- EL PASO INTELLIGENCE CENTER - The 4:20 Group - Login

LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE
El Senor de los Cielos or Lord of the Skies: Reference to Amado Carrillo Fuentes who helped
consolidate the Juarez Cartel. He died in 1997 undergoing plastic surgery in Mexico City and was
succeeded by Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, who now heads the Juarez Cartel, aka: La Linea.
Encobijado: A common way that hitmen or sicarios dispose of bodies — wrapped in a blanket, rug, or
tarp and taped.
Estacas: Literal translation is ―fence posts‖ or ―stakes‖. Armed cartel operatives are referred to as
"soldiers." These soldiers are divided into "Estacas" and their role is to provide armed backup and
covering firepower if shooting breaks out.
Familia (La) also known as La Familia Michoacana or The Family: A DTO headed by Jose de Jesus
Mendez Vargas, which is linked to the Zetas. A splinter group has split from La Familia and is currently
known as the Knights Templar. Primarily distribute Methamphetamine.
Foco: Crystal meth.
Fuero (El): Jurisdiction, a right or a privilege and also a song or corrido called, ―El Fuero del Chapo
Guzman.‖
Gente Nueva (La): Reference to Sinaloa Cartel members after the split of the Beltran-Leyva
Organization from the Sinaloa Cartel.
Guachicol: Oil product stolen from PEMEX and then sold back to businesses under duress. A practice
common in Tamaulipas.
Gulf Cartel: One of the four Cartels currently headed by Jorge Eduardo Costilla-Sanchez.
Halcones (Los): In the border area, "halcones" are lookouts and intelligence collectors, who range from
commandos to street level informants (falcons) who warn the drug cartels about intrusions from other
DTO’s, police or military.
Hormiga (El Correo de): An ant run. This is a common method of smuggling small amounts of
narcotics into the U.S. using numerous smugglers primarily on foot. It is believed that the majority of
heroin that is being moved by the BA is through individual body carriers, compared to transporting
like ants (mueven como hormigas). Intelligence indicates that many BA members and family-based
criminal associates are moving heroin into the U.S. daily, one small load at a time.
Juarez Cartel: One of the four Cartels currently headed by Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, aka: VCF or La
Linea.
Knights Templar (Los Caballeros Templarios): A splinter DTO from the Familia Michoacana, which
is comprised of three of the four original leaders after the death of Nazario Gomez Moreno. Currently
aligned with the Gulf Cartel. Primarily distribute Methamphetamine.
Levantón: Abduction. Term used to describe kidnapping. Most of the time, the person kidnapped or the
"levantado" is never seen alive again.
Linces (Los): Juarez Cartel enforcement group composed of former military (like the Zetas) who are
well-trained, use military ordinances, uniforms and vehicles. The Linces’ job is to protect Juarez Cartel
lieutenants and target other DTO leaders for execution
Linea (La): Term used to refer to the Juarez Cartel.
Matapolicia: Belgium-made FN 5.7 mm pistol that can penetrate a bulletproof vest. Police killers —
ordnance used when attacking police or members of the military.
Maña: Literal meaning is ―the vice‖ or ―the habit‖, but in a DTO context it refers to DTO members.
The term is predominately used in the Tamaulipas, Mexico area.
Mota: Marijuana.
Narcobloqueo: A barricade in the streets with vehicles that are carjacked to delay the arrival of the
police or military.
Narcocorrido: A version of a corrido or Mexican folksong that deals with a drug theme. Some
narcocorridos are commissioned by the drug dealers in order to "sing their praises", but others share
much in common with morality plays because they sing about the negative consequences of drug
dealing. (Source: ―Elijah Wald‖)
Narcofosa: Narco cemetery; a clandestine gravesite. These have been found throughout Mexico.
LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE 8