The Trump administration announced on Wednesday the results from a massive federal operation targeting the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), which is one of the most notorious drug cartels in Mexico.
The Justice Department (DOJ) and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) revealed that over 600 arrests had been made as a result of Project Python, which started late last year.
“Project Python marks the most comprehensive action to date in the Department of Justice’s campaign to disrupt, dismantle, and ultimately destroy CJNG,” Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Criminal Division said during a press conference. “When President Trump signed an Executive Order prioritizing the dismantlement of transnational criminal organizations, the Department of Justice answered the call and took direct aim at CJNG. We deemed CJNG one of the highest-priority transnational organized crime threats we face. And with Project Python, we are delivering results in the face of that threat for the American people.”
President Donald Trump&#8217;s Executive Order 13773 instructed federal officials to identify, interdict, disrupt, and dismantle drug cartels, which has been a top priority of Trump&#8217;s.
The statement added:
<blockquote>CJNG is one of the fastest growing transnational criminal organizations in Mexico, and among the most prolific methamphetamine producers in the world. It is responsible for a significant proportion of drugs entering the United States, and elevated levels of violence in Mexico. With methamphetamine abuse and overdose deaths on the rise, Project Python aims to disrupt CJNG’s ability to distribute methamphetamine and other drugs throughout the United States by attacking the group at all levels.
The efforts highlighted in the more than 600 arrests nationwide are illustrative of the significant reach the CJNG has in manufacturing, importing and distributing a wide array of illegal narcotics within the United States and the negative impact on the fabric of our local communities. The proceeds from the local distribution of these narcotics are repatriated back to Mexico and further fuel transnational organized criminal organizations such as the CJNG. The Department of Justice and its law enforcement partners will continue to vigorously fight this scourge against the United States.</blockquote>
The 2019 DEA National Drug Threat Assessment <a href="https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-01/2019-NDTA-final-01-14-2020_Low_Web-DIR-007-20_2019.pdf">reported</a> the following about CJNG:
<blockquote>CJNG, based in the city of Guadalajara in the Mexican State of Jalisco, is the most recently formed of the six TCOs. With drug distribution hubs in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Atlanta, it is one of the most powerful and fastest growing cartels in Mexico and the United States. CJNG smuggles illicit drugs into the United States by accessing various trafficking corridors along the SWB including Tijuana, Juarez, and Nuevo Laredo. CJNG’s rapid expansion of its drug trafficking activities is characterized by the willingness to engage in violent confrontations with Mexican Government security forces and rival cartels. Like most major Mexican TCOs, CJNG is a poly-drug trafficking group, manufacturing and/or distributing large amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. CJNG reportedly has presence in at least 24 of 32 Mexican states.</blockquote>
“Project Python is the single largest strike by U.S. authorities against CJNG, and this is just the beginning,” Acting DEA Administrator Uttam Dhillon said during the press conference. “This strategic and coordinated project exemplifies DEA’s mission: to disrupt, dismantle, and destroy drug trafficking organizations around the world and bring their leaders to justice. Today, DEA has disrupted CJNG’s operations, and there is more to come as DEA continues its relentless attack on this remorseless criminal organization.”

Attorney General Jeff Sessions And Mexican Counterpart Announce Enforcement Efforts Against Mexican Drug Cartel

‘Just The Beginning’: Trump Strikes Notorious Mexican Drug Cartel, 600+ Arrests Made

Cartels

Donald Trump

Drugs

Mexico

New details have emerged about the American family of nine that were murdered in Mexico back in November as a top Mexican government official was arrested late this week for his alleged involvement in the cartel attack on the family.
Former federal law enforcement official and Phoenix narcotics detective Robert Arce first reported the news on Christmas day. The story was later <a href="https://www.elheraldodechihuahua.com.mx/local/cae-director-de-policia-de-janos-por-caso-lebaron-noticias-de-chihuahua-4627236.html">confirmed</a> by The Herald of Chihuahua, which is a Mexican newspaper.
&#8220;The Police Chief from the Municipality of Janos, Chihuahua, is arrested for suspected links to the Sinaloa Cartel (Los Salazar) by members of the Subprocuraduría Especializada en Investigación de Delincuencia Organizada (SEIDO),&#8221; Arce tweeted. &#8220;The Public Security Director (pictured w/rifle) identified as Chief Fidel Alejandro Villegas Villegas was arrested on December 24, by organized crime investigators (SEIDO) assigned to the federal prosecutor&#8217;s office, the chief was later transported to Mexico City where he will be held along with three suspects, Luis Manuel &amp; Héctor Mario &#8216;El Mayo&#8217; Hernández &amp; a 3rd individual identified only as Cipriano, believed involved in the Lebaron family massacre which occurred on December 4, in nearby Bavispe, Sonora. &#8216;El Mayo&#8217; is accused of being the Plaza Boss for La Línea in Janos, Chihuahua.&#8221;
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1/ The Police Chief from the Municipality of Janos, Chihuahua is arrested for suspected links to the Sinaloa Cartel (Los Salazar) by members of the Subprocuraduría Especializada en Investigación de Delincuencia Organizada (SEIDO). The Public Security Director (pictured w/rifle) <a href="https://t.co/e6eVRksANw">pic.twitter.com/e6eVRksANw</a>
&mdash; Robert Arce (@robertrarce) <a href="https://twitter.com/robertrarce/status/1209957814455586817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
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3/ three suspects, Luis Manuel &amp; Héctor Mario “El Mayo” Hernández &amp; a 3rd individual identified only as Cipriano, believed involved in the Lebaron family massacre which occurred on December 4, in nearby Bavispe, Sonora. “El Mayo” is accused of being the Plaza Boss for La Línea <a href="https://t.co/U8cSGbU9CQ">pic.twitter.com/U8cSGbU9CQ</a>
&mdash; Robert Arce (@robertrarce) <a href="https://twitter.com/robertrarce/status/1209958572257234945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Janos is a small town located in the northwestern section of Chihuahua near the border with the Sonora &amp; approximately 45 miles southeast of Antelope Wells, New Mexico,&#8221; Arce continued. &#8220;The small rural communities located along the Chihuahua/Sonora border provide highly valuable cartel smuggling routes to the U.S. drug markets &amp; have a strong presence of Sinaloa cartel aligned gangs &amp; rival La Línea which is part of the Nuevo Cartel de Juárez or Juárez Cartel. Investigators are examining operational links between local cops &amp; criminal drug gangs that operate in the area. The Lebaron family massacre resulted in the death of three women and six children.&#8221;
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5/ valuable cartel smuggling routes to the U.S. drug markets &amp; have a strong presence of Sinaloa cartel aligned gangs &amp; rival La Línea which is part of the Nuevo Cartel de Juárez or Juárez Cartel. Investigators are examining operational links between local cops &amp; criminal drug
&mdash; Robert Arce (@robertrarce) <a href="https://twitter.com/robertrarce/status/1209959007756021760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The explosive revelation has been picked up by multiple American and British publications over the last day, including <a href="https://nypost.com/2019/12/27/mexican-security-chief-arrested-in-connection-to-mormon-family-massacre/">The New York Post</a>, <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7831065/Mexican-police-director-cartel-ties-arrested-Mormon-family-massacre.html">The Daily Mail</a>, <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/mormon-massacre-mexico-fidel-alejandro-villegas-police-chief-killings-a9262411.html">The Independent</a>, and <a href="https://www.abc4.com/news/national/chief-of-police-arrested-over-mexican-mormon-massacre/">ABC News</a>.
President Donald Trump responded to the news by writing on Twitter, &#8220;A wonderful family and friends from Utah got caught between two vicious drug cartels, who were shooting at each other, with the result being many great American people killed, including young children, and some missing. If Mexico needs or requests help in cleaning out these monsters, the United States stands ready, willing &amp; able to get involved and do the job quickly and effectively. The great new President of Mexico has made this a big issue, but the cartels have become so large and powerful that you sometimes need an army to defeat an army!&#8221;
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&#8230;.monsters, the United States stands ready, willing &amp; able to get involved and do the job quickly and effectively. The great new President of Mexico has made this a big issue, but the cartels have become so large and powerful that you sometimes need an army to defeat an army!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1191708086140047361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Trump added, &#8220;This is the time for Mexico, with the help of the United States, to wage WAR on the drug cartels and wipe them off the face of the earth. We merely await a call from your great new president!&#8221;
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This is the time for Mexico, with the help of the United States, to wage WAR on the drug cartels and wipe them off the face of the earth. We merely await a call from your great new president!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1191708902041227264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Trump later floated the idea of designating the Mexican cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO), but eventually backed off the idea, suggesting that the administration had reached a new deal with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to fight the cartels.
“All necessary work has been completed to declare Mexican Cartels terrorist organizations,” Trump tweeted. “Statutorily we are ready to do so. However, at the request of a man who I like and respect, and has worked so well with us, President Andres Manuel [López Obrador] we will temporarily hold off this designation and step up our joint efforts to deal decisively with these vicious and ever-growing organizations!”
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&#8230;.will temporarily hold off this designation and step up our joint efforts to deal decisively with these vicious and ever-growing organizations!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1203096599435644928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Mexico Lebaron family

New Details Emerge About American Family Murdered In Mexico With Shocking New Arrest

Crime

Drug Cartels

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador issued a new statement on Wednesday in response to President Donald Trump saying that the White House intends to designate the Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations. Lopez Obrador said that he rejects intervention by the United States in Mexico.
Lopez Obrador, a 66-year-old far-left populist, made the remarks in response to Trump&#8217;s comments yesterday during an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-trump-announces-new-major-action-against-mexican-drug-cartels">interview</a> with Bill O&#8217;Reilly.
&#8220;Cooperation, yes, interventionism, no,&#8221; Lopez Obrador said when asked by reporters about Trump&#8217;s remarks.
In his interview with Trump, O’Reilly said, “One of the things that you’ve said to me … is that if another country murdered 100,000 Americans with guns, we would go to war with that country. Yet, the Mexican drug cartels kill more than 100,000 Americans every year by the importation of dangerous narcotics.”
“Are you going to designate those cartels in Mexico as terror groups and start hitting them with drones and things like that?” O’Reilly asked.
“I don’t want to say what I am going to do, but they will be designated,” Trump answered. “I’ve already offered Mexico … to let us go in and clean it out and he so far has rejected the offer but at some point something has to be done. Look, we are losing 100,000 people a year to what is happening and what is coming through on Mexico.”
“So you are going to designate the Mexican cartels as terror groups?” O’Reilly continued to prod.
“Yeah, I will be,” Trump replied. “I have been working on that for the last 90 days. You know, designation is not that easy, you have to go through a process, and we are well into that process.”
Trump&#8217;s remarks come after nine Americans were murdered in Mexico at the beginning of the month in an ambush on a highway.
&#8220;This is the time for Mexico, with the help of the United States, to wage WAR on the drug cartels and wipe them off the face of the earth,&#8221; Trump tweeted on November 5th in response to the tragedy. &#8220;We merely await a call from your great new president!&#8221;
After Trump made the announcement yesterday, Mexico’s secretary of foreign relations said in a statement: “By virtue of the good relations that exist between the two countries, the Government of Mexico will seek to have a high-level meeting as soon as possible to present Mexico’s position and know the views of the United States authorities.”
On Monday, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/1-mexico-does-not-expect-163951545.html" rel="noopener">said</a>, “I don’t think the United States will pursue this path because we’re working together, and I don’t think they would want to open up the possibility of Mexico invoking the same legal principles.”
Designating an entity as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), which is done by the State Department, provides the United States with additional tools to combat whatever entity that it gives the designation to, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-trump-announces-new-major-action-against-mexican-drug-cartels">including</a>:
<ul>
<li>It is unlawful for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide “material support or resources” to a designated FTO.</li>
<li>Representatives and members of a designated FTO, if they are aliens, are inadmissible to, and in certain circumstances removable from, the United States.</li>
<li>The Secretary of the Treasury may require U.S. financial institutions possessing or controlling any assets of a designated FTO to block all transactions involving those assets.</li>
<li>Supports U.S. efforts to curb terrorism financing and to encourage other nations to do the same;</li>
<li>Stigmatizes and isolates designated terrorist organizations internationally;</li>
<li>Deters donations or contributions to and economic transactions with named organizations;</li>
<li>Heightens public awareness and knowledge of terrorist organizations; and</li>
<li>Signals to other governments U.S. concern about named organizations.</li>
</ul>

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Issues New Statement On Trump Designating Cartels As Terrorist Organizations

On Wednesday, in the wake of the murder of nine Americans in Mexico on Monday, Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley issued a blunt tweet challenging the Mexican government, writing, “With Mexico, enough is enough. US government should impose sanctions on Mexican officials, including freezing assets, who won’t confront cartels. Cartels are flooding MO w/ meth, trafficking children, &amp; openly slaughtering American citizens. And Mexico looks the other way.”
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With Mexico, enough is enough. US government should impose sanctions on Mexican officials, including freezing assets, who won’t confront cartels. Cartels are flooding MO w/ meth, trafficking children, &amp; openly slaughtering American citizens. And Mexico looks the other way
&mdash; Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) <a href="https://twitter.com/HawleyMO/status/1192121566638825472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2019</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;
On Thursday, the Mexican Ambassador to the United States, Martha Barcena Coqui,  responded with a letter apparently linking the U.S. to the increased violence of the drug cartels in Mexico, bringing up Americans’ demand for black-market drugs. Barcena wrote:
<blockquote>In the wake of the tragic loss of lives during the heinous assault that took place against the binational Mormon community of Lebaron in Mexico, my government categorically rejects your recent mischaracterization on Mexico not actively combating transnational organized crime and suggesting to impose sanctions on Mexican officials.
One of the top priorities of President Lopez Obrador is to promote security with a new approach, not seek a violent confrontation with organized crime groups, a strategy that failed in previous administrations leading to unprecedented escalation of violence.</blockquote>
After writing that Mexico “reiterates its willingness to work with the United States,” Barcena added a handwritten note at the bottom of the typed letter, stating, “I hope to be able to discuss these matters with you personally, including how to reduce drug demand in the U.S.”
Hawley noted, “In response to my call for sanctions, yesterday the Mexican Ambassador responded w/ letter taking zero responsibility, offering no change in Mexico’s failed policies, &amp; suggesting real problem is Americans’ “drug demand.” As if Americans are responsible for the cartels’ crimes.”
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In response to my call for sanctions, yesterday the Mexican Ambassador responded w/ letter taking zero responsibility, offering no change in Mexico’s failed policies, &amp; suggesting real problem is Americans’ “drug demand.” As if Americans are responsible for the cartels’ crimes <a href="https://t.co/zo0jl7u2kG">pic.twitter.com/zo0jl7u2kG</a>
&mdash; Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) <a href="https://twitter.com/HawleyMO/status/1192524833340477440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2019</a></blockquote>
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As Tristan Justice reported at <a href="https://thefederalist.com/2019/11/08/mexican-ambassador-blames-drug-cartel-violence-on-addicted-americans/">The Federalist</a>, “Democratic Rep. Ben McAdams of Utah, one of six Mormons in the House of Representatives, joined Hawley in challenging Congress to consider sanctions on the Mexican government.
McAdams told the Federalist, “The unspeakable violence against U.S. women and children this week in the border region of Mexico shocks the conscience and demands action. These criminals place no value on human life and cannot be tolerated by the U.S. or Mexican governments. I call on Congress to join me in considering a range of ideas, including imposing sanctions on Mexican officials who won’t confront the cartels, and declaring Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations.”
Justice also spoke to Republican Rep. Chris Stewart, (R-UT), who asserted:
<blockquote>Following these horrific attacks, I believe the U.S. must partner with the Mexican government, not sanction them. Sanctioning Mexico will cripple our neighbor and reduce the incentive for mutual cooperation in delivering justice to the cartels who carried out this heinous attack.</blockquote>
On Tuesday, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/newt-gingrich-mexican-drug-cartel-shootout-wake-up-call-mormon-family-homicide-abduction">stated</a>, &#8220;Mexico is a vital American interest. And, our desire to make sure the Mexican government defeats the cartels, should be enormous. And I hope this will be a wake-up call &#8212; that we had better find a way to have a partnership with the Mexican government and help them with whatever intelligence training equipment they need to decisively defeat the cartels who are now, frankly, a state within a state.&#8221;
According to the <a href="https://www.cfr.org/interactive/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/criminal-violence-mexico">Council of Foreign Relations</a>:
<blockquote>By 2016, drug-related homicides had<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mexico-homicides-in-2016-under-enrique-pena-nieto-2017-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> increased by 22 percent</a>, with more than twenty thousand killed, and in 2017 a mass grave containing the remains of more than 250 victims of crime-related violence was <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2017/03/15/americas/mexico-mass-grave-skulls-found-veracruz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">uncovered</a> in Veracruz State. Since 2006, crime-related violence has resulted in an <a href="https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R41576.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">estimated 150,000 deaths</a>. &#8230; In 2018, the <a href="http://secretariadoejecutivo.gob.mx/docs/pdfs/nueva-metodologia/CNSP-V%C3%ADctimas-2018_dic18.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">number of drug-related homicides</a> in Mexico rose to 33,341, a <a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/01/23/687579971/mexico-reports-highest-ever-homicide-rate-in-2018-tops-33-000-investigations" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">15 percent increase</a> from the previous year—and a record high.</blockquote>

Key Speakers At The Economist Mexico Summit

Mexican Ambassador To U.S. Implies Americans At Fault For Increased Cartel Violence

Josh Hawley

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Articles tagged with Cartels

‘Just The Beginning’: Trump Strikes Notorious Mexican Drug Cartel, 600+ Arrests Made

New Details Emerge About American Family Murdered In Mexico With Shocking New Arrest

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Issues New Statement On Trump Designating Cartels As Terrorist Organizations

Mexican Ambassador To U.S. Implies Americans At Fault For Increased Cartel Violence