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Former HSI Agent Eric Balliet Reveals "El Chapo" Guzmán's Dual Life in New Book

Former HSI Agent Eric Balliet Reveals "El Chapo" Guzmán's Dual Life in New Book

Former Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent Eric Balliet has released a new book, "Kingpins & Coyotes," detailing his experiences in the capture of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán Loera, the former leader of the Sinaloa Cartel. Balliet, who was part of the team that apprehended Guzmán in February 2014, describes a surprising encounter with the notorious drug lord, whom he initially perceived as an ordinary, timid Hispanic man. Contrary to expectations of a criminal mastermind, Balliet observed Guzmán greeting his wife shyly. A key revelation from Balliet's book is Guzmán's prolific use of text messages, sending approximately 100 daily. These messages showcased a stark duality in Guzmán's personality, often containing brutal orders for executions and cartel operations, while simultaneously expressing affectionate sentiments to his family, including his children and grandchildren. Balliet recounts instances where Guzmán would order a killing and minutes later send a cake or flowers to a loved one. The agen...

Trump list of US-designated 'foreign terrorist organizations' in Latin America grows to 21

Trump list of US-designated 'foreign terrorist organizations' in Latin America grows to 21

The Trump administration has designated 21 Latin American and Caribbean criminal groups as “foreign terrorist organizations,” with the latest an Ecuadorian group added to the list on Wednesday

Mexican Marines Apprehend U.S. Citizen Yanet 'N' with Over 5,000 Cartridges in Sonora, Linked to 'Los Mayos' Faction

Mexican Marines Apprehend U.S. Citizen Yanet 'N' with Over 5,000 Cartridges in Sonora, Linked to 'Los Mayos' Faction

Mexican Marines, in a high-impact border operation in San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora, arrested Yanet 'N', a U.S. citizen, who was found in possession of 5,445 cartridges and a vehicle. The seized items are valued at 1.6 million pesos. Yanet 'N' is accused of being a key logistical operator for 'Los Mayos,' a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel led by Ismael Zambada Sicairos, known as 'El Mayito Flaco.' This arrest is considered a significant blow to the financial structure of 'Los Mayos.' The operation was a coordinated effort involving the Navy, National Defense, National Guard, FGR, and SSPC, as part of preventive patrols along the northern border. Authorities emphasized that the seizure aims to neutralize the firepower of criminal cells and prevent violence in Sonora and Baja California. Yanet 'N' has been handed over to the Federal Public Ministry for legal proceedings.

American Woman Arrested in Mexico for Allegedly Supplying Ammunition to Sinaloa Cartel Near Arizona Border

American Woman Arrested in Mexico for Allegedly Supplying Ammunition to Sinaloa Cartel Near Arizona Border

An American woman, identified by Mexican federal officials as Yanet "N," has been arrested in San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora, Mexico, just across the Arizona border. She is suspected of being a key logistics operator for the Sinaloa Cartel. The arrest occurred during routine crime prevention patrols near the international border bridge connecting San Luis Río Colorado to San Luis, Arizona. Mexican federal forces, including elements of the Mexican Navy, Secretariat of National Defense, National Guard, Mexican Customs, and federal prosecutors, intercepted her vehicle. A search revealed 5,445 live rounds of ammunition hidden inside. Mexican security officials described this operation as a significant blow to the Sinaloa Cartel’s supply chain in northern Mexico, estimating the economic and operational impact of the seizure at approximately 1.65 million Mexican pesos.

Hidden crypto farm in Mexican mountains puts spotlight on cartel funding

Hidden crypto farm in Mexican mountains puts spotlight on cartel funding

By Sarah Morland and Daniel Becerril TLAOLA, Mexico, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Nestled in the lush green mountains of Central Mexico, next to a sparsely traveled gravel road, few people had reason to wander close enough to hear the loud, mechanical whirring of a clandestine cryptocurrency farm.

San Luis Potosí Mayor Enrique Galindo Ceballos Accused of Falsely Claiming Credit for "El Chapo" Guzmán's Capture

San Luis Potosí Mayor Enrique Galindo Ceballos Accused of Falsely Claiming Credit for "El Chapo" Guzmán's Capture

Enrique Galindo Ceballos, the mayor of San Luis Potosí, is facing accusations of attempting to take undue credit for the capture of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán Loera. This alleged strategy by Galindo Ceballos comes in the wake of the success of the Netflix film "La Captura," which details Guzmán's arrest. Critics, including Mike Vigil, former head of international operations for the DEA, have publicly refuted Galindo's claims, stating that he had no direct involvement in the operation. The accusations suggest that Galindo Ceballos is leveraging the film's popularity to position himself as a hero in the capture, despite not having directly participated. It is argued that a lower-ranking commander, not Galindo Ceballos, who was then the national commissioner, gave the order for Guzmán's handover, and some elements of the police force were distrustful of their superiors at the time. The mayor is reportedly engaging in a media strategy to promote this false narrative.

Greek Authorities Dismantle Cocaine Trafficking Ring Using Fresh Roses from Colombia

Greek Authorities Dismantle Cocaine Trafficking Ring Using Fresh Roses from Colombia

Greek authorities have successfully dismantled a drug-trafficking ring that was importing cocaine from Colombia by concealing it within shipments of fresh roses. The Independent Authority for Public Revenue’s DEOS operational unit led the investigation, which revealed that the group, allegedly run by Albanian drug lords, conducted seven imports over eight months, bringing 84 kilograms of cocaine from Bogota to Greece. A case file has been prepared for nine individuals, with seven already arrested. The operation, code-named 'Flowers of Evil,' uncovered that the drug traffickers used a shell company established in 2023 with no physical headquarters, no employees, and a declared business activity unrelated to the flower trade. To evade detection, the roses were first sent to Canada, where new shipping documents were created listing a Canadian sender and a fictitious flower shop in Artemida, Greece, as the recipient. The cocaine was found in 11 stems within bouquets of 40 roses, where the flower heads were gen...

North Charleston Police Arrest Man on Drug Trafficking Charges Following Traffic Stop

North Charleston Police Arrest Man on Drug Trafficking Charges Following Traffic Stop

Sheldon Lamar Welcome, 39, was arrested by North Charleston Police Department (NCPD) officers on August 29th after a traffic stop near Spruill Avenue and Baxter Street. Officers initially pulled over Welcome's vehicle for illegally dark window tint. A subsequent records check revealed his driver's license was indefinitely suspended due to unpaid traffic tickets, leading to his arrest for Driving Under Suspension. While being transported to the Al Cannon Detention Center, Welcome informed officers he had drugs concealed on his person. A probable-cause search at the jail's sally port uncovered a small clear bag containing 38 purple, diamond-shaped pills marked with an 'S'. Further search of a purple plastic tube revealed another clear bag with green plant material, seven additional diamond-shaped pills, and one star-shaped pill. All 46 pills field-tested presumptively positive for MDMA and Fentanyl. Welcome was subsequently booked into the Al Cannon Detention Center and faces additional charges of Possession...

Actress Kate del Castillo Continues Legal Battle Against Mexican Government Over 'El Chapo' Case

Actress Kate del Castillo Continues Legal Battle Against Mexican Government Over 'El Chapo' Case

Actress Kate del Castillo Continues Legal Battle Against Mexican Government Over 'El Chapo' Case

DEA Seeks Forfeiture of Luxury Assets in Austin Drug Trafficking Case

DEA Seeks Forfeiture of Luxury Assets in Austin Drug Trafficking Case

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is seeking the forfeiture of luxury assets, including a yacht, planes, and a Lake Travis mansion, in connection with a drug trafficking case in Austin. At least 14 individuals have been charged in what federal authorities have dubbed the 'Valle Drug Trafficking Organization.' The indictments include charges for conspiracy to distribute hundreds of pounds of marijuana and THC products, with some defendants also facing money laundering charges. According to court filings, the organization was active in at least six states from March 2022 until December. The DEA's forfeiture efforts target over $2 million in cash and bank accounts, along with personal property such as a 2021 Azimut yacht, two planes, a Rolls-Royce, other cars, and a 6,700-square-foot mansion overlooking Lake Travis. Two of the indicted individuals, including Sergio Valle, identified as defendant No. 1 and president of SAD Capital, were scheduled for arraignment in U.S. District Court in Austin.

World Customs Organization Operation COLIBRI ZAFIRO Leads to Major Cocaine Seizure in Brazil

World Customs Organization Operation COLIBRI ZAFIRO Leads to Major Cocaine Seizure in Brazil

Operation COLIBRI ZAFIRO, a 16-day initiative coordinated by the World Customs Organization (WCO), resulted in a significant cocaine seizure in Tocantins, Brazil. Brazilian authorities, specifically the FICCO/TO task force, recovered approximately 490 kilograms (1,080 lb) of cocaine near a clandestine airstrip in rural Pindorama do Tocantins in June. This seizure was the largest individually detailed drug find within the operation, accounting for about 40% of the total 1.2 tonnes of narcotics seized across Latin America, the Caribbean, and West and Central Africa. Officers also found an aircraft with structural modifications and arrested two men on charges including drug trafficking and organized-crime membership. The operation involved 19 countries and focused on private aviation, logging 1,938 operational events on the WCO Geoportal, an intelligence platform. WCO Secretary General Ian Saunders credited the network of analysts and field officers, emphasizing that intelligence sharing is crucial for disrup...

Rhode Island State Police Report Multiple DUI and Shoplifting Arrests in Warwick

Rhode Island State Police Report Multiple DUI and Shoplifting Arrests in Warwick

The Rhode Island State Police (RISP) conducted several arrests in the Warwick area between September 1 and September 9, including charges for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and shoplifting conspiracy. Two of the DUI arrests occurred during the Labor Day weekend. Overall, during the Labor Day weekend, RISP troopers arrested 15 individuals for DUI, investigated 43 motor vehicle crashes, issued 297 citations, and made a total of 39 arrests. Colonel Darnell S. Weaver, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Director of the Department of Public Safety, highlighted the importance of removing impaired drivers from the roads. Specific arrests in Warwick included Alexus Reels, 28, for DUI and refusal to submit to a chemical test following a stop on Centerville Road. Dyani A. Robles, 23, was arrested on an affidavit and arrest warrant for shoplifting and conspiracy after a motor vehicle stop on Elmwood Avenue in Providence. Davie J. Martinez, 45, was charged with DUI and refusal to submit to a chemica...