New US indictment accuses ‘El Mayo’ Zambada of dealing fentanyl

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February 16, 2024

The United States government has filed a new indictment against Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García, an alleged leader and co-founder of the powerful Sinaloa Cartel.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York (USAO) announced Thursday that a fifth superseding indictment had been filed in federal court in Brooklyn charging Zambada with “conspiring to manufacture and distribute” fentanyl, knowing that it “would be unlawfully imported into the United States.”

In a statement, the USAO noted that the 76-year-old was “previously charged in multiple superseding indictments with running a continuing criminal enterprise, as well as murder conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl manufacture and distribution conspiracy, as well as other drug-related crimes, through his continuing leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the most violent and powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world.”

It said that the latest superseding indictment “extends the end-dates of the continuing criminal enterprise and several conspiracies from May 2014 to January 2024.”

To ensure the success of the Sinaloa Cartel over a period of some 35 years, Zambada has “employed individuals to obtain transportation routes and warehouses to import and store narcotics, and ‘sicarios,’ or hit men, to carry out kidnappings and murders in Mexico to retaliate against rivals who threatened the cartel,” the USAO said.

El Mayo, who led the Sinaloa Cartel alongside convicted drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán for decades, has never been arrested. In an attempt to further incentivize people who may be aware of his whereabouts, the United States in 2021 tripled to US $15 million the maximum reward it is offering for information that leads to his capture and/or conviction.

A DEA wanted poster for Ismael Mario Zambada García, aka El Mayo — The U.S. tripled the reward offered for information on El Mayo in 2021, to US $15 million. (U.S. DEA)

When announcing the higher reward in September 2021, the U.S. State Department said that Zambada “is the unquestioned senior leader of the Sinaloa Cartel” given that Guzmán had been arrested, extradited to the U.S., convicted on drug trafficking charges and sentenced to life in prison.

Shortly after the announcement, Mexican officials and a former chief of international operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) asserted that the arrest or death of El Mayo would trigger a full-blown war for control of the Sinaloa Cartel, which includes a faction led by some of El Chapo’s sons.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said Thursday that the superseding indictment against Zambada “demonstrates our firm resolve to bring him to justice, just as we did with his former co-conspirator El Chapo.”

DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said that “fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat Americans have ever faced, and the Sinaloa Cartel continues to be the largest trafficker of fentanyl into the United States.”

“With fentanyl the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45, we must continue to hold Zambada García and other cartel leaders, members, and associates accountable for the people they have killed,” she said.

Milgram has previously said that the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel pose “the greatest criminal threat the United States has ever faced” given the large quantities of fentanyl and other narcotics they smuggle into the U.S.

Combating the flow of fentanyl into the United States from Mexico is a key focus of the bilateral relationship between the two countries. The United States has recently announced sanctions against numerous alleged members of Mexican cartels, including many who are said to be affiliated with the Sinaloa Cartel.

Mexico News Daily

Tourism Ministry says Acapulco’s recovery going faster than expected

By

MND Staff

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February 16, 2024

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A builder hammers a wooden palapa post in Acapulco, with a multi-story building in the background. — Despite the recent violence, Acapulco has been quick to build back after Hurricane Otis, which devastated the city just over six months ago. (Carlos Alberto Carbajal/Cuartoscuro)

Acapulco’s recovery from the devastation caused by Hurricane Otis in October is going faster than expected, the head of Mexico’s Tourism Ministry (Sectur) said this week.

Miguel Torruco Marqués reported that the port city has 7,110 rooms available in 167 hotels, which exceeds the number initially expected for the first quarter of 2024 by more than 400.

President López Obrador held his morning press conference in Acapulco, highlighting the rapid recovery of the city. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)

It also means Acapulco is ready and able to receive tourists, as well as host major events such as the Mexican Open men’s tennis tournament next week at GNP Seguros Arena. Eleven of the Top 20 players in the world have confirmed they will take part in the Open, Torruco noted.

An even bigger upcoming event is the annual Mexican Tourist Tianguis, held last year in Mexico City, which promotes Mexican tourism and products. The 48th edition is scheduled for April 10 to 12 at Acapulco’s Expo Mundial Imperial convention center, where more than 900 companies and properties will exhibit their offerings.

Tourist professionals from 33 nations have signed up so far, Torruco said, noting that 500 buyers will be there, including at least 125 from beyond Mexico’s shores, a number he expects to grow.

There was concern there wouldn’t be enough hotel rooms to host the trade fair — or visitors during Easter Week, March 24-31 — but at least 8,000 rooms will be available by then, said Santos Ramírez Cuevas, tourism minister for the state of Guerrero.

Ramírez said that the 19,000 rooms that were available before Hurricane Otis could be available again in the final quarter of 2024, and he stressed that many of them will be refurbished or completely rebuilt — and thus more attractive to tourists.

Government institution Financiera para el Bienestar has helped, Ramírez added, by issuing very low interest loans, payable in two years. He said currently 103 hotels have received a line of credit.

Torruco said 24 large-scale events are confirmed for Acapulco for this year, from the International Mariachi Festival, to a beach soccer tournament, to Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide wrestling events.

Those events alone are expected to bring in more than 38,000 tourists, and with cruise ship connectivity now fully operational once again, the cruise calendar will bring in even more, he added.

The president also oversaw the unloading of more than 3,000 fridges from China, part of a public aid package provided to households by the government. (Presidencia/Cuartoscuro)

To tout Acapulco’s quick recovery, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador held his Thursday morning press conference (mañanera) in the city, before moving to a Navy pier to supervise the unloading of 3,234 refrigerators from China.

The government has now delivered 190,750 packages of household goods to families affected by the hurricane, with 59,520 more on their way, Defense Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval said. He added that 41,464 refrigerators and 18,742 stoves have been or will be given out.

To speed up distribution, a large collection center was built, along with three smaller warehouses and 10 delivery points. It is hoped that all goods will be distributed by the end of this month, Cresencio said.

Amidst the positive recovery news, Acapulco is experiencing a “growing wave of violence,” according to Milenio newspaper. On Valentine’s Day this week, four people, including two municipal police officers, were killed by gunfire.

With reports from La Jornada and Milenio

Beyond the beach: Why Mexico’s cities are great for family vacations

By

Debbie Slobe

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February 16, 2024

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Screenshot 2024-02-16 at 1.37.55 PM — Mexico's beaches are among the best in the world, but experiencing some of its incredible cities can be every bit as fun - and a great activity for kids and adults alike. (All photos by Debbie Slobe)

When planning a family vacation to Mexico, most people only think of hitting the beach. And why not? Mexico’s beaches are beautiful, fun, easy, and inherently kid-friendly. But have you ever considered taking your family to Mexico City or any of the other great Mexican metropolises?

Since moving to Mexico in 2015, our family has spent nearly every school holiday exploring Mexico’s interior cities and towns. Our first trip was to Guadalajara when our daughter was three years old, and our most recent was to Morelia and Pátzcuaro over the winter holidays. Our travels have also taken us to Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, Oaxaca, Zacatecas, Santiago de Querétaro, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, and Mérida, plus countless small mountain towns.

Morelia set up a free ice skating rink right next to the Metropolitan Cathedral over the winter holidays.

Every time we go someplace new, we are blown away at how family-friendly and accessible Mexican cities and towns are. There are always events, parks and activities – many of them free – that cater just to kids, and we have never been given the stink eye for bringing our daughter to a fancy restaurant.

Exposing our daughter to the beautiful bustle of Mexican cities has helped open her eyes (and ours) to the sheer magnitude of amazing art, architecture, cuisine, history, and cultural celebrations that exist.

Over the years, we’ve come up with some ways to help her enjoy the experience even more. We think of something new to try each trip and enjoy it just as much as she does. As a result, we have developed a deep appreciation for Mexico.

So, if swapping a Mexican beach for a Mexican city rises to the top of the list for your next family vacation, here are some ideas for making the experience even better for you and your kids.

“Yes day” included copious amounts of popcorn and the new Wonka movie.

Plan a “Yes Day”: You may have seen the Jennifer Garner movie with the same name. A “yes day” is a day when your kids get to decide the agenda and parents can’t say no. A movie and the zoo on the same day? Definitely. Popcorn for lunch? Sure! Let your kids plan a fun day where they get to do and eat pretty much whatever they want (within reason). You may find you have just as much fun as they do.

Appreciate architecture through art: What better way for your kids to appreciate Mexico’s amazing architecture than by drawing what they see? Kids love to create art. So bring along a small art kit – or purchase supplies at a local papelería (a fun activity by itself) – to give your kids a reason to slow down and appreciate their surroundings. We always plan time in a picturesque plaza or courtyard to draw and color. Now that our daughter is older, she’s getting into journaling, which warms this writer’s heart. So we always bring our journals too.

Plan a scavenger hunt: A great way to help kids learn their way around the city and observe its uniqueness is to plan a scavenger hunt. We like to come up with a few things for our daughter to find (she does the same for us) for a small prize, such as a statue, historical landmark or mural, or something fun and funny – like a dog wearing a sweater (you wouldn’t believe the doggie outfits in Mexico City), a hot air balloon (which frequently fly early in the morning in San Miguel de Allende and Teotihuacan) or her favorite street food cart. We also let her navigate to wherever we are headed using our phones.

Street treat day: You won’t have to plan this, your kids will already be begging to try all the goodies they see for sale from street vendors, such as freshly fried potato chips, fruit cups, paletas (popsicles), churros, tostilocos and more. Mexican street food is a kids’ dream when it comes to treats and snacks! A street treat day can make snacking less about kids begging for goodies and more of a culinary experience for the whole family. You can make it a fun taste test, daring kids (and yourself) to try things they normally wouldn’t. Charales (tiny fried fish), anyone?

Trying some of Mexico’s dazzling array of street snacks makes for an entertaining day for the whole family.

Maker magic: Mexico is bursting with hand-made arts and crafts and every town has its specialty – alebrijes in Oaxaca, glass in Tonala, and textiles in San Cristóbal de Las Casas. It’s mind-boggling how many different handicrafts are made in every corner of the country. If you plan ahead, you can often find an artisan or workshop where you can watch the items being made or try to make them yourself, which is infinitely more interesting for kids than dragging them through art boutiques and museums. When we were in Pátzcuaro, we arranged to visit mask maker Felipe Horta in Tocuaro and the Fuente family in Capula who make catrinas for Día de Muertos.

“Splurge” on affordable attractions: Attractions that might break the bank at home – amusement parks, aquariums, zoos, and even the movies – are a lot more affordable in Mexico, so you can splurge a bit when you are here. For example, the Guadalajara Zoo, which is one of the most amazing zoos I’ve ever seen, is just 410 pesos (US $24) for adults and 315 pesos (US $18) for kids for a “diamante” ticket that gets you into all the attractions and special exhibits. Compare that to $72 adult and $64 kids tickets for the San Diego Zoo. We’ve been to countless zoos, movies (complete with popcorn & drinks), live performances, museums, and more in Mexico for a fraction of the price it would have been in the U.S.

Connect with other families: Sometimes your kids need a break from you (and you from them), or they just want to make new friends. Mexico has some great city parks where other families gather – or try finding families to meet with through a local Facebook group. You can also tap local Facebook groups for tips on things to do and see with kids. We’ve also done city trips with other families, which gives kids instant friends and spreads the parenting duties around.

Don’t miss: Other family-friendly features of Mexican cities worth checking out:

Public parks: Mexico’s public parks are a step above those in the U.S. Not only do they have playgrounds, but many also have arts & crafts stations, food carts, toy vendors, small rides, lakes, rental bikes and boats, and more. The best we’ve seen are Bosque de Chapultepec and Parque México in Mexico City.
Mercados: Mexico’s bustling food and artisan mercados are explosions of colors, scents, and tastes that will make grocery and gift shopping an unforgettable experience for the whole family.
Pedestrian Sundays: Several cities close down their main thoroughfares on Sunday mornings to car traffic and the street fills with walkers, bikers, joggers, strollers, and skaters. Slip into your sneakers or rent bikes and join the parade of pedestrians!

I hope these ideas inspire you to think beyond the beach and visit one of Mexico’s great cities. You may be surprised by how much your family will love the experience, maybe even more than the beach!

Debbie Slobe is a writer and communications strategist based in Chacala, Nayarit. She blogs at Mexpatmama.com and is a senior program director at Resource Media. Find her on Instagram and Facebook.

How to cook picanha steak like a steakhouse in Mexico

By

Stephen Randall

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February 16, 2024

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1bac109641652a9ec409c4672d843270 — Picanha is one of Brazil's most famous culinary exports, and a big hit in Mexican steakhouses. Find out how to prepare your own picanha to asadero quality. (Texas de Brazil)

One of my favorite culinary revelations after moving to Mexico was how popular Brazilian steakhouses are here. Mexico has a rich grilling, or asado, tradition so it’s no surprise that the novel experience of a Brazilian steakhouse is celebrated all throughout the country.

The unending torrent of waiters who float to your table offering expertly grilled meats on long, sword-like skewers seemed so foreign compared to the boring Golden Corral-type buffets in the United States that I was accustomed to. There is one cut of beef that always stands out to me in these steakhouses – the “Queen of Steaks,” picanha! This triangular piece of meat, with its cap of fat and luscious flesh beneath, demands culinary reverence.

The traditional Brazilian style of preparation is to cut the picanha into one-inch wide pieces. (Unsplash)

To experience picanha is to taste a symphony of flavors – umami-full meat, subtly seasoned, is like an orchestrated performance of culinary finesse. In the world of beef, picanha stands as a testament to both artistry and gastronomic science.

The unique grain of picanha allows for optimal rendering of fat during the grilling process, creating a harmonious marriage of crispy exterior and succulent interior. Understanding the meat’s structure is crucial – the fat cap acts as a self-baster, enriching the meat’s flavor and tenderness. The traditional Brazilian style of preparation is cutting the picanha into one-inch wide pieces, skewering with the fat cap facing outwards, and cooking it over a very hot open flame. A simple and beautiful method to enjoy this steak, but certainly not the only way. Today, I want to talk about a very different way to tackle this triangle cut.

Now let’s talk about my favorite way to cook this deliciousness: the reverse sear. Classic winter weather has arrived, a thick “chipi-chipi” of rain is stubbornly hovering over your neighborhood and you don’t feel like cleaning off the grill? No worries, this reverse sear method only calls for an oven and (at least) a 12-inch cast iron pan.

Understanding the science behind the process is key, and reverse searing offers a calculated approach. It flips the conventional script by employing a gentle, low-temperature cooking method to bring out the best in this prized cut of beef, and then a high-temperature, blistering sear for the finishing move. This method will bring the flavors of a Brazilian steakhouse to your kitchen and is perfect for hosting gatherings of any size!

The meat should first be prepared in the oven before being fried. (Unsplash)

By starting with a “low and slow” heat, the picanha undergoes a transformation – allowing its natural juices to permeate every fiber, rendering a tender and evenly cooked interior. This methodical process ensures that the meat reaches its desired doneness without sacrificing moisture or tenderness, a feat unmatched by traditional searing techniques.

Once the picanha reaches the ideal internal temperature, the grand finale awaits: the sear. It’s the high-heat finish that locks in the flavors, creating a mouthwatering crust that envelops the succulent beef within. For those seeking the epitome of flavor and texture in their picanha, the reverse sear method is an ode to meticulousness, an artful journey that ensures each bite is tender and robust, with an even texture throughout the cut. You may be thinking, without the grill, aren’t we going to miss some of that smokiness? Don’t worry – in this recipe, I use smoked salt!

Ingredients:

1 or more picanha steaks (about 2-3 pounds each)

Coarse smoked salt (I use Maldon smoked salt)

Black pepper (freshly ground, if possible)

Optional: Garlic powder, smoked paprika, or your preferred seasoning blend

Instructions:

Prepare the Picanha:

Preheat your oven to a low temperature, around 225°F (107°C).

Pat the picanha steaks dry with paper towels. This helps ensure a better sear later on.

Seasoning:

Cut the fat cap in a checkered pattern, being sure not to cut too deep beyond the fat. Season the picanha generously with coarse smoked salt. Optionally, add black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, or any preferred seasoning blend. Ensure the seasoning coats all sides evenly.

You don’t need a grill to recreate the perfect picanha, thanks to the reverse-searing technique. (Cast Iron Skillet Cooking)

Slow Roasting:

Place the seasoned picanha steaks on a wire rack set over a baking sheet or in an oven-safe pan.

Slow roast the picanha in the preheated oven until the internal temperature reaches about 10-15°F (5-8°C) below your desired final temperature. This process can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on the thickness of the steak and the heat of your oven.

Searing:

Once the internal temperature is near your desired doneness (around 110-115°F (43-46°C) for medium-rare), remove the picanha from the oven.

Preheat your cast-iron skillet to high heat.

Place the picanha steaks directly onto the skillet. Watch the progress extra carefully on the fat cap side, as this side is sneaky and will burn quicker.

Sear each side for 2-3 minutes until a beautiful crust forms on the exterior. This high-heat sear will bring the internal temperature up to your desired doneness – around 130-135°F (54-57°C) for medium-rare.

Rest and Serve:

Remove the picanha from the heat and let it rest in aluminum foil for about 10-15 minutes before slicing.

Slice the picanha against the grain into thick pieces and serve immediately.

This method of reverse-searing picanha results in a tender, juicy interior with a flavorful crust on the outside – they don’t call this the Queen of Steaks for nothing! Adjust cooking times based on the thickness of the steak and your preferred level of doneness. Enjoy your perfectly cooked picanha paired with my favorite traditional Brazilian accompaniment, chimichurri!

Stephen Randall has lived in Mexico since 2018 by way of Kentucky, and before that, Germany. He’s an enthusiastic amateur chef who takes inspiration from many different cuisines, with favorites including Mexican and Mediterranean.

Judge orders halt to work on Playa del Carmen to Tulum section of Maya Train

By

MND Staff

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February 16, 2024

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Maya Train construction work near Cancún — A federal court in Yucatán state has ruled that work must stop on the southern part of Section 5 until the government provides further environmental impact documentation. (Cuartoscuro)

A federal court has ruled that work on the section of the Maya Train railroad between Playa del Carmen and Tulum must stop until the federal government demonstrates that geological and other studies have been completed along the route between the two Quintana Roo resort towns.

A court in Mérida, Yucatán, handed down a definitive suspension ruling in late January at around the same time that environmental groups revealed that steel and cement pilings pierce through the roofs of limestone caves along an elevated section of the railroad south of Playa del Carmen.

Maya Train piling pierces a cave — There has been an outcry over the photos shared by environmentalists showing the Maya Train pilings piercing some of the area’s limestone caves. (@gchristy65/X)

Experts said that the bulky columns have affected the quality of subterranean water and destroyed “archaeological and geological heritage” in Quintana Roo.

Reviewed by the El Financiero and Reforma newspapers, the Mérida-based federal court’s written ruling said that construction work on the 68-kilometer-long Tramo 5 Sur (the southern part of Section 5 of the railroad) must stop until the government presents to the court the results of required geological, geophysical and geohydrological studies.

Judge Adrián Novelo, who wrote the ruling, previously ruled in 2022 that work on Tramo 5 Sur couldn’t proceed due to the absence of an authorized environmental impact statement. The government was subsequently able to overcome that legal hurdle, and others.

In January, Novelo directed the National Tourism Promotion Fund (Fonatur) to present “all the records” it has “in order to report on the condition of the cenotes, caverns and caves along … Tramo 5 Sur of the Maya Train project.”

The view down into a cenote, with water in the hole below and jungle growing above the rim. — Activists say the construction of the Maya Train threatens to contaminate the Yucatán Peninsula’s delicate network of cenotes. (Dorian D1/Unsplash)

He also directed Fontaur to present information on the “measures of prevention and protection that have been adopted to avoid the contamination of subterranean water” along the Tramo 5 Sur route, as well as information on any “collapses” of caves that have occurred during construction work and the “actions” that were carried out to remedy the situation.

“This court believes that the [geological and other] studies are vital to establish … that the section of the Maya Train doesn’t represent a real danger to the stability of subterranean water systems in the area,” the ruling said.

Novelo explained that the ruling complies with a new environmental law precedent established by the Supreme Court in December.

Fonatur is the government agency in charge of the US $20 billion Maya Train railroad, four sections of which began operations in late 2023. The northern part of Section 5 between Cancún and Playa del Carmen (Tramo 5 Norte) is scheduled to open on Feb. 29.

No specific opening date has been set for Tramo 5 Sur or Sections 6 (Tulum-Chetumal) and 7 (Bacalar-Escárcega), but President López Obrador said in late January that he believed the railroad would be 100% complete “in another two months [or] three months.”

It was unclear whether the latest court ruling against construction of Tramo 5 Sur will delay the opening of that section and others.

López Obrador inaugurated construction of the Maya Train railroad in June 2020, and pledged at the time that it would be finished in 28 months, or by October 2022.

However, the project has faced a range of challenges, including court rulings that have temporarily halted work and ardent opposition from environmental groups, which say that the construction and operation of the railroad pose a threat to wildlife and the Maya jungle in addition to the subterranean water system on the Yucatán Pensinsula.

The railroad, which López Obrador asserts will spur economic development in Mexico’s southeast, links colonial cities, coastal destinations and Maya archaeological sites in five states: Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán, Quintana Roo and Chiapas.

With reports from El Financiero and Reforma

Got 1 min? Find out who won the Mexico City ‘Kiss-a-thon’

By

MND Staff

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February 15, 2024

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Couple kisses in Mexico City — One amorous couple won 4,000 pesos in the official Mexico City "Besotón" on Valentine's Day after kissing for nearly five hours. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)

An amorous couple locked lips for almost five hours on Valentine’s Day to win the top prize in the fourth edition of an annual kissing competition in Mexico City.

A total of 22 lovey-dovey twosomes participated in Wednesday’s “Besotón,” or “Kiss-a-thon,” held outside local government offices in the northern borough of Gustavo A. Madero.

Couples from across the capital entered the contest in the Gustavo A. Madero borough. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)

A 4,000-peso (US $235) cash prize was on offer for the couple who could continue kissing for the longest period of time.

The money and bragging rights went to Valeria and Bryan, a young couple who smooched without pause for a mind-boggling — and tongue-twisting — four hours and 40 minutes.

They celebrated their victory with — would you believe it — a kiss.

While their prolonged period of passion was no doubt an impressive feat, it didn’t even come close to the world record for the longest kiss, which was set in 2013 by a Thai couple who kept on kissing for a remarkable 58 hours and 35 minutes.

However, it did last 20 minutes more than last year’s winning “Besotón” kiss, which was the previous record.

According to the Posta news website, Valeria and Bryan plan to use their winnings to take a trip to Veracruz. The couple said they didn’t get hungry during their lengthy kiss or feel the urge to use the bathroom, but their jaws got tired and they experienced “a little irritation due to an excess of saliva,” Posta said.

The “Kiss-a-thon” runners-up took home a bottle of champagne for their efforts, while the couple who completed the third longest continuous kiss received a bottle of men’s cologne and lingerie.

With reports from Proceso, Reforma and Posta

Guerrero bishops make failed attempt at truce with criminal leaders

By

MND Staff

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February 15, 2024

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Bishop José de Jesús González Hernández speaks at the pulpit — Bishop José de Jesús González Hernández and others have tried to help mediate in Mexico's long-running drug war. (Dassaev Téllez Adame/Cuartoscuro)

Should bishops be engaging in dialogue with violent criminals? President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, for one, doesn’t see anything wrong with it.

“Priests and pastors and members of all the churches … help with the pacification of the country. I think it’s very good, we all have to contribute to achieving peace, but of course the responsibility lies with the state,” he said Thursday morning.

President López Obrador said he believed that the church had a role to play in “the pacification of the country.” (lopezobrador.org.mx)

His remark came after Bishop José de Jesús González Hernández told reporters on Wednesday that he and the three other Catholic bishops in the state of Guerrero have all met separately with criminal leaders.

They were seeking a statewide truce between feuding criminal groups, but they were unable to achieve one, said González, bishop of the Chilapa-Chilpancingo diocese.

He explained that the criminal leaders were unwilling to give ground and as a result no agreement could be reached over which groups would have criminal control over different parts of the southern state. The capos have “a desire for money” and “a desire for power,” González said, further explaining why the quest to obtain a truce failed.

Guerrero was Mexico’s seventh most violent state in 2023 in terms of total homicides with 1,688, according to data presented by the federal government last month. The majority of murders are linked to organized crime. Various parts of the state are plagued by security problems including the capital Chilpancingo, the magical town of Taxco, the hurricane-battered city of Acapulco and the notoriously violent Tierra Caliente region.

The popular tourist town of Taxco has become a flashpoint for security issues recently. (SSC Taxco)

González — who said in 2022 that he hoped to cultivate a friendship with criminal groups and indicated that he would be prepared to give his life while mediating between feuding narcos — has followed in the footsteps of his predecessor, Salvador Rangel, by engaging in dialogue with instigators of violence in Guerrero. He said that he and the other Guerrero bishops would continue to do so.

While he expressed his support for such dialogue, López Obrador declared that it wasn’t acceptable for the talks to lead to “agreements that mean granting impunity, privileges and licenses to steal.”

Speaking in Acapulco at his morning press conference, he also said that the federal security presence in Guerrero is stronger than it has ever been.

“There must be about …29,000 members of the army, the navy and the National Guard. That has never been seen before in Guerrero,” López Obrador said.

Bishop Salvador Rangel — Salvador Rangel is another Guerrero bishop known for trying to negotiate with criminal groups. (Cuartoscuro)

Xóchitl Gálvez, presidential candidate for the three-party opposition alliance Strength and Heart for Mexico, took a very different view, asserting Thursday that the federal government has “abandoned” Guerrero.

“It abandoned the people of Acapulco” after the powerful Hurricane Otis devastated the city last October, she said.

“[Organized] crime is controlling [public] transport in Taxco, Chilpancingo and Iguala. What Guerrero is going through every day is a tragedy,” said Gálvez, who is currently in Europe and met with Pope Francis on Thursday.

The senator-turned-presidential candidate said that “it’s sad that today the church has to negotiate with organized crime, given that it, unfortunately, is the de-facto authority in Guerrero.”

Gálvez said that she understood what the bishops were trying to achieve, but described meetings with narcos as “very dangerous for them and for all residents of Guerrero.”

“I think it’s incredible that the president says that he agrees,” she added.

With reports from El Sur, Reforma and El Universal

What multimillion-dollar fishing tournaments are in Los Cabos this year?

By

Chris Sands

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February 15, 2024

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Captura de pantalla 2024-02-15 143833 — A record setting marlin from the 1994 Bisbee’s Black & Blue fishing tournament. Today, the contest offers prizes of more than $4 million dollars for the winners. (Picante Sportfishing)

Los Cabos as a tourist destination was built on beaches and sport fishing. As far back as the 1950s and 1960s, fly-in resorts in Baja California Sur were targeted specifically to anglers, with marlin fishing in particular becoming the region’s calling card.

Tournaments eventually followed, with Bisbee’s Black and Blue, founded in 1981, becoming the most long-lasting and prestigious. Today, this event is referred to, accurately, as the “world’s richest fishing tournament.” Prize pools for the last two events, in 2022 and 2023, have averaged over US $10 million.

The rich fishing in the seas and bays near Los Cabos has made the area a global destination for competitive anglers. (IGY Marinas)

As Bisbee’s has grown over the past few decades, it has added two additional tournaments: the East Cape Offshore and Los Cabos Offshore. This trio of annual events all offer prize pools in the millions of dollars and get the lion’s share of publicity regarding fishing tournament season in Los Cabos. Rightfully so. Bisbee’s generates a lot of income for the local economy, and the fish caught help feed the region’s poorest residents.

But other tournaments in the area have also crossed the million-dollar threshold – like the Cabo Tuna Jackpot – and a few others are close to hitting this milestone. Fishing contests are becoming increasingly lucrative at the high end, although it bears noting that dozens of tournaments take place in Los Cabos each year. For many participants, the attraction isn’t so much the potential payouts as the experience itself.

What time of year is fishing tournament season in Los Cabos?

Fishing tournament season runs from June through November. As long-time visitors to Los Cabos know, the fishing is good year-round, but the catches are seasonal. Not surprisingly, given Los Cabos’ reputation for black and blue marlin fishing, the season is contemporaneous with the best times of year to catch these fish. Other species found locally, however, like striped marlin, tuna, dorado, and wahoo are also a target at many tournaments.

Where do the tournaments take place?

The Cabo San Lucas Marina is the primary departure point for most of the highest-profile events, but the East Cape of Los Cabos is also a mecca during tournament season, particularly small fishing destinations like Buena Vista and Los Barriles. Fishing takes place in offshore waters. For Bisbee’s Black and Blue tournament for instance, boats are restricted to within 40 miles of Cabo San Lucas.

Which tournaments have already announced dates for 2024?

Here’s a look at how this year’s season is shaping up, dates for the major tournaments, entry fees and prize pools.

Pelagic Triple Crown of Fishing Tournament – June 6 – 9, 2024

Fishing contests are becoming increasingly lucrative at the high end, with many tournaments offering prize funds of six figures or higher. (IGY Marinas)

Water sports apparel maker Pelagic kicks off the 2024 Los Cabos fishing tournament season with the 10th edition of the team fishing competition, with fishermen and women targeting billfish like striped marlin, as well as tuna, wahoo, and dorado.

Base entry is $3,500 per team, with $59,000 across the board for all jackpots and challenges. Cash prizes are expected to top $500,000.

Bisbee’s East Cape Offshore – July 30 – August 3, 2024

The East Cape Offshore kicks off Bisbee’s 2024 season on July 30, with cash prizes awarded to the top three qualifiers in the marlin, tuna, and dorado categories.

Base entry for the event is $1,500 per team, with additional fees for daily jackpots ($32,000 “across the board”). Last year, the tournament’s total payouts fell just short of $1.8 million.

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – October 8 – 12, 2024

October is the biggest month for fishing tournaments in Cabo San Lucas, thanks not only to Bisbee’s two cash-rich tournaments but also to the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament, another important local event. Fishing was outstanding during this tournament in 2023, with a record 583 striped marlins caught and released by the 42 competing teams. Billfish (striped, blue, and black marlin or sailfish and spearfish) and gamefish (tuna, wahoo, and dorado) are the targets for participants.

Base entry is $5,000 per team, or $49,000 across the board to be eligible for all jackpots and challenges. Over $750,000 was paid out to winners last year.

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore – October 15 – 19, 2024

Commonly known as “Little Bisbee’s,” to differentiate it from the “Big Bisbee’s” Black & Blue tournament that also takes place in October, this event has been held annually since 2002.

Base entry for teams is $1,500, with $32,000 necessary for “across the board” entry in all jackpots and challenges. Payouts totaled $2 million for this tournament in 2023, despite scheduling challenges posed by Hurricane Norma.

Bisbee’s Black & Blue – October 22 – 26, 2024

Last year’s Bisbee’s Black & Blue winners, team Stella June, took home a massive $4.4 million prize. (Bisbee’s)

This is the granddaddy of them all, a “millionaire maker” deservedly famous due to the size of its enormous payouts. Last year, for example, team Stella June earned the single biggest winning payout in tournament history – $4.4 million – topping the previous record set in 2006, when Bad Company netted $3.9 million). Total payouts last year, meanwhile, stood at $9 million, or just under the record-setting 2022 payouts of $11,651,300, the largest prize pool in sport fishing history.

Base entry for this tournament is $5,000 per team, or $71,500 across the board for all jackpots and challenges. Prizes are awarded for the top five catches of black and blue marlin, assuming they meet the minimum standards of 300 lbs.

Cabo Tuna Jackpot – November 6 – 9, 2024

This tournament has been crowning the world’s best tuna fishermen for the past 25 years, thanks to exceptionally lucrative payouts that crossed the million-dollar threshold in 2019, and over the past three years have hovered at almost $1.5 million.

Base entry is expected to be $1,000, or about $20,000 across the board based on 2023, although the 2024 registration info has yet to be released. Team Fisher Man’s record 383-pound tuna in 2009, meanwhile, remains the standard by which all winners are judged.

Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best, writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, and a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily. His specialty is travel-related content and lifestyle features focused on food, wine and golf.

National truckers’ strike disrupts traffic on major highways

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MND Staff

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February 15, 2024

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Truckers block a highway in Mexico City — Truckers from the AMOTAC transport union blockaded highways across the country to protest against insecurity on Mexico's roads. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)

Demanding the government provide better security on the nation’s highways, Mexican truck drivers began a nationwide strike Thursday morning, disrupting traffic on a handful of major federal highways.

Protests in several spots around the country began at 8 a.m., and by late morning main roads, including all lanes of the Mexico City–Cuernavaca highway — the nation’s busiest — were blocked in both directions.

Protesters were hoping to reach the National Palace, and petition authorities directly. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)

Long lines of trucks being driven at slow speeds created the blockages, although there were reports that protesters in at least two locations eventually agreed to free up lanes to allow motorists to pass.

Other highways affected by the protests included Mexico City–Puebla, Mexico City–Pachuca, México-Querétaro and the Arco Norte, and the Vía Morelos road from Ecatepec in México state to CDMX.

The protesters, who say they are fed up with an alarming increase in transport robberies, were aiming to reach the National Palace in Mexico City, to seek a dialogue with authorities.

The union stated that roads would not be blocked as long as the Army and other authorities did not intervene. The Mexican Alliance of Transport Organizations (AMOTAC) also asked for the understanding and support of the citizenry.

The nation’s truckers and transporters had postponed the strike for a week, but it was put into action after a previous dialogue with authorities that union officials called “not constructive and not favorable.”

Interior Minister Luisa María Alcalde Luján countered that she has negotiated frequently with drivers and government agencies including the Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation Ministry (SICT) and the National Guard.

But, Alcalde added, AMOTAC members “decided to get up from the table and establish various blockades that affect citizens.”

AMOTAC members reportedly account for 83% of the national transport vehicle fleet, and the union has 270 chapters nationwide.

AMOTAC members say not enough is being done to protect transport workers in the country. The government denies any inaction by security services. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)

Alcalde called their strike unjustified because the demands of the transporters are being met, adding that it was being driven by “political interests.”

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador refused to receive the protesters and their negotiators at the National Palace, dismissing AMOTAC’s actions as a politically motivated action against his government.

The union simply says it wants better safety for its drivers.

According to figures from the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System (SESNSP), there were an average of 38 assaults every day on truck drivers transporting goods between cities in 2023, an increase of 4% over 2022.

And of the 38, approximately 25 per day were robberies — an increase of 2.8% over 2022. Moreover, 85.6% of the robberies included violence.

Julieta Tolentino, a national coordinator for AMOTAC, told Mexico Business News that the National Guard is failing to ensure highway safety due to disorganization and a lack of training. She also said truck drivers face numerous challenges, such as the absence of a standardized tariff system and insufficient rest areas in addition to a dearth of safe places to stop.

Miguel Ángel Santiago of AMOTAC told MVS Noticias that action taken by the government so far has been “insufficient to address the issues and the phenomenon we are currently experiencing.”

A separate strike on Feb. 5 was led by the Mexican Federation of Transportation and Freight Transport (FEMATRAC), but the two strikes were reportedly independent.

With reports from El Economista and Infobae

Foreign direct investment in Mexico totaled over US $36B in 2023

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MND Staff

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February 15, 2024

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Mexico City view — Mexico City was the recipient of the lion's share of foreign direct investment last year, with other states in the north and center of the country rounding out the top 10. (Shutterstock)

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Mexico exceeded US $36 billion in 2023, the highest preliminary data total on record, with almost 40% of the investment coming from the United States and half the money going to the manufacturing sector.

Data published by the Economy Ministry on Wednesday night showed that FDI totaled $36.06 billion last year, a 2.2% increase compared to 2022.

FDI in Mexico graph — Final quarter FDI in Mexico since 2006 in billions of dollars. (Economy Ministry/X)

Excluding the Televisa-Univisión merger and the restructuring of Aeroméxico — which together added $6.87 billion to the FDI total in 2022 — the annual foreign investment increase in 2023 was a more impressive 27%.

If the preliminary data for 2023 is compared to final data for previous years, last year was the second best year ever for FDI.

The best year on record is 2013, when the sale of brewer Grupo Modelo to Belgian multinational AB InBev added $13.25 billion to the final FDI total, which was $48.4 billion.

FDI wasn’t as high as expected

The preliminary data total for 2023 is just $3.1 billion higher than the total for the first nine months of the year and only $7 billion higher than the total for the first six months.

Just over 80% of all FDI in 2023 occurred in the first half of the year, indicating that there was a sharp slowdown in investment inflows in the final six months of 2023.

The final FDI figure is more than 20% below a $43.9 billion projection from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and over 5% below a $38 billion consensus forecast of 25 economists polled by the Bank of Mexico.

John Soldevilla, an economist and director of the financial consultancy ECOBI, said the FDI result for 2023 is “somewhat disappointing.”

Automotive factory worker — Mexico’s manufacturing industry is expected to benefit in the coming years from the nearshoring trend, but analysts say overall FDI fell short of expectations last year. (Gob MX)

He asserted that Mexico should already be seeing “tangible results” from nearshoring — the relocation of foreign companies to Mexico due to its proximity to the United States and other factors.

“It seems this is not occurring,” Soldevilla said.

In contrast, the SE was buoyant in its assessment of the “historic” foreign investment in 2023.

It is the “result of economic stability, competitive advantages and the good business environment in Mexico” and “affirms the confidence of foreign investors in the country,” the ministry said.

That confidence, it added, is shown through “record” reinvestment of profits by foreign companies that operate in Mexico.

New investment only accounted for 13% of FDI last year

The SE said that 74% of the FDI total, or more than $26.6 billion, came from reinvestment of profits. Many companies that have operated in Mexico for years have invested to expand their existing operations or announced their intention to do so. Those companies include French aerospace company Safran and Argentine steel manufacturer Ternium.

Ternium steel plant in Nuevo León — Ternium Steel was one of the major companies to announce expansions plans in Mexico last year. (Ternium Mexico)

Just over 13% of the FDI total, or $4.82 billion, was new investment while just under 13%, or $4.61 billion, was loans and payments between companies of the same corporate group.

Janneth Quiroz Zamora, director of economic analysis at the Monex financial group, said there were expectations that “new investment linked to nearshoring” would be higher.

“The fact that new investment was limited … appears [to show] that we’re not yet seeing that great wave of investment to the country [we were expecting],” Quiroz said.

One positive is that the contribution new investment made to the 2023 FDI total was up five percentage points compared to the 8% contribution it made to the total for the first nine months of last year. However, the 13% figure is well below the 48% contribution new investment made to the FDI total in 2022.

The figure should rise in coming years as foreign companies made investment announcements totaling well over $100 billion in 2023. One such company, Tesla, is expected to begin construction of its Nuevo León “gigafactory” this year.

Where did Mexico’s FDI come from?

SE data shows that 87% of total FDI in 2023 came from just 10 countries.

Around 38% of total investment, or $13.64 billion, came from the United States. The SE highlighted that Citigroup, General Motors and Ford are among the U.S. investors in Mexico.

While the United States remained the top foreign investor in Mexico, its investment total declined 9% compared to 2022.

A rendering of Tesla’s planned “gigafactory” in Nuevo León. (Tesla)

Via companies such as the energy firm Iberdrola and the bank BBVA, Spain was the second largest foreign investor in Mexico last year, contributing $3.77 billion, or just over 10% of the FDI total, while Canada ranked third, investing $3.47 billion, or almost 10% of the FDI total, through companies such as TC Energy and Scotiabank.

The other countries in the top 10 were:

Japan: $2.9 billion or 8% of FDI.
Germany:$2.4 billion or 7% of FDI.
Argentina: $2.2 or 6% of FDI.
United Kingdom: $936 million or 3% of FDI.
Netherlands: $892 million or 2% of FDI.
Belgium: $759 million or 2% of FDI.
South Korea: $497 million or 1% of FDI.

Which sectors and states did the money go to?

Just over 50% of the 2023 FDI total — $18.08 billion — went to the manufacturing industry.

The transport equipment sector, which includes automakers, was the biggest winner, receiving 41% of the manufacturing investment. The remaining 59% was split between a number of sectors including beverages and tobacco; metals; computer equipment; and chemicals.

FDI by state of Mexico in Q4 2023 — Top 10 states for FDI (or IED in Spanish) in 2023. (Economy Minister/X)

The other 50% of total FDI went to several sectors including financial services; mining; and temporary accommodation.

Almost one-third of FDI — 31% — went to Mexico City, where many major international companies have offices.

Sonora ranked second, receiving 8% of total FDI last year, followed by Nuevo León (7%); Jalisco (6%) and Chihuahua (5%).

The federal government has invested heavily in Mexico’s southern and southeastern states, but none was among the top 10 recipients of FDI last year.

The development of the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, which will include 10 new industrial parks, could help Oaxaca and/or Veracruz enter the top 10 in coming years.

With reports from El Financiero and El Economista