Gulf Cartel

Mexican Judge Releases Cartel Boss Fighting Extradition to U.S.

A Mexican judge with a history of questionable rulings ordered the release of one of the leaders of the Gulf Cartel. The alleged crime boss is fighting a slew of charges and extradition to the U.S. However, thanks to the ruling, he was granted his release on bond. This particular cartel boss has a history of suspicious releases where authorities have dismissed his prior cases on technicalities. He has a pending criminal indictment in the U.S. filed by the Department of Justice.

Gulf Cartel Contador

Mexican Cop Turned Gulf Cartel Cell Leader Arrested

A former special forces police officer in the state of Tamaulipas switched sides and became a cell leader within the Gulf Cartel. Most recently, the cop turned drug lord was behind most of the violence in the central part of Tamaulipas, particularly in the cities of Jimenez, Abasolo, and Soto La Marina.

Tamaulipas State Guard

Mexican Army Clashes with Gulf Cartel Gunmen After Drone Bombings

Mexican military forces clashed with Gulf Cartel gunmen in the border city of Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas. The clashes come after months of military forces avoiding direct conflict with gunmen. The shift in strategy comes after Gulf Cartel gunmen began using drones to drop explosive devices on rival gunmen and police forces in areas just south of the Texas border.

Mexican soldiers arrest a Gulf Cartel gunman. (Credit: Breitbart Texas / Cartel Chronicles

Cartel Gunmen Kidnap Mexican Border State Senator

A group of cartel gunmen kidnapped a Mexican border state senator and held him for hours, highlighting the control that criminal organizations continue to have in the state of Tamaulipas. The case details remain unknown, but relatives confirmed that the politician was home by Saturday morning. Unofficial information points to the gunmen releasing the politician, who made his way to a nearby house where he asked for help.

Mexican border state senator Vicente Verastegui. This week, cartel gunmen kidnapped him. (

Former Mexican Governor Lashes Out at Current Officials After Attempted Kidnapping of Son

A former border state governor in Mexico is lashing out at current authorities in Tamaulipas over their attempted coverup of a case where suspected cartel gunmen tried to take his son who was driving along a highway. The former governor claimed that the current state government has worked hand in hand with drug cartels, and the growing crime and lawlessness in the region is a reflection of that.

Tamaulipas Governor

Wild Speculation Follows Release of Gulf Cartel Supreme Leader-Los Zetas Founder

Speculation is running wild on both sides of the border following the release from prison of a man once known as the supreme leader of the Gulf Cartel and founder of Los Zetas. Some individuals were expecting him to return to his hometown and reclaim the reigns of his criminal organization. Others claimed he would stay in the U.S. under witness protection. The issue caused widespread speculation and rumors to spread like wildfire.

Breitbart Border / Cartel Chronicles

Mexican Activists Discover New Cartel Crematorium near Border with Texas

Authorities in the Mexican border state of Tamaulipas have confirmed the discovery of two separate locations used by cartel gunmen to kill and incinerate the remains of their victims. Cartel crematoriums and clandestine gravesites have become almost commonplace in various parts of Mexico as criminal organizations try to avoid attention by not leaving bodies behind. The disposal of remains also allows government officials to hide the levels of violence by filing most cases as missing persons instead of murders or kidnappings.

Activists search for human remains in a cartel killing field near the border with Texas. (

Colectivo Descubre Nuevo Campo De Exterminio en Tamaulipas

Las autoridades del estado fronterizo de Tamaulipas confirmaron el descubrimiento de dos lugares utilizados por sicarios de los cárteles para matar e incinerar los restos de sus víctimas. Los crematorios de los cárteles y las fosas clandestinas se han vuelto algo común en varias partes de México, ya que las organizaciones criminales tratan de evitar la atención al no dejar cuerpos, algo que también permite a los funcionarios del gobierno ocultar los niveles de violencia al dar carpetazo a la mayoría de los casos como personas desaparecidas en lugar de asesinatos o secuestros.

Activists search for human remains in a cartel killing field near the border with Texas. (

Mexican Border State Hiding News of Raging Cartel Violence

Government officials in Mexico have been working to portray an image of peace in the border state of Tamaulipas by using doctored crime stats and making misleading statements to news outlets. In reality, several drug cartels have been waging fierce turf wars throughout the state. The violence rose exponentially in recent weeks as drug cartels have become more brazen.

Cartel armored truck left behind after a shootout. (Credit: Breitbart Texas / Cartel Chron

Tamaulipas Intenta Minimizar y Esconder la Narcoviolencia

Funcionarios gubernamentales en México han estado trabajando para presentar una imagen pacífica en el estado fronterizo de Tamaulipas falseando estadísticas del crimen y hacienda declaraciones engañosas a los medios de comunicación cuando en realidad, varios cárteles de la droga han estado peleando violentas guerras territoriales a lo largo del estado. La violencia se ha elevado de manera exponencial en semanas recientes y los cárteles de la droga se han vuelto más descarados.

Cartel armored truck left behind after a shootout. (Credit: Breitbart Texas / Cartel Chron

Iowa Woman Missing After Crossing into Mexican Border City

Authorities in Mexico confirmed the disappearance of a U.S. citizen from Iowa who had been missing for several days after crossing the border. The disappearance comes at a time when government officials continue to claim that security conditions have been improving. However, criminal organizations like the Gulf Cartel can operate with almost complete impunity.

Reynosa Body in Ice Chest

Mexican Family Forced to Pay Cartel After Government Unable to Solve Kidnapping Case

In yet another resounding example of the Mexican government’s inability to protect its citizens, a family in the border city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, was forced to pay the Gulf Cartel approximately $40,000 USD for the release of their loved one. Government authorities could not help in the case, as relatives and activists were forced to plea to the dominant criminal organizations in the region to help.

Reynosa Banner

Military Raids Shake Up Gulf Cartel in Mexican Border State

A series of raids in the Mexican border state of Tamaulipas shook up one of the leading factions of the Gulf Cartel and led to several high-profile arrests. For more than a year, one particular faction of the Gulf Cartel had been untouched by Mexican federal and state authorities due to the country’s widespread corruption. However, in recent weeks, both sides appear to have had a breakdown in their relationship, leading to a series of raids by authorities and targeted attacks by cartel gunmen.

Gulf Cartel Arrest (1)

Russian Embassy Calls Out Cartel Kidnapping in Mexican Border City

Russian diplomats in Mexico City pressured Mexican authorities and went public with the news that one of their citizens suffered a kidnapping while traveling to the border city of Reynosa. As in prior kidnappings, the Tamaulipas government has tried to take credit for rescuing the victim, while in reality, it was the Gulf Cartel that just released her.

Tamaulipas State Guard

State Police Intelligence Operative Murdered in Mexican Border City

Authorities in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas are investigating the murder of a man in Reynosa, which at first glance appeared to have been one of many common murders in the city. A deeper investigation revealed the victim was an intelligence operative who worked for state authorities specializing in wiretaps and tracking targets.

Reynosa Murder