It appears that several Coca Cola distribution trucks were hijacked in Morelos and taken out of state, with both drivers and merchandise still on board. (Shutterstock)
Coca-Cola FEMSA has shuttered a distribution center and suspended the delivery of its products in the southern part of the state of Morelos after four workers were kidnapped.
The company announced Wednesday that it had decided to “temporarily suspend” its operations “in the different channels” in the area in and around Puente de Ixtla, a Morelos municipality where the beverage manufacturer has a distribution center.
Coca-Cola FEMSA said it took the decision “to guarantee the safety of our collaborators” and “in response to the situation of insecurity the community of Puente de Ixtla is going through.”
The El Universal newspaper reported that the temporary suspension of the distribution of Coca-Cola products came after four of the company’s workers “were kidnapped and taken to another entity of the republic to steal their goods.”
It appears that Coca-Cola distribution trucks were in fact hijacked by criminals and driven out of Morelos with the rightful drivers still on board. The victims were subsequently released.
Morelos Governor Samuel Sotelo Salgado said that criminal complaints relating to the kidnappings have been filed with the State Attorney General’s Office.
‼️MEXICO Coca Cola suspende distribución de sus productos en Morelos. Decenas de camiones abandonan las instalaciones de Puente de Ixtla, Morelos por la inseguridad y cobro de piso. La planta de Coca Cola fue abandonada ante las amenazas de cobro de piso del crimen organizado.‼️ pic.twitter.com/SgPINSPzxN
Coca Cola moved distribution trucks out of the Puente de Ixtla center after it shut down.
“It appears four distributors, or those who drive the trucks, were detained [by criminals]. It seems they were taken to another state,” he said.
Sotelo, who replaced former soccer star Cuauhtémoc Blanco as governor of Morelos this year, suggested that a crime group that operates in Taxco, Guerero — located about 50 kilometers west of Puente de Ixtla — may be responsible for the crime.
“It’s very probable that [these criminals] have moved into the state of Morelos,” he said.
The truck hijacking occurred in the municipality of Amacuzac, which borders Puente de Ixtla to the east and Taxco to the west.
Sotelo stressed that Coca-Cola FEMSA will not permanently cease operations in Morelos.
“We hope that there is no loss of jobs. They’re not leaving the state, they’re only suspending distribution … in this area temporarily,” he said.
Sotelo also said that the state government was assisting Coca-Cola FEMSA with security issues. “We’re looking at the way we can provide security,” he said.
The company said it would resume its activities “once security conditions are guaranteed.”
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Friday that Coca-Cola FEMSA hadn’t asked for security assistance from the federal government.
“They never asked us [for help]. … We attend to all calls,” he told reporters at his morning press conference.
López Obrador asserted that the issue has been blown out of proportion.
“Yesterday, there was a scandal on social media about this, [with people saying] that Coca-Cola would no longer be sold in Morelos,” he said.
The Expansión news website reported Thursday that small business association ANPEC had not received any reports of shortages of Coca-Cola products in retail establishments in Morelos.
Aguascalientes Governor Tere Jiménez at the Nissan announcing the new 2025 Kicks. (@TereJimenezE/X)
Japanese auto manufacturer Nissan began production of its new Kicks crossover vehicle at its plant in Mexico this week.
As company executives cheered the first new Kicks model to roll off the assembly line, they also celebrated the fact that the plant in the north-central state of Aguascalientes has now produced 16 million Nissan vehicles since it began operations in 1992.
Nissan began production of its new Kicks crossover vehicle at its Aguascalientes plant this week. (@TereJimenezE/X)
Guy Rodríguez, president of Nissan Latin America, described the Kicks — available in 70 markets around the globe — as “a vehicle conceived in and inspired by Latin America.”
Described as a subcompact crossover SUV, the Kicks has been assembled in Mexico since 2016. An updated version of the standard Kicks was revealed in December 2020 and a second-generation Kicks was introduced for the North American market in March 2024.
Competition in the crowded subcompact SUV market prompted Nissan to again update the Kicks model which, according to the news magazine Expansión, has served as a test platform for the company’s technological innovations. It was the first model in Mexico to include e-Power technology, “offering an intermediate solution between traditional hybrid vehicles and the purely electric models.”
President of Nissan México Rodrigo Centeno said the Aguascalientes production line can produce 34 new Kicks per hour, or approximately 200,000 vehicles per year. (@revistatyt/X)
Unlike conventional hybrids, e-Power uses a gas motor to generate electricity while the wheels are propelled by an electric motor.
The 2025 Nissan Kicks, featuring the e-Power system, was stylized in Nissan’s Design Center in Brazil.
“This new chapter in our history proves we have the capability to lead with vision and continue contributing … to Mexico’s mobility with innovative proposals,” said Rodrigo Centeno, president and managing director of Nissan México.
According to Reuters, Nissan invested US $150 million in the new production line for the 2025 Kicks model which will initially target the Latin American market. The Kicks investment is part of a US $700 million reinvestment Nissan announced in 2022.
Centeno said that 12.5% of the 60,900 Kicks produced in Aguascalientes since 2016 have been sold in Mexico.
The Aguascalientes 1 complex is the only place the 2025 Kicks model is being produced right now; it will be assembled in Brazil beginning next year.
Centeno said the Aguascalientes production line can produce 34 new Kicks per hour, or approximately 200,000 vehicles per year.
The Aguascalientes plant already makes Nissan Sentra, NOTE, March and Versa models. It produced 447,301 vehicles through August, nearly 9% more than in the first eight months of 2023. Sales are up 5.9% and exports have risen 19% over the same period.
One&Only Mandarina in the town of Lo de Marcos, Nayarit, was one of few hotels to receive three Michelin Keys, the award's highest honor. (One&Only Mandarina)
Now, 87 hotels in Mexico are recipients of a new distinction: the Michelin Key.
Michelin, the French tire company known for its star scheme in recognition of outstanding restaurant cooking, has created “the Michelin key distinction” to highlight the “crème de la crème” among hotels that appear in the Michelin Guide.
“All our hotels excel in design, architecture, service and personality — the Michelin Key denotes the absolute most outstanding experiences in our selection,” the company says.
There are now “key hotels” in Mexico as well as the United States, Canada, France, Italy, Spain and Japan.
The Michelin selection team awards three keys for hotels where guests can experience “an extraordinary stay”; two keys for hotels offering “an exceptional stay”; and one key for hotels where “a very special stay” is on the cards.
Xinolani, south of Puerto Vallarta, also received three Keys. (Michelin Guide)
Michelin announced Thursday that three hotels in Mexico were awarded three keys, 21 received two keys, and 63 were given one key.
Those distinctions place the 87 Mexican hotels among “the best of the best” of Michelin Guide hotels based on “five universal criteria” — architecture and interior design; quality and consistency of service; overall personality and character; value for the price; and a significant contribution to the guest experience in a particular setting.
Mexican hotels with 3 Michelin Keys
Michelin awarded three keys to:
One&Only Mandarina resort in the Riviera Nayarit.
Hotel Esencia in the Riviera Maya of Quintana Roo.
Xinalani in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco.
One&Only Mandarina
Located about an hour’s drive north of Puerto Vallarta, “the spectacular One&Only Mandarina combines eco-lodge sensitivity, boutique-hotel good looks, and luxury-hotel comforts and facilities,” according to the Michelin Guide.
The guide also says that it situated in a “tranquil setting amid 80 acres of coastal rainforest.”
“The treehouses and villas are stunning, inside and out, and come with every conceivable luxury, from plunge pools to butler service,” Michelin says.
One&Only Mandarina is located an hour north of Puerto Vallarta. (Michelin Guide)
“The three restaurants draw on some high-caliber culinary talent, and the diversions include anything from humble nature walks to various seafaring and whale-watching adventures.”
An overnight stay starts from above US $800, but prices are much, much higher at certain times of the year, such as the end-of-year holiday period.
Located between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, Hotel Esencia is “an intimate beachside escape, an antidote to the tacky high-rise hotels elsewhere on Mexico’s Caribbean coast,” according to the Michelin Guide.
“The main structure at the Esencia, a converted home of a European duchess, houses a handful of guest rooms; other accommodations range from the Jungle Suites, surrounded by beachside gardens, to free-standing beachfront bungalows,” the guide says.
Michelin notes that the hotel organizes excursions like snorkeling, horseback riding, jungle walks, and windsurfing, and highlights its “organic spa,” a “unique offering” that uses “principles of ancient medicine.”
Hotel Esencia in Quintana Roo is built around the converted home of a European duchess. (Michelin Guide)
It also notes that Hotel Esencia has three restaurants: “the Mexican-Mediterranean Mistura, the Japanese Taiyo, and an outpost of the global steakhouse brand Beefbar.”
A night at Esencia will set you back anywhere from around $700 to several thousand dollars, depending on when you are visiting and your accommodation type.
Located on Bahía de Banderas south of Puerto Vallarta, Xinalani is a “secluded eco-resort wedged between the jungle and the water” that is only accessible by boat, according to the Michelin Guide.
“Pick up what you need before boarding, and put an auto-responder on your e-mail,” Michelin advises, as “there’s no Starbucks near the hotel, nor a consistently reliable Wi-Fi connection — no television, no complimentary in-room iPad.”
Rather, “the point of coming to Xinalani is to get away from all of that and enjoy the sand, sun, and sea.”
Located south of Puerto Vallarta, Xinalani is only accessible by boat. (Xinalani)
Michelin notes that Xinalani is “a peaceful retreat geared toward yoga enthusiasts.”
“But even if you’ve no intention of getting into Warrior pose or Downward Facing Dog, you’ll be in heaven here, so long as you’re into the great outdoors and the resort’s low-impact approach to the environment,” the guide says.
“The natural landscape surrounding the place is Xinalani’s main attraction: even the 33 guest rooms, situated within a series of palm-thatched cabins, are open-air.”
Xinalani is more affordable than Mexico’s two other “three key” hotels, with some room rates as low as $210 per night.
Mexico’s 21 newly-designated “two key” hotels are located in nine states: Baja California Sur, Yucatán, Jalisco, Guerrero, Mexico City, Quintana Roo, Nayarit, Guanajuato and Oaxaca.
They are listed below, with links to their Michelin Guide reviews.
San Pablo Villa de Mitla (about 50 kilometers southwest of Oaxaca city): Casa Silencio
Mexican hotels with 1 Michelin Key
Mexico’s 63 “one key” hotels are located in various destinations including Acapulco, Cuernavaca, Mérida, Mexico City, Oaxaca city, Puerto Escondido, Puerto Vallarta, San Miguel de Allende and Tulum.
Click here to see the full list of Michelin’s “one key” hotels in Mexico.
The newest section of the Interoceanic Train runs to Palenque, Chiapas, where it connects to the Maya Train. (Presidencia)
The new Interoceanic Train — a legacy project of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador that already transverses Mexico’s midsection from one ocean to another — is ready to inaugurate a second line.
The new line from the Coatzacoalcos station in the state of Veracruz to the Palenque station in Chiapas is slated to open to the public this weekend, following a ceremonial first ride by López Obrador scheduled for Friday.
The three lines of the Interoceanic Train. The FA line runs from Veracruz to Chiapas, where it connects to the Maya Train network. (Tren Interoceánico)
It appears as if the 70-year-old president, whose term will conclude at the end of this month, will board the train at the Teapa station in Tabasco, although some early media reports said he would board in Coatzacoalcos.
Either way, his final destination will be the station in Palenque, which is near the famous archaeological site.
The Palenque station also serves as a connection point with the Maya Train, a 1,554-kilometer railroad project that runs through five southern Mexico states.
Just last weekend, López Obrador rode the Maya Train with President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum and other dignitaries — from Cancún to Bacalar in Quintana Roo to showcase new stations in Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Felipe Carrillo Puerto.
The Interoceanic Train has three lines that include both freight and passenger trains and is part of a larger government infrastructure project called the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (CIIT).
Its signature, 308-kilometer line crosses Mexico’s narrowest stretch between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean — a route that will be able to transport 1.4 million shipping containers annually on journeys of less than 6 hours, according to Mexican officials. Some analysts say the route could be faster and more economical than the Panama Canal.
According to government officials, as cited by the newspaper Diario del Istmo, 127 freight and passenger trains covered line Z from its December 2023 opening through June 2024, generating income of 8.1 million pesos (US $421,566) and carrying some 33,000 passengers.
Last December, President López Obrador inaugurated line Z of the Interoceanic Train running from Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, to Coatzacoalcos, Veracrauz. (lopezobrador.org.mx)
The train project includes two other lines, one of which is the 329-kilometer stretch of railway set to open this weekend.
Also known as the FA line, it includes eight stations: Coatzacoalcos, Cuichapa and Las Choapas in Veracruz; Roberto Ayala, Juárez and Teapa in Tabasco; and Pino Suárez and Palenque (also called Pakal Ná) in Chiapas.
According to Raymundo Morales Ángeles, the CIIT general director, the FA line will be fully operational as of Sept. 30.
The third line will cover 472 kilometers from Ixtepec, Oaxaca, to Ciudad Hidalgo, Chiapas, which is adjacent to the Mexico-Guatemala border. Originally projected to be open this summer, line K is now targeted to be completed by the end of the year.
Ticket sales for the FA line — so named for a 1950s train line that was used to transport merchandise over the same tracks — began on Thursday.
Prices range from 36 pesos (US $1.87) to over 600 pesos (US $32.21), depending on destination, class of service (tourist or business) and age. Children under 3 can travel for free, but have to share a seat with their adult; children over 11 must pay adult prices, although they can’t travel alone until age 18.
Tourist class includes air conditioning, bathrooms and luggage space, while business class has reclining leather seats, a retractable table and more space for luggage.
Nowhere in Mexico City is quite as stylish as La Roma, and everyone knows it. Find out what makes Mexico City's coolest neighborhood tick. (La Roma/Instagram)
Borough: Cuauhtémoc
Established: 1902
Location: 1.5 km southeast of the Angel de la Independencia
Pre-Columbian inhabitants: Mexicas
Tree lined streets and world class dining makes Roma Norte the coolest neighborhood in Mexico City. (The World or Bust)
Who lives here
La Roma is divided into Roma Norte and Roma Sur at Calle Coahuila and La Romita in the northeast section of Roma Norte. Roma Norte is known for its verdant streets, cozy cafes, upscale boutiques and magnificent architecture, making it a magnet for tourists, expats and upper-middle-class Mexicans. Roma Sur is much more laid back, and you’re likely to bump into traditional mom-and-pop shops throughout its largely residential streets.
The old city meets the modern capital on every block, with an eclectic blend of art and architecture. (The World or Bust)
In contrast to its neighbors, La Romita is a small yet distinctly local area which centers around the popular plaza of the same name. Known as the backdrop to Luis Buñuel’s film “Los Olvidados,”the center of the neighborhood fights to retain its historical charm and is dotted by traditional tortillerías, tacos stands and a church. Clues of modernization abound, however, and a walk around reveals colorful murals and a trendy cervecería.
The vast majority of inhabitants are between 15 and 64 years of age, running the gamut of professionals, creatives and digital nomads. Expect to hear a collection of languages as you wander, from French to English.
A brief history of La Roma
In pre-Columbian times, a small island village called Aztacalco — “in the house of the herons” — stood in Lake Texcoco on the outskirts of Tenochtitlán, in what is now the neighborhood of La Romita. As the lake was drained, the area remained on the periphery of Mexico City.
The modern neighborhood of La Roma, believe it or not, would not be here if not for the circus. Specifically the Orrin Circus, established by an English family who brought their tented entertainment system from the United Kingdom to the United States and then traveled South America before building a permanent circus in Mexico City in 1891. Less than a decade later, Eduardo Walter Orrin presented plans for a new residential area with green spaces and wide boulevards.
Plaza La Romita is centered around the La Romita Chapel, built on the site of the area’s first Christian church. (Jake Galán/CC-BY-SA 4.0)
Et voilà: La Roma was born.
The timing couldn’t have been more impeccable. With the wealthy inhabitants of a crumbling Historic Center were scrambling for relocation options, where could be better than La Roma? Porfirio Díaz’s government agreed to assist with the funding of its French-style Art Nouveau houses and paved, tree-lined streets. What was really attractive to newcomers was the included drinking water, sidewalks, street lighting and drainage system that came with purchase. Sold!
The colonia quickly transformed into a vibrant community of artists, politicians and businesspeople. Aristocrats, notably President Álvaro Obregón, strolled the streets named after all the Mexican cities once toured by the Orrin Circus.
As time went on, La Roma urbanized further, becoming home to the giant Multifamiliar Juárez apartment blocks and Mexico’s first Sears. When the earthquake of 1985 hit Mexico City, La Roma was significantly damaged. Its revitalization in the 1990s and early 2000s led to another cultural resurgence and brought about the galleries, restaurants and cafes you see today.
A guide to La Roma today
Amid the buzzing crowds of tourists purchasing pastries from Rosetta and eating them on a park bench in Plaza Rio de Janeiro, there is, indeed, a strong local life and character. La Roma’s three sections are sandwiched between seven other neighborhoods, notably the three that make up Condesa. The cultural and commercial corridor they make up is often referred to as Roma-Condesa.
Parks like Plaza Rio de Janeiro are important focal points of La Roma’s social life. (Jake Galán/CC-BY-SA 4.0)
Streets are clean and brim with art galleries, sushi restaurants and high-end artisanal shops. Between it all are ample studios for yoga and pilates, bookstores and a bustling, well-dressed community seemingly always on its way to somewhere extremely important, be it brunch or an expat meeting at Café El Pendulo. Notable is its lack of street food, which seems to be mostly condensed to Calle Puebla, with one or two exceptions.
La Roma is great if: You love to see or be seen in a handmade Mexican poncho while buying a guava pastry at Rosetta to munch on as you stroll beside vine-covered French facades in what’s arguably central CDMX’s most beautiful neighborhood.
What to do in La Roma
Casa Museo Guillermo Tovar de Teresa: Step into 19th-century Mexico City with a free, self-guided tour through historian Guillermo Tovar de Teresa’s Porfiriato-era mansion. The museum features over 1,000 pieces of art, rare books and antiques, as well as a lush central garden and mirror perfect for selfies.
Calle Colima: La Roma is known for its dramatic Art Nouveau and Art Deco architecture, and nowhere is that more apparent than along Calle Colima, where you’ll see the impressive facades of Blanco Colima and the Hotel Nima, among others.
Libertario Coffee Roasters: A charming, bright cafe and workspace with delicious regional coffee and an unobstructed view of Plaza Luis Cabrera’s dazzling fountain.
Museo del Objeto del Objeto (MODO): A fun and quirky museum focusing on the history and design of everyday objects. Popular past exhibits include “Broken Relationships” and “Mexico in Color.”
The Museo del Objeto del Objeto offers a glimpse into Mexican design culture over the years. (Museos de México)
Versatil: Thanks to fellow writer and expert shopper Monica Belot, Mexico’s answer to American Apparel has come on my radar. It’s a great place to invest in well-priced, basic pieces made right here in Mexico.
Bazar del Oro: Step into an authentic slice of Roma’s community life every Wednesday on Calle Oro, where a tianguis of vintage items, artisanal crafts and local food will pop up.
Mercado el 100: For those in search of a Los Angeles-esque organic food shopping experience, you’re in luck. Expats and Mexicans with money to spend can usually be found picking out fresh produce on Sundays between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Don’t forget to bring your oversized sunglasses and, of course, your dog.
Cine Tonalá: Have a date and not in the mood to actually talk? That’s what the cinema is for! Roma Sur’s seductive movie house screens international independent films and will make you look really cool. Should the urge to interact hit, there’s an in-house restaurant and bar for post-movie dissection.
Club Petanca: Concerned that your New Jersey-acquired bocce skills are going rusty? Flex those muscles with a game at Club Petanca, the French version of Italy’s greatest outdoor pastime. Mexican flair includes mezcal, wine, botanas and highly competitive players.
Where to eat in La Roma
Quesadillas Jenni: Known by locals and tourists alike for delicious quesadillas made with freshly pressed blue corn tortillas. Find the famous stand at the corner of Calle Merida and Calle Colima.
Il Fiorino (ex vinaino): Located in Roma Sur, this is, in this writer’s opinion, the best Italian restaurant in all of La Roma. Sit at one of ten-ish tables and chat with the Florence-born owner as you chow down on an excellent plate of pasta — served al dente, as it should be.
Mexico with a dash of Europe makes for a delicious lunch, found at tiny Fugaz. (Fugaz/Instagram)
Máximo Bistro: Not one to push your typically gringo “Best of Mexico City” list, I cannot avoid including Chef Eduardo García’s European-Mexican fusion of flavors, with favorites including sea urchin toast and crab tlayudas.
Si Mon: If you prefer wine for dinner tonight, head to this cozy, locally-loved vinoteca specializing in Mexican wines and throngs of well-dressed patrons spilling out into the sidewalk.
Lalo!: The truth is, you’ll likely have to wait in line for this one. Nonetheless, the coveted chilaquiles, french toast and unbeatable people-watching will make it all worth your while.
Fugaz: This small and simple dining establishment packs a seriously pleasant punch. The uncomplicated menu is Mexican with hints of Mediterranean, heavy on fish and regional veggies.
One hidden gem
Book nerds will rejoice when intentionally stumbling on this little slice of paradise. Librería La Moraleja is cozy and tiny enough to comfortably fit no more than about five people at a time. Still, it somehow manages to showcase an extensive collection of books, trinkets and an old-school typewriter.
Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog or follow her on Instagram.
Did you know that Checo Perez's real name is Sergio? Here's some more nicknames you might not have been aware of. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
Mexican slang nicknames are something else: “Hey Chela, vamos por unas chelas!”
Have you ever heard your Mexican acquaintance Jesús answer to Chucho? Did you know that your friend Chabela probably has Isabel written on her birth certificate? Believe it or not, the names are the same, when looking at how Mexicans apply diminutive.
Nicknames were invented to speak softly and affectionately to people. Imagine calling this tender girl “Concepción”; better call her ‘Conchita’. (Travis Bembenek)
Almost every first name has its diminutive version in Mexico. The author ofThe Mexican Slang Dictionary, Alasdair Baverstock lists some of the most common you might hear bandied around as your social circle grows.
Alberto – Beto
Concepción – Concha
Cuauhtémoc – Cuau, Temo, Temoc
Enrique – Kike, Kikis
Ernesto – Neto
Gilberto – Gil, Beto
Graciela – Chela
n.b. The slang word for ‘beer’ is also ‘Chela’, due to the similarity between the words ‘Graciela’ and ‘Cerveza’.
Guillermo – Memo
Ignacio – Nacho
Jesús – Chuy, Chucho, Churras
José – Pepe, Che
José María – Chema
Doña Lucha’s real name is Lucía (Facebook)
Lucía – Lucha, Chia
Manuel – Manu, Manolo
María del Rosario – Charo, Chayo
Mercedes – Meche
Pablo – Pavo
Patricio – Pato
Rosalba – Chava
Salvador – Chava
Sergio – Checo
Sofía – Chofi, Choso
Vicente – Chente
You can buy “The Mexican Slang Dictionary” on Amazon in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. MND readers in San Miguel de Allende can pick up a copy at Aurora Books.
Alisdair Baverstock is the Mexico City based author of The Mexican Slang Dictionary.
There have been frequent confrontations between the Sinaloa Cartel and the CJNG in Huajicori, Nayarit. (José Betanzos/Cuartoscuro)
At least 11 people were killed in a shootout between criminal groups in Nayarit on Thursday, state authorities said.
The violence occurred in the municipality of Huajicori, located on Nayarit’s border with Sinaloa and Durango, and was reportedly between members of the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
Eleven bodies were found in an area near Huajicori, Nayarit, known as “Las Antenas” after an apparent confrontation between cartels. (Google)
The Nayarit Security Ministry said in a statement that 11 bodies were found in an area known as “Las Antenas” after “a confrontation between criminal groups” allegedly occurred.
It didn’t say which criminal group, or groups, the victims belonged to.
The newspaper Milenio reported that the discovery of the 11 bullet-ridden bodies was made around 9 a.m. on Thursday while security forces were carrying out patrols in the Sierra de Nayarit, a mountainous area in the northern part of the Pacific coast state.
Authorities also found spent bullet casings and high-caliber weapons.
The Nayarit Security Ministry said that state police, soldiers, National Guard personnel and state investigative agents have “intensified” joint operations in the area to protect the safety of residents.
Milenio reported that the Sierra de Nayarit is known as a “point of conflict between criminal groups.”
Nayarit is located between Sinaloa, the base of the Sinaloa Cartel, and Jalisco, the home of the CJNG. Those criminal organizations are Mexico’s two most powerful and are major exporters of narcotics to the United States.
The newspaper El Financiero reported that there have been frequent confrontations between the Sinaloa Cartel and the CJNG in Huajicori in recent months. Some families have relocated to other parts of the state, El Financiero said, adding that the violence has also affected the local economy and forced schools to close.
Zambada, a co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel along with convicted drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera, alleges that he was kidnapped by Joaquín Guzmán López, one of El Chapo’s sons, and forced onto a private plane that delivered him into the hands of U.S. law enforcement authorities.
The alleged kidnapping of drug kingpin "El Mayo" Zambada and his arrest in the U.S. has been a major point of tension between Mexico and the U.S. this year. (Cuartoscuro)
Accused Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges during a brief appearance in a New York City courthouse on Friday.
Zambada, who was transferred from Texas to New York last week, entered his plea in response to 17 felony counts he faces, among which are also money laundering and weapons charges.
The Brooklyn courthouse where “El Mayo” Zambada will stand trial. (Wikimedia Commons)
U.S. Magistrate Judge James Cho presided over the hearing, which took place in the same Brooklyn courthouse where Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera — a co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel along with El Mayo — was convicted on drug trafficking charges in early 2019.
Cho ruled that Zambada must remain in prison pending trial.
The charges he faces in New York date back to 2009, and include allegations related to the trafficking of heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid largely responsible for the drug overdose crisis in the United States.
The 76-year-old’s not-guilty plea came seven weeks after he was arrested at a New Mexico airport near El Paso, Texas, after flying into the United States on a private plane with Joaquín Guzmán López, one of the sons of El Chapo, who are collectively known as “Los Chapitos.”
Joaquín Guzmán López, seen here in this photo taken by U.S. authorities sometime after his arrest, pleaded not guilty in U.S. court to drug trafficking and other charges. (Social media)
He previously pleaded not guilty to all charges he faces in Texas in an appearance in an El Paso courthouse in late July.
In a court filing sent to United States District Judge Brian M. Cogan on Thursday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn said that “for well over three decades,” Zambada “has been one of the most prolific and powerful narcotraffickers in the world.”
“Together with his co-defendant, Joaquín Guzmán Loera, also known as ‘El Chapo,’ the defendant was a co-founder in the late 1980s of the brutally violent Sinaloa Cartel (‘the Cartel’), and he has reigned ever since — until just a few weeks ago — as one of its principal leaders,” U.S. prosecutors said.
The National Guard outside a property where Zambada allegedly met with former Culiacán mayor, Héctor Melesio Cuén, before being kidnapped and forced onto a Texas-bound plane in July. Cuén’s murder was reported hours after Zambada’s capture. (Cuartoscuro)
In an eight-page document, prosecutors also said that Zambada “has devoted his efforts over decades to growing, increasing, and enhancing the power of the Cartel — and his individual power and position in the Cartel after his partner El Chapo was captured.”
“Under the defendant’s leadership, the Cartel has regularly used violence, intimidation, and murder to silence potential witnesses and dissuade law enforcement from performing its duties,” they said.
Prosecutors said that Zambada “maintained a stable of ‘sicarios,’ or hitmen, who carried out gruesome assassinations and kidnappings aimed at maintaining discipline within his organization, protecting against challenges from rivals, and silencing those who would cooperate with law enforcement.”
“… The Cartel under the defendant’s leadership has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to use its virtually unlimited resources to inflict violence and death in furtherance of the Cartel’s goals,” they said.
A few months ago, Zambada even ordered the murder of his nephew, Eliseo Imperial Castro, “after learning that he was collecting debts purportedly on behalf of the defendant for his own benefit and without permission,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“Imperial Castro was found dead in a car by the side of the road in Culiacán where he was ambushed in May of this year,” prosecutors said.
The military has stepped up its presence in Sinaloa in recent weeks in response to increased violence. (Cuartoscuro)
They asserted that Zambada “cannot overcome the presumption that he is a risk of flight” and requested his permanent detention pending trial.
If convicted on all charges, El Mayo faces a minimum sentence of life imprisonment and would be eligible for the death penalty, the Associated Press reported.
There has been a violent fallout from his arrest after his alleged kidnapping, with a long-running turf war between the “Los Mayos” and “Los Chapitos” factions of the Sinaloa Cartel escalating in recent weeks.
Tropical Storm Ileana is expected to make landfall in Baja California Sur around mid-day on Friday. (NHC)
Authorities have warned the public to take all precautions and adhere to recommendations issued by the state’s Civil Protection agency as Tropical Storm Ileana approaches popular beach destinations in Baja California Sur.
Sustained winds of up to 75 km/h, heavy rains and flash flooding are expected. With rainfall likely to exceed 150 mm, the authorities will monitor Ileana’s progress while the governor considers whether or not to cancel Sunday’s Independence Day festivities. Governor Víctor Castro Cosío ordered all schools closed on Friday.
According to the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC), Ileana was 90 kilometers from the resort city of Cabo San Lucas at 11 a.m. CST on Friday and moving north-northeast at 13 km/h.
The storm is forecast to blow across the southern tip of the peninsula in the direction of the state capital, La Paz, about 150 kilometers to the north. Ileana is expected to continue north up the Gulf of California toward the mainland Sonora-Sinaloa border where it could make landfall around noon on Sunday.
A tropical storm alert has already been issued from San Evaristo to Loreto along the eastern coast of Baja California Sur and from Topolobampo, Sinaloa, to Huatabampo, Sonora, on the opposite side of the Gulf of California.
The National Meteorological Service (SMN) expects Ileana to weaken to a tropical depression before it reaches mainland Mexico but projects heavy rainfall (75-150 mm) in Sinaloa and Sonora. The outer bands of the storm will dump considerable rain on Durango and Chihuahua further inland.
States further south along the Pacific coast including Michoacán, Nayarit, Colima and Jalisco will also see heavy rains from Ileana.
Authorities are warning residents in Baja California Sur and across northwestern Mexico to be on the alert for mudslides and flash flooding.
High winds will stir up surf and produce swells of up to four meters along the Baja California peninsula shoreline as well as waves of up to three meters along the coast of Sinaloa. Authorities are also warning of choppy surf along shorelines on both sides of the Gulf of California, even as far south as Nayarit on the Pacific coast.
Ileana is predicted to hit Baja California Sur on Friday before crossing the Gulf of California toward Sinaloa. (SMN)
Tropical Storm Ileana formed in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday afternoon and is expected to produce intense rains along the northwestern coast of Mexico throughout the weekend.
In its Thursday afternoon bulletin, the SMN reported that it had issued tropical storm warnings in coordination with the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) and called on residents of Baja California Sur, Sinaloa and Sonora to closely monitor the storm’s progress. Ileana is expected to hit the Baja peninsula Friday before crossing the Gulf of California toward mainland Mexico.
A Tropical Storm Warning (conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours) is in effect for:
West coast of Baja California Sur from Santa Fe southward
East coast of Baja California Sur from San Evaristo southward.
At the same time, a Tropical Storm Watch (conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours) is in effect for:
Baja California Sur north of San Evaristo to Loreto
From Topolobampo, Sinaloa, to Huatabampito, Sonora.
According to the SMN, Tropical Storm Ileana is expected to produce 75-150 mm of rain in Colima, Jalisco, Nayarit and southern Sinaloa and 50-75 mm in southern Baja California Sur.
Weather agency Meteored forecast electrical storms and hail storms for the affected areas, while also cautioning about the potential for waterspouts. Residents are warned to be on the lookout for flash flooding and mudslides.
Tropical Storm Ileana is expected to make landfall in Baja California Sur mid-day on Friday. (SMN)
High winds associated with tropical storm conditions are expected to first reach the southern Baja California peninsula within the warning area by early Friday and persist through early Saturday.
Swells generated by Tropical Storm Ileana will affect portions of the coast of west-central Mexico during the next day or so, and will spread northward along the coasts of the southern Baja California peninsula and mainland Mexico beginning Thursday night. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
Low atmospheric pressure across the north, northeast and central regions of Mexico will be impacted by the moisture coming in from the Pacific, generating electrical storms and heavy rains that will extend to southeastern Mexico, according to Meteored.
Meanwhile, flood waters have mostly subsided in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, after Hurricane Francine drenched the border state on Tuesday and Wednesday as it made its way north.
