When Victor returned to the prison, his face was smiling.
Over ten million...
As long as he had adequate funding and could pay salaries, he could arm an entire reinforced battalion.
The days of 155mm self-propelled artillery bombarding drug lord strongholds were just around the corner.
Missile carpet bombing, tanks clearing the way, infantry mopping up!
Was this making him a warlord or a police officer?
When he had just a few men under him, he was Mexico's loyal subject!
When he had a reinforced division under him - brothers, you're really putting me in a difficult position.
Casare was directing prisoners to pick human tissue fragments out of cracks. Hearing movement, he quickly handed the water hose to a nearby guard and trotted over, "Boss, Best is back."
That guy had been sent to Juárez territory to negotiate business with Aguilar.
"Where is he?"
"In the office."
Victor still valued the arms business highly. He needed a lot of money. The people he exchanged also needed salaries, and he certainly couldn't rely on just these few people to fight.
You had to pay wages to hire people.
If they died, you had to pay compensation.
Even when he became chief later, he'd need to build big (fortress) buildings and invest in some industries for his power base. All of this required money.
Without money, you couldn't move an inch.
In the prison discipline office, Victor was startled when he saw Best - the other had his hand in a cast. "What happened?"
Best stood up and called out "Boss," hearing the question and shaking his head with a bitter smile, "Nothing serious, broke it in a fall."
"A few days ago Amado from Juárez led people to kill Brigadier General Derek Alvarez of the 18th Division in Chihuahua state."
"The military and Juárez had a firefight. I accidentally broke this."
Casare was completely confused.
A brigadier general shot dead in the street?!
Was Juárez staging a rebellion?
Too small-scale thinking...
In 2013, Mexican Navy Vice Admiral Carlos Miguel Salazar was attacked by missiles - note the word missiles. His convoy was besieged, and later Carlos knelt begging for mercy but was still brutally killed!
Going back further.
In 1987, Major General Cadris of Oaxaca state Tlaxiaco security forces was attacked and killed by drug dealers within an hour of taking office.
Just because he'd said he would fight drugs before taking office.
Victor frowned, "What was the reason?"
"One of Amado's YC-43 planes crashed, but the cargo belonged to Colombians. If it wasn't delivered to the US border on schedule, he'd have to pay huge compensation. But then Chihuahua state suddenly implemented martial law - no planes could take off."
"Amanda went to find Brigadier General Derek Alvarez, but they seemed to get into an argument, and finally Amanda shot him dead in the military camp!"
Even Victor, bold as he was, raised an eyebrow hearing this.
"What about Amado?" Casare asked from the side.
"He ran away."
Too arrogant!
"Juárez is full of riots now, the whole city has gone crazy. But when I came back, I heard people were already preparing to negotiate peace."
The military negotiating peace with drug dealers?
He didn't know whether to spit out his complaints.
The atmosphere in the office was somewhat oppressive.
"Forget it, we can't manage that far. How did the business negotiations go?" Victor asked.
Sit in whatever position, discuss whatever matters.
Keep your ass in the right place.
"Juárez has already reconciled with Tijuana, but Aguilar wants these goods. He asked me to ask if you have them."
Best also pulled out a piece of paper.
Victor took it and glanced, "So many?"
Casare curiously leaned over and saw written on it: 60 RPG-7 rocket launchers, 10 Steyr-Mannlicher SSG-69 rifles, 200 Heckler & Koch G41 automatic rifles, 40 M67 anti-personnel mines, 1,000 F-1 grenades!
Must say drug dealers knew their business.
Just those SSG-69 rifles - many people actually didn't know they were sniper rifles. In the mid-1960s, the Austrian military needed a new sniper rifle. Their requirements to Steyr-Mannlicher company were: able to hit head targets at 400 meters, chest targets at 600 meters, with no less than 80% hit rate on moving targets at 800 meters.
The G41 automatic rifle was Germany's current standard equipment!
And anti-personnel mines, grenades - were they planning war with the Mexican military?
"I heard Juárez is preparing to form professional gunman units to face the current situation. When I was at Juárez headquarters, I saw many American faces - should be instructors or advisors they hired."
"These drug dealers are starting to go legitimate military?"
Best looked at Victor, "Maybe they're also under pressure."
Mexico City hadn't been peaceful recently. How did the Pedro family disappear?
According to rumors, they were "bombed" by artillery!
Drug dealers with very keen situational awareness feared the government was using heavy weapons to suppress them. Moreover, the Guadalajara Group's collapse and Gallardo's imprisonment expanded the drug lords' insecurity.
But expecting them to surrender?
Impossible!
They could only expand more elite personnel...
The "Los Zetas era" had arrived early!
The drug war would become more brutal...
"Boss, do we have these goods? I think Aguilar probably found other people too - he's comparing prices." Best was somewhat anxious. This was a big order - with a 5% commission he could get quite a lot.
"We do. I'll tell you the selling price later. You contact him and have him pay 70% upfront. As long as the money is in place - remember, we only accept US dollars now!"
The peso exchange rate had dropped again.
Drug dealers had wide arms channels. They transported drugs to America and imported guns from America back. Their equipment complexity was comparable to India's international potpourri.
Logistical support was troublesome until "Jalisco New Generation's" El Mencho began building effective weapons and ammunition processing plants in the mountains.
So if you didn't sell, they could get them from others.
Hearing the boss's words, Best's face was overjoyed.
Victor patted his shoulder, telling him to rest well. Business matters still depended on him.
"Don't worry boss, I won't miss even one cent!"
...
Three days flashed by.
No news came from Juárez, but Victor received a call from Alejandro.
"What? I've been appointed police chief of Guadalupe Island?" Victor was stunned hearing the news from the brick phone.
Alejandro said gravely, "Guadalupe Island's police chief died in the line of duty the day before yesterday. Security department's Luciano and others nominated you as successor. The internal meeting has already approved it."
The day before yesterday...
That was the day after offending Luciano and others.
Alejandro definitely didn't believe there wasn't something fishy here!
"Those bastards want you dead! Can you go to Guadalupe Island? That place is Tijuana territory, but there are over 20 drug trafficking organizations alone!"
Alejandro couldn't help cursing, "Plus gangs and such - out of 80,000 people, at least 70,000 are bad seeds. Do you know how the previous police chief died in the line of duty? He was killed while patrolling on the street."
He was very angry, but suddenly he frowned and asked in a strange tone, "Victor, are you laughing?"
"Of course not, I'm mourning for my colleague! When do I take office?"
"Within half a month. The official documents haven't come down yet. I only know through internal personnel. After you leave, I'll also be transferred."
"Then who will be in charge of Prison Management Bureau?" Victor was most concerned about this.
"Reportedly, Pierluigi, who you beat up, has a good chance."
This made Victor very unhappy.
Alejandro lowered his voice, "Someone behind him wants to protect him."
"What's your relationship with the other deputy director?"
"Not bad."
"Ask if he's willing to serve as director. I have someone arranged for the Altiplano warden position. I'll handle Pierluigi's matter!"
Alejandro was silent for a moment, "I'll talk to him and get back to you soon."
After hanging up.
Victor's expression wanted to smile - he almost couldn't hold back.
Guadalupe Island!
70,000 criminals?
Exaggerated, exaggerated.
When Police Chief Victor takes office, everyone will be saints!
I'm talking about the remaining 10,000 people.
...
Steyr-Mannlicher SSG-69 rifle!
(End of Chapter)
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