by Cartel Chronicles at Breitbart News Foundation
With almost complete impunity, the Gulf Cartel expanded its control in Tamaulipas to the point where it operates as an alternative government in the border city of Matamoros. Through this control, all businesses, including food vendors, flower shops, and even panhandlers, are required to pay a weekly protection fee to the Gulf Cartel. The cartel operates a massive database of the city’s commerce and even uses city officials to collect the funds.
This control is very convenient for local and state politicians who enjoy the narco-peace of sorts that comes from simply allowing the Gulf Cartel to operate undisturbed in exchange for keeping violence down and hiding its presence in the shadows. This control, while currently being overlooked by Mexico’s federal government since political allies control Tamaulipas, could spell trouble since the Trump Administration labelled the Gulf Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Credit: Breitbart News Foundation / Cartel Chronicles
While this mode of operation is not new in this city, it has dramatically expanded in recent months as the Gulf Cartel and local politicians seek to keep a low profile. At the same time, other cartels in Mexico draw national headlines. Despite waging a turf war with rival factions in different cities, Matamoros has largely avoided large-scale shootouts, thus giving a false appearance of peace. However, that peace is due to the control the Gulf Cartel has over Matamoros, not any government security strategy.
Pay to Work
Due to the control the Gulf Cartel has in the city, anyone wanting to do business needs to pay a regular fee. Flower shops, butcher shops, corner stores, tire shops, taco trucks, even musicians and DJs are all visited by a cartel representative or a city employee and told of the mandatory fees or “cuota.” The payment must be made in cash; however, for medium to large-sized businesses, city officials provide a receipt for tax purposes.
In the case of a corn vendor who sells his product for 30 pesos per cup,…
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