Mexico's Top Federal Police Man Quits, Mysteriously...

Mexico City Cathedral

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In another story sure to bring confidence to Mexican citizens, the Acting federal police commissioner- he succeeded the last one, who was shot- quit under mysterious circumstances. On a saturday? Via a press release on a website? What the hell, Mexican Federal Police?

Acting federal police Commissioner Gerardo Garay said he was stepping aside "to place myself at the orders of legal judicial authorities to clear up any accusation against me."

Garay did not say what accusations he was referring to, nor were federal officials available Saturday to comment on the resignation. But the newspaper Reform reported Saturday that prosecutors are looking into whether the federal police assigned to the Mexico City airport had aided drug traffickers.

A top operator of the Sinaloa drug cartel was arrested in Mexico City on Oct. 20 following a gunbattle with police, and prosecutors say the man was in charge of trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine through the capital's international airport.

(MIAMI HERALD AP)

Head of Sinaloa Cartel Operations in Nicaragua Arrested

Nicaragua

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After a police action called Operation Trojan completed in different parts of Nicaragua, authorities in that country identified the Mexican Martin Lugo Lucio as the alleged "kingpin" drug dealer who ran a center for collecting drug dismantled in recent days Managua.

In a communique, the police released the results of Operation Trojan, made from 27 to Oct. 30 in different parts of the country and which led to the capture of 18 alleged drug traffickers, including Mexican Lugo Lucio, three Hondurans and a Salvadoran.

According to the police spokesman, Commissioner Vilma Reyes, Lugo is presumed that Lucio was in charge of a storage site belonging to drug cartel in Sinaloa, which he Nicaraguan police dismantled a logistics base last year.

During Operation Trojan, "the police conducted raids and arrests in Managua, in Yalagüina (north), Chinandega (northwest) and Penas Blancas (south), where they seized 42.6 kilos of cocaine, 367 thousand 660 U.S. dollars, ten vehicles Three buildings and weapons, the report said.

(EL UNIVERSAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION)

Don Mario is Colombia's Hot Drug Lord

You want to be a 'drug lord'? Then you better either be the head of the Cali or Medellin Cartel in Colombia, the Gulf, Sinaloa or Arellano-Felix Cartel in Mexico or whomever the big guy is in Russia or Eastern Europe. That's what it takes. Otherwise, you're just a 'drug king pin.'

MEDELLIN, Colombia -- He commands a private combat-ready army of more than 1,000 men, wears designer fashions and checks the time with a collection of Cartier and Rolex watches.

He allegedly controls three criminal networks that earn him millions of dollars through high-priced prostitution, money laundering and cocaine trafficking.

His name is Daniel Rendón Herrera, also known as ''Don Mario,'' a 43-year-old owner of several aircraft and vessels, whose arrest is worth $1.5 million to the Colombian government.

According to Colombian authorities and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, Rendón is Colombia's most powerful drug lord and partner of the largest Mexican drug cartels.

Don Mario is the brother of former paramilitary leader Freddy Rendón, also known as ''El Alemán.'' He is awaiting extradition to the United States, where he is wanted for drug trafficking.

On Oct. 15, Don Mario circulated pamphlets throughout the region announcing the formation of his new army, the ''Colombian Gaitanist Auto-defense Forces,'' striking panic among local residents.

The name ''Gaitanist'' refers to populist Liberal Party leader Eliécer Gaitán, who was murdered in 1948, unleashing a series of massive protests and popular uprisings that came to be known as ``El Bogotázo.''

Authorities think Don Mario's collaborators are made up of former FARC guerrillas and members of other criminal organizations who have switched sides, often bringing with them large arsenals and groups of men trained for combat.

(MIAMI HERALD)

Bro, he has his own para-military. C'mon. You can't fuck with that.

Eduardo Arellano Felxi to be Extradited to U.S.

Altiplano Prison, Altiplano desert.

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(CAT DIRT SEZ)
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Contrary to initial reports ("He'll do his time in Mexico first, then be extradited to the U.S. afterwards.") the Mexican government has, in fact, begun extradition proceedings against Eduardo "El Doctor" Arellano-Felix. I thought so. (MIAMI HERALD)

Operation Pay Cut Targets South Texas to Atlanta Drug Trafficking Organization

"Highway Clean Up Sponsored by the Gulf Cartel

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"Operation Pay Cut" better or worse name then "Project Reckoning?" Both targeted the South Texas to Atlanta drug trafficking corridor- or d.t.c. I propose a campaign that focuses entirely on the transportation of narcotics on interstate freeways- focus on the d.t.c.'s: los angeles to houston, san diego to los angeles, houston to atlanta, atlanta to new york city- etc. Hub and spokes. Intercepting shipments on the highway is the highest reward/lowest risk- just seizing the drugs in large enough quantities is useful, even without sending people to prison.

Dubbed "Operation Pay Cut," the two-year investigation targeted the finances of drug smuggling organizations operating between Atlanta and cities such as McAllen, Brownsville and Mission. Federal agencies outlined their case in three separate indictments unsealed Wednesday in federal court in Atlanta.

Among those indicted locally is Emmanuel Sanchez, a former Hidalgo County sheriff's deputy, who was stopped by Georgia State Police outside Atlanta in 2006 and found to be carrying almost $1 million hidden in the doors of his truck.

Sanchez, 48, of Mission, allegedly flashed his badge in an attempt to avert further investigation, authorities there said at the time.

(MCALLEN MONITOR)

Here's what I say: The drugs HAVE to move in a concealed fashion in the U.S.- they can't move it in machine gun guarded convoys.

Also, using your fake/real sheriff's badge only works if they aren't tapping your phones.

Three indictments means either three different cells, or two cells and money launderer or one cell and two money launderers.

Phil Spector Trial II, the commencing

Re-trial!

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A problem with the way criminal trials are presented in popular culture media: It only takes you to the end of the first trial. You ever see a re-trial during Law & Order? How about an appeal? There is some attempt to address the endless nature of criminal law within the context of cop shows- but they rarely delve deeply into the trial portion of the investigation.

Both side are promising a shorter event:

The first trial lasted five months. Both sides predict a conclusion in less than half that time.

(LA TIMES)


With Phil Spector you've actually got a retrial that is in the public spotlight- with such high stakes involved, it's no wonder people are interested in how it turns out. Last trial, he escaped by a hair's width. 11-1 for guilt? 10-2? So you have to think the prosecutor is going ftw here.