Mica for Borderlandbeat.com
La Leche is on the main tourist avenue of Francisco Medina Ascencio. The five vehicles that traveled in were parked by valet in front of the restaurant and visible to passers of the main avenue.
Shortly after 1:00 AM on Monday, August 15, 2016, two vehicles, a white Toyota Tacoma pickup and a white Chevrolet Suburban arrived at the restaurant without the intention of experiencing the cuisine.
No, these seven sicarios stormed the restaurant by force, looking for the son of “El Chapo” Guzman and his friends, who had no weapons and didn’t resist. The well-armed sicarios with tactical long rifles immediately separated the men from the women.
According to the Mexican government, El Chapo’s sons had a bodyguard, and the sicarios easily overcame him.
Not exactly in an active bodyguard role that evening. Juan Daniel Calva Tapia, 53, a retired Army Captain who owned a security company and was the driver of the police-cloned white Dodge.
The kidnappers left La Leche and traveled south using the tunnel. Their destination was about 10 mi/16 km, taking around 40 minutes. This area is very remote, between Mismaloya and Boca de Tomatlán, with a few resorts. The drive is a pain in the ass, especially at night!
I know this area well and stayed at Barcelo, hiked through the mountains to eat at Ocean Grill, took a jeep off-roading, and played with baby tigers at the Zoo in Mismaloya. This is the area where cellphone coverage is spotty, making it an ideal location to host kidnappers.