Ecuador and Colombia Disrupt International Criminal Organization Linked to Sinaloa Cartel: Operation Gran Fénix 03 Breakdown

Mica for cartelinsider.com

Through an operation carried out by authorities of Ecuador and Colombia, a criminal organization that operated internationally and had links with the Sinaloa Cartel was dismantled. Additionally, a relevant target was arrested in Colombia.

“This transnational criminal organization had links to the Franco Benavides structure of the GAOML EMC alias “Iván Mordisco” and Oliver Sinisterra of the GAOML “La Segunda Marquetalia”, who were in charge of providing cocaine and together with the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico, they distributed to consumer markets,” can be read in the authorities’ report.

The operation named Gran Fénix 03 was carried out thanks to the work of 1 year’s research, during which several people were arrested and large amounts of drugs were secured.

The group known as Los Curva operated through the sea with fast boats, a form with which the Sinaloa Cartel also operates in Colombia. For this, Los Curva coordinated with Colombians and Ecuadorians located on the coasts of Ecuador.

Subsequently he delivered the drugs to Mexican vessels at sea. Afterwards, the drug was transported to Mexican territory.

“On January 6th, 2024, the operation known as “Gran Fénix 03” resulted in the capture of the High Value Target in Colombia, one of the main heads of the organization, the Cuero Valencia Heder brothers alias “Curva” and Dairon alias “Chanchi”.

Regarding the Second Marquetalia, it is a criminal group which appeared at the end of August 2019.

As a result of the actions of the South American authorities, different vehicles, money, weapons and drugs were seized.

“This result represents a structural impact on international drug trafficking organizations that commit crimes from South America to Mexico, countering the trafficking of hallucinogens to the United States,” reads the official report of the Ministry of Ecuador.

It was a four-phase operation, in the first of which in August 2022 three people were arrested and three people and 400 kilograms of cocaine were secured.

Months later, in August, 40 fuel cans (containers) and a boat were secured. While in a third strike in April last year more than 1300 kilos of cocaine, a boat and detainees were seized.

The fourth operation was in August last year when 21 people were arrested following an operation in the provinces of Esmeraldas and Manabí in Ecuador, in addition, 945 kilos of cocaine, six firearms and 396 cartridges were secured.

It is recorded that in Ecuador the criminal group The Choneros maintain an alliance with the Sinaloa Cartel. One of the episodes that most caught attention was the assassination of presidential candidate, Fernando Villavicencio.

But another Mexican criminal group, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), has also arrived in Ecuador. Just in mid-August last year, several people linked to the Mexican cartel were arrested.

“We DISMANTLED ORGANIZED CRIME involved in illicit trafficking of firearms, in #Manabí. After raids we apprehended 5 individuals who were part of the GDO [organized crime group] Jalisco New Generation, in their possession: 2 rifles, 5 stolen vehicles, Cartridges, Cash money”, was part of the message from the Police of Ecuador.

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Mica

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