The Mexican Navy, in service as the Coast Guard in coordination with the Customs and Maritime Authorities of the Port of Ensenada secured three containers on board a container ship that held approximately 39,820 kilograms of material contaminated with cocaine.
Samples of the materials were sent to the Pharmacology and Toxicology laboratories of the Secretary of the Navy and the National Customs Agency of Mexico, for analysis. The tests came back positive for cocaine. The Attorney General of Mexico (FGR) is investigating the seizure.
The Port of Ensenada is Mexico’s 4th busiest commercial port.
It is not known what material (liquid or a powdered form) was tested to determine if the entire weight of nearly 40 metric tons is primarily all cocaine or if the materials only tested positive for being contaminated with the substance.
26 tons of cocaine-contaminated zeolite was seized in Veracruz the day before.
A similar event took place at the Port of Veracruz with nearly 26 tons of zeolite (rock materials used in water filtration and for aquarium decoration) that was contaminated with cocaine was seized. The seized material was in a container from Cartagena, Colombia containing 530 sacks, of 50 kilograms each, with zeolite contaminated with cocaine, with an approximate weight of 26,500 kilograms.
Zeolite is a porous rock used in water filtration systems.
According to the Secretary of the Navy, this method used by organized crime consists of intentionally contaminating a legal product, for the purpose of concealing the illegal substance.
Of the 10 killed, it is known that one was a local municipal official, José Eduardo Orozco Gil, who was a delegate from the town of San Antonio de las Minas. Two victims were traffickers associated with CAF in Ensenada. Alonso Arámbula Piña also known as “El Trebol” was said to be the target of the massacre. Another man also tied to CAF named Oscar Ivan Perez, also known as “Scarface” was killed as well.
Believed to be Oscar Ivan Perez, “Scarface” of CAF.
After the attack on the event’s Facebook page, he shared a small message in which he spoke about the events: “The Cachanillazo family joins this unfortunate tragedy. Unfortunately, what happened during the tour was not in our hands. We are wholeheartedly sorry for the losses and their families. Our sincere condolences. We are as baffled as all of you since we have nothing related to what happened.”
A narco manta in response to the killings was discovered on the Tecate-Ensenada highway in Valle de Guadalupe stating:
“The Arzate brothers once again hide their hands. While sending their filthy operative Ranchero and killing innocents, using their purchased media to alter the narrative. Stay tuned because we’re not going to be wrong. Yours truly, La Mera Verga.”
Los Arzate brothers, Rene Arzate “La Rana” and Alfonso Arzate García, “El Aquiles”.
The Los Arzate brothers work for the El Mayo faction of the Sinaloa Cartel against CAF and CJNG in the Tijuana, Baja California area. It is not currently known if the killings were related to the seizure of cocaine at the port.
