Cartel Intelligence Techniques

Why are the Mexican cartels successful at what the do? The consensus answer in the US Intelligence agencies and American analysts is multifaceted. 1). They have a clear-cut goal, 2). They know Mexican and US laws, 3) They well structured.

They are not the ragtag bunch of uneducated thugs many people make them out to be. While the lowest level members may not be well educated and many live in poverty, they see the possibility of moving up the ladder by proving their abilities and loyalty. It is the plaza bosses and their cartel leaders that make the important decisions. Many if not most of the Lieutenant, Captains, and cartel heads are well educated. Some were ex-military, policeman, government officials, and even engineers, and doctors. Some were even educated and trained in US schools or even at Ft. Benning Georgia’s School of the Americas were US Army Rangers and other elite units train.

I’ll touch a bit on the above three topics above but in this post, I want to emphasize the Intelligence aspect of the cartels’ success reasons.

Clear- cut goal: Get filthy rich as soon as possible without letting anything or anyone get in their way, especially the law.

They know Mexican and US laws: They just find ways to circumvent or just ignore the laws.

They are well structured. Each member has a purpose to serve in the cartel. From the 16 year old lookout on the street corner to the boss’s second in command, they know there is big price to pay for failure or betrayal.

So how do the cartels use intelligence. As mentioned earlier, many of the top level cartel members are educated in various fields, they understand the usefulness of intelligence and many ex- military and ex- law enforcement officials are well trained in this field. The simple use of two-way radios and cloned cell phones is the basis for their communications but they’ve taking it to a higher level by erecting clandestine radio communications towers with repeaters and other equipment to maintain their communication networks. If there is no one within their group with the knowledge to build them, it’s not uncommon to find someone who can and threaten with their lives and those of their families.

Mexican Military seized of 51 radios, a base radio charger with vehicle microphone, 57 chargers, several cloned cell phones,  

In the passed five years, as many as 42 engineers, technicians and tradesmen have been kidnapped and forced to set up the equipment at gunpoint until the project is completed. Most are never seen again. These types of radio networks are primarily used by the lower echelon members for basic communications or to jam or intercept law enforcement or military forces. In some cases, these radio networks are used to spy on rival cartels and even find out moles or betrayers.

Meanwhile, bosses use the internet to communicate. One crafty way they use email without attracting to much attention and seem legitimate is set up an email account using a free commonly known domain such as Gmail, AOL, or any other. The boss gives the account name and password to his trusted captains who sets up another free email account and gives his lieutenants the account address and password.

The boss writes his orders to his captain as any regular email but, instead of sending the email, he saves it in the draft folder. The boss then sends the captain a regular email containing innocuous information about harmless subjects such as school, family, or some innocent conversation. This sent email notifies the captain to check his email. The captain logs in and checks the draft folder to find his new orders. He reads it, then deletes the message.

Mexican Marines patrolling a desolate area in Tamaulipas found a radio communications tower with repeaters and other equipment.

Marines guard seized telecommunications equipment, allegedly built by the Zetas drug cartel.

This post explains only the communication networks the cartels use to communicate and exploit to their advantage. There are more methods they use which I will post at a later time.

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eModicus