By The opinion
Nov 21, 2023, 10:28 AM EST
Despite the efforts of the authorities of the United States and Mexico to stop the trafficking of weapons that end up in the drug cartels, the flow of weapons that crosses the border illegally does not seem to stop, and a war that is being waged In Mexican territory this situation increased.
And, after the capture and extradition of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmánhis sons tried to take the leadership of the Sinaloa Cartelbut Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada They have not been allowed to do so, giving rise to a division within the organization that has resulted in confrontations and death.
To cope with Los Chapitosone of the armed cells that operates for “El Mayo” acquired various firearms, ammunition, tactical equipment, armored vehicles and ballistic vests, mainly from the United States.
This is revealed by several messages intercepted by US authorities to which the newspaper Milenio had access, in which Jorge Valenzuelaleader of the cell called “Los Valenzuela”, commissioned the purchase of weapons from Alfredo Lomas Navarreteone of the main traffickers of his organization.
In one of the conversations, Alfredo mentions that, due to the COVID pandemic, arms trafficking was becoming difficult. Despite this, Jorge orders around 100 helmets, vests and weapons to arm his people.
“I have about 300 and I am equipping them… Whatever comes in, get it. Vests, helmets and sticks. And chargers, I need many for AK 47 and for the ‘R’ (AR15),” Valenzuela mentions in one of the messages.
The arsenal crossed through San Diego and Arizona
In other messages they talk about the purchase of grenades and grenade launchers, as well as a Browning machine gunconsidered the “jewel in the crown” for being one of the largest and most lethal weapons that exists.
Most of the weapons were obtained in stores in California, Arizona and Nevada, and then trafficked overland to Mexico through the ports of entry in San Diego and Arizona.
According to US sources consulted by Milenio, “Los Valenzuela” is one of the main cells of the Sinaloa Cartel in trafficking cocaine to the United States, in addition to fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana, currently led by Juan Francisco Valenzuela Valenzuela.
Regarding Jorge Valenzuela, this criminal fell into the hands of the authorities on October 20, 2020 and today he is imprisoned in the United States. Meanwhile, Lomas Navarrete was also sentenced to 15 years in prison by the US justice system.
Keep reading:
– Who is the man that the US identified as a weapons supplier to the Sinaloa Cartel.
– The Jalisco New Generation Cartel turned to Instagram to buy weapons in the US.