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Opium poppy plantation found near Tecate, Baja California

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First poppy plantation found this year in Baja California despite rise in national production
K. Mennem, May 13, 2013 for the San Diego Reader
According to the Baja California state police, an opium poppy plantation was discovered near Tecate in a rural area. Few details on the find were released, besides that the plantation was located in a mountainous area and was found during a helicopter tour. The plantation is the first of its kind discovered in 2013.
Despite few finds in the state of Baja California, opium poppy plantations are on the rise across Mexico. According to Mexico’s Secretariat of National Defense, opium poppy passed marijuana as the most widely grown illegal plant in Mexico between 2007 and 2012. By the end of 2012, opium poppy was believed to occupy 40% more land than marijuana.
Experts have attested several factors to the rise of opium in Mexico, such as marijuana prices dropping and the increased use of black tar heroin in the United States. Opium is used to make several narcotics, such as heroin, morphine, and codeine. Black tar heroin is a cruder form of pure heroin which is cheap to make in large drug labs.
Most of Mexico’s opium is believed to be produced in western and southern Mexico. The largest producer as a state has typically been Guerrero in recent years. According to Attorney General’s Office of Mexico, Baja California’s first plantation was discovered in 2009.
Despite increased production in Mexico, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reports Afghanistan still produces the majority of the world’s opium at around 64%. Preliminary counts predict Mexico to currently produce around 9% of the global market.

Culture: TEPITO

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Tepito, the infamous Mexico City neighborhood that is sometimes referred to as “Barrio Bravo”, lies closer to normalcy than most would expect. The rough and tumble barrio, which is often referenced in the same line as stolen goods or Santa Muerte, lies less than a kilometer from the tourist destination the Zócalo. A wondering tourist would quickly realize they walked into one of the most dangerous DF barrios if they walked too far north into the land of Tepito.

Despite the bad rap, the barrio which lies in Colonia Morelos and the Cuauhtémoc borough, is full of hard working citizens. Most of the permanent residents, and not so permanent occupants, work extremely hard to make a meager living.

Tepito consists of 72 blocks, holding an estimated 120,000 people. Many residents live in apartments and makeshifts home for free. Paying no rent to building owners who gave up on collecting rent decades ago.

The colorful tianguis (open air marketplaces often noted for bright colored tarps), begin to take form as soon as the sun comes up across Tepito. The complete marketplaces are taken down and put up daily. Shelves, make-shifts roofs, and complete product lines are compacted and carried home after each day of hustling. Some may question the hard work that goes into making a few pesos a day, yet the locals who own their own mini-business usually do not.

The barrio is often referred to as a trend setter for the metro, as the markets often get bootleg music, movies, and fake products before the real thing can hit the city.

The barrios rouge status, combined with its closeness to the Zócalo, has made it the target of extermination multiple times by top government officials. Despite the attempts, Tepito still hold strong. In fact, Tepito is believed to have developed from the same style lower class marketplace the Aztecs held in the same area.

Having traveled through Mexico City many times, I had yet to visit Tepito. Having the perfect opportunity to visit the barrio, I decided to start it off right, at the famed Santa Muerte shrine.

I opted to take the metro and get off at the Lagunilla stop, going for the long way. People traveling the metro are typically courteous, going great lengths to keep from staring or bumping in the close quarters.

As I prepared to get off the metro, I noticed a shady looking police officer staring me down. He had his bag, apparently packed to head to Tepito for a day of work. No matter what I did, his eyes never relaxed from the death stare he was penetrating me with. The officer never said a word, so I went about my business.

Being slightly disorientated after getting off the metro I started off walking the wrong way. My main goal at the moment was to get away from the staring police officer who seemed to be following me. After finding myself at Paseo de la Reforma from going the wrong direction, I realized I had a pretty good walk on my hands in one of Mexico City’s toughest barrios. At least the cop was out of my sight.

I started on the 2km walk headed east towards the Santa Muerte shrine on calle Alfareria. As I walked down Heroes de Granaditas, which is easier to find on maps as EJE 1, the marketplace along the busy avenue was taking form. The stands and makeshift shops were beginning to take full effect as people bustled up the street making deals.

I stopped a few times at the street stalls, browsing the fake sports apparel and DVD’s. The stalls are often run by older owners, who seem to be helped by children the age of their grandchildren.

A few blocks before the shrine, is a massive wall mural of famous Tepito natives. Numerous successful boxers have came out of this tough neighborhood.

I finally reached Alfareria and hooked a left to head to the shrine. The street was fairly empty except for 10 or so street dwellers that appeared to sleep on the street across from Santa Muerte.

The shrine was not as large as expected, but very well kept. An older man attended the store next door, which sold trinkets and Santa Muerte emblems. The odor of marijuana in the air was heavy, as a bowl slowly burned marijuana buds in front of the shrine. At least 50 candles burned in an open air room next to the shrine. They appeared to have been lit over the last evening.

As a non-devoted yet infatuated Santa Muerte fan, I paid my respects to the shrine. I found myself running my hands over my Santa Muerte tattoos that I had gotten years ago as I walked away from the solemn shrine.

 I again decided to walk the distance as I headed out for my next stop, giving myself time to soak up a lively Tepito afternoon. My only concern was avoiding the non-Tepito resident cop who had a staring problem.





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K. Mennem
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Playas de Rosarito celebrating 128 years as a city

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City to hold celebrations throughout the week
K. Mennem, May 14, 2013 for the San Diego Reader
Playas de Rosarito, which lies approximately 20km southwest of Tijuana, is celebrating its 128th year as a city on May 14, 2013. The city will be holding events for the remainder of the week, highlighted by a festival on Saturday and Sunday.
Playas de Rosarito, which is often referred to solely as Rosarito, has gone through multiple stages as a community since its humble beginnings. The area was first settled by Spanish missionaries in the early 1800’s and later developed into a ranching community during the next 100 years. The city was officially founded in 1885, by rancher Don Joaquín Machado, when a land title was granted by President Porfirio Díaz.

Tijuana teachers to block San Ysidro lane in protest of national reforms

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Teachers protesting education and labor reform on national level
K. Mennem, May 15, 2013 for the San Diego Reader
Teachers from the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores (SNTE or National Union of Workers) plan to block a portion of the San Ysidro international border, on Wednesday, May 15th. The group is protesting a plan by President Enrique Peña Nieto, who wants teachers nationwide to take a standardized test in order to keep their jobs. The new national education law would also put the government in charge of hiring teachers, instead of teachers unions.
The group of teachers plan to block at least one outgoing lane at 10am. On May 5th, teachers blocked a toll booth outside of Tijuana in protest.
Teachers in other states, such as Guerrero, have turned to violence in protest of the possible reforms.

Tijuana’s protesting teachers successfully block border traffic

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Teachers union blocked several lanes of northbound traffic for over an hour
K. Mennem, May 16, 2013 for the San Diego Reader
Members of the national teachers union in Tijuana succeeded in their plan to block traffic at the San Ysidro international border on Wednesday, May 15th. As reported by the San Diego Readerbefore the protest, the union members planned to protest nationwide education reforms by blocking at least one lane of northbound traffic.
The protest was planned for 10am, but did not get underway until noon. The protest lasted for a little over an hour, blocking several lanes. The protestors left peacefully on their own.

Culture: La Merced

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Mexico City is home to over 300 marketplaces. Many are dedicated to one type of product, such as flowers or fruit, while others are a grab-bag of plain old junk. Regardless of content, you can learn a lot about Mexico City (referred to as El DF in Mexico) in its marketplaces. Your quickest dose of culture can be found in a bustling city mercado.

When I travel I make it a mission to visit the main markets in the city. Having a checklist to go through in El DF, one made the top, La Merced. La Merced, the largest market in Mexico City, is an infamous marketplace known for seedy characters and prostitution. The marketplace is more of a neighborhood, as the main structures are surrounded with street commerce for miles.

To the west lies the historic zone of El Df. To every other direction lies its own respectable seedy neighborhood.

The La Merced marketplace was established in 1594 as a monastery marketplace. Over the years the area has developed into the massive marketplace it is today.

La Merced has proven it can withstand the trials of time. It has survived fires, competition from other markets, and police raids. The outdoor markets that are attached to every side of the main market hall are illegal, yet through persistence and bribes, have survived.

La Merced has become infamous for prostitution. Mainly criticized for under aged prostitution, as prostitution is legal for adults in La Merced, as it is considered a regulated zone. Police can be seen standing within arms distance of working prostitutes.

Raids have been conducted to crack down on underage prostitution, yet very rarely.

La Merced is said to be one of the cheapest zones for prostitution in El DF, as services can be had for as cheap as $8 USD. The prostitution has never caused excessive violence, except in 2007 and 2008 when over 12 women were murdered.

I had spent considerable time attempting to research La Merced, yet eventually came to the conclusion that there is just not that many people who have written about the place. Westerners do not visit the market very often, and Mexicans who do not live nearby, don’t care about it.

After my first visit to Tepito I decided to make my way on the metro to La Merced. I was surprised to find the metro exited into the middle of the mercado. Giving me no time to get myself together, I just started walking like I knew where I was going.

I realized quickly if I didn't keep my sense of direction I would get lost quickly, as at first all I saw was fruit, fruit, and fruit and my mini-compass, which I had bought at Wal-Mart, was a piece of crap that failed me in my time of need.

I wandered the narrow hallways, dodging out of the way of speeding vendors and buyers with shoulders full of fruit and fresh foods. I saw nothing but hard working citizens for as far as I could see. I had no idea how one shop could distinguish itself from the thousand others selling the same thing.

Getting tired of high school aged boys bumping me as they hauled-ass around the narrow halls, I decided to get out for the time being. I headed back to my hotel, vowing to return another day.

A few days passed as I soaked in other parts of the city. I finally had the urge to try La Merced again.

I returned mid-afternoon this time, emerging from the metro again. I walked more confidently through the hallways, bumping high school aged boys instead of letting them bump me first.

Walking through the crowded alleys I ran into no threat. Any time I felt like someone was tailing me to close I'd take the subtle-confront method. I'd step aside acting like I am looking for something in my pocket, then rapidly lock my eyes on the possible stalker, usually making them uncomfortable as they pass by.

Regardless I always keep a few tricks up my sleeves when it comes to self-defense. I have a fancy for pepper spray pens and compact knives, not to mention a couple fisticuffs locked and loaded at all times.

By now I had spend considerable time in the market place. I had seen none of the infamous hooker lineups that I kept hearing about. I circled around the backside of the main marketplace on Rosario street and headed north. When I got to the end of the action I took a left going west until I hit the main avenue in the area, EJE 1 Circunvalacion.

Having given up on seeing the lines of prostitutes I figured I would head north out of the area. As soon as I looked forward I noticed about two dozen girls in tight pink and red dresses lined against the wall. Turns out they hang out on the main drag.

I started walking slowly up the main avenue, observing the prostitutes lined up on the street. The girls were spaced out about 4 feet on each side of the walking area for as long as I could see. From this viewpoint it looked like there could be well over 200 prostitutes working at this time.

A few potential customers would stop and chat with the girls, yet I saw no money exchanged or any women leave their positions. Every block or so had its own hotel, which the women used for their services. Some overlooked the street, while some would be nearby in an alley.

I had the eery feeling of people watching me as I slowly walked up the street. It turns out I was right. Men, who in all likelihood were pimps of sort, would sit or stand at open windows in some of the buildings on the second floor. They clearly were keeping an eye on their women and all who passed. Paying them no attention, I kept moving.

The women looked un-energetic, standing there in skin tight dresses and heels, almost in a daze. Police and businessmen walked by, paying the women no attention. Not once did I see a prostitute haggle or try to sell herself. They simply stand there.

I walked close to a mile, with no break in women lined up. I crossed the street and headed back going south on the same avenue. The population of working women was not as high, but fairly close.

I abandoned my plan to take out my professional camera and take photos of the women. The watching men from above may have helped in that decision a bit.  I opted to try to take what photos I could with my phone instead, deciding I didn't feel like getting into a confrontation with an angry pimp.

I walked down Circunvalacion for a bit longer, hoping to see some type of action. I was in amazement that this many prostitutes were working and nobody seemed to be even paying them any attention.

While some sources have stated (and re-quoted on Wikipedia) that one-third of the prostitutes are underage at La Merced, I highly disagree, at least from my observance on my two visits. Many of the prostitutes look to be of mainly indigenous decent, coming from southern Mexico states. These women often appear much younger than they are and stand very short in stature.

While I agree some were clearly 16 or 17, they were far and few between. La Merced may be a host of some underage prostitution, yet it is not blatant.

Deciding I was content with my visit of the area, I booked it west on Salvador, heading back into the historic zone as the sun set on another Mexico City day.
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K. Mennem

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Mexico vows to create missing persons investigation unit

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Families on hunger strike convince authorities to create special unit
K. Mennem, May 20, 2013 for the San Diego Reader
Mexico has promised to create a special unit to investigate missing persons after families of those missing staged a hunger strike for nine days. According to Agencia EFE, Mexico’s Government Secretariat and the federal Attorney General’s office will create the joint unit to investigate the nation’s large number of missing persons. Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam made the announcement, on Friday, May 17th, after meeting with a group of mothers who have missing children. Families had been living in tents outside of his office in Mexico City during their protests.
In February of 2013, the Mexican government confirmed more than 26,000 people had gone missing or had forcibly disappeared since 2006.

Last of three suspects plead guilty to cross-border kidnapping plan

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Men planned to kidnap three in San Diego and take them back to Tijuana to face drug debts
K. Mennem, May 21, 2013 for the San Diego Reader
According to United States Attorney Laura Duffy, the last of three men charged in a cross-border kidnapping plan has entered a guilty plea on May 21. Antonio Zermeno Garcia, Luis Miguel Salas Rodriguez and Carlos Alberto Andrade-De La Cruz, have all now admitted their March 2012 plan to kidnap three victims from San Diego and take them to Tijuana to face a drug debt. The suspects were arrested before carrying out their plan due to a confidential informant and wire-taps by the FBI.
According to information released by the FBI, Andrade-De La Cruz admitted to being the organizer of the group and that he had crossed into the U.S. illegally in order to commit the crime. Conspiracy to commit kidnapping can face a potential life sentence. However, the defendants are likely to be given a lighter sentence due to the plea bargain

Pennsylvania woman makes plea bargain in “coochie” smuggle case

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22 year old attempted to smuggle cocaine and heroin into San Diego from Tijuana
K. Mennem, May 22, 2013 for the San Diego Reader
A 22 year old Pennsylvania woman, who attempted to smuggle narcotics into the United States, has made a plea bargain at the U.S. District Court in San Diego. Samantha Kurdilla was apprehended on January 15 with 75 grams of cocaine and 25 grams of heroin hidden inside her vaginal cavity, within a condom. According to a report by TheSmokingGun.com, border agents were alerted by a drug dog of a narcotic odor coming from Kurdilla’s groin area. A male companion left the scene at the time, but was later arrested in connection with the smuggling attempt.
According to court documents, the plea was made on May 15 to reduce Kurdilla’s charges to a misdemeanor count of heroin possession. The defendant originally faced a felony smuggling charge. At the time of the arrest, self incriminating text messages were found in a cell phone stating “I’m smuggling cocaine and heroin in my coochie.”
The 44 year old male companion, James Perry, had previously plead guilty to a felony cocaine smuggling charge resulting from the incident.
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Baja authorities searching for missing 11 year old girl

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Child disappeared from home on May 18 without a trace
K. Mennem, May 23, 2013 for the San Diego Reader
Baja California authorities and family members are asking for help in locating a missing 11 year old girl. Cristina del Rosario Cancino Cota vanished from her grandmother’s home in Ensenada on the evening of May 17th. No trace of the missing child has been found since.
Citizens are asked to also keep alert for the missing child further north in Tijuana and into the United States. Missing children have at times been trafficked into border areas and the United States against their will.
Anyone with information on the location of the missing child can call the Baja California State Ministerial Police at (646) 152 25 00 ext 2536 and 2531, or call the 066 emergency number while in Mexico. You can also contact K.Mennem at 619-306-7730 or kmennem@gmail.com with any leads or information.
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Crime: The Killer Dogs of Iztapalapa

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by K.Mennem January 16th, 2013

Mexico City has no estimate for the number of wild dogs which roam the streets of the massive metropolis of over 20 million people, yet some have put the number around 200,000. Dogs are respected to an extent on the street, as citizens often throw their scraps to them, instead of in the trash. However, the large reason the dogs end up on the street is because they are often thrown out like an old toy. The massive majority of these dogs live in peace with the citizens of the lower class neighborhoods.

On December 29th, a woman and her 8 month old baby were found in the Cerro de la Estrella national park in Iztapalapa. Authorities shocked the community when they claimed the two were attacked and killed by wild dogs. The two victims were covered in dog bites and authorities allege the woman’s arm was torn completely off.

When authorities declared the news of the incident, it was met with complete criticism. Very few believed that dogs could have done such a thing. The masses believed it was clearly a narco related crime, where the bodies were dumped in the park and likely chewed on after their deaths.

Cerro de la Estrella is a massive national park in southeast Mexico City. It is within the rough and poor neighborhood of Iztapalapa. While the massive killings of cartel territory Mexico have evaded this neighborhood, much like most of Mexico City, violence does occur regularly on a street level here.

 A week after the mother and child were found dead, a young girl received a phone call from her sister screaming for help. The sister crying for help was stating that she and boyfriend were being attacked by wild dogs at the park. The sister on the receiving call thought it was a joke. The 15 year old girl and 16 year old boy were found dead in the park with multiple bite marks.

Even though four were found dead, allegedly eaten by dogs, nobody could believe it. Authorities rounded up as many of the strays in the park as they could. Citizens regularly dump their unwanted dogs in the park, leading to the enlarged population running amuck in the area.

The capture of the dogs, most which were the size of small house pets, let to protests across the city. Authorities soon stated they would not euthanize the dogs, after no evidence of human DNA was found in the animals stomachs.

I was in Mexico City the week following the news of the incidents. I set out to do two things regarding the case, photograph street dogs and visit the park.

Having spent time in Mexico City before, I was aware of the large number of street dogs. The animals are ingrained in Mexico City society. The pups may not have a true owner or home, but the massive numbers of people living on the street take care of them. The street citizens feed and house the dogs the best they can.

If this many dogs were living wild on a national park, this could be a completely different story.

I took the metro to the Cerro de la Estrella stop in Iztapalapa. When I arrived there was a large contingency of taxis waiting. When I looked up the massively steep hill I realized why. For a cheap fee they would take you up the steep 45 degree hill and drop you off or wait on you.

I opted to walk it. The walk was grueling, yet I made it to the park. After hearing of the poor conditions of the park, I still was surprised with its horrible upkeep. The park, which opened in 1938, was not kept at all. Trash was everywhere and the paths were only from people passing through. The view of the city was amazing, but the park was merely a massive empty lot with dying foliage.

The park was once a massive 1,100 hectares. It has since shrunk to under 200. Land has been occupied and taken over on all sides by residents, squatters, and a cemetery.

The park widens up and becomes thicker with foliage. Over 100 caves exist in the park, some which once owned historic petroglyphs. The park is popular for kids to come and escape the bustling city, sometimes to enjoy cheap drugs and their girlfriends or boyfriends.

I roamed the park for another hour. I did not see a single dog. As I left I saw one angry black Labrador growling in the streets. It would be the only sign of a dog besides dried up feces I would discover.

After the four deaths hit the news, another allegation came out. The mother of 15 year old Ana Gabriela Nataret Ramirez told Milenio TV that her daughter was mauled by dogs on December 15th, near the park. Her body was discovered covered in bite marks.

Why the case was not made public before is unknown, but a public prosecutor did confirm the incident.

In less than a month five people were allegedly mauled by wild dogs in a dilapidated park in Mexico City.

Why was this happening all of a sudden. The park had been inhabited by dogs for ages.

Despite the evidence, few can bring themselves to believe it. Most locals say it had to be the narcos. The public majority believes that the narcos dropped the bodies off only to be chewed on by the dogs after their demise.

On the weekend of January 11th, 22 people were murdered in the Mexico City metro. Almost all were connected to drugs. Several of those were in Iztapalapa.

None of the 57 dogs rounded up to date have tested for rabies or human DNA in their stomachs. Only a few of those were full size dogs, such as a Lab.

A few locals, who believe the dogs responsible, think a form of evil dogs could be hiding deep in the caves. Most however, laugh at the chance of being attacked and killed by dogs in their local park.

Could a pack of wild dogs kill a human being? Sure. Did they? I am not so sure.

In a country full of wild stories and crimes, it seems anything can happen. In Iztapalapa, it seems more likely that there are humans involved.



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K. Mennem
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DEA official claims Arellano Félix Organization dead, despite current activity in Tijuana

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U.S. authorities give contradicting statements, claiming AFO has been dismantled after conviction of Eduardo Arellano Félix
K. Mennem, May 29, 2013 for the San Diego Reader
Eduardo Arellano Félix, the fourth Arellano Félix brother to be targeted by the DEA, has entered a guilty plea to one count of conspiring to launder hundreds of millions of dollars in drug proceeds. The plea, which was approved at the U.S. District Court in San Diego on Friday, May 24, will likely give Eduardo a 15 year prison sentence. Eduardo has admitted to handling finances for the family organization, but denies playing any part of the violence or drug trafficking that the group is known for.
Even though the Arellano Félix Organization (AFO) is still very active in Tijuana, the DEA’s acting agent in charge at San Diego, William Sherman, states the plea is the final nail in the coffin for the cartel. According to the Associated Press, U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy also called the conviction “the end of an era”.
U.S. authorities began pursuing the AFO actively in 1997. Since then, four of the seven Arellano Félix brothers have received prison time in the U.S. Another, Ramón Eduardo Arellano Félix, was killed in Mexico in 2002 by police. After the recent conviction of Eduardo, three brothers are now currently serving time in the U.S. Another was released from prison in 2008.
Francisco Rafael Arellano Félix is the oldest of the seven Arellano Félix brothers. He was arrested in 1980 in San Diego after delivering cocaine to a DEA agent. After posting bond he disappeared to Mexico. Francisco Rafael finally served real time after being captured in Tijuana in 1993. He served 15 years in U.S. prisons. He was released in 2008 and crossed back into Mexico. Very little has been heard from him since, but analysts believe he took a low key but active role in the cartels organization since his return to Mexico.
Besides the eldest brother, who was released, two more brothers and four sisters remain in Mexico. Sisters, Enedina and Alicia, are believed to play active roles in the organizations activities. Enedina has at times been called the first female cartel leader of Mexico, after her elder brothers were apprehended.
Enedina’s son, Luis Fernando “El Ingeniero” Sánchez Arellano, has been also been recognized as the current leader of the AFO by many analysts. Most believe Luis Fernando, the nephew of the former leaders, plays the most active role in day to day activities in Tijuana. In early May, the DEA noted Luis Fernando as one of the top six most wanted drug traffickers in the San Diego-Baja California area.
The remaining two Arellano Félix brothers, who are not currently wanted on any criminal charges, still remain free in Mexico. Carlos Alberto Arellano Félix is a licensed surgeon; however the 57 year old is believed to have been involved in money laundering for the organization by running several companies in central Mexico. Carlos had previously been indicted in the U.S. along with several other brothers, but was later dropped from the 1989 indictment. Little is known about the seventh brother, Luis Fernando Arellano Félix, except that he is involved in family owned businesses and possibly money laundering.
The AFO is not the massive organization it once was, suffering constant attacks, arrests, and territorial invasion by the Cartel de Sinaloa (CDS). Despite losing a good portion of its plaza and being weakened, drug war analysts Insight Crime claim the AFO still controlled Tijuana as late as June of 2012. The report claimed that the AFO is being paid by the Cartel de Sinaloa to smuggle narcotics through Tijuana. The DEA's most recent cartel territory map, released in August of 2012, still shows Tijuana as AFO territory. The rest of Baja California is marked as CDS territory.
While overall crime and annual homicides have lowered in recent years, the first four months of 2013 have seen an increase in homicides. Baja California state authorities have attested the vast majority to drug related crime. Most murders have been between local drug dealers and territorial disputes between the AFO and the CDS. A former attorney of Benjamín Arellano Félix was killed in April.
Regardless of the actual size or power of the organization, the AFO clearly remains alive and active in Tijuana, despite recent conflicting statements by U.S. authorities.

Department of Homeland Security to continue border crossing fee study

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Despite getting cut out of immigration reform bill, DHS will continue to analyze possibility of crossing fee
K. Mennem, May 28, 2013 for the San Diego Reader
A proposal to implement mandatory fees, for crossing into the United States from Canada or Mexico, was cut out of the Senate immigration reform bill but is still being analyzed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). According to Fox News Latino, strong opposition is being faced in some areas that border Canada, while southern states have shown less concern but hope that fees would be used to improve local infrastructure.
A two dollar entry fee is already tagged onto tickets when entering the country by air or sea and some locations in Texas do currently toll travelers at international bridges. The Texas tolls are collected by the bridge facility, not U.S. officials.
Concerns have been expressed by authorities and locals that a toll would slow down the already backed up crossing at San Ysidro.

Santa Muerte

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 - K.Mennem February 13th, 2013
Editor: R. Hernandez

The name of Santa Muerte has frequently been tossed around the last few years of the drug war. Mainstream media often mistakenly portrays it as a death cult, one that asks for sacrifices of blood. Police on both sides of the border often search or detain people who have amulets or candles with the Santa Muerte image. Some of these assumptions may have earned justification by now, but most have not. Very few know much, if anything, about La Santa Muerte.

Santa Muerte has emerged into the mainstream in the last decade, despite having its roots in multiple cultures and beliefs. The most influential factors to the rise of this figure are Aztec Culture and Catholicism. Ties to Santeria and Voodoo have been made at times as well.

Indigenous people have combined their native beliefs with Catholicism for some time. Catholic beliefs were forced on Mesoamerican peoples as Spaniard invaders took control of their lands by force. The desire to hold onto original beliefs can be seen in La Santa Muerte.

A strong link that can be made to Mesoamerican Aztec beliefs is to the god Mictecacíhuatl. Mictecacíhuatl is the queen of the Aztec underworld. The queen also oversaw the festivals of the dead. These festivals have morphed into modern day Dia de Los Muertos festivals which can be seen across parts of Mexico and the US Southwest. The use of skeletons and death rituals have been a been part of the culture in the Americas since Pre-Colombian times.

The Catholic Church has labeled Santa Muerte at times as a death cult, claiming it has ties to Satan worship and no tie what so ever with Catholicism. The fact is that a high majority of Santa Muerte believers are devout Catholics. Most amulets and candles are found side by side with Catholic saints and crucifixes. This can be compared with Santeria in the Caribbean, as its followers are usually devout Catholics as well. Throughout much of the world, native religions are morphed in some way into Catholic beliefs. At first the church allowed it to some extent, only to help convert people. In modern day most of these beliefs are strictly banned and condemned.

Shrines have been destroyed across Mexico by federal forces, claiming it attracts drug traffickers and ignites violence. There is a clear connection that can be made to cartel and gang members to the Santa Muerte. This connection is that gang members feel the tie to a deity that may provide protection from death. They feel the same about Jesus Christ. They pray and make offers to the gods in hope that they will survive another day.


Offerings are made in different ways. Media often claims that murders are performed in order to please Santa Muerte, yet little evidence has shown this to be true. Usually followers offer cigars, liquor, flowers, or money. Candles are burnt and amulets are worn around necks and wrists. Tattoos are often added to many followers as well.

A recent FBI release claims that Santa Muerte promotes violence and murder. This assessment is untrue for most. Violent persons may be drawn to the shrine, yet it rarely is what causes them to act out the violence. Criminals have placed body parts of victims on shrines, causing talk of the evil the shrine has caused. Although these incidents happen, victims are rarely killed for the reason of sacrifice. Victims are typically killed for things such as drug debts, and after the fact, given to the alter.

People who have truly killed and dedicated the act to Santa Muerte, likely have more issues with mental illness than from being overpowered by the saint of death.

Images of death are not solely for hopeless souls and drug dealers, main stream culture embraces these things as well. A popular Mexico City artist, who goes by Saner, paints murals across Mexico often depicting images of death. His work ties in topics such as the drug trade, kidnappings, death, and the danger of the huge metropolis of Mexico City. (Saner art-image with mother and child)


Table 1. Santa Muerte Color Significance -FBI.gov
ColorSymbolism
Red        Love and passion
BlackPower against enemies
White  Personal protection
Green     Response to injustice/legal issues
Gold      Attempt to attain wealth
BonePeace and harmony in life
Blue       Spiritual harmony and concentration
CopperRemoval of negative energies
PurpleTransformation of negative events to positive opportunities
SilverLuck and success
Seven colorsProperties of the colors gold, silver, copper, black, purple, red, and green

This table serves only as an example. Applicable groups may be syncretic, drawing on multiple belief systems and having different meanings for the same characteristics.

Source: Tony Kail, Santa Muerte: Mexico’s Mysterious Saint of Death (La Vergne, TN: Fringe Research Press, 2010): 128.
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Most current images of the saint are usually cheap depictions of the grim reaper. More original images actually portray the feminine aspect of the character and a look that often resembles a skeleton version of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Santa Muerte goes by many names. La Flaca is a popular one, meaning the skinny one. Senora Blanca, the white lady is used frequently. Santisima Muerte is a similar version used on many candles.

Followers of the saint can not be summed up as criminals and migrants, as police, military officers, and regular businessmen include Santa Muerte in their home rituals. The range of those who follow the saint are as vast as the area she graces.

During a recent trip to Mexico City, I visited a place many consider the mecca of Santa Muerte. (photo with golden shrine englassed) The shrine is located on the edge of Tepito, one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Mexico City. It consists of an enclosed shrine area which has been attached to a home. Visitors give money, drugs, and other gifts to the shrine for good luck. Read full story on my Tepito visit

At the time of my visit there was a large group of homeless men sleeping nearby. The men had makeshift sidewalk beds directly across the street from the shrine. The older man in charge of the shrine kept watch as people passed by the shrine. The strong aroma of marijuana burned from a small bowl next to Santa Muerte.

On the other side of the historic zone of Mexico city lies another prominent street shrine. (above street photo) The shrine and store is located on Dr. Jose Maria Vertiz street, in the Colonia Doctores. Santa Muerte can be seen in an enclosed case, side by side with Jesus Malverde. Malverde is used by many as the patron saint of drug trafficking. A store lies behind the shrine, selling everything Santa Muerte.

Another sacred Santa Muerte dedication I visited, in Nogales, Mexico, is a mural situated right against the U.S. border fence. Migrants often come pay their last respects before attempting to cross the border. (photo at top of article) Migrants frequently pay respects to the saint of death, in hopes of being granted passage into the United States in one piece. The faith in Santa Muerte in these particular border crossings is pitted against the U.S. Border Patrol.

Many feel that by paying respect to death that you will be spared for more time. By not fearing death you can embrace it. Death is everywhere, especially in some places in Mexico. The attraction to Santa Muerte is obvious for those facing danger.

I have followed the rise of Santa Muerte beliefs over the last 5 years. I have visited numerous shrines, botanica stores, and visited frequently with strong believers. I may not believe that Santa Muerte exists as an entity, however the idea of respecting and embracing death has a strong grip on me. The grip is so strong that I have multiple Santa Muerte images tattooed on my body.





Make sure to click on photos for an enlarged and HD version, as many are photos I have taken on my travels.
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K. Mennem
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To leave a comment below click "view comments" then click the box "comment as". You can comment under a Google Username or under Anonymous.
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Spectator killed during Baja 500

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Driver from San Jose, California lost control on sharp curve
K. Mennem, June 2, 2013 for the San Diego Reader
A spectator of the Baja 500 race was killed near Ensenada, BC, after an American driver lost control of his vehicle on a sharp curve. The incident occurred just northeast of Ensenada on June 1. An 11 year old boy was also injured and taken to a local hospital. The driver, from San Jose, CA, was arrested while authorities further investigate the death of the 39 year old male victim.
The Baja 500 is part of a series of all terrain desert races which are held annually in Baja California. The races are considered the best in their class, drawing competitors from across the globe.

Interstate 35: The Narco-Corridor

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by K.Mennem for Uncut-Reports.com February 22nd. 2013 
Editor: R. Hernandez 

Interstate 35, once it starts into the United States from Mexico, covers 1,568.38 miles (2,524.06km) of prime real estate across the country. The major interstate begins its portion in the U.S. at Laredo, Texas and ends at Duluth, Minnesota, about 150 miles from Canada. What happens on this highway inside Mexico and in the first thousand miles inside the U.S. is what makes this highway monumental to the drug trade.

If you follow I-35 into Mexico it becomes Federal Highway 85 at the border. The highway travels from Nuevo Laredo, through Monterrey, Ciudad Victoria, Pachuca, and on to the southern edge of Mexico City. From that point the highway changes names, but can be connected all the way through Central America, to its ending point in Panama. This route, in general, has seen more narcotics than any other land route in the world.

I-35 has maintained its status as a powerhouse playing card in the drug trade for generations. The Gulf Cartel held onto it for years until the current owner, Los Zetas, took over. The Zetas have since put everything at stake to guard the interstate, its border crossing of Nuevo Laredo, and the profits that come with it.

The I-35 origins began in Oklahoma during the 1950’s. Over the following 25 years advancements would be made both directions, until the highway spanned the distance of the country. Oklahoma had no idea what it was in for when starting this major highway.
Traveling from anywhere north or east of Texas, the most likely point to cross into Mexico is thru Nuevo Laredo at I-35. Ciudad Juarez is a stretch of a drive from any point in Texas. Reynosa and Matamoros is an extra two hour drive south to enter Mexico. Piedras Negras isn't out of the question, but when heading to any likely destination in Mexico it would put you unnecessarily north. If traveling from Mexico to most locations in the U.S. (north or east of Texas), the same rule applies, making Nuevo Laredo a favorite crossing point.

The distance from Culiacan, Sinaloa to Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas is 778 miles by major highway. The distance from Culiacan to Tijuana, Baja California is 964 miles. Many wonder why the Sinaloa Cartel cares about Nuevo Laredo and I-35 when they control most of the California and Arizona crossings.

Crossing through Laredo and onto Dallas or Oklahoma City gives a distributor much more options than moving narcotics into Southern California, as a distribution point. California needs its own share of narcotics, making Tijuana important, yet from a national distribution outlook, moving into the center of the country is ideal.

Dallas and the I-35 corridor is a huge distribution center, for the mere size of the DFW metro and the transit options that are available. Any drops needed through Texas, can be made as passes through San Antonio, Austin, and the option towards Houston are easy.
Passing through Texas is where the real money is made. Once you leave a border state with a pound of meth or cocaine, the price can often double. Once the product hits Oklahoma City, it has reached the promise land. Prices are up and the options are unlimited.

OKC provides I-40 East, which gives access to the Southeast. Little Rock, Memphis, and on to Washington D.C. I-35 provides outlets through Kansas City, St. Louis, and on to Chicago. If the western portion of the U.S. is dry on street drugs, heading west on I-40 provides access to Albuquerque, Denver, and even Las Vegas.

Oklahoma’s rural outside, yet urban state center, provides ideal drop and pickup points for those moving drugs through the U.S. Warehouse districts, farms, urban ghettos, and trailer parks all provide for the needs of movers. Oklahoma’s insatiable appetite for good meth doesn't dissuade the issue either.

In June of 2012, federal agents raided a horse ranch in Lexington, Oklahoma, about 30 minutes south of downtown Oklahoma City. No massive amounts of drug were found, only around 400 horses, owned by the Zetas cartel. The man who ran the ranch, Jose Trevino Morales, is the oldest brother of the current leader of the Los Zetas.

The ranch had developed for some time from drug money. The Zetas leaders funneled cash into the ranch, which was then laundered into high dollar horses. The federal case has yet to reach trial.
Heading back down I-35, a little less than 9 hours, the Zetas are busy defending their plaza. The Zetas are entangled in a daily struggle against their former employers, the Gulf Cartel (Cartel del Golfo), as the Gulf has been receiving help from the powerful Sinaloa Cartel (Cartel del Sinaloa).

The Zetas have had a strong presence in Nuevo Laredo since the late 1990’s. For the majority of the time they were the enforcement wing, which worked for the Gulf Cartel. When the Zetas decided to split in recent years, taking Nuevo Laredo was easy. Defending the city and taking surrounding areas would pose a little harder threat.

Despite having to defend its home-base, the Zetas now have sole control of the prized I-35 corridor. Having access to the most coveted transit points meant making money, regardless of the wars the Zetas were entangled in.

Deals with smaller gangs and cartels would ultimately be made. Cuts from every gram of narcotics moved through the area would be taxed. Human smuggling would be taken over, increasing profits for the group. As the money and options increased, so did the recruits. Instead of being a solid force of ex-military men, the organization had become a multi-layered organization with large amounts of street thugs.

More street level thugs mean more expendable bodies. Gun battles with police and military yield no true loss, when multiple meaningless cartel foot soldiers are killed.

As the cartel grows and extend its territory, its profit and amount of narcotics moved do so as well. The larger amount of narcotics being shipped means lower prices for wholesale and street sales. For that to work, an anthill of smugglers must scatter across the border weekly with narcotics as there will be losses.
Smugglers use multiple routes getting into the U.S. from Mexico with narcotics. Some backpack the drugs across rural border areas to a specific drop point. Most of the volume is moved across legal crossing points, hidden in vehicles. Narcotics are hidden in gas tanks, radiators, tires, and commonly hidden in semi-truck loads. The smuggler, if knowingly carrying the drugs, must first get past the border crossing check. With the volume of cars traveling into Texas at Laredo, not every vehicle can be checked.

Those that are moving narcotics for the Zetas on I-35 into the U.S. will run into a secondary Border Patrol checkpoint 29 miles north of Laredo. If the smuggler is able to move past this checkpoint, as most do, they are technically home free, barring human error. Those attempting to hop off the interstate before the checkpoint will get stopped at smaller checks on Highway 83 and Highway 59. Drug dogs are aplenty on the interstate headed north, yet there is no reason to be stopped unless mistakes are made.

Arrangement to make it past the initial border security and the secondary checks are often made by the shipper. The packaging in a vehicle, either a passenger auto or a semi-truck, is usually unknown to the driver. The driver usually knows he is smuggling drugs, yet often does not know many details. These vehicles are moved north, where they are picked up by drug dealers and regional distributors.

In 2005, the U.S. Justice Department stated that the Zetas had moved throughout Texas and Oklahoma. The memo stated that the Zetas were deploying henchmen along I-35 cities to enforce their prized smuggling route. The memo also noted that the Zetas were charging a 10% fee on all human and drug shipments that were not theirs on I-35.

Drug shipments and cartel linked murders have been prevalent up I-35 and its surrounding cities for decades. The rise in both began in 2005, when the Zetas moved north hoping to seize the new methamphetamine market, which had opened due to new state laws banning pseudoephedrine products. Without local precursors readily available for local production, the Mexican cartels would seize the opportunity to bring purer and cheaper meth north into the free market. Most would be done by using I-35.
In early 2006, 5 pounds of Mexican meth was confiscated during an arrest as far north as Minnesota. A Mexican national admitted to hauling it from the border hidden in his vehicle. In the coming years, the shipments would just get larger and larger, as demand for high grade Mexican crystal grew.

In September of 2011, a Brownsville, Texas man was arrested while trafficking 42 pounds of crystal meth north on I-35. The man was stopped near Jarrell, TX. The smuggler was one of many busted along I-35 with large amounts of meth in 2011. This particular suspect was given a life sentence in prison, hoping to give a warning to smugglers.

In November of 2012, a Laredo man was busted with 90 pounds of crystal meth on his way north on I-35. The suspect was driving with his wife and young child when they were stopped between San Antonio and Dallas. According to local authorities, a 28 pound brick of marijuana was also found in the vehicle.

For every large meth bust made on I-35, another several dozen make it past seamlessly. These busts, which grab headlines, never put a dent in overall production or profit for criminal organizations in Mexico. A bust could put a local dealer out of business, but another will soon step in to replace him.

While local meth is still made in the U.S., it is estimated at only 20%. The other 80% is smuggled from Mexico, a large portion using I-35. The 80% figure was first used in 2006, only a year or two after the vast majority of meth in the U.S. was made locally.

During 2006 to 2012, cocaine seizures dropped more than 30%, according to The National Drug Intelligence Center’s 2011 National Drug Threat Assessment. Other narcotics, specifically meth, increased.
Meth seizures have specifically jumped in Laredo’s customs district, according to Customs and Border Patrol authorities. In the fiscal year alone, 2,200 pounds were apprehended in the Laredo district. The seizure numbers showed a 116% increase over 2011, 2011 had a 34% increase over 2010.

Milenio news agency has reported that at least 85% of Mexican drug labs are located in the states of Michoacán, Sinaloa, and Jalisco. All three are located in the southwest region of the country. Most of those drugs are smuggled into the U.S. east of Juarez, particularly the I-35 route. Only 87 pounds of meth were seized in the El Paso district (which borders Juarez) compared to the 2,200 pounds seized in Laredo’s (I-35) district during 2012.

Analysts and law enforcement agencies have stated for some time that the Zetas do not specialize in meth manufacturing. These statements are typically based on the fact that most meth labs that are busted in Mexico are in the homes of the Sinaloa Cartel and neighboring organizations. Struggling organizations like La Familia, paved the way for mass meth productions and smuggling.

The Zetas however, advanced on those operations by moving mass productions into lawless, rural Guatemala. From productions points, the narcotic shipments can then be moved in numerous ways. Shipments are hauled by semi-truck, personal vehicles, train, by water in the Gulf Coast, and by plane. By using these multiple forms of transit, the Zetas can quickly and efficiently get enough of their product to Tamaulipas (Nuevo Laredo’s border state). A few lost loads on the way do not affect the process, yet lost and seized loads before the Texas border are few and far between.
When analyzing the territory that the Zetas control, it mirrors transit routes from Guatemala and Highway 85 leading up to Nuevo Laredo. The Zetas fought viscously in recent years to control Monterrey and other neighboring plazas, most which are former strongholds of the Gulf Cartel.

All of these organizations have focused on selling their self-made methamphetamines, instead of imported  South American made cocaine. This switch reduces risk, costs, and cuts out unneeded South American counterparts.

While the grip on I-35 seems to be in the hands of one organization at the current time, things can change quickly. In the 1990’s few would have thought the Gulf Cartel would have yielded way to the Zetas. Few would have thought a new organization could make way into the top of the underworld.

As far as controlling I-35 and the smuggling routes from a law enforcement standpoint, options are limited. Search, seizure and arrest will continue on a daily basis as the demand for drugs is insatiable. American drug users make groups like the Zetas who they are. Without a huge appetite in the U.S. for illegal narcotics, the Zetas and others would be almost meaningless. As long as the demand is there, I-35 will be flowing with product. 
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K. Mennem
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To leave a comment below click "view comments" then click the box "comment as". You can comment under a Google Username or under Anonymous.
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My site dedicated to the drug war
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11 year old found in Ensenada after missing for two weeks

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Adult arrested when authorities located missing girl
K. Mennem, June 3, 2013 for the San Diego Reader
A missing 11 year old girl was located in Ensenada, two weeks after she was reported missing by her grandmother. The child vanished from her home in Ensenada on the evening of May 17. Authorities located the child on June 1, arresting an adult who accompanied the minor.
The identity of the arrested adult has not been released by authorities.

Tijuana to halt analogue TV switch-off until at least July

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Concerns over citizens left without TV before July state elections arise
K. Mennem, June 3, 2013 for the San Diego Reader
The plan for the city of Tijuana to become the first city in Latin America to broadcast television in only digital has been put on halt for the time being. The majority of the city is now in fully digital, but concerns have arisen that some citizens of the poorer neighborhoods do not have the necessary equipment to receive digital TV. State elections are scheduled for July 7, making the possibility of leaving some without TV a political risk.
Mexico’s secretary of communications and transport, Gerardo Ruiz Esparza, told Foro TV "There is concern from the electoral officials that at a given moment, families who don't have access to the signal on their TV sets will not receive the messages of the electoral process, from the campaigns".
Many cities across Mexico and Latin America currently receive a mix of digital and analogue formats. All of Mexico hopes to implement fully digital by the end of 2015.

Travel Fotos

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Panteón Civil de Dolores in Mexico City (DF), Mexico

El Panteón Francés de la Piedad in Mexico City (DF)

Panteón Civil de Dolores in Mexico City (DF), Mexico (where grave-robbers go unnoticed)
Santa Muerte y Jesus Malverde in Mexico City DF. Colonia Doctores. (where those pay tribute to the underworld's Saints)
Overlooking Mexico City from Iztapalapa. (where dogs eat man)
Grave-robbers simply throw coffins to the side

Portion of south bound lanes at San Ysidro POE to close overnight during June construction

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U.S. construction at Mexico border near San Diego to build awning over traffic lanes

K. Mennem, June 4, 2013 for the San Diego Reader

Construction began Monday, June 3, on a canopy that will cover all south bound lanes into Mexico at the San Ysidro port of entry. The project will require three to four lanes to close during the hours of 21:00 (9pm) to 05:00 during the month of June.

According to the U.S. General Service Administration website, the port of entry into Mexico will remain open during construction. Drivers are asked to drive slow and follow traffic signs
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