Renewed faith of sorts

Trying times in Mexico have pushed many locals to embrace new outlets for their faith. For instance, praying to St. Jude (the patron saint of lost causes) has become extremely popular throughout the predominately Catholic nation.

However many of turned away from the church, and instead towards new religious movements, which often blend Western and Pre-Colombian beliefs. La Santa Muerte, the holy death, is but one example. Amongst narcos she is extremely popular, and is developing quite a following. What started as a small cult movement in small towns along the Gulf has escalated into a large movement with followers throughout Mexico and the U.S. Little is really known about the religion, save for the concept that the followers must show their unfaltering loyalty to La Santa Muerte, or else suffer dire consequences. In an article by National Geographic, it is stated that her followers must appease her with tokens or symbols of their faith, and if they deliver, she will protect them from harm, even when others have shunned them due to their sins. Her followers (many of which are prisoners, narcos, and other criminals) show their faith by carrying her mark of protection in the form of a special tattoo or pennant.

Also, many in Sinaloa have elevated a robin hood like character to saintly proportions. As the story goes, Jesus Malverde was a supposed thief who robbed from the rich and gave to the poor during the 18th century in current day Sinaloa. Unfortunately, despite his noble intentions, he was eventually caught and hung by the authorities.

His religious following began with a man named Eligio Gonzalez.  In the 1970's, Eligio was working as a street vendor. One night he was stabbed and shot during a robbery, and was left for dead. As he lay in the street bleeding to death, Eligio prayed to Malverde to save him, and in return, he would build him a proper shrine so others could worship him. Eligio lived, and he kept his promise.

Now, Malverede is seen as a narco-saint, and many supposed narcotraficantes have made pilgrimages to his shrine. Even the infamous El Chapo has supposedly paid homage to Malverde. Unfortunly, there is no actual proof that Malverede (much like the famed Robin Hood) even existed.

Over 28,000 people have died due to the Drug Conflict, and with death becoming such an integral part of daily life for many Mexicans, it is easy to comprehend why so many have begun seeking spiritual guidance outside of the Church. What is remarkable though, is that these faiths our truly unique, as they blend pre-Colombian practices and Catholic beliefs into one loosely organized religion.

Unintended consequences...

A rather unfortunate consequences of the increased militarization throughout Mexico. What caught my eye was the statistic stating that "violence against women has dramatically increased." Take a look for yourself and see what you think...

Militarization increased abuse of women

Further action in Tamaulipas

According to bbc.com, the mayor of Hidalgo in Tamaulipas, Marco Antonia Leal Garcia, was gunned down while driving his car. The state has seen its fair share of violence recently, as last week 72 migrants were found dead in a warehouse in the town of San Fernando. To make matters worse, a government prosecutor named Roberto Suarez who was leading the investigation into the murders has disappeared. A police officer who was escorting him is also missing as well.

Mexico arrests "La barbie"

According to the bbc.com, alleged drug trafficker Edgar "La Barbie" Valdez (a US citizen) was arrested. He apparently put up very little resistance when he was apprehended in a residential area near Mexico city.


US authorities offered up to $2 million for information on "La Barbie", who is also known as "El Comandante" and "El Guero."Furthermore, according to the bbc.com, Mr Valdez is now being charged with smuggling and distributing thousands of kilos of cocaine into the eastern US during 2004-2006.


Edgar had been battling Hector Beltran Leyva for control of the Beltran Leyva gang. Julian Miglierini states that Edgar had once been the leader of the hit men for the gang. After Arturo Leyva (one of the original founders of gang) passed away, Edgar tried to seize control of the gang.


It should be interesting to see how the South Pacific Cartel (a relatively new gang that is an offshoot of the Sinaloa cartel (a.k.a Pacific Cartel)) will react to his capture. 

72 found dead in Northern Mexico

Earlier this week, 72 bodies were found piled high in a massive heap in a warehouse on a ranch in the town of San Fernando. President Felipe Calderon stated that "The barbarity committed in the murder of 72 people, migrants, in our country, shows the level of violence and barbarity with which the criminals are acting."


According to Google news, An injured Ecuadoran man claiming to be the massacre's sole survivor alerted the military to the ranch, where he said the group had been kidnapped and killed by Zetas drug gang members for refusing to work for them.


A local TV station, Televisa, was covering the event, but unfortunately a car bomb was detonated outside of their studio, and while no one was injured, their coverage has been disrupted. 


The Zetas are protecting their ruthless reputation. There is no doubt that because of the nature of this crime, and will attract international attention. They are asking for confrontation, and it will be interesting to see how their rival the Sinaloa Cartel will react to their actions.

4 killed by new cartel in Cuernavaca, Mexico

According to BBC.com, four men were found dead last week, hanging by their ankles from a bridge near the city of Cuernavaca, in the state of Morelos. The men had been decapitated, as well as severely mutilated. A message was reportedly found near the bodies warning that anyone who supported Edgar Valdez would share a similarly grisly end. Edgar Valdez, also known as "La Barbie" (because of his blond hair),  is a Mexican American who is vying for control of the Beltran Leyva Cartel, which is located in Sinaloa. The Cartel has been leaderless since its leader, Arturo Beltran Leyva, was killed by government forces last December.

Hector Beltran Leyva is competing against Edgar (who happens to be a U.S. citizen), for control of the organization. Though the DTO is fairly small, it does have a substantial intelligence system, and controls a number of firms and companies involved in transportation, electronics, health products and hospitality.

However, what complicates the issue even further is that a DTO calling themselves the South Pacific Cartel (C.P.S signature was found on the signs), is apparently taking credit for these murders. There is little information on either the C.P.S or "La Barbie". Furthermore, Cuernavaca was never really considered a disputed region in the drug conflict, so this act points out that DTOs are vying for as much territory as they can possibly acquire.

Who is Edgar Valdez? What the orgins of the C.P.S, and why are we only hearing about them now? Whatever is occurring within the organizational structure of the Mexican DTO's is obviously monumental, and we will no doubt be witnessing further acts of violence as established and newer organizations combat one another for power and territory.

Monterrey: The new Juarez?

According to BBC.com, the city of Monterrey is fast becoming the new Ciudad Juarez, as drug related murders, kidnappings, and robberies are on the rise. Monterrey is the capital of the state of Nuevo Leon, and aside from being the industrial capital of Mexico, it is also considered to be the richest as well.

This increase in overall crime is attributed to the Zetas, who are combating their previous employers the Gulf Cartel. The Zetas are utilizing Monterrey for a number of key reasons. Firstly, the wealthy residents make ideal kidnapping targets, as they are able to pay hefty ransoms. Secondly, the city is a fairly short distance away from the US border. And lastly, because of its proximity to the Gulf, Monterrey provides the Zetas with an excellent staging ground for their fight against rival DTOs.  Furthermore, the police in the city are known to be terribly corrupt. According to BBC.com, 400 out of the 750 police officers employed under the authority of Mayor Fernando Larrazabal failed to pass a "reliability" test the included a polygraph session and an examination of personal finances.

Despite the fact that the city has fired and replaced a large portion of it's police force, the DTO's are fighting back by kidnapping and also murdering key governmental figures. This and other DTO actions have spurred local business men around the city to place ads in local newspapers requesting the government to send badly needed troops.

What is occurring in Ciudad Juarez currently may end up happening in Monterrey, as a military incursion will  provoke the Zetas to respond violently. So what can be done? Well, harking back to Pablo Escobar in Colombia, Special Operatives should be sent by the government to target key members of the organization, in the hopes of cutting off the head of the serpent. The Zetas brazen actions will only end when they lose their ability to organize, direct confrentation will only incur more violence.