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Jonathan Ramos's avatar

That's cool that you are gonna do more video documentary. And on the ground camera reporting. Obviously writing is one thing but the medium of film is very powerful. Also ioan to get more personal again. I thought I should update you on my family situation. My older brother got arrested last week on Tuesday. I came home from work with my mom saw that he was in the house. But we told him he had a restraining order and could not be in our home anymore. He said a friend from LA was gonna pick him up in a few days but I had enough of him and called 911. And told him we got a restraining order him. They came over we gave them the paperwork and they removed him from the house and put him in the squad car. They searched and ransacked his room for a firearms and ammunition. They mostly took away rifle and pistol parts. My brother was of course livid and screaming and cussing at the police and at me for calling the police on him. He's now in county jail and we are waiting to go to court. And on top of that my mom is sick now from all the stress. I hate my life ioan. Just continue to pray for my troubles

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Tom Johnston's avatar

Jonathan, do not hate yourself. It is extremely self destructive. You protected your mother which is more positive then you are feeling now. No one has the right to abuse you or your mother, including family. No has the right to force you into their madness, especially when it is fueled with addiction. Understanding does not mean tolerance at all costs. You will eventually have a chance to talk to your brother in better circumstance and always prepare yourself for the opportunities that could change your life for the better.

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Jonathan Ramos's avatar

They took all of his rifle ammo too. I and he was on probation so who knows how much the judge will give him. But he started doing hard drugs too ioan. And it hurts that he went down that road. He kept denying he was doing anything but it's obvious

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Really sorry to hear this Jonathan and prayers are with you. I hope this might allow some peace in your home.

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Jonathan Ramos's avatar

He has a history with the law though ioan. He went to juvenile hall as a youth in Los angeles. For being with gangs and stealing cars. We thought he would change his ways when we moved out of LA and in hemet but he was always getting in trouble for petty crimes and misdemeanors. But this is the worst I've seen him now. He's never done drugs before.

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Jonathan Ramos's avatar

It's because his biological dad left my mom when she was pregnant with him. And in turn my alcoholic dad treated him poorly as a kid and that just created resentment and hate in my brother. But ultimately we are still responsible for our life decisions. I get upbringing is everything but you can't continue to blame that for your struggles. My brother is 39 already. Enough is enough

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Ahh man, sorry you are going through all this now. These things usually have to sort themselves out one way or another. Crisis tend to subside. Stay in there friend.

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Jonathan Ramos's avatar

I don't know if my relationship with my brother will ever get better now. We practically disowned each other now. He hates my guts now for turning him in. But I didn't know what else to do. He was causing to much emotional stress to my mom and me for his behavior.

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Jonathan Ramos's avatar

I don't know if how much what he says is true. He told me he sold guns to gangs apparently. If so that will look really bad on him. But who knows if he was just pulling my change

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Heather's avatar

TY for your efforts to report on the ground. Your courage & bravery are admirable. My heart breaks for the people of Sinaloa. I’m afraid it will continue at this magnitude until mental health is taken more seriously by Americans.

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Well appreciated and best there Heather. Some day!

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Rams's avatar

Great reporting. Thanks for keep us informed straight from the front lines. Stay safe out there. We appreciate your dedication.

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Well appreciated and all best there Rams

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Dave Wertz's avatar

Great job. Brings it to life of what is really going on with this Cartel war. Feel so bad for the locals caught up in this..

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Thanks there Dave. Yeah, residents there have had a real smack in the gut with this.

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Daniel Jay's avatar

Love the video documentary style reporting here. You’re the top journalist with anything cartel related in my view and it’s not very close.

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Super appreciated Daniel. We'll try and get more of these down the line. Thanks for coming on the ride friend.

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Tom Johnston's avatar

We have some interesting developments that maybe fueling this war.

1. Reports are already surfacing that gun enthusiasts and hunters will be facing ammunition shortages and gunpower shortages. Citing "world problems" you can expect to see extreme shortages and very high prices. Obviously a huge ammunition demand not only in the Ukraine but also in Mexico is causing this shortage.

2. The Sinaloa gun smuggling connection in Racine, Wisconsin busted last year indicates that there maybe more routes. The tunnels stretching from San Diego to El Centro may be a one way traffic of guns to Sinaloa. A large Sinaloa cell was busted in Imperial Valley last year. Miami port has been used to smuggle a large quantity of weapons to Haiti and ports in Southern California are wide open for the same type of smuggling.

3. CIAgate substack has published a list of private, CIA backed, arms dealers who are at the front of supplying weapons to potential hotspots of profit around the world and who have the capability to move large quantities of weapons You can be sure they are the conduits of weapons to Mexico and Haiti.

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

I didn't know about that shortage of ammo but this is alarm call. Yes, I wonder what the CIA make of this now, or how the FBI are reacting. With the arrest of Mini Lic, the FBI seem to be hitting the Mayos hard - with info from the Chapitos?

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joe schmoo's avatar

it wouldn't surprise me if the CIA is pouring gasoline on the fire. Historically it's what they do. It's a way to destabilize leftist governments and incite regime change. With AMLO and now Claudia, the Mexican government is going left sending aid to Cuba and being friendly to Venezuela. This could ramp up with Rubio as secretary of state given that he supported the Trump admin's failed coup of Venezuela. this is all speculation.

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

It has definitely been a modus op of the CIA before. But now I am not sure. I don't think the CIA has a clear game plan on Latín América and I don't think Sheinbaum is that worryingly leftist. I could be totally wrong though.

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joe schmoo's avatar

Perhaps, but the lefty president in Colombia praised her for helping leftists guerillas in Colombia https://colombiaone.com/2024/10/01/colombia-petro-claudia-sheinbaum-guerrilla/.

It's also rumored that the CIA attempted a coup in Nicaragua in 2018

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Yeah, like I say I could be wrong. I need to talk to more people deep in the U.S. government. We have a big story of Trump and the new ambassador and an overhaul in Washington in January...

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Angel Gutierrez's avatar

I love this style of storytelling from you. You bring so much great, straight-to-the-point insight that helps me understand the situation better. Thank you for covering this!

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Well appreciated Angel. Thanks for watching and great to have your voice here.

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PapaGrande's avatar

Excellent - thank you Ioan!

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Appreciated there PapaGrande

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christopher o'loughlin's avatar

Ioan,

The Four part video was amazing. Please follow up as the story evolves and the strategies of each faction is revealed.

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Good idea there Christopher

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christopher o'loughlin's avatar

Ioan,

Another excellent report on the battles raging in Sinaloa with evidence and pictures. Thank you for risking your safety in the pursuit of war correspondence to educate your readers and the world. I will pray for peace between the many factions and the innocents caught in the crossfire. We are in this together.

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Well appreciated and thanks for the support. All best there friend.

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Mr Yellow's avatar

Outstanding Ioan.

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Well appreciated and best there Senor Yellow

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Christian Cipollini's avatar

Bravo! As always, excellent!!

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Well appreciated there brother. I hope all is well with you.

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Harrison Dobbs's avatar

The king of drug war reporting still reigns supreme. Stay safe matey.

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