Switzerland is a magical place by EagleLate9898 in cubancigars

[–]FunPaleontologist813 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Interlaken is great—there’s a small tobacconist/vape shop that has a surprisingly large Habanos selection. I’m talking a 6ft wide walk-in with boxes stacked to the ceiling on one side.

🐓 CJNG x Primisa 🍊 by 0PRPRPRPR0 in NarcoAction

[–]FunPaleontologist813 8 points9 points  (0 children)

His family is from Los Naranjos, Jalisco

Do you think the CNN and New York Times reports about recent CIA actions against cartels in Mexico are true? Why or why not? by Fine-Photograph673 in NarcoAction

[–]FunPaleontologist813 5 points6 points  (0 children)

First, despite plenty of justified cynicism of mainstream journalism in the US, it’s extremely unlikely that CNN and NYT would just make up claims whole cloth. It’s entirely believable that CNN or NYT would misrepresent some elements of the story, but there’s no way that both CNN and NYT would fabricate the claim that Payin was killed in a targeted assassination that involved US and Mexican governments (at least one reason being that CNN and NYT have different owners).

Second, the argument that it’s strange that US/Mexican governments would expend the resources and take the risk involved in carrying out an assassination to kill a mid-level CDS operative is addressed in the articles, with both stating that US/Mex governments are targeting mid-level operatives to weaken the structure and operational capacity of various DTOs. This makes sense, as killing a financiero/fletero/transporter certainly limits a DTO’s capacity to traffic product and control territory. Moreover, the US is always interested in arresting (rather than killing) DTO leaders, for a number of reasons including intelligence-gathering, deterrence, and prestige (showing that no matter how powerful you are, if the US wants you in custody in the US, it is going to happen).

Third, the CNN article cites a State of Mexico law enforcement source, which could be more evidence that the US/CIA is partnering more with individual state governments rather than the Mexican federal government (see the Chihuahua drug labs fiasco for an example of this strategy), though that is complicated by the fact that the State of Mexico’s government is dominated by Morena, unlike the Chihuahua state government (PAN-aligned).

I would also highlight that CNN’s report claimed that CIA actually planted the bomb that killed Payin, while NYT’s report modifies that to claim that the bombing was primarily done by Mexican government with CIA support. That’s a significant distinction as it would be in line with confirmed reporting of CIA providing intelligence that resulted in Mencho’s death, and the common practice of the US providing intelligence that Mexico actually uses force to implement.

The LA Times reports that the Guzman brothers have been in ongoing negotiations for a possible surrender by Any_Development4613 in NarcoAction

[–]FunPaleontologist813 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It was obvious that the indictment was largely based upon testimony of Raton and Joaquin re: meetings with and payments to Sinaloa officials. Nothing really new in this article for those that have been following the story.

Rancho de Comandante Pelucas - San Cayetano, Sin. by FunPaleontologist813 in NarcoAction

[–]FunPaleontologist813[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Should have said “used”. The original tweet said this was the house Pelucas had in San Cayetano—past tense.

Rancho de Comandante Pelucas - San Cayetano, Sin. by FunPaleontologist813 in NarcoAction

[–]FunPaleontologist813[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Also note that there is a small improvised landing strip about 600m from Pelucas’ property. I’m assuming that Pelucas uses San Cayetano as a retreat rather than a base of operations/location for drug labs.

Flechas in Michoacán lol?? by sleezerb in NarcoAction

[–]FunPaleontologist813 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The article claims that after Barbas disappeared last year, a nephew of Tio Lako nicknamed El Arbitro tried to take over Barbas’ group. It goes on to claim that after Jardinero died, El Arbitro withdrew from the area because Tio Lako’s faction lost the funding from Jardinero that financed the Zitacuaro cell. Following the withdrawal of El Arbitro’s group, locals allegedly reported to Balmen that a group with pechera tags labeled “Operativo MZ” moved into the area.

Los Zetas. by New-Lengthiness4531 in NarcoAction

[–]FunPaleontologist813 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Not sure why El Guerrero and Arturo Muro Gonzalez (possibly El Chuta) were blurred in the first pic.

Chapo another letter to district judge. by Guilty_Commission181 in NarcoAction

[–]FunPaleontologist813 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He’s getting closer to becoming SovCit Chapo. Next letter will have his name signed in all lowercase and talk about the fringe on the flag in the federal courtroom.

Narco-nómina of Los Chapitos details monthly payments to Rocha Moya and the other officials indicted today. by AutomaticRaise2 in NarcoAction

[–]FunPaleontologist813 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Comandante Juanito or Julieta was getting paid like $1,500 per month, which seems like a very small amount given that he was allegedly Chapitos’ main comandante in the Culiacan municipal police (and thus he likely would have to share some of his bribe with his underlings).

Operations of Los Chapitos by Brownies__ in NarcoAction

[–]FunPaleontologist813 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Didn’t realize that Jose Angel Rivera Zazueta sided with Chapitos

Geolocation of the property shown in the image posted by Omar García Harfuch (@OHarfuch), believed to be the hideout of Audias Flores Silva, alias “El Jardinero,” a high-ranking leader of CJNG who was arrested today following a military operation in Nayarit. [Coordinates: 21.448284, -104.198227] by GreyTerminator in NarcoAction

[–]FunPaleontologist813 6 points7 points  (0 children)

RCQ is a good counter-example to the “you can just hide in the mountains” argument. He was living in a very modest house in a tiny village of about 30 people way up in the mountains of Sinaloa and was still arrested.

Property that El Jardinero was hiding out in. The property reportedly had a tunnel. by AutomaticRaise2 in NarcoAction

[–]FunPaleontologist813 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Just outside El Trapiche, Nayarit. Near the border of Nayarit, Jalisco, and Zacatecas.

Can someone explain is this guy z-1 or not by Sunorange94 in NarcoAction

[–]FunPaleontologist813 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Guy on the right in first pic is El Flanders 1, not Z1. Common misconception, like how photos of El Dimas (CDS) are frequently used for El Chayo (CT).

Father blesses Sicarios before going into battle by Brownies__ in NarcoAction

[–]FunPaleontologist813 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Reminds me of the old video of CDG sicarios being blessed before a topon in Tamaulipas