Brandon Darby

Brandon Darby

Articles by Brandon Darby

Mexico Hints U.S. Government Covering Up Kidnapping, Arrest of Drug Lord

Mexican authorities are insinuating that the U.S. government played a role in the alleged kidnapping of a top drug lord who was flown north of the border by his rivals and turned over to authorities. The allegations are part of an ongoing federal kidnapping and treason investigation undertaken by Mexican authorities following the arrest of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, one of the supreme leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel.

Sinaloa Patrol (1)

Mexican President Pauses Relation with U.S. and Canadian Embassies over Criticism

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced that his country was pausing relations with the U.S. and Canadian embassies in Mexico following letters and statements. The president says diplomatic officials from both countries had spoken out against his proposed judicial reform, which calls for yearly open elections for all federal judges.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (Credit Presidencia Mexico)

Mexican Government Lashes Out at U.S. Ambassador Over Judicial Reform “Interference”

Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced that his staff was sending a diplomatic notice complaining about the actions of U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar by interfering in judicial reform. The reforms called for having judges in Mexico be elected rather than selected. The U.S. diplomat published a letter warning that the proposed judicial reform could damage the country’s democracy and hurt the commercial relationship between the two countries.

Lopez Obrador

Gunmen Shot at, Tried to Kidnap Mexican Border City Mayor’s Father

Two gunmen tried to kidnap the father of a Mexican border city mayor and then shot at him as the gunmen tried to escape. The attack comes as Tamaulipas state officials continue to claim that the region is safe despite several recent high-profile kidnappings.

Reynosa Attempted Kidnap

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

Mexico Complains to Biden over Financing Opposition NGO

Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced he would write to U.S. President Joe Biden to complain about his administration financing non-governmental organizations that have been critical of his government.

Lopez Obrador Speaking

Critical Journalist Blames Mexican President if She Suffers Future Attacks

A journalist in Mexico who made headlines for her tough questions aimed at the country’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador pointed the finger at him, claiming that if she suffers any attacks in the future is because of him and his rhetoric. The Mexican politician shrugged her off with indifference and asked if she was done.

Amlo in Matamoros

Mexican Government Starts Treason Investigation Over U.S. Arrest of Top Sinaloa Boss

Mexican federal prosecutors announced that they had begun a treason investigation against various individuals who played a role in the controversial U.S. arrest of top Sinaloa Cartel Boss Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. According to the cartel boss, the arrest came after individuals with the Chapitos faction of the cartel kidnapped him and turned him over to U.S. authorities at an airport near El Paso.

Mayo Zambada arrest

Gunmen Kill Mexican Journalist Despite Police Escort

Journalists in Mexico are once again denouncing the murder of one of their own who died at the hands of a team of gunmen. The attack came despite the victim being under police protection.

policia celaya (1)

200 Mexican Convenience Stores Close in Border City After Cartel Threats

One of Mexico’s largest chains of convenience stores closed all of its locations in the Mexican border city of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, following a series of threats from the terrorist organization Cartel Del Noreste faction of Los Zetas. The mass closing of almost 200 stores comes as the Tamaulipas government remains impotent against the various drug cartels that rule over the state.

Closed Oxxo

Cierran Casi 200 Oxxos en Nuevo Laredo Por Narco-Violencia

Una de las cadenas de tiendas de conveniencia más grandes de México ha cerrado todas sus sucursales en la ciudad fronteriza de Nuevo Laredo luego de una serie de amenazas de la organización terrorista Cártel del Noreste, facción de Los Zetas. El cierre masivo de casi 200 tiendas se produce en un momento en que el gobierno de Tamaulipas sigue siendo impotente contra los diversos cárteles de la droga que gobiernan el estado.

Closed Oxxo

FEDS: Chinese National in U.S. Provided Mexican Cartels with Fentanyl Ingredients

Federal prosecutors in Texas claim that a Chinese national helped provide Mexican cartels with multi-ton quantities of fentanyl precursors. The man allegedly would have the chemicals shipped from China to the U.S. and then have the chemicals smuggled into Mexico, where drug cartels would manufacture fentanyl.

TIJUANA, MEXICO - OCTOBER 18: Officials from Mexicos attorney generals office unloaded hun

FAIL: Mexican Politicians React to Trump Comments NOT Directed at Them

Mexico’s President-Elect Claudia Sheinbaum and her political allies reacted to a series of comments made by Presidential Candidate Donald Trump that were not directed at them but at U.S. President Joe Biden. The premature reaction by Mexico’s political elite appears to have been fueled by Mexican journalists who mistranslated and widely shared the comments from a poorly edited video on social media.

Juan Ramon de la Fuente, Mexico's incoming foreign minister secretary, from left, Cla

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)

EXCLUSIVE: New Migrant Caravan Scheduled to Begin in Mexico this Weekend

Preparations are underway for a new migrant caravan to depart southern Mexico this weekend. While the caravan targets Mexico City, the ultimate goal of the migrants taking part is the U.S. border, where most are expected to ask for asylum or some other kind of protected status.

Suchiate River

Mexican National Guardsmen Accused of Raping Minor Female in Beach Hotspot

Three members of Mexico’s National Guard are facing state charges in connection with the sexual assault of an underage female in the popular beach destination of Isla Mujeres. Despite the arrest, state authorities are trying to cover up the issue that the three suspects are members of Mexico’s National Guard and were on duty during the sexual assault.

A Mexican soldier stands guard on a beach ahead of Hurricane Beryl's expected arrival, in

U.S. Consulate Issues New Warning About Bus Kidnappings in Mexican Border State

The U.S. Department of State issued a new travel alert about cartel gunmen kidnapping American passengers from buses traveling through the border city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas. The advisory comes even after Mexican border state officials dismissed a prior alert claiming the region has minimal crime statistics.

ACAPULCO, MEXICO - MARCH 03: A Mexican army soldier stands guard at a suspected drug-rela

Gunmen in Mexico Kidnapped 200 Migrants Headed for Arizona Border

Activists are sounding the alarm about a large group of gunmen who kidnapped more than 200 migrants as they made their way north toward the Sonora-Arizona border. Some of the migrant’s relatives wired thousands of dollars to the alleged kidnappers, but the migrants remain missing.

Undocumented Mexican immigrants walk through the Sonoran Desert after illegally crossing t

Mexican Army v. Cartel Gunmen Shootouts Leaves 4 Dead in Hunt for El Chapo’s Brother

Four men died during a series of shootouts between military forces and cartel gunmen during an attempt to capture the brother of jailed cartel kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. In the aftermath of the shootouts, the Mexican military claimed to have arrested a top enforcer, but their intended target eluded capture.

Mexican troops arrive at a military base in Culiacan, Mexico, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019.

Migrant Choir Teacher Imprisoned in Texas for Child Porn

A choir teacher in Texas will spend eight years in prison following his conviction on federal child pornography charges. The teacher is a Mexican national who was living legally in the country and will face deportation after his sentence.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - MARCH 07: Lt. Mike Baute from Florida's Child Predator CyberCrime Un

Another Journalist Kidnapped, Murdered in Southern Mexico

Authorities in Mexico are investigating the murder of a journalist whose body was found with his hands tied and with tape over his eyes in the southern state of Chiapas. The killing comes as international press freedom organizations continue to label Mexico as one of the most dangerous countries in the world for news workers.

A mourner stands next to the coffin containing the remains of slain journalist Victor Manu

Elderly Couple Injured in Mexico When Cartel Drone Drops IED on Home

An elderly couple sustained moderate injuries after a group of cartel gunmen dropped an IED on top of their home using a drone. The incident comes as cartels continue to operate with almost complete impunity in the western Mexican state of Michoacan, where various organizations are fighting a fierce turf war for control of drug production areas and trafficking routes.

A Mexican cartel drone drops an IED on a rival cartel. (Cartel Chronicles)

EXCLUSIVA: Soldado Estadounidense Detenido en Mexico Haciendo Explosivos Para El CDG

Las autoridades mexicanas arrestaron a un exsoldado estadounidense que había estado fabricando explosivos para el Cartel del Golfo justo al sur de la frontera con Texas. El arresto se había mantenido en gran medida en secreto mientras las autoridades federales desarrollaban el caso en su contra y lo vinculaban a proceso; ya que se le acusa de fabricar minas y otros artefactos explosivos.

Cartel Bomb maker