The 30 percent tariffs announced by the Trump administration for Mexico over not doing enough to stop drug cartels show that U.S. officials appear to be seeing through the lies presented by their Mexican counterparts. Key cartel figures continue to operate with complete impunity throughout Mexico.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and her top security chief, Omar Garcia Harfuch, continuously claim that they have been carrying out operations against organized crime by making various seizures of weapons, drugs, and fuel. However, the reality is that in parts of Mexico, cartel bosses continue to operate with complete impunity.
One of those bosses is Cesar “El Boto” or “Botox” Sepulveda Arellano, the leader of a criminal organization called Los Blancos de Troya that was part of the Viagras Cartel, and, before that, part of Carteles Unidos. The group was previously designated as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) by the Trump administration. Earlier this year, Los Viagras and Blancos de Troya entered an alliance with Cartel Jalisco New Generation, which is another criminal organization considered an FTO by the U.S. government.
Michoacan FGE
El Boto is the same drug lord who, in 2018, placed a hit on one of the writers with Breitbart News Foundation’s Cartel Chronicles project. Under pressure from the United States, Mexican authorities arrested Sepulveda at the time. Less than two years later, a Mexican judge released him under suspicious circumstances. Since then, El Boto has been terrorizing rural communities in Michoacan.
El Boto has been openly living in various luxurious homes in Western Michoacan as he is not concerned about any raids against him, Mexican military sources revealed to Breitbart Texas. Intelligence reports point to El Boto being responsible for extorting citrus growers in Michoacan. State authorities have multiple warrants for his arrest on numerous charges, including murder, kidnapping, and extortion. However, the fearsome drug lord has protection from top Mexican officials.
Since joining forces with CJNG, El Boto has been disregarding the orders of top CJNG bosses and exploiting the situation to target the families of individuals who had crossed him in the past.
Michoacan is under the political control of Mexico’s ruling party, MORENA. As Breitbart Texas first reported, the current governor, Alfredo Ramirez Bedolla, is the nephew and cousin of two convicted drug traffickers who are spending time in a U.S. prison for their role as top leaders of Carteles Unidos.
Ildefonso Ortiz is an award-winning journalist with Breitbart News Foundation. He co-founded Breitbart News Foundation’s Cartel Chronicles project with Brandon Darby and senior Breitbart management. You can follow him on Twitter and on Facebook. He can be contacted at [email protected].
Brandon Darby is the managing director and editor-in-chief of Breitbart Texas. He co-founded Breitbart News Foundation’s Cartel Chronicles project with Ildefonso Ortiz and senior Breitbart management. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. He can be contacted at [email protected].
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