Ensenada City and Guadalupe Island jointly applied to place local finances under local control. No one obstructed the proposal, and it passed quickly.
Mexico City?
The general election was approaching. They didn't have much energy for local affairs now, because they themselves weren't doing well.
Anyone who understands Mexican history knows the 1970s–2000 was a period of political transformation. All sorts of shady figures came out, which left their control over localities minimal. (Not padding words—look it up yourself~)
In 1989, Ensenada's tax revenue was $1.06 billion.
Less than drug trafficking…
But it's lasting and legal.
Starting in May, Ensenada City Hall invested $15 million through "Port of Ensenada" for expansion, which would make it the largest export terminal in northern Mexico.
And they planned to levy a "port container tax" then—$25 per container!
Roughly 250,000 containers pass through this port annually to the United States, so it would basically pay for itself in three to four years.
Meanwhile, Casare's first proposal after becoming head of Guadalupe Island was the "Friendly City Assistance Program," under which Ensenada would provide $200 million annually to support island construction.
Casare took the money and directly raised police salaries!
Everyone's pay doubled!
The lowest-paid "auxiliary trainee officers" went from $500 straight to $1,000!
And EDM full officers' salaries rose from $2,500 to $5,000.
After all, this money came from local finances.
Victor played this move "beautifully!"
Victor also seized the momentum to establish the anti-drug armed force Mexico's government agreed to—equipo de emergencia nacional de méxico! (Mexican National Emergency Task Force), abbreviated EDN.
This was his third force, but a legally permitted direct unit. It had 1,500 people—who says it can't be called a "squad"?
They recruited 900 youths aged 18–21 from Guadalupe Island, and would fill the rest with veterans later, training them in skills including combat swimming, survival in harsh environments, and airborne insertions.
Salaries matched EDM (Mexican Lions).
Of course training isn't completed overnight, but after a year of ultra-high intensity and then real combat, by the mid-90s they'd definitely be the anti-drug vanguard!
This brought his forces close to 3,000.
Still count as police?
Why not.
These slick operations greatly reduced Victor's military expenditure, raising his "private troops" on government finances—awfully familiar playbook.
With so much money, they couldn't spend it all every year and could even use it for infrastructure development.
"Chief."
Victor was sipping a little drink and slacking off in his office when the female secretary ran in. "They're fighting!"
"?? Where are they fighting?"
The girl was nothing like Casare's succinctness—she didn't get to the point.
"Patrol officers near the Baja border exchanged fire with the Sonora garrison!"
Police and soldiers exchanging fire?
There must be more to it…
"Get me Mr. Alejandro on the line."
…
To the east of Baja California and Sonora was open ground hiding many drug dens, plus plantations and labs.
Also, for maintaining local security, a Mexican unit of over 700 soldiers was stationed there, designated: 36th Battalion.
Posting troops in drug dens—wasn't that a sheep into a tiger's den?
Privately, this unit had long been "reorganized" by Sinaloa.
They helped the drug dealers prey on local residents.
Recently, as a result of the war, many ran toward Baja. This unit also intercepted, often with brutal means—directly killing them.
Cahisar Jamees drove, sweating nervously. In the car were his wife, child, and elderly mother.
He was a government worker in Hermosillo, Sonora. He was honest and low-ranking, without deep ties to cartels, living perfunctorily.
But a local drug boss's son saw his wife was beautiful and tried to assault her. Cahisar Jamees was a man after all—he beat the guy to death in fury and fled with his family in a panic.
They wanted to go to Baja.
There… was rumored to be safe!
Pop…
Suddenly the tire jerked and blew out. The steering wheel wrenched, scaring Cahisar into stomping the brakes—nearly hitting a tree.
His wife in back grabbed the child nervously. "Are you okay?"
"You sit tight—don't get out!"
He unbuckled, opened the door, kicked the front wheel—it was flat. He cursed under his breath and ran to the trunk to change the tire, when a man's voice came, heavy with slangy accent. "We got a rabbit here!"
Cahisar looked up to see a dozen soldiers in uniform walking out, eyeing him with mockery.
He quickly raised his hands, just about to speak when they opened fire.
Rat-a-tat…
Bullets mowed him down. Blood splattered on the rear window. Cahisar Jamees fell over the trunk, and soldiers smashed his head with a rifle butt.
His family inside the car screamed in terror.
The wife covered their child's mouth, tears brimming in her eyes—but could they hide?
Those soldiers on cartel payroll saw people inside the car, sneered at each other, and sprayed the vehicle.
Bullets pierced the metal doors, riddling them with holes.
Those bastards howled as they did it.
Because for killing one person fleeing to Baja, they got $20.
Sinaloa Cartel was truly insane.
Just as they prepared to cut off their heads as trophies, patrolling officers came when they heard gunfire, saw the scene, and opened fire immediately.
Both sides called reinforcements.
An EDTV border patrol unit of about 150 members arrived quickly on the call and engaged the just-arrived soldiers of the 36th Battalion.
With fierce firepower, they killed 47 and suffered 6 casualties themselves.
The incident shot to "trending."
All Sonora TV stations condemned the action, calling it: "The tyrant's troops' cruel means against soldiers!"
They called on the Mexican government to remove Victor from office.
Other cartels, seeing this, raised flags and howled.
One TV male host even commented live on-air: "Victor is a warlord satisfying his private desires. He can't possibly consider the Mexican people. It's said he owns over 21 luxury cars and 73 mansions, and has a $1 billion deposit in Swiss banks. Pray tell—where did that money come from!"
He even pointed at the camera and cursed him: "A greedily nauseating fool!"
"Mexico's new tyrant!"
The show's ratings instantly soared.
Seeing the heat, the TV station added more episodes of his program. The daily goal was just to trash Victor.
And every day brought "new revelations."
Victor had 8 mistresses in the United States.
16 illegitimate children in Guatemala.
He even kept 17 women in a Baja mansion just for his private desires.
It was as if…
In 32 states, public opinion in 31 flipped in an instant, and Victor's positive image teetered.
Casare watched the male host on TV waving his arms and spewing filth, sighed.
"Why do people always think Boss Victor will follow the rules?"
(End of Chapter)
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