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Mexico: La Maña gang; whether this group is involved in smuggling people into the United States (US); whether this group has links to the criminal group Los Zetas

The only reference to a criminal gang named "La Maña" found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate is in a 12 August 2007 news article from the Mexican news magazine Proceso. According this news story, La Maña is a specialized sub-group of the criminal organization Los Zetas (Proceso 12 Aug. 2007). La Maña is described as being involved in kidnapping and extortion in the city of Matamoros, Tamaulipas and in the state of Nuevo Leon, and in acquiring high calibre arms such as grenade launchers (ibid.). The article also notes that La Maña is led by the brothers Héctor and Gregorio Sauceda Gamboa (ibid.). While this information could not be corroborated among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate, various sources mentioned both Héctor Sauceda Gamboa (Milenio 28 May 2008; Proceso 18 Mar. 2006; La Jornada 3 Feb. 2008) and Gregorio Sauceda Gamboa as being leaders within the Gulf Cartel (US Mar. 2008; Proceso 6 Nov. 2006; Stratfor Oct. 2006). Gregorio Sauceda Gamboa is reportedly the leader of Gulf Cartel operations in Reynosa, Tamaulipas (US Mar. 2008; Stratfor Oct. 2006; Proceso 6 Nov. 2006), and Matamoros, Tamaulipas (ibid.; Stratfor Oct. 2006). Citing information from the United States (US) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Proceso indicates that Héctor Sauceda Gamboa was assigned joint control over operations in the city of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas (18 Mar. 2006).

Information on whether La Maña is involved in smuggling people into the US could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

La Jornada [Mexico City]. 3 February 2008. Gustavo Castillo García. "Desertor del Ejército, nuevo líder del cártel del Golfo: informes castrenses." <http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2008/02/03/index.php?section=politica&article=009n1pol> [Accessed 29 Sept. 2008]

Milenio [Mexico City]. 28 May 2008. Omar Sánchez de Tagle. "El Cártel de Juárez, con presencia en 23 estados." <http://www.milenio.com/node/24402> [Accessed 29 Sept. 2008]

Proceso [Mexico City]. 12 August 2007. J. Jesús Esquivel. "Washington prepara el 'gran golpe' contra 'Los Zetas'." (La Verdad) <http://www.la-verdad.com.mx/principal/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=2648> [Accessed 23 Sept. 2008]
_____. 6 November 2006. Ricardo Ravelo. "En crisis, el cártel del Golfo, la segunda organización criminal más poderosa de México." (La Verdad) <http://www.la-verdad.com.mx/principal/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=2648> [Accessed 23 Sept. 2008]
_____. 18 March 2006. Alejandro Gutiérrez. "Las ejecuciones de Nuevo Laredo, relacionados con el narco: Presidencia." <http://www.proceso.com.mx/noticia.html?nid=38607&cat=0> [Accessed 23 Sept. 2008]

Stratfor. October 2006. "Drug Cartels: The Growing Violence in Mexico." (Google cache) <web2.stratfor.com/reports/cartel.php> [Accessed 29 Sept. 2008]

United States (US). March 2008. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. "U.S. Government Assistance." International Narcotics Control Strategy Report 2008, Vol. I <http://www.state.gov/p/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2008/vol1/html/100774.htm> [Accessed 29 Sept. 2008]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: Factiva, Procuraduría General de la República (PGR), United States (US) Department of State, El Universal.