The Cartel Continues

by Michael Douglas Carlin

The movie "American Federale" is about the only American ever to serve as a Mexican Federale. He tells us about corruption that exists across the border. If we learn one thing from him it is that the corruption is systemic. It is embedded in the culture of border Mexico. Apprehending the cartel boss may be a victory for law abiding citizens but the cartel will continue.

Forbes magazine listed the net worth of El Chapo Guzman at one billion. That seems a little light in that Acosta expanded the Cartel to new heights. In 2003 the estimated annual drug trade was 321 billion dollars. On February 22nd El Chapo Guzman was arrested; his cartel stretched across 50 countries. His drugs are responsible for 40% of all illegal drugs distributed around the world. His operation was able to outspend the government on training and equipment and for 13 years he lived in a network of safe houses many of which were designed with escape tunnels to flee from threats.

To put this in persepctive in April 1987, when druglord Pablo Acosta was killed he had a net worth of 25 billion dollars. That wealth allowed him to buy politicians, police, and military to protect his vast network of criminal enterprise. The film "American Federale" is available on iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play and it illustrates the scope of this corruption. Lobo worked for the Federal Government in Mexico and he spent half of his time collecting cash that was filtered up to the high officials with each person in the chain taking his or her pinch before sending it up the ladder. When orders came down to take down Pablo Acosta it was for good reason.

When Lobo was tracking Pablo Acosta they would receive information and by the time they passed it up the chain Acosta had been tipped off and was a few steps ahead. In order to execute him they needed to maintain a circle of secrecy. One day a tip came in and they coordinated with the FBI to make a daring dawn raid on his compound. They circumvented normal channels and kept the information close to the vest.

Guzman's aprehension was done in a similar fashion. Doubtful that many of the rank and file Mexican Marines even knew the identity of their target. The Army wasn't informed and neither were local officials for fear they would leak information to Guzman and he would simply slip away. Guzman was known for coming into a restaurant and collecting all cellular telephones. He would dine and pick up the tabs of every patron of the restaurant. I would bet that the Mexican Marines cell phones were all collected prior to the raid. The sincerest form of compliment is emulation. 

American Drug Enforcement Agents, U.S. Marshalls, and Mexican Federales joined forces to track Guzman. They observed the Mexican Marines make the bust without a gun battle. The cat and mouse game that happened with Pablo Acosta and continued with Guzman is now over. The difference that isn't being discussed is that Guzman is alive.

In "American Federale" Lobo tells us that the Mexican Government emphasized that Acosta was to be killed. Nobody wanted him talking about the innerworkings of the cartel. Guzman can provide Mexican and American authorities with insights into who, where, when, and how the cartel operates. 

We have all grown tired of the body count along the border. There is a true desire to end the corruption and this may be the first step. But we all know that power does not give up easily and if we are going to see a new era in the war on drugs be prepared for a long fight.

"American Federale" teaches us that corruption is at every level of society in Mexico. Uprooting it may take a few generations. We all need to be prepared to replace the income ordinary people can earn by participating in the drug trade with real opportunities to put food on the table, a roof over their heads, and a quality of life. Stopping Government officials from looting and fleeing the country will go a long way to keeping avenues of opportunity open in Mexico.

Many are citing this as the end of the war on drugs. I see this as a new beginning... a hopeful beginning...

Michael Carlin has worked in film production, journalism, and publishing for over 30 years.

Carlin recently directed the documentary feature film, “American Federale.” This film tells the story of the only American ever to serve as a Mexican Federale – the man who killed drug lord Pablo Acosta. Follow Michael Douglas Carlin on Twitter @MichaelDCarlin

Michael Douglas Carlin is a filmmaker, author, and journalist. American Federale is available on iTunes, Amazon, and GooglePlay. Rise a Knight is available on Amazon. Peaceful Protests and A Prescription For Peace is available on iTunes.

© 2000 – 2014 Michael Douglas Carlin. All rights reserved.

Three Tons of Coke

By Michael Douglas Carlin

Three vans heading north laden with cocaine driving straight for the Juarez border. It must be crazy to think they have any chance of getting through to the other side – especially since they are all traveling together. Success is unfathomable.

Corruption stops at the border. We all know about corruption on the Mexican side – America is the land of law and order – rules – laws – arrests – punishment – consequences – no gaps – no possibility of corruption. No breach of security.

The drug dealers have money – vast sums. They study the laws. They examine the rules – the procedures. They look for weaknesses. They keep records. They wait. While law enforcement creates charts and graphs inside of conference rooms, the drug dealers have their own charts, graphs, and surveillance.

They also have lists. They hang out at the racetracks and casinos and they watch. They thumb through the mail of customs agents looking for past due notices. They find out about gambling problems, divorce, or addiction. They even create a problem where it doesn’t exist. How was that border agent to know the woman he slept with was underage? How about the kid that needs an operation? A single leverage point and the slide down the slippery slope has begun.

A few agents working in tandem along with a few safety measures put in place to trigger adherence to rules and even three very well placed tons of cocaine will slide across the border without incident.

The customs agents know this as the 5^th dry run. They are happy because today they get their first payment for letting some cement slide through. They have been assured there is no risk and the next shipment will be the live “real deal”. What they could never know is the vans are not loaded today with cement - it is the real deal. The hundred-fifty grand will ease all of their burdens to make life a little easier.

At the border the additional security measure is being handled by a team of poor looking beggars armed with spray bottles and rags seeking to wash a windshield for a buck. The team of beggars descends on a car and begins washing the window. The family objects which creates commotion that distracts the family while their car is being dusted with cocaine and a small bag is placed in the cavity where gas is filled. The dogs will easily catch the scent of the cocaine residue. This family and a few other families will be grilled for hours, some will be charged with crimes, and some will serve prison sentences to eat up precious resources so that today’s cargo can get through.

Money is the grease for this machine. The hundred-fifty grand goes through first. Once it is safely in the hands of the American representing the five customs agents interests, a telephone call is placed and five beepers go off with a code and everybody knows their role and they begin to execute – they exploit the system that they all know so well.

Their job today is to keep the good, hardworking, honest, agents busy with so much work that the vans can get through.

The Federales escorted the vans from the airstrip through all of the checkpoints. It probably wasn’t necessary because the windshields had the Bengal Tiger insignia to warn all that these vans were untouchable.

As the vans approach the Zaragosa bridge a number of other vehicles fall in with them like clockwork. Horns are honked to signify the hand-off and the Federales turn off just before the point of no return. The lead car has a bundle of cash and once the car hits the customs checkpoint it is immediately waived through, the next car is held up with endless questions. The customs officer continues to ask away until his beeper goes off. He looks down then changes his tune and waives the car to Secondary for further inspection.

Secondary is where agents examine a car closely to see if there are hidden compartments where drugs are stowed. Agents tap on tires, check the gas tank and examine all of the areas where drugs are known to be hiding. Once three stations are filled the agents are all tied up.

As the next two cars come through they too are waived to Secondary for further scrutiny. All of the customs agents are either busy pounding on tires and gas tanks or shaking down innocent families. The entire border is busy with activity as the vans approach laden with drugs. Miraculously they get waived through.

So much cocaine has just passed seamlessly through the border and all it cost was a hundred-fifty thousand custom’s bribe and a few baggies of cocaine. Seems the corruption spilled over the U.S. Border. It might extend throughout the entire United States. There is simply too much money involved.

Michael Douglas Carlin is a filmmaker, author, and journalist. American Federale is available on iTunes, Amazon, and GooglePlay. Rise a Knight is available on Amazon. Peaceful Protests and A Prescription For Peace is available on iTunes.

© 2000 – 2014 Michael Douglas Carlin. All rights reserved.

A Knife in the Chest

by Michael Douglas Carlin

A few days later, Lobo is on the ground grappling with a vaquero. Lobo has the vaquero’s arms pulled back and the man’s face is in the dirt. Lobo, “easy now, Cabron, I’m gunna remember this later and if I get my pretty face cut up, it won’t go good for you.”

Angel has his gun drawn and looks like he is going to shoot through Lobo to kill the man. Thinking better of it he comes up and pistol whips the vaquero in the head. Blood is everywhere but the blow did the trick. The man is out like a light.

“Angel, are you turning over a new leaf? I thought you would kill him.”

“Naugh, este, normally I would have just shot him right through you…but with the new Comandante coming in I didn’t want to have to explain why we are two men short.”

Lobo is waiting to see if this is a joke, but it is no joke so he is back to business, “what was he trying to say?”

La Tortuga, “something about his shirt pocket.”

“I won’t let him go for less than ten grand. He can’t have that in his shirt pocket.”

“Maybe he thought we could take credit cards.” The man has been handcuffed and is still bleeding. Lobo reaches into his shirt pocket and pulls out a decal with the familiar insignia of the Bengal tiger. “I guess he didn’t have time to put it on his van.”

“How much you want to get from him?”

“That was before I knew he was untouchable. I guess we will have to get our money from them.” La Tortuga looks over where there are three men in the back seat of the other car. They are stuffed in there and on top of the hood are a few guns, and a hundred small packages of what appear to be drugs. The prisoners are watching the Federales “Angel’s worried about the new Comondante, I don’t want Hector Garcia Salazar on my ass.”

“You mean you don’t want his tiger on your ass.”

“No shit, huh, I’ll never get used to seeing him walk around with a full grown tiger in Downtown Juarez.”

La Tortuga is looking at the sticker, “I have never seen one of these that isn’t attached to a windshield. Who could blame us for taking him down? And this sticker might come in handy someday soon.”

Angel nods in approval as he unhand cuffs the Vaquero and rolls him over. With a smooth movement he stabs him in the chest.

“I think those guys saw you kill him.”

“That was the point. We have had an offer of fifteen to let all three go. How much will they offer now?”

“I say fifty minimum.”

“Minimum! Seventy-five or a hundred and we make them give us the money by dawn.”

“Este, we can’t let them all go. We need something for the newspapers.”

“With the weight in the van we have a few hundred kilos for the newspapers. We just find someone to attach to the drugs and we have a housewarming gift for the new Comandante.”

The three cars drive off. All three prisoners are in the back of a single car driving in the middle. The van has been left with the dead Vaquero. There is also a pick-up nearby that belonged to the three prisoners but there is nothing in the bed, it has all been removed and packed in the other cars.

In the early morning the three cars pull up in front of a small Juarez cafe. The three men get out, no one else is around and the three prisoners are no longer in the cars.

La Tortuga, “not a bad night’s work!”

Lobo, “a hundred-seventy-five in cash and the packages.”

Angel, “And you were going to settle for fifteen. Funny how the more real they feel it is; the more cash they seem to be able to get their hands on.”

“The blade of a knife in the chest of a man brings a whole lot of reality to the situation.”

“Oh, that? My bad! But just in case that was a mistake let’s sit on this for a day or two and listen to what we hear from Salazar’s Exotic Zoo. Nothing, so far, has happened that we can’t fix with drugs and money.”

Michael Douglas Carlin is a filmmaker, author, and journalist. American Federale is available on iTunes, Amazon, and GooglePlay. Rise a Knight is available on Amazon. Peaceful Protests and A Prescription For Peace is available on iTunes.

© 2000 – 2014 Michael Douglas Carlin. All rights reserved.

American Federale Trailer Goes Viral with 170,000 Views in Three Days

by Michael Douglas Carlin

It is a typical LA story. Oliver Stone walks into a sushi bar and sits down next to a filmmaker and tells him to “follow the story.” This influence plus the influence of Max Baer Junior, Quentin Tarantino, Brian De Palma, and Lawrence Kasdan leads to the completion of American Federale.

“I supplied the equipment on Reservoir Dogs and gave a couple of young filmmakers a break,” says Carlin who directed the film, American Federale. He grew up in Hollywood and had a steady stream of movie moguls at his dinner table. When he first met Lobo he knew he had hit ‘movie making pay dirt.’

Now the trailer is generating a lot of buzz. Since being posted less than three days ago this trailer is going viral. There is so much interest in border violence and cartel wars. The trailer is a snippet of the movie and seems to connect with so many people wanting to understand the reasons people are dying.

American Federale takes us behind the scenes in border Mexico where life constantly hangs in the balance. We all assume we know about life there but Lobo gives us a first hand account of his time in the Mexican State Police as well as his experiences as a Mexican Federale. He tells us about torture, bribery, and extortion. That world comes complete with a two edged sword that cuts away… but when things turn it cuts back and most often the wound is fatal. Lobo narrowly escapes with his life.

The region was ruled by Pablo Acosta who was one of the most vicious Drug Lords. Acosta would provide money for schools, hospitals and churches but would also torture, rape and murder innocent civilians to reign by terrorizing.  His power was vast.  His enormous wealth measured more than 25 Billion Dollars. Lobo is the Federale that killed Pablo Acosta in 1987.

Lobo is a not only a Mexican Federal Police officer but an American.  He tells us about living in the United States and working in Juarez, Mexico -  "The City God Forgot".  In this border town across from El Paso, Texas, the drug cartels reign supreme.   Juarez has one of the highest murder rates in Mexico and the world.  And one of the highest per capita number of widows. We get to know Lobo and the allure of becoming involved with notorious drug lords to rub elbows with the rich and powerful in border Mexico.

In this riveting documentary directed by Michael Douglas Carlin, a journalist and humanitarian who travels the world, we see a man who embraced the cartel lifestyle - power, women, money  - and then renounces it and seeks a Good Life.   At one point, Lobo made over $180,000 a year.  He never paid a bar bill.  He held sway over life and death. 

But then the viciousness of Pablo Acosta changed him. Acosta would take a man's wife, rape her for days and then return her hooked on heroin.  He killed for sport. The Mexican Government protected Acosta for many years. Then the order was given to take him down. Even then Acosta was always one step ahead as the Mexican Government leaked information to him of pending raids. One day a scrap of information tipped the scale on Acosta and he was killed in a cross border raid. A gun battle – ninety minutes of hell ensued. In the end Acosta was dead.

Being a witness to atrocities takes its toll. Lobo has been on a quest to give back to cleanse himself from the blood that spattered on his soul. He has found peace through a life of service. He has found redemption in helping ease the pain of this troubled world. American Federale is an important film and a must see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNPyXgwWOQY

(Link for the theatrical trailer)

About Michael Douglas Carlin: Michael writes for the Century City News about social issues including how to have a more peaceful society. His books are available on iTunes and include: A Prescription For Peace, Peaceful Protests, and Rise a Knight. Carlin has produced a dozen low budget movies and American Federale is his directorial debut.

Contact:

Melody Johnson
Centurycitynews.mj@gmail.com
PO Box 67522
Los Angeles, CA 90067
424.789.2136
www.centurycitynews.com