Robert Almonte
While working as a narcotics detective, I learned that Mexican drug traffickers and gang members were praying for protection from law enforcement. They prayed to various religious icons and many of these traffickers also utilized an advisor known as a “curandero” for guidance and to perform “blessings” on themselves as well as their drug loads. In 2003, I began conducting extensive research on how the Mexican drug traffickers involve the spiritual world in their activity. Mexican drug traffickers pray to various recognized and non-recognized religious icons that are known as their “patron saints”. These “patron saints” or icons include; Jesus Malverde, Santa Muerte, San Simon, Juan Soldado, St. Jude, The Virgin of Guadalupe, San Ramon, San Toribio Romo, Nino de Atocha and others. I have visited several shrines of their patron saints throughout Mexico, Spain, and the United States. I have compiled several cases from law enforcement officers throughout the United States where these items have been involved in drug trafficking and other criminal activity. I created and produced a law enforcement training video; “Patron Saints of the Mexican Drug Underworld”, and I am currently writing a book on this topic. Over the last nine years, I have conducted training throughout the United States for several thousand law enforcement officers. I have testified in federal and state court concerning various icons.