Although its founder Juan Nepomuceno Guerra smuggled alcohol in large quantities to the United States during the Prohibition era, and heroin for over 40 years,[15] it was not until the 1980s that the cartel was shifted to trafficking cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana under the command of Juan Nepomuceno Guerra and Juan Garca brego. U.S. citizens kidnapped by gunmen at Matamoros, Mexico, Monday, March 6, 2023 . Login . When the Gulf Cartel was moving tons of cocaine to the United States and moving millions of dollars in cash along the border in the 1970s, Juan Garca brego decided that he needed more protection. He was the first drug trafficker to be on that list. It was later proven after his arrest that the deputy attorney general in charge of Mexico's federal Judicial Police had accumulated more than US$9million for protecting Garca brego. The agency's San Antonio Division office said in a statement Sunday that the vehicle came under fire shortly after it entered Mexico. [62] Among his first contacts was Arturo Guzmn Decena, an Army lieutenant who was reportedly asked by Crdenas to look for the "best men possible. -CBS News correspondent Jeff Pegues contributed reporting. [219] Back in the days of the 71-year rule of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), it was believed that they ran exactly that show: if the drug cartels got off the line, the Mexican government would conduct some arrests, make some disappearances, and the drug lords would get their people straight and back on the line again. It is situated on the southern bank of the Rio Grande (Ro Bravo del Norte), 28 miles (45 km) from the Gulf of Mexico and across from Brownsville, Texas. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. [80], Upon the arrest of the Gulf Cartel boss Crdenas in 2003 and his extradition in 2007, the panorama for Los Zetas changedthey started to become synonymous with the Gulf Cartel, and their influences grew within the organization. A city of northeast Mexico near the mouth of the Rio Grande opposite Brownsville, Texas. [214] The massacre of the 72 migrants and the clandestine mass graves with more than 250 bodies in San Fernando, Tamaulipas,[215][216] mounted with the assassination of the governor candidate Rodolfo Torre Cant (2010),[217] the increasing violence generated between drug groups, and the state's inability to ensure tranquility, has led specialists to conclude that "neither the regional nor federal government have control over the territory of Tamaulipas. [59] Los Zetas, as they are known, served as the hired private mercenary army of the Gulf Cartel. Their network is international, and is believed to have dealings with crime groups in Europe, West Africa, Asia, Central America, South America, and the United States. Prostitution circles are believed to be used by the Gulf Cartel to persuade journalists to favor them in the media. The two agents traveled to Matamoros with an informant to gather intelligence on the operations of the Gulf Cartel. A letter claiming to be from the Mexican drug cartel blamed for abducting four Americans and killing two of them condemns the violence. Organized crime groups opt for protection racketeering in an effort to control markets and "maintaining internal order. [336], Arms trafficking [111] In exchange for another life-sentence, Crdenas agreed to collaborate with U.S. agents in intelligence information. [131][132], Costilla was often viewed as the "strongest leader" of the two, but collaborated with Antonio Crdenas, who acted as representative of his jailed brother. [56] The next in line was Sergio Gmez alias El Checo, however, his leadership was short-lived when he was assassinated in April 1996 in Valle Hermoso, Tamaulipas. The STANDS4 Network. [251] Consequently, the federal government did not hesitate to assign the Mexican Army and the Federal Police to vigilate the prisons until further notice; they were also left in charge of searching for the fugitives. Due to the Gulf Cartel's territory in northern Tamaulipas, primarily in the border cities of Reynosa and Matamoros, they have been able to establish a sophisticated and extensive drug trafficking and distribution network along the U.S.Mexico border in South Texas. The Sinaloa cartel is said to be the most dangerous and powerful in the world, responsible for a huge number of lives lost in Sinaloa. [330] They have also been reported to steal vehicles. [195] Along with the market in the United States, the drug market in Europe is among the most lucrative in the world, where the Mexican drug cartels are believed to have deals with the mafia groups of Europe. In a letter obtained by The Associated Press through a Tamaulipas state law enforcement source, the Scorpions faction of the Gulf cartel apologized to the residents of Matamoros, the Mexican woman who died in the shooting and the four Americans and their families. [141] The street confrontations generated a wave of panic among the population and caused the publication and broadcast of messages through social networks like Twitter and Facebook, reporting the clashes between authorities and the cartel members. In August 2007, La Maa gang, an alleged sub-group of the criminal group Los Zetas and the Gulf Cartel, was reported to have controlled the extortion business in Matamoros, Tamaulipas. According to the media outlet, Baltazar Hinojosa brother in law, owns a shell company created by the law firm, where its board of directors' members is his wife and three daughters. Please enter valid email address to continue. [296] The Mexican military mentioned that in the states of Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon, where the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas fight for territory, abductions are carried out very commonly. In fact, they are paid around $3,618 pesos (about US$260) a month in all of Tamaulipas. [30] Juan Garca brego is currently serving 11 life terms in a maximum security prison in Colorado, U.S.[31] In 1996, it was disclosed that Garca brego's organization paid millions of dollars in bribes to politicians and law enforcement officers for his protection. The photos show people lying in the street next to the van surrounded by rifle-toting men. [175] El Universal reported that Mexican authorities identified the gunmen that were engaging in confrontations against the troops in Matamoros, Tamaulipas as members of the Los Escorpiones group. [105] The standoff the two agents had with the drug lord in 1999 in the city of Matamoros, Tamaulipas led for the U.S. to indict Crdenas and pressure the Mexican government to capture him. In Sicario: Day of Soldado (2018) the CIA framed the Matamoros Cartel for killing the antagonists men to intentionally start a cartel war between rivals. Advocates have been warning for years that migrants were being kidnapped, extorted and killed in north Mexican border towns such as Matamoros, Reynosa and Nueva Laredo as they waited their turn. [10] It is currently based in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, directly across the U.S. border from Brownsville, Texas . [221][222] Moreover, the state of Tamaulipas was no exception; according to Santiago Creel, a PAN politician and pre-candidate for the 2012 presidency, the PRI in Tamaulipas has protected the Gulf Cartel for years. Cano Flores, also known as "Yeyo", was a former Mexican police officer and is the highest-ranking Gulf Cartel member to be convicted by a U.S. jury in 15 years. [123], Tamaulipas was mostly spared from the violence until early 2010, when the Gulf Cartel's enforcers, Los Zetas, split from and turned against the Gulf Cartel, sparking a bloody turf war. [60], In 1997 the Gulf Cartel began to recruit military personnel whom Jess Gutirrez Rebollo, an Army General of that time, had assigned as representatives from the PGR offices in certain states across Mexico. Crdenas Guilln eventually let them go and threatened to kill them if they ever returned to his home turf. [252] CNN mentioned that the state government of Tamaulipas later recognized "their inability to work with the federal government. [33], Further theories put forward to allege the arrest of Garca brego was to satisfy U.S. demands and meet certification, from the Department of Justice (DOJ), as a trade partner, the vote set to take place on 1 March. The intense shootings provoked the temporary closure of three international bridges in Matamoros,[139] along with the University of Texas at Brownsville, just across the border. [71], One of the first missions of Los Zetas was to eradicate Los Chachos, a group of drug traffickers under the orders of the Milenio Cartel, who disputed the drug corridors of Tamaulipas with the Gulf Cartel in 2003. [82][83], On 9 November 1999, two U.S. agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and FBI were threatened at gunpoint by Crdenas Guilln and approximately fifteen of his henchmen in Matamoros. Agencias de inteligencia de Estados Unidos espiaron a miembros del Crtel del Golfo el mes pasado, cuando un grupo de hombres armados secuestraron a cuatro viajeros norteamericanos en Matamoros, dos de ellos perdieron la vida. [28] He was quickly extradited to the United States where he stood trial eight months after his arrest. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. border. ABBREVIATIONS; ANAGRAMS; BIOGRAPHIES; CALCULATORS; CONVERSIONS; DEFINITIONS; GRAMMAR; LITERATURE . [126][127], Osiel Crdenas' brother, Antonio Crdenas Guilln, along with Jorge Eduardo Costilla Snchez (El Coss), a former policeman, filled in the vacuum left by Osiel and became the leaders of the Gulf Cartel. [298][299] Omar Ortiz, best known for his nickname El Gato, was a former soccer star from C.F. The consulate in Matamoros has posted at least four security alerts since February 2020, warning of drug cartel violence, crime, kidnappings and clashes involving armed groups. [289], Protection racketeering [311] People smuggling is currently controlled by a cell within the Gulf Cartel known as Los Flacos, dedicated to the kidnapping and smuggling of undocumented migrants as far as South America to the United States. [235] He won under the slogan "winds of change are coming" to Tamaulipas. [187] The arrest of several Gulf Cartel lieutenants, along with the drug-related violence and kidnappings, have raised concerns among Texas officials that the drug war in Mexico and the drug cartels are taking hold in Texas. [360], In May 2013, Aurelio Cano Flores (alias El Yankee) was sentenced to 35 years in prison for conspiring to import multi-ton quantities of marijuana and cocaine into the United States. Flemming, Gary. [237], Both candidates have and continue to face accusations of receiving illicit money from the Gulf Cartel while being mayors of two border towns. Moreover, the Mexican drug traffickers often use small boats to transport drugs through the coastal areas of South Texas, usually operating at night to prevent them from being spotted by law enforcement officials. ", "Dozens killed in Matamoros; Tony Tormenta dead", "Dozens killed in Matamoros; bridges closed", "Head of Gulf Cartel killed in Matamoros shootout", "Shootings in Matamoros Kill "Tony Tormenta" and Nearly 100 People", "Los Zetas tienen el plato servido tras muerte de 'Tony Tormenta': Expertos", "Gulf Cartel leader killed, 55 others in Matamoros, Mexico", "Death toll mounts in Matamoros shootout as sporadic fighting continues", "Narcobloqueos y Balaceras en Tamaulipas tras muerte de 'Tony Tormenta', "600 militares llegan a Mier, una ciudad abandonada por sus habitantes", "Zozobra en Tamaulipas luego de cada del lder del crtel del Golfo", "Zetas celebran caida de "Tony Tormenta" con narcomantas y narcopintas", "Barack Obama expresa su apoyo a Caldern por la muerte de 'Tony Tormenta', "Killing of top Mexico drug lord 'Tony Tormenta' may boost rival Zetas cartel", "Authorities Say Cartel Leader's Death Won't Curb Violence", "Los Escorpiones, temible escolta de Tormenta", "Identifican a nuevo grupo armado del crtel del Golfo que protega a Tony Tormenta", "Tony Tormenta, el capo que 'cuidaba' las fronteras de Tamaulipas", "New details released about Gulf Cartel leader's death", "Tony Tormenta escap en 2 ocasiones: Marina", "Internal struggle in the Gulf Cartel could weaken the organization", "Major Arrests Expected to Shake Up Gulf Cartel", "Death of Gulf Cartel 'Finance Chief' Sign of Internal Strife? After his imprisonment a short time later, Jorge Madrazo Cullar created the National Public Security System (SNSP), to fight the drug cartels along the U.S.Mexico border. Authorities believe that Gonzlez Pizaa reincorporated in organized crime and decided to join with the Gulf Cartel to end the war with Los Zetas, and bring back the "old school" ways when they were together. ", "Mexico: Gulf Cartel lieutenant, his right-hand man captured", "Gulf Cartel lieutenant linked to various incidents on U.S side of border", "U.S. Assistance Has Helped Mexican Counternarcotics Efforts, but the Flow of Illicit Drugs into the United States Remains High", "DTOs Have Expanded Operations in the United States", "Arrests of Mexican drug cartel leaders in Texas raise concerns", "FBI: Trucking 'significant' in cartels' U.S. profitability", "High Ranking Gulf Cartel Member Sentenced in Washington, D.C., to 35 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking", "Former Gulf Cartel Leader Convicted of International Drug Trafficking Conspiracy", "Narco-mafia se comunican por Blackberry", "Undermining Mexico's Dangerous Drug Cartels", "Mexican Cartels Exploit North Africa Turmoil", "Latin American drug cartels find home in West Africa", "Gulf Cartel vs. Los Zetas One year later", "La ley del silencio en Reynosa slo la rompe Twitter", "La guerra Golfo-zetas, en 11 municipios tamaulipecos; nueve son fronterizos con EU", "Los Zetas y el crtel del Golfo se pelean por Monterrey", "La batalla del crtel del Golfo y "Los Zetas" por la Huasteca", "Two Zetas executed in Brownsville, Texas", "La guerra del crtel del Golfo y Los Zetas, maana 24 de febrero se cumple un ao", "Enfrentamientos entre el crtel del Golfo y Los Zetas paralizaron Nuevo Laredo", "Sicarios de los Beltrn Leyva y Zetas atacan a gente del Chapo en Sonora", "Facciones del Crtel del Golfo y Los Zetas buscan aliarse para poner fin a agresiones contra la poblacin", "Why the Jalisco Cartel Does Not Dominate Mexico's Criminal Landscape", "Tamaulipas, en camino de convertirse en un estado fallido? In light of the violence that occurred in Reynosa on June 19, U.S. government personnel in Reynosa are temporarily restricted from field operations and official movements other than home-to-work. [334] Bank accounts inside the United States also launder millions of dollars for the drug lords of the Gulf Cartel. [128] The death of Antonio allowed for Costilla Snchez to become the co-leader of the Gulf Cartel and head of the Metros, one of the two factions within the Gulf Cartel. [203][204] Their conflict has even occurred on U.S. soil, where the Gulf Cartel killed two Zeta members in Brownsville, Texas on 5 October 2010. [202] Soon, the violence generated between these two groups had spread to Tamaulipas' neighboring states of Nuevo Len and Veracruz. [254], According to CNN, more than 400 prison inmates escaped from several prisons in Tamaulipas from January 2010 to March 2011 due to corruption. The protests were ordered by the local leader of the Gulf Cartel, who sent out hundreds of taxi drivers and prostitutes to block international ports of entry and major city streets. An intelligence agency mentioned that the Gulf Cartel kidnaps for three reasons: In April 2011 in the border city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, 68 kidnapped victims from different parts of Mexico and Central America were found in a safe house of the Gulf Cartel. [90] After his capture, Crdenas was sent to the federal, high-security prison La Palma. The cartel faction that controls Matamoros is waging a costly war with another segment of the Gulf Cartel in Reynosa. [177], In the late 1990s, Osiel Crdenas Guilln, the former leader of the Gulf cartel, had other similar groups besides Los Zetas established in several cities in Tamaulipas. "We have decided to turn over those who were directly involved and responsible in the events, who at all times acted under their own decision-making and lack of discipline," the letter reads, adding that those individuals had gone against the cartel's rules, which include "respecting the life and well-being of the innocent.". [268] After a dispute, however, Crdenas ordered Arellano beaten, and the Gulf-Tijuana alliance ceased to exist at that point. MEXICO CITY (AP) When four Americans were kidnapped in the border city of Matamoros, authorities rescued the survivors within days, but thousands of Mexicans remain missing in a state long associated with cartel violence some in cases dating back more than a decade. The photos seem to match the video posted online, which was taken from another angle. [197] Although cocaine is not grown in Africa, Mexican organizations, such as the Gulf Cartel, are currently exploiting West Africa's struggling rule-of-law caused by war, crime and poverty, to stage and expand supply routes to the increasingly lucrative European illegal drug market. Victims of violence in Matamoros and other large border cities of Tamaulipas often go uncounted, because the cartels have a history of disappearing the bodies of their victims. To use the seas, the cartel also implemented the use of narco submarines. [173] The first mention of Los Escorpiones on the media was in 2008, when El Universal wrote an article about some "protected witnesses" from the Gulf Cartel who denounced the alliance between the Beltrn-Leyva Cartel and Los Zetas to the Mexican authorities, and that the Gulf Cartel had created Los Escorpiones to stop and balance the growing hegemony of Los Zetas. [86] The FBI and the DEA mounted numerous charges against him and issued a US$2million bounty for his arrest. Antonio Crdenas Guilln, Jorge Eduardo Costilla Snchez, Heriberto Lazcano Lazcano and 15 of their top lieutenants, have been charged in U.S. federal courts with drug trafficking-related crimes,[360][361] while the U.S. State Department announced rewards totaling US$50million for information leading to their capture. The ransom is $2.5 million USD. "I understand we may have more to share from the FBI at the appropriate time.". [53] He was one of the top officials of the cartel for more than 40 years, trafficking about 20 tons of cocaine to the United States each month. [314], A U.S. agent mentioned that the drug cartels that operate on the MexicoUnited States border, and principally across from Texas, are "in control of not only the narcotrafficking, but also the human smuggling. [41] During the four-week trial, 84 witnesses, ranging from "law enforcement officers to convicted drug smugglers", confessed that Garca brego smuggled loads of Colombian cocaine on planes and then stored them in several border cities along the MexicoUnited States border before being smuggled to the Rio Grande Valley. [119] Other sources, however, mention that the Gulf Cartel began looking to form a truce with their Sinaloa Cartel rivals, and Los Zetas did not want to recognize the treaty settlement, which led them to act independently and eventually break apart. [194] In 2009, the Gulf organization concluded that expanding their market opportunities in Europe, combined with the euro strength against the U.S. dollar, justified establishing an extensive network in that continent. MATAMOROS, Mexico, March 9 (Reuters) - Suspected drug cartel members on Thursday handed over five purported henchmen as a would-be apology for the abduction of four Americans . "[290] It is generally seen as a way where criminals change the legal face of security and provide their own form of "insurance". [178] When the Rojos turned on the Metros, the largest faction in the Gulf cartel, firefights broke throughout Tamaulipas and drug loads were stolen among each other, but the Metros managed to retain control of the major cities that stretched from Matamoros to Miguel Alemn, Tamaulipas. [106] In 2010 he was finally sentenced to 25 years in prison after being charged with 22 federal charges;[107] the courtroom was locked and the public prevented from witnessing the proceeding. Matamoros, founded in 1824, was the scene of bitter fighting in the Mexican-American War and was occupied by U.S. troops in 1846. For years, a night out in Matamoros was also part of the "two-nation vacation" for spring breakers flocking to Texas' South Padre Island. [244] In the border city of Reynosa, 85 inmates escaped from a prison on 10 September 2010. [349] The Mexican drug cartels that operate in the area are currently employing gang members to distribute drugs and conduct other criminal activities on their behalf. The Gulf Cartel (Spanish: Crtel del Golfo, Golfos, or CDG) [7] [8] is a criminal syndicate and drug trafficking organization in Mexico, [9] and perhaps one of the oldest organized crime groups in the country. The Return of El Contador On October 30, 2020 rumors spread online that "El Contador" was released from prison following judges declaring in June that his arrest was illegal. Foto: Sedena. [65] Among the original defectors were Jaime Gonzlez Durn,[66] Jess Enrique Rejn Aguilar,[67] Miguel Trevio Morales,[68] and Heriberto Lazcano,[69] who would later become the supreme leader of the independent cartel of Los Zetas. [248] The federal government "strongly condemned" the prison breaks and said that the work by the state and municipal authorities of Tamaulipas "lack effective control measures" and urged them to strengthen their institutions. The move comes at a time when the criminal organization has been linked to a wave of fear that continues to sweep through the border city of Matamoros as numerous kidnapping and extortion cases go unreported . [45][46][47], Following brego's 1996 arrest by Mexican authorities and subsequent deportation to the United States, a power vacuum was left and several top members fought for leadership. condemned the violence and purportedly will turn over its own members. [240] Also according to Proceso, Baltazar Hinojosa is under investigation by the United States Department of Treasury for laundering money through the Panama Papers target, the law firm Mossack Fonseca. [227] On 30 January 2012, the Attorney General of Mexico issued a communiqu ordering the past three governors of Tamaulipas and their families to remain in the country as they are being investigated for possible cooperation with the Mexican drug cartels. [323], FBI agents have claimed that the Gulf Cartel moves millions of dollars in cash through the Rio Grande Valley each month, a tempting amount for many U.S. [19] It grew significantly in the 1970s under the leadership of kingpin Juan Garca brego. The Gulf Cartel during the late 1980s and early 1990s era is briefly portrayed in Netflixs Narcos: Mexico series (2018 - 2021) with Mexican actor Jess Ochoa playing Juan Nepomuceno Guerra and Flavio Medina playing as nephew Juan Garca brego. 18 Colima - A Previously Peaceful Paradise [36] His prosecutors, however, tried Garca brego as a U.S. citizen because he also had an American birth certificate, although Mexican authorities claimed the certificate was "fraudulent. [276] In addition, within the Gulf Cartel there is believed to be two groupsthe Rojos and the Metros. [40], According to the factual documents presented in court on 8 May 1998, the Matamoros-based criminal syndicate of the Gulf Cartel was responsible for trafficking tremendous amounts of narcotics into the United States from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s, and Garca brego was given eleven life sentences in prison. Definition of Matamoros in the Definitions.net dictionary. "[256] They also reported that in Aguascalientes, a state where violence levels are much lower, policemen are paid five times more than in Tamaulipas. [357][358][359], On 21 July 2009, the United States DEA announced coordinated actions against the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas drug trafficking organizations. Observations indicate that the Gulf Cartel controls territories and imposes its own rulesoften violent and bloodyover the population. [206] Confrontations between these two groups have paralyzed entire cities in broad daylight. [103] However, continual disagreement was leading the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas into an inevitable rupture. [73] Once Crdenas consolidated his position and supremacy, he expanded the responsibilities of Los Zetas, and as years passed, they became much more important for the Gulf Cartel. Matamoros synonyms, Matamoros pronunciation, Matamoros translation, English dictionary definition of Matamoros. [351], While the entire MexicoUnited States border has experienced high levels of drug trafficking and other illegal smuggling activities for decades, this activity tends to be concentrated in certain sectors within Texas. [261] CNN mentioned that the troops "replaced half of the policemen" in the state of Tamaulipas. 2425. They pointedly noted that they had carried out executions and kidnappings under orders of the Gulf Cartel when they served as their enforcers, and they were created by them for that sole purpose. Here is what else we know so far about the case. [328] They were reported to have stolen around 40% of the oil products in 2011 in northern Mexico and then selling it illegally in Mexico and in the American black market. MATAMOROS, Tamaulipas - A group of Gulf Cartel-linked kidnappers killed a local businessman they kidnapped earlier this month. Nevertheless, after the arrest and extradition of Crdenas, internal struggles led to a rupture between the Gulf and the Zetas. According to the police report filed by Orange and reviewed by CBS News, the group was reported missing by Orange on Saturday. The four Americans traveled to Matamoros from Brownsville on Friday in a rented white minivan, the FBI said. This renegotiation, however, forced Garcia brego to guarantee the product's arrival from Colombia to its destination. [25][26], Garca brego's business had grown to such length that the FBI placed him on the Top Ten Most Wanted in 1995. [231] In mid-2010, Eugenio Hernndez Flores, the governor of Tamaulipas and scar Luebbert Gutirrez, the mayor of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, both members of the PRI, were criticized for claiming that there were no armed confrontations in Tamaulipas and that the violence was "only a rumor. The first woman is walking and sits in the back of the truck; the other two people seem to be unresponsive, but their condition is unknown. The amount of fentanyl seized by Mexican authorities nearly quintupled between 2019 and 2020. . A Mexican drug cartel claiming its members were behind the brazen kidnapping of four Americans last week handed over five of the members and left a note of apology, Mexican media outlets and . The war expenses and diminished income amid the pandemic are pushing gunmen into crimes of opportunity which directly impact innocent locals. El reportaje revel presuntos conflictos entre las Fuerzas Armadas. [78] The group operated similar to Los Zetas, but with less complexity and success. [34], Upon his capture outside the city of Monterrey, Nuevo Len, the drug lord was flown to Mexico City where U.S. federal agent took him on a private plane to Houston, Texas. 23 Sep 2020 0 2:18 Police and transit officers in the border city of Matamoros were removed from their posts by Tamaulipas authorities days after the Gulf Cartel ordered blockades and protests. In Western Europe, the primarily increase has been in the use of cocaine. [188] The strong ties the Gulf Cartel has with the prison gangs in the United States have also raised concern to American officials. [292] The Gulf Cartel operates in a similar way, and often extorts businesses for protection money in the areas where it operates, pledging to kill those who do not agree to pay the fee. "[63] Consequently, Guzmn Decenas deserted from the Armed Forces and brought more than 30 army deserters to form part of Crdenas' new criminal paramilitary wing. "[253] In a prison in the state of Zacatecas, on 16 May 2009, an armed commando liberated 53 Gulf Cartel members using 10 trucks and even a helicopter. Matamoros Tourism: Tripadvisor has 1,211 reviews of Matamoros Hotels, Attractions, and Restaurants making it your best Matamoros resource. Mexican authorities found the Americans in a wooden shack guarded by a man who was arrested in the rural Ejido Tecolote area east of Matamoros on the way to the Gulf area called "Bagdad Beach," according to the state's chief prosecutor, Irving Barrios. [24], It also became known that, in addition to the INS bus scam, Garca brego had a "special deal" with members of the Texas National Guard who would truck tons of cocaine and marijuana from South Texas to Houston for the cartel. [331], Money laundering The area that Meja Gonzlez wanted was given to Samuel Flores Borrego, suggesting that the Metros were above the Rojos. [313] Human trafficking in the Rio Grande Valley has become "ground zero" and was considered the "new Arizona" in December 2011 by the Homeland Security Today. [145], The Guardian newspaper mentioned that in a YouTube video, a convoy of SUV's filled with gunmen and pickups packed with marines were seen in a chase through the streets of Matamoros, Tamaulipas. [190] In 2013, high ranking Gulf Cartel member Aurelio Cano Flores became the highest cartel member to be convicted by a U.S. jury in 15 years[191] In January 2020, high-ranking U.S. Gulf Cartel member Jorge Costilla-Sanchez pleaded guilty to an international drug trafficking conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana into the United States. [122] Soon after his death, Los Zetas demanded the Gulf Cartel to hand over the killer, but they didn't, and observers believe that triggered the war. Trial eight months after his arrest agents traveled to Matamoros from Brownsville on Friday in a statement Sunday that vehicle. With less complexity and success opportunity which directly impact innocent locals mentioned that the troops replaced. Extradition of Crdenas, internal struggles led to a rupture between the Gulf Cartel controls and!, Tamaulipas - a group of Gulf Cartel-linked kidnappers killed a local businessman kidnapped. 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