties to the Arellanos. Blancornelas said the killings of Gonzalez and
Barraza were likely ordered by Zambada "to say that he doesn't want any people around who could provide advice to the Arellanos."
Victor Clark, a Tijuana human rights activist who follows drug trafficking trends, said that in addition to instilling fear in their enemies,
Zambada's group is reaching out to law enforcement agencies in Mexicali.
"In this world where loyalties are so important, the Arellanos have loyalties with lots of important police groups that have been established over
many years," he said. "These aren't easy to break, but Zambada is starting to create fissures."
A Tijuana attorney, who would not be quoted by name because he has clients connected to the underworld, said some law enforcement officials will be
forced to make difficult choices as the battle lines shift.
"It's not just about gaining a territory, but about holding on to it," the attorney said. "This conflict is exacerbated when people are being
protected by one group, and then another one comes in and tries to get them to work with them and offers more money."
Zambada tried to move into Tijuana three years ago, when his group was blamed for killing Tijuana police chief Alfredo de La Torre M?rquez. The chief
was believed to have been targeted because he refused to work with the Zambadas. But U.S. law enforcement sources painted a more complex picture,
telling The Union-Tribune at the time that he had actually been working for the Arellanos.
The Arellanos lashed back, and may even have helped law enforcement officials capture suspects in the killing. Zambada apparently retreated ? until
this year.
The Arellanos were never seen as team players in the cartel world. Now that they are weaker, that strategy may be hurting them as their rivals band
together.
The Juarez cartel, which is run by the Carrillo-Fuentes family, operates along portions of the Texas border and into Arizona. Zambada, who appears to
be establishing himself south of Arizona, got his start with them and maintains that connection.
Zambada also cooperates with Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, a convicted drug trafficker who escaped from a Mexican prison in 2000 and also has close ties
to the Juarez cartel. Guzman is apparently trying to wrest control of the eastern portion of the U.S.-Mexico border near Texas from the remnants of
the Gulf cartel, whose alleged leader Osiel C?rdenas was arrested in March.
Editor Blancornelas said Zambada apparently moved into the Mexicali region with the blessing, and perhaps even the tactical support, of the Juarez
cartel and Guzman's group. He said the three drug traffickers are carving out niches for themselves along the border, with agreements to allow one
another to use their territories.
The DEA'S Vigil said law enforcement efforts are aware of the new threat. "We are already targeting all these organizations," he said.
As Zambada has risen in stature, so has pressure from U.S. and Mexican law enforcement officials.
A joint investigation targeting Zambada's group over 19 months ? "Operation Trifecta" ? ended July 31 with the arrest of 240 suspected drug smugglers
and the confiscation of about six tons of cocaine.
Also this summer, the United States unsealed federal indictments against Zambada and his son, as well as another cartel member. Zambada, who has also
been indicted in Mexico, now appears on wanted billboards along Arizona highways and on posters along the border with Mexico.
Zambada's presumed goal, to move into Tijuana, is sure to be challenged by the Arellano cartel, long known as one of Mexico's most violent and
ruthless.
A Tijuana man, who regularly associates with drug traffickers and refused to let his name be used out of fear for his safety, said the Arellanos have
in recent months aggressively pursued traffickers who haven't paid to use the cartel's turf. He also said the Arellanos have sent hitmen after
suspected snitches, including a man who was shot to death at a popular taco stand.
Others say the Arellanos sent a ghoulish message to their rivals in October when the bodies of two men believed to have been working for Zambada were
hung from a bridge at a busy Tijuana intersection, shocking early morning commuters.
A large sign hung on one of the men said: "Welcome To Tijuana."
JESSE - 12-10-2003 at 09:54 PM
Tijuana is and will always be the territory of the Arellano Felix brothers, that wont change in the near future, they are too powerful here.
I never read that story...
flyfishinPam - 12-11-2003 at 11:20 AM
about the guys hanging off the bridge in TJ. Why don't both our governments just leaglize drugs and put an end to this stupidity?JESSE - 12-11-2003 at 01:46 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by flyfishinPam
about the guys hanging off the bridge in TJ. Why don't both our governments just leaglize drugs and put an end to this stupidity?
Because theres millions of dollars that end up in the pockets of corrupt politicians, and billions of tax dollars that are used as political capital
for politicians in Washington.
And all over Mexico
Anonymous - 12-11-2003 at 09:37 PM
More people are into the drug payoffs in Mex than in the US
How do the drugs get into the US, thru eh...MEXICO
gee, where is the main problem...MEXICO
CLOSE THE GATES
NO AGREEMENTS WITH MEXICO
DEPORT ILLEGALS
PUT TO DEATH THE GUILTY MEXICANSDave - 12-11-2003 at 11:10 PM
There wouldn't be any drug smuggling FROM or drug cartels IN Mexico if Gringos didn't do dope.
Put to death the guilty Mexicans?
Jail the gringo dopers!
Boy does that bring to mind a little twilight zone experience I had this week.
Stephanie Jackter - 12-11-2003 at 11:24 PM
A couple of weeks ago I got a ticket from a cop with nothing better to do than cite me for having my dog at large when I walked him the 30 feet from
the dog run to my car without a leash.
When I got to the arraignment this week, I found myself listening to the courts plea offerings with a group of mainly druggies with multiple counts
against them, both potheads caught in the act and alcoholics doing antisocial things that got them in a pickle. I realized after about ten minutes of
sitting there that, almost to the person, the court was offering diversion programs to all the people in the room with me. Essentially, they were
being asked to pay a fine and go get a little counseling and in return, all the charges would be dropped and erased completely from their records.
I, having committed the mortal sin of walking my dog for ten seconds without a leash, got put in the position of being forced to plead innocent and
take up the court time and taxpayer money to contest the charge or paying the 119 dollar fine and have it reflected on public documents forever that I
have a CRIMINAL record.
And we talk about how screwy things can be in Mexico. Well, welcome to Screwey Central.- Stephanie
Agree David and Stephanie
Anonymous - 12-12-2003 at 08:48 AM
Jail or better yet, send them to a work program for months of picking lettuce or whatever the illegals are doing for months!! Then we'll have
replacements when the illegals are deported!!!
The USA is the best at everything...EVERYTHING.
Arriba!
get a name
jerry - 12-13-2003 at 12:29 AM
anon a mouse get a name
That's why they call it dope
hyme7of9 - 12-16-2003 at 06:13 PM
Historically in every society on this planet, a small percentage of the population has been addicted to one substance or another.This is the way it
is.You cannot change human behavior on such a large scale.What to do about it? Incarceration obviousley doesn't work.The recidivism rate speaks for
itself. Treatment? As a five year vet as a chemical dependency nuse and counselor I know that this works only when the person is ready.Or in the
vernacular ," he'll stop when he's sick and tired of being sick and tired." In the meantime we all pay a very steep price to " fight the war on drugs
".I'm sick of the whole thing.It's time to try somethig new or how about nothing?Amsterdam has very little crime and a thriving legal recreational
drug culture.Personally I would rather legalize pot and make booze illegal.From a safety standpoint it's much the lesser of two evils especially when
driving a car or when engaged in other potientially dangerous activities.There is what is called " using sucessfully".This is when you have no
negative outcomes as a direct result of your use.Even in AA and NA they talk about "sucessful use". None of it is good for you.But of course
everything I like is bad for me.Go figure. Adios.Hyme
Mental handicaps
Ski Baja - 12-20-2003 at 09:50 AM
It's people like se?or nameless that make me so happy there are places like BdLA for them to go rather than any of the real Baja. Because with that
attitude, you wouldn't last long in the mountains.
Perhaps when the U.S. military is done taking over the world, they will set up roadblocks in your country as the Mexicans have done to stop the U.S.
drug
problem.
These drugs that pass through Mexico on their way to your children don't stop here. That's because the Mexican children are educated and know
better. Wake up there people! They are grown or manufactured for the "best at everything" crowd. Americans and their kids. Because they can afford
them and aren't smart enough to know better.
