“HEARST” and “Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat
In Obregón, Sonora, the Caborca Cartel threatened a FGR agent who, they claim, is working with Sinaloa Cartel’s la Chapiza.
The Pig’s Head
During the night of March 20, 2023, police officers discovered a decapitated pig’s head alongside a funeral wreath and a narco message, at the Yaqui fountain on Miguel Alemán Street, in the city of Obregón.
Obregón lies in the southeastern section of the state of Sonora, as seen on the map below.
According to SDP Noticias, police were made aware of the threatening sign through photos posted to social media.
Officers found that cartel hitmen had placed a funeral wreath of cream colored flowers on the sidewalk. Ribbons strewn across the wreath read out “Guillermo Avilés Encinas – Descanse En Paz”, or Rest in Peace.
Beneath the floral arrangement was a decapitated pig’s head. A pig can be used to symbolize law enforcement in a generally derogatory manner.
A white narco sign was taped to the bottom of the wreath stand. The sign read as follows, as translated by Sol Prendido:
He who searches shall eventually find what he’s looking for. I’m curious to know if the Chapiza – Salazar mob will save you from that fucking beat down we’re going to give to you. He who warns in advance isn’t a traitor.
So, who is this guy named Guillermo Avilés Encinas that they’re threatening?
In 2015, the official government Sonora Judiciary website referred to Guillermo Avilés Encinas as agent of the federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR, called the PGR at the time).
Multiple news articles published this week refer to Avilés Encinas as an FGR agent assigned to the Obregon area.
The night before the funeral wreath was placed, five hitmen, whose cartel affiliation is unknown, were arrested in the same city. They were arrested by Navy soldiers who received an anonymous tip which reported that armed men were driving in a red sedan on Rio San Miguel Street.
Soldiers spotted the red sedan and found that the passengers were in possession of four firearms, ammo and tactical vests. Whether this arrest is connected to the wreath is unclear at this time.
The Cartel Landscape of Obregón
Currently, the city of Obregon is contested between the Caborca Cartel and Sinaloa Cartel – Chapitos aligned groups.
A recent interrogation revealed that Ivan Archivaldo Guzman assigned two of his top lieutenants to take over the city of Obregon for him.
The two lieutenants are Óscar Noel Medina González, alias “El Panu”, and Óscar Gabriel Martínez Larios, alias “El Gabito”. They reportedly stay within the state of Sinaloa and give orders from afar to their hitmen.
According to the questioning, one of their leaders on the ground in Sonora is Germán Romero. He is the stepson of the old CDS figure Jonathan Salas Avilés, alias “El Fantasma”, who has two possible identities.
The towns south Obregon, Huatabampo and Navajoa are both controlled by los Salazar’s, known CDS Chapitos allies. Hence, when the narco message refers to “Chapiza Salazars”, they are speaking to the two allied groups in the region.
According to Sonora Informativo , a group of Caborca Cartel – Los Alfas members operate within Obregon. This group is led by Fernando Salmerón Peréz, aliases “El Nando”, “El Wacho”, and “El Ladrillero”.
Another Caborca Cartel subgroup known as La Plaza may also be active in Obregon but verification of this is currently difficult because many news articles are mischaracterizing all Caborca Cartel groups as La Plaza.
Sources: SDP Noticias, Periodico la Voz, Lado.mx, Alfredo Alvarez, Cajeme News Facebook Post, Cajeme News Twitter Post, Radio Do Go, Official Sonora Judiciary Website, Contrasena, Alarma Sonora Video, Exclusivo Sonora,