From a Beach Resort to a Drug Corridor: Why Did the Sinaloa Cartel Focus its Attention on Rosarito Beach, Baja California?

The cartel’s network of associates extends to business leaders and authorities, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.

The U.S. Treasury Department issued a series of sanctions against members of two criminal cells linked to the Sinaloa Cartel, which established their base of operations in the state of Baja California.

According to the U.S. government, the network of complicity extends to politicians, businessmen, and criminal operators working for Los Mayos, a faction that answers to the family of Ismael El Mayo Zambada.

The official report warns that one of the main areas of influence of the criminal organization is the municipality of Playas de Rosarito, in Baja California. Why did this tourist destination capture the cartel’s attention? We tell you at MILENIO.

The attractions the cartel found in Playas del Rosarito

“A sun and beach destination, ideal for activities such as surfing and diving,” are some of the words with which the City Council boasts about the tourist attractions of Playas de Rosarito.

On its official website, the municipal administration offers details about the city’s nightlife, cuisine, diverse lodging options, and wide variety of water activities. However, this area hasn’t only captured the attention of tourists; the Los Mayos criminal network has found it an opportunity to expand its activities.

According to U.S. Treasury investigations, one of the reasons René Arzate García (the criminal leader known as La Rana) chose this town is its proximity to the border, located just over 20 kilometers from the U.S. state of California.

“Due to its proximity to the border, Rosarito and the surrounding areas are part of the corridor used by the Sinaloa Cartel to traffic drugs into the United States,” the report reads.

As is often the case with other key areas under the control of organized crime, the Mayos’ geographic location isn’t the only advantage they saw in Rosarito Beach. They also took interesting in the strong tourism sector to forge a network of businesses and launder huge amounts of money.

What businesses do the Mayos use as fronts in Rosarito Beach?

The Treasury Department’s investigations led to the identification of at least seven companies that allegedly helped the criminal organization launder millions of dollars obtained through drug trafficking:

Coco Beach Club (Coco Beach Bar S. de R.L. de C.V.)

El Rey de los Cantaritos (Gotoco Alimentos Procesados ​​S. de R.L. de C.V.)

Mariscos El Caimán (Grupo JRCP S. de R.L.)

Bombay Beach Club (JR Alimentos del Mar S. de R.L. de C.V.)

Operadora de Alimentos con Orígenes de México S. de R.L. de C.V.

Sabor Tapatío S. de R.L. de C.V.

Transporte Urbano y Suburbano del Municipio S.A. de C.V.

According to US authorities, the proceeds from drug sales are introduced into the financial system through the operation of these businesses, as well as other restaurants, nightclubs, and hotel complexes.

In addition to La Rana, other criminal leaders who benefit from this financial scheme include his brother Alfonso Arzate García (alias El Aquiles) and Juan José Ponce Félix (alias El Ruso, for whom the FBI is offering up to $5 million).

The person identified by the United States as the likely head of the financial scheme is businessman Jesús González Lomelí, who apparently works in coordination with brothers Mario Alberto and Karlo Omar Herrera Sánchez.

Source: Milenio