Three fugitives from the biggest cocaine bust in 色色啦 police’s history likely have more to fear from their cartel bosses than the Canadian justice system, an聽expert says.
The fugitives 鈥 one man from Niagara Falls, Ont., and two Mexican nationals 鈥 are wanted as part of an $83-million cocaine seizure announced by 色色啦 police this week.
鈥淭hey would be safer under police protection,鈥 former Mexican crime journalist Luis H. N谩jera said in an interview. (N谩jera has previously co-authored a book about organized crime with this journalist.)
Police arrested six individuals in the investigation, saying they believed the cocaine聽bust was linked to the Jalisco聽New Generation Cartel聽(CJNG). It would be聽the first time the聽cartel has made waves inside Ontario.
Those arrested included two Mexican nationals and four Canadians from Markham, Mississauga and 色色啦. Investigators are still seeking three suspects 鈥 two Mexican nationals and a Canadian from Niagara Falls.
色色啦 police said at the press conference they believe the two Mexican fugitives are in Mexico.
色色啦 police linked the record-breaking聽drug bust in what authorities call Project Castillo to CJNG, a leading player in Mexico’s multibillion-dollar drug trade聽alongside the more well-known Sinaloa cartel.聽
The massive haul in what 色色啦 police call Project Castillo marks the first time the Jalisco
They take their name from the western state of Jalisco, the CJNG’s stronghold.
The rapidly expanding Jalisco cartel is currently in all American states, as well as Europe, according to a report issued by the American Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in a May of last year.
They nourish a reputation for ultraviolence by frequently posting photos and sometimes videos of their dismembered victims online, for enemies, supposed incompetents and would-be crusaders to see.
N谩jera said he doesn鈥檛 think any local killings would be so gaudy. 鈥淗owever, this group is radical, so who knows?鈥 N谩jera said.
鈥淟ocally, I would not be surprised if some people vanish because of assassination,鈥 N谩jera said in the wake of the 色色啦 arrests.
N谩jera said he doesn鈥檛 think Mexico offers a safe refuge for the two Mexican national fugitives from the 色色啦 drug bust, unless they 鈥渉ave specific expertise, knowledge or leadership within that group.
鈥淭hat could save them, but I don鈥檛 think so,鈥 N谩jera said.
鈥淚f it鈥檚 true they escaped to Mexico already, most likely will be dead soon, if not already,鈥 N谩jera said.
The CJNG has a particularly unforgiving reputation toward failure.
The massive haul in Project Castillo marks the first time the Jalisco New Generation Cartel has made waves inside Canada.
To the likely embarrassment of the cartel, the story of the massive 色色啦 bust was big news in Mexico.
The cartel鈥檚 initials聽were聽splashed across accounts in the media there, N谩jera said.
The CJNG uses intimidation against Mexican journalists, sometimes lashing out against them 鈥渋f they are peeking too deep,鈥 N谩jera said.
The Star viewed multiple pictures posted this month and signed by the Jalisco cartel. They depict severed heads and mutilated bodies, along with notes, signed by the cartel in red.
鈥淭hey like to leave a macabre note on their victims,鈥 N谩jera said.
One of the notes viewed by the Star,聽on what appears to be a three-foot-square piece of bristol board,聽gives the name of a government official in the State of Tabasco, with the warning he will suffer a similar fate, 鈥淚f you keep supporting those filthy (people).鈥
Another sign has the warning, 鈥淐ommissioner here you have the snitches. We are the ones in command here.鈥
鈥淭hey are fighting in that region because of the access to the ports and pipelines where they steal gasoline,鈥 N谩jera said.
In May, the American Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said the cartel has profited from an explosion in their production of synthetic drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamine.
鈥淭he shift from plant-based drugs, like heroin and cocaine, to synthetic, chemical-based drugs, like fentanyl and methamphetamine, has resulted in the most dangerous and deadly drug crisis the United States has ever faced,鈥 former聽DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said in a prepared statement.
鈥淎t the heart of the synthetic drug crisis are the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels and their associates, who DEA is tracking worldwide.鈥 Milgram said.
Experts say the CJNG has rapidly expanded through its practice of 鈥渇ranchising out鈥 with lesser cartels and criminals.
Canadian partners don鈥檛 have to be major established figures, like members of local biker gangs or the Mafia, N谩jera said, as the cartel鈥檚 attitude would be, 鈥淲e don鈥檛 care who you are, just bring the drugs here.鈥
