Mica for cartelinsider.com
The Llano de la Palma Sola Festival: A Timeless Celebration
Every July, the outskirts of Puerto Vallarta come alive with the vibrant Llano de la Palma Sola Festival, a tradition that has thrived for over eight decades. Originally initiated by Mrs. Hilaria Pineda and her neighbors, the festival began with humble donkey rides and has since evolved into a grand equestrian event. Today, families from all over gather to ride horses to the Llano de la Palma Sola, maintaining the tradition of community and celebration that defines this event.
Located just 30 minutes from Puerto Vallarta, the small municipality of Las Palmas de Arriba hosts this beloved festival, drawing thousands to participate in the festivities. The festival honors Santa Ana’s Day, reflecting the event’s deep cultural roots and historical significance. It is a day where old customs blend with new as participants continue the tradition of horseback journeys, emphasizing familial bonds and shared experiences through communal meals and activities.
Exploring Las Palmas
Nestled in the heart of tradition and legend, Las Palmas offers more than just a venue for the festival. This area, characterized by its rich landscapes and tight-knit community, provides a unique glimpse into rural life. With a population engaged primarily in agriculture and ranching, Las Palmas embodies the spirit of resilience and continuity, making it essential to understanding the full scope of the Llano de la Palma Sola Festival’s heritage.
Las Palmas: A Dirty Secret
While known for its modest homes and ranches, Las Palmas holds a lesser-known secret. It is also the residence of Hugo Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán, a figure shrouded in local lore. This connection adds a layer of intrigue and mystique to the area, enriching the cultural tapestry of the festival and its setting.
The Rise of Hugo Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán in CJNG
Hugo Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán, widely recognized by his aliases El Sapo, El 90, El 090, and El Rey Sapo, stands as a central figure in the complex hierarchy of the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) under the command of the notorious Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho.
Mendoza Gaytán heads the elite unit, Criminal Group of Immediate Reaction (GEDDRI), a critical arm within CJNG dedicated to curtailing the Sinaloa Cartel’s expansion into strategic areas like Los Altos de Jalisco. El Sapo leads the GEDDRI, with primary operations spanning from Puerto Vallarta to Nayarit, controlling aspects of drug production, distribution, and transportation across southern and coastal regions of Nayarit.
Leaked documents from the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena), exposed by Guacamaya Leaks, reveal that Mendoza Gaytán is one of the longest-serving members within CJNG, positioned just below El Mencho in the cartel’s organizational structure. Mendoza Gaytán was born on October 2, 1988, making him a Libra and 35. Born in Michoacán, he is the brother of Abundio Mendoza Gaytán, alias “El Güero Abundio,” another key figure in the CJNG arrested in January 2012.
In addition to his regional command in the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Valles region, intelligence reports from Sedena highlight Mendoza Gaytán’s efforts to maintain a low profile despite his significant role within the cartel since approximately 2015. My reporting says he has multiple modest homes and a ranch in Las Palmas. This home standsout in Las Palmas for it’s size and luxury.
With his deep roots and expansive influence within the cartel, there is speculation that Mendoza Gaytán could be a potential successor to lead CJNG. His leadership has been instrumental in the cartel’s aggressive strategies against rivals and in expanding its territorial control throughout Mexico. This includes orchestrating offensives against José Antonio Yépez, alias “El Marro,” leader of the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel, and forming strategic alliances in Mexico City to dominate the local criminal landscape.
The notorious leader’s operations have not only focused on drug trafficking but have extended to acts of extortion, kidnapping, and murder, significantly impacting the security landscape in areas like Puerto Vallarta. This has drawn heightened attention from the Mexican government, making Mendoza Gaytán a high-priority target for law enforcement agencies.
Family Business
The Mendoza family, deeply entrenched in the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) activities, found themselves at the center of a significant law enforcement operation on Thursday. January 27, 2012, Abundio Mendoza Gaytán, better known by his alias El Güero Abundio, was apprehended alongside his parents and wife, each playing pivotal roles within this notorious criminal organization.
Federal Police forces carried out a coordinated and well-planned raid in the Jardín Real subdivision of Zapopan, leading to the arrest of seven individuals involved in various criminal activities, such as kidnapping, drug trafficking, and extortion. The operation was informed by extensive investigative work that helped pinpoint the cartel’s local operations. Among the arrested individuals, “El Güero Abundio” was caught engaging in the “collection of floors” (extortion payments from businesses) and orchestrating the cartel’s drug distribution networks in the region.
Family Involvement in the Cartel At the time of the arrest, “El Güero Abundio” was in the company of his father, Gonzalo Mendoza Torres, alias “Don Gonza”, who is accused of managing the cartel’s retail drug trade, providing logistical support through vehicles, and storing weapons. His mother, Josefina Caridad Gaytán Mendoza, alias “Chepita”, is alleged to have managed the storage of weapons and drugs for the cartel.
The recent arrests made by law enforcement officials have resulted in the discovery of significant evidence, including two fragmentation grenades, firearms, ammunition, drugs, and electronic devices. These items are believed to contain critical data related to the operations of the CJNG cartel. The seizure of such evidence highlights the violent and extensive nature of the CJNG’s activities. Furthermore, the scrutiny that US authorities have placed on Rosa Elvira Cibrián Pelayo has linked her family directly to the higher echelons of cartel leadership, indicating her role as a critical player within the CJNG hierarchy.
Liliana Rosas Camba, wife of El Sapo, manages companies and launders money. Her participation was documented by the United States Department of the Treasury, which, in the middle of 2019, listed her as one of the people linked to Roberto Sandoval Castañeda, former governor of the state of Nayarit, and magistrate Isidro Avelar Gutiérrez, both sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), of the United States Department of the Treasury.
As the months went by, Mendoza Gaytán’s name became more familiar as he was considered the possible replacement for Mencho in the CJNG, in addition to holding him responsible for making an agreement with Los Metros, an armed wing, to eliminate the Gulf Cartel.
Rosa Elvira Cibrián Pelayo, the romantic partner of “El Güero Abundio,” was accused of being involved in managing drug trafficking operations with him. This highlights the importance of intimate and familial ties within criminal organizations, making it difficult to distinguish between personal and professional relationships.
During the arrests, law enforcement officials found significant evidence that included two fragmentation grenades, firearms, ammunition, drugs, and electronic devices. These devices may contain crucial information about the operations of the cartel. The seizure is a clear indication of the violent and extensive activities of the CJNG. The attention of US authorities on Rosa Elvira Cibrián Pelayo is noteworthy, as it links her family directly to the higher echelons of the cartel’s leadership. This suggests that she is a crucial player within the CJNG hierarchy.
The recent arrest of the Mendoza family has provided valuable insight into the inner workings of one of Mexico’s most powerful cartels. This event highlights the combination of familial loyalty and criminal activity, and it also marks a significant step in law enforcement’s efforts to dismantle the CJNG’s operational capabilities. As investigations continue, it remains to be seen how this will impact the cartel’s structure and leadership, promising further developments in the ongoing battle against organized crime.
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