Three Milenio cartel enforcers have been arrested in
connection with last month’s massacre of 26 people in Guadalajara.
The 26 victims were discovered on Nov. 24. They were inside
two pickup trucks and a car abandoned near the Arcos del Milenio monument in
Mexico’s second largest city.
State Attorney General Tomas Coronado told a press
conference that the enforcers made statements confirming their membership in
the Milenio Cartel, or “Cártel de los Valencia”.
The Milenio cartel, which broke from the Juárez Cartel back
in 1999, then operated as a branch of the La Familia Michoacana, “La Familia”,
which was severely weakened last summer after the arrest of leader José de
Jesús Méndez Vargas.
However, it looks like Los Zetas may have now teamed up with
Milenio. The Zetas began as special forces deserters working for Gulf drug
cartel. They have since developed their own criminal organization, and are
active in the Guadalajara “plaza”, attempting to take control from the Sinaloa
cartel.
Jalisco has been witnessing a vicious turf battle between
Los Zetas and the Sinaloa cartel. The Sinaloa cartel is ruled by Mexico’s most
wanted man, Joaquin “El Chapo” (Shorty) Guzman, and operates in Jalisco via the
Nueva Generacion (New Generation) gang.
These confessions are further evidence of the alliance between
the Milenio cartel and the Zetas. When the bodies were initially found “Z
Milenio” was present alongside some of the bodies.
The three suspects arrested this week have confessed to
killing seven of the 26. Further arrests are planned. Coronado has said that
the killers may have murdered one of their accomplices to silence him.
To date, authorities have positively identified 22 of the 26
victims. The case is under joint investigation by Coronado’s team and the
federal Attorney General’s Office.
Twitter: @TimothyEWilson
Email: lapoliticaeslapolitica [at] gmail [dot] com
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