A man and a woman killed two Israeli gangsters at a Chinese restaurant in Mexico City in what seems to be a settling of scores in the criminal world.
On July 24, Esperanza Gutierrez Rojano, 33 and un unidentified man sat down during lunchtime at the Hunan Restaurant at the high-end Artz Pedegral shopping mall in southern Mexico City and ordered some drinks.
Suddenly, surveillance cameras show, the two got up from their seats and seemed to go for the exit. But then they came back and opened fire at close range on Alon Azulay, 41, and Benjamin Yeshurun Sutchi, 44, two well-known associates of the Isreali mafia on Mexican soil, Reuters claimed.
מקסיקו-
תיעוד נוסף של החיסול, אתמול במקסיקו סיטי.Mexico
Otro video del asesinato, ayer en la ciudad de México.#Mexico pic.twitter.com/O2eiViy5pW— שמעון ארן شمعون آران (@simonarann) July 26, 2019
One victim died at the spot; the other one succumbed later to his injuries. The Israeli embassy confirmed the two men were Israelis with “criminal records in Israel as well as in Mexico,” The Guardian reported.
At least two other accomplices were deployed at the scene. One held an auxiliary police officer, who was standing outside at gunpoint and disarmed him, according to the Guardian.
The Guardian reported that surveillance footage shows the two men firing in the air in what appears to be an attempt to create chaos and distract police from the actual assault. They then fired at a passing police car, injuring one officer in the arm and made their escape in a blue Nissan Versa.
Rojano and her dining partner made it out on foot, each in a separate direction. Rojano was quickly apprehended after she had ditched the blond wig that she was wearing during the assassination. The three male accomplices are still on the loose.
Mexico City’s police chief, Jesús Orta, said the Rojano first claimed “she had a sentimental relationship with one of the victims, who she met on social media, and that the attack was due to infidelity,” according to The Guardian.
But on Thursday, Ulises Lara, a spokesman for state prosecutors in Mexico City, said according to Reuters, “the supposed motive this person talked about initially doesn’t exist. The event yesterday led us to link the events to a settling of scores between criminal groups.”
Security footage shows Israeli crime boss being shot to death in Mexico City https://t.co/kQzGip8Nra
— The Times of Israel (@TimesofIsrael) July 26, 2019
He added it was “an issue of serious coordination of acts by criminal groups and in the case, we are talking about here. There are at least links to international criminals,” according to The Guardian.
“This was to commit a homicide. There was no other reason. That much is clear to us,” Reuters reported.
“The event yesterday leads us to relate the facts with a settling of scores among criminal groups and/or organized crime,” said Lara. “It could be a settling of scores in the Israeli mafia, which is why a complete identification [of the victims] was possible, along with their criminal records,” The Guardian reported.
Ynet news site claimed Israeli police sources shared with them there was “no doubt” the murder was “commissioned by those with interests in Israel.” The Israel Police suspect an Israeli criminal organization ordered the assault and paid a local Mexican group to carry it out, according to The Times of Israel.
19 Mafia Suspects Arrested in Joint Transatlantic Raids
Nineteen mafia suspects were arrested as part of a joint operation between Italian police and the FBI’s New York bureau, officials in Italy said.
Their investigation revealed strong links between the Sicilian mafia of Palermo (known as Cosa Nostra) and American organized crime families—particularly the Gambino crime family of New York, Italian police said.
The operation, codenamed ”New Connection,” involved more than 200 officers in Palermo and New York City.
19 mafia suspects arrested in joint transatlantic raids. https://t.co/TRgSi0ql8e pic.twitter.com/yxtc1aIP5I
— US Breaking News (@breakingnewsma) July 17, 2019
Eighteen suspects were detained in Sicily and one suspect was detained in New York. Charges included association with organized crime, extortion, and fraudulent transfer of valuable goods.
Around $3.36 million worth of real estate and other assets were confiscated by Italian authorities.
Investigations also revealed how pervasive the influence of the mafia is in the Sicilian town of Passo Rigano.
According to Italian police, the mafia not only engages in extortion there, but also has a large role in the town’s legal economy—with its involvement in business such as wholesale food supplies, online betting, and gambling.
CNN contributed to this report.
