Border Cafe

"La Barbie" was formerly part of the Sinaloa (Chapo Guzman) drug cartel

Today's story in the El Paso Times "Suspect: Officials sought cartel deals" stems from information in a letter provided to the newspaper by Edgar "La Barbie" Valdez Villarreal. The letter was also given to a national newspaper in Mexico and a national newspaper in the United States. We are a regional newspaper that is read (online) by people around the globe. Valdez expects to be extradited to the United States before the year ends, to face drug-related charges. He alleges that certain Mexican officials planned to kill him on the day of his capture in the same manner that Aron Arturo Gines Becerril was killed. "(They) killed him ... with gunshots to his back, the same day I was detained," Valdez said in his letter. Gines Becerril was an accountant who worked for La Barbie. Officials said he was shot while trying to flee. In his letter, Valdez was critical of the Federal Police led by Genaro Garcia Luna, the public security secretary. He further alleges that a man who collaborated with the DEA took bribes and leaked information to him (Valdez). He also implicated Edgar Eusebio Millan Gomez, a high-ranking federal law enforcement official, in the alleged corruption. Millan was murdered in his home in Mexico City in 2008, and authorities suspected that the Beltran Leyva organization was involved. When Valdez linked up with drug-traffickers in Mexico, the Beltran Leyva group was still part of the Joaquin "Chapo" Guzman cartel; after the split, Valdez stuck with the Beltran Leyvas. Valdez mentions an astonishing number of people who are dead, and he accuses other important officials of corruption who are still alive. He also mentions Sergio Villarreal (Barragan), a former Beltran Leyva associate, who worked for several cartels, and who was extradited to the United States in May.

Enrique Peña Nieto, Mexico's president-elect, said in his Twitters that he met today with Democratic Party leader in Congress Nancy Pelosi, and with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

White House statement by the press secretary in advance of today's visit of Mexican President-elect Peña Nieto

"President Obama will host President-elect Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico at the White House on Tuesday, November 27. The President looks forward to meeting President-elect Peña Nieto and hearing about his vision for leading Mexico over the next six years. They plan to discuss a broad range of bilateral, regional and global issues during their Oval Office meeting. The President welcomes the opportunity to underscore the shared values and strong bonds of friendship between the United States and Mexico. The United States remains committed to work in partnership with Mexico to increase economic competitiveness in both countries, promote regional development, advance bilateral efforts to develop a secure and efficient 21st Century Border, and address our common security challenges."