Marcos Arturo Beltrán-Leyva
Encyclopedia
Arturo Beltrán Leyva (September 27, 1961 – December 16, 2009) was the leader of the Mexican
drug trafficking organization known as the Beltrán-Leyva Cartel
, which is headed by the Beltrán Leyva brothers: Marcos Arturo, Carlos
, Alfredo
and Héctor
. The cartel is responsible for cocaine
, marijuana, heroin and methamphetamine
production, transportation and wholesaling. It controls numerous drug trafficking corridors into the United States and is also responsible for human smuggling, money laundering
, extortion
, kidnapping
, murder
, contract killing
, torture
, gun-running and other acts of violence against men, women, and children in Mexico. The organization is connected with the assassinations of numerous Mexican law enforcement officials.
Since the mid 1990s Arturo Beltrán Leyva allegedly led powerful groups of assassins to fight for trade routes in northeastern Mexico. By 2008, through the use of corruption or intimidation, he was able to infiltrate Mexico's political, judicial and police institutions to steal classified information about anti-drug operations, and even infiltrated the Interpol
office in Mexico.
The Beltrán Leyva brothers, who were formerly aligned with the Sinaloa Cartel
, are now allies of Los Zetas
.
, which is led by Joaquín Guzmán Loera a.k.a. "El Chapo".
Arturo Beltrán Leyva and his four brothers worked as underbosses and security chiefs for the Sinaloa cartel leaders. The breakaway from the Sinaloa Cartel was motivated by the capture of Alfredo Beltrán Leyva ('El Mochomo')
by the Mexican military on January 21, 2008
which the brothers attributed to a betrayal by their boss Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán. After this incident, the Beltrán Leyva brothers and their lieutenants defected from the Sinaloa Cartel and allied themselves with the Gulf Cartel
and Los Zetas
.
Alfredo's
influence had penetrated deep into the Attorney General of Mexico office by bribing Mexico’s former drug czar, Noé Ramírez Mandujano
and other top ranking officials. Ramírez Mandujano, who was the head of the country’s top organized crime unit SIEDO
, received US$
450,000 per month to tip them off on the how, when and where any actions or operations against them would be taken.
, a town bordering Cuernavaca
, Arturo Beltrán Leyva held a Christmas party at a house located in one of the most luxurious gated communities in Cuernavaca. He hired artists such as Ramón Ayala
, Los Cadetes de Linares
and more than 20 prostitutes to entertain his guests. The Mexican Navy's elite Special Forces unit surrounded the house and tried to capture him, but in the exchange of fire he escaped. Three gunmen were killed along with an innocent bystander (a neighbor) and more than 11 bodyguards were captured. Authorities confiscated US$280,000 in cash, 16 assault rifle
s (AK-47
and AR-15
), 4 pistol
s, 74 rifle magazines and 1,700 rounds of ammunition.
Mexican Navy intelligence kept track on him and one week later, on December 16, 2009 he was traced to another luxurious apartment community where a 90-minute shootout ensued. About 200 Mexican Marines
, two Navy Mil Mi-17
helicopters, from which marines rappelled, and two small Army tanks surrounded the building complex where he was hiding. Approximately 20 fragmentation hand grenades were used by Beltrán Leyva’s gunmen to keep the Navy from advancing into his position.
Arturo Beltran Leyva and three gunmen were killed; a fourth gunman committed suicide
. Among the items seized by authorities during this raid, there were US$40,000 in cash, several thousand Canadian dollars, five assault rifles (AK-47 and AR-15), one pistol and several religious scapular
s and medallions.
Analysts said the use of navy special forces was a notable development in the drug war because they are regarded as elite fighters who operate beyond the reach of corrupting influences.
The Mexican government had listed Arturo Beltran Leyva as one of its 24 most-wanted drug lords and had offered a US$2.1 million reward for his capture.
, the Special Forces marine who was killed during the confrontation with Arturo Beltran Leyva, was buried with military honors on December 21, 2009. The next day, a group of gunmen assassinated members of the marine's family, including his mother. Gudiel Ivan Sanchez was later arrested in Chiapas
for his alleged role as one of the gunmen in the killings. While the December 22 shootings were taking place, a "narcomanta" (banner) was placed on a kinder school on the state of Morelos and a section of the school was set on fire. The 'narcomanta' warned of further reprisals against anybody interfering with the cartel's affairs.
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
drug trafficking organization known as the Beltrán-Leyva Cartel
Beltrán-Leyva Cartel
The Beltrán-Leyva Cartel was a Mexican drug cartel and organized crime syndicate founded by the four Beltrán Leyva brothers: Marcos Arturo, Carlos, Alfredo and Héctor....
, which is headed by the Beltrán Leyva brothers: Marcos Arturo, Carlos
Carlos Beltrán Leyva
Carlos Beltrán Leyva is an incarcerated Mexican drug lord with the Beltrán-Leyva Cartel. The cartel was created by the four Beltrán Leyva brothers: Héctor, Alfredo and Arturo...
, Alfredo
Alfredo Beltrán Leyva
Alfredo Beltrán Leyva "whose nickname 'El Mochomo' refers to a desert ant" is an incarcerated Mexican drug lord with the Beltrán-Leyva Cartel.-Break away from the Sinaloa Cartel:...
and Héctor
Héctor Beltrán Leyva
Héctor Beltrán Leyva is a Mexican drug lord and leader of the Beltrán Leyva Cartel.Héctor Beltrán Leyva is the brother of Arturo Beltrán Leyva , former leader of the cartel...
. The cartel is responsible for cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
, marijuana, heroin and methamphetamine
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs...
production, transportation and wholesaling. It controls numerous drug trafficking corridors into the United States and is also responsible for human smuggling, money laundering
Money laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
, extortion
Extortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
, kidnapping
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
, murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, contract killing
Contract killing
Contract killing is a form of murder, in which one party hires another party to kill a target individual or group of people. It involves an illegal agreement between two parties in which one party agrees to kill the target in exchange for consideration, monetary, or otherwise. The hiring party may...
, torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
, gun-running and other acts of violence against men, women, and children in Mexico. The organization is connected with the assassinations of numerous Mexican law enforcement officials.
Since the mid 1990s Arturo Beltrán Leyva allegedly led powerful groups of assassins to fight for trade routes in northeastern Mexico. By 2008, through the use of corruption or intimidation, he was able to infiltrate Mexico's political, judicial and police institutions to steal classified information about anti-drug operations, and even infiltrated the Interpol
Interpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
office in Mexico.
The Beltrán Leyva brothers, who were formerly aligned with the Sinaloa Cartel
Sinaloa Cartel
The Sinaloa Cartel is the most powerful drug cartel in Mexico and considered by the United States Intelligence Community as "the most powerful drug trafficking organization in the world." The Sinaloa Cartel is based in the city of Culiacán, Sinaloa, but also operates in the Mexican states of Baja...
, are now allies of Los Zetas
Los Zetas
Los Zetas is the second most powerful drug cartel in Mexico and considered by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as the most violent drug cartel and paramilitary enforcement group in Mexico...
.
Breakaway from the Sinaloa Cartel
The Beltrán-Leyva Cartel was founded and named after the brothers Arturo, Alfredo, Alberto, Carlos and Héctor Beltrán Leyva after they separated from the Sinaloa cartelSinaloa Cartel
The Sinaloa Cartel is the most powerful drug cartel in Mexico and considered by the United States Intelligence Community as "the most powerful drug trafficking organization in the world." The Sinaloa Cartel is based in the city of Culiacán, Sinaloa, but also operates in the Mexican states of Baja...
, which is led by Joaquín Guzmán Loera a.k.a. "El Chapo".
Arturo Beltrán Leyva and his four brothers worked as underbosses and security chiefs for the Sinaloa cartel leaders. The breakaway from the Sinaloa Cartel was motivated by the capture of Alfredo Beltrán Leyva ('El Mochomo')
Alfredo Beltrán Leyva
Alfredo Beltrán Leyva "whose nickname 'El Mochomo' refers to a desert ant" is an incarcerated Mexican drug lord with the Beltrán-Leyva Cartel.-Break away from the Sinaloa Cartel:...
by the Mexican military on January 21, 2008
which the brothers attributed to a betrayal by their boss Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán. After this incident, the Beltrán Leyva brothers and their lieutenants defected from the Sinaloa Cartel and allied themselves with the Gulf Cartel
Gulf Cartel
The Gulf Cartel is one of the most powerful drug cartels in Mexico, and perhaps the oldest organized crime group in the country...
and Los Zetas
Los Zetas
Los Zetas is the second most powerful drug cartel in Mexico and considered by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as the most violent drug cartel and paramilitary enforcement group in Mexico...
.
Alfredo's
Alfredo Beltrán Leyva
Alfredo Beltrán Leyva "whose nickname 'El Mochomo' refers to a desert ant" is an incarcerated Mexican drug lord with the Beltrán-Leyva Cartel.-Break away from the Sinaloa Cartel:...
influence had penetrated deep into the Attorney General of Mexico office by bribing Mexico’s former drug czar, Noé Ramírez Mandujano
Noé Ramírez Mandujano
Noé Ramírez Mandujano served as the anti-recreational drug chief of Subprocuraduría de Investigación Especializada en Delincuencia Organizada in Mexico from 2006 to August 2008. In late 2008 authorities accused him of taking $450,000 United States dollars in bribes to tip off drug...
and other top ranking officials. Ramírez Mandujano, who was the head of the country’s top organized crime unit SIEDO
SIEDO
SIEDO, Subprocuraduría de Investigación Especializada en Delincuencia Organizada , is the organized-crime division of Mexico's Office of the Attorney General....
, received US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
450,000 per month to tip them off on the how, when and where any actions or operations against them would be taken.
Death
On December 11, 2009, in Ahuatepec, MorelosMorelos
Morelos officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Morelos is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 33 municipalities and its capital city is Cuernavaca....
, a town bordering Cuernavaca
Cuernavaca
Cuernavaca is the capital and largest city of the state of Morelos in Mexico. It was established at the archeological site of Gualupita I by the Olmec, "the mother culture" of Mesoamerica, approximately 3200 years ago...
, Arturo Beltrán Leyva held a Christmas party at a house located in one of the most luxurious gated communities in Cuernavaca. He hired artists such as Ramón Ayala
Ramón Ayala
Ramón Ayala is a Mexican-American musician, composer, and songwriter of norteño and conjunto music. Known as the "King of the Accordion," Ayala has recorded over 105 albums for which he has received four Grammy Awards. Additionally, Ayala has been featured in thirteen movies...
, Los Cadetes de Linares
Los Cadetes de Linares
I Rule!!!Los Cadetes de Linares are famously known for their corridos, ballad-style songs about famous drug cartel criminals or heroes in the rural frontier of the US-Mexico border. They are a conjunto -- also known as a norteño group—and their accordion and bajo sexto waltzes are well-known in...
and more than 20 prostitutes to entertain his guests. The Mexican Navy's elite Special Forces unit surrounded the house and tried to capture him, but in the exchange of fire he escaped. Three gunmen were killed along with an innocent bystander (a neighbor) and more than 11 bodyguards were captured. Authorities confiscated US$280,000 in cash, 16 assault rifle
Assault rifle
An assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...
s (AK-47
AK-47
The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...
and AR-15
AR-15
The AR-15 is a lightweight, 5.56 mm, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed semi-automatic rifle, with a rotating-lock bolt, actuated by direct impingement gas operation. It is manufactured with the extensive use of aluminum alloys and synthetic materials....
), 4 pistol
Pistol
When distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The pistol...
s, 74 rifle magazines and 1,700 rounds of ammunition.
Mexican Navy intelligence kept track on him and one week later, on December 16, 2009 he was traced to another luxurious apartment community where a 90-minute shootout ensued. About 200 Mexican Marines
Mexican Naval Infantry
The Naval Infantry are the marine corps and amphibious infantry force of the Mexican Navy. The main task of the Infantería de Marina is to guarantee the maritime security of the country's ports and external and internal defense of the country, to accomplish these responsibilities the corps is...
, two Navy Mil Mi-17
Mil Mi-17
The Mil Mi-17 is a Russian helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude...
helicopters, from which marines rappelled, and two small Army tanks surrounded the building complex where he was hiding. Approximately 20 fragmentation hand grenades were used by Beltrán Leyva’s gunmen to keep the Navy from advancing into his position.
Arturo Beltran Leyva and three gunmen were killed; a fourth gunman committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
. Among the items seized by authorities during this raid, there were US$40,000 in cash, several thousand Canadian dollars, five assault rifles (AK-47 and AR-15), one pistol and several religious scapular
Scapular
The term scapular as used today refers to two specific, yet related, Christian Sacramentals, namely the monastic and devotional scapulars, although both forms may simply be referred to as "scapular"....
s and medallions.
Analysts said the use of navy special forces was a notable development in the drug war because they are regarded as elite fighters who operate beyond the reach of corrupting influences.
The Mexican government had listed Arturo Beltran Leyva as one of its 24 most-wanted drug lords and had offered a US$2.1 million reward for his capture.
Revenge
Melquisedet Angulo CórdovaMelquisedet Angulo Córdova
Melquisedet Angulo Córdova was a Mexican 3rd Petty Officer with the Navy's Special Forces. He was from Tabasco. Córdova was killed on December 16, 2009 during a gun battle in Cuernavaca against members of the Beltrán-Leyva Cartel....
, the Special Forces marine who was killed during the confrontation with Arturo Beltran Leyva, was buried with military honors on December 21, 2009. The next day, a group of gunmen assassinated members of the marine's family, including his mother. Gudiel Ivan Sanchez was later arrested in Chiapas
Chiapas
Chiapas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas is one of the 31 states that, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 118 municipalities and its capital city is Tuxtla Gutierrez. Other important cites in Chiapas include San Cristóbal de las...
for his alleged role as one of the gunmen in the killings. While the December 22 shootings were taking place, a "narcomanta" (banner) was placed on a kinder school on the state of Morelos and a section of the school was set on fire. The 'narcomanta' warned of further reprisals against anybody interfering with the cartel's affairs.
See also
- Mexican drug warMexican Drug WarThe Mexican Drug War is an ongoing armed conflict taking place among rival drug cartels who fight each other for regional control, and Mexican government forces who seek to combat drug trafficking. However, the government's principal goal has been to put down the drug-related violence that was...
- Mérida InitiativeMérida InitiativeThe Mérida Initiative is a security cooperation agreement between the United States and the government of Mexico and the countries of Central America, with the declared aim of combating the threats of drug trafficking, transnational organized crime and money laundering...
- Narco submarineNarco submarineA narco-submarine is a type of custom-made ocean-going self-propelled submersible vessel built by drug traffickers to smuggle drugs. They are especially known to be used by Colombian drug cartel members to export cocaine from Colombia to Mexico, which is often then transported overland to the...
- List of Mexico's 37 most-wanted drug lords