Efforts To Fight Cartel Crime Get A Boost, More Mayhem In Michoacan And Bundlers Get Nabbed (9/10/24)

Beyond The Horizon

Victor Miguel Curiel Valadez, a 40-year-old Mexican national, recently pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering charges. An associate of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Valadez was involved in laundering over $1.5 million in drug proceeds between 2016 and 2019. His operations spanned multiple countries, including the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia. He recruited individuals across major U.S. cities—such as Chicago, Atlanta, and Detroit—to collect drug profits, which he then funneled back to Mexico through financial networks.
Additionally, Valadez coordinated the distribution of three kilograms of methamphetamines in Houston in 2018. He now faces a potential life sentence in federal prison, with fines of up to $10 million for the drug charges, and additional penalties for the money laundering conspiracy. His sentencing is scheduled for November 20, 2024.
Next up:
The latest surge in violence in Michoacán stems from the ongoing conflict between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Cárteles Unidos. This battle has spread across multiple municipalities, including Aguililla, Tepalcatepec, Buenavista, and Apatzingán. The Tierra Caliente region, a hotspot due to its proximity to key drug trafficking routes and resources, remains a fierce battleground.
Recent reports highlight narco-blockades, firefights, and the use of drones to drop explosives, particularly by CJNG, as they attempt to expand their control over this valuable territory. Notably, Buenavista has been the site of intense clashes, with CJNG forces engaging their rivals, causing widespread terror among civilians. Local residents have been displaced in large numbers, with more than 500 fleeing their homes in just a few weeks.
Next up:
The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation have been awarded a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants program. This funding is aimed at combating active gang and cartel-related drug activity and violent crime on the Yakama Nation reservation. Vanessa R. Waldref, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced the grant as part of efforts to support community safety and strengthen law enforcement resources on tribal lands. The initiative will focus on reducing crime rates and addressing the underlying causes of gang and cartel violence on the reservation.
And in our final segement:
Rene Hernandez-Cordero, a 52-year-old from Ciudad Juárez, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute, 15 years for straw purchasing and trafficking firearms, and five years for conspiracy to smuggle bulk cash. All sentences will run concurrently, meaning he will serve them at the same time. The charges stem from Hernandez-Cordero’s involvement in drug trafficking, illegal firearms transactions, and cash smuggling, as detailed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office
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source:
Mexican national admits laundering $1.5 million on behalf of Cartel – FINCHANNEL
Human Rights Groups in Mexico Claim Cartel Violence Causing Exodus in Michoacan (breitbart.com)
CONFEDERATED TRIBES AND BANDS OF THE YAKAMA NATION AWARDED MORE THAN $1 MILLION TO FIGHT GANG AND CARTEL CRIME – Dailyfly
CJNG cartel member sentenced to 25 years for firearm trafficking, distributing meth | BorderReport