Mexican drug cartel hacked FBI phone to kill informants
The incident took place in 2018, when the FBI was working on a high-profile case gathering evidence against notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin Guzman Loera, nicknamed 'El Chapo,' the longtime leader of the Sinaloa cartel.
The cyber operative hired by the gang also managed to tap into Mexico city's CCTV network, allowing the cartel to monitor the agent's movements and identify individuals he met with, some of whom were later intimidated or killed, the report stated.
Under Guzman's leadership, the Sinaloa cartel became the main supplier of drugs to the US, trafficking vast quantities of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, and marijuana.
Guzman was arrested in Mexico in 2016 and extradited to the US. In 2019, a federal court in Brooklyn sentenced him to life in prison plus 30 years. He is now serving his sentence in ADX Florence, the most secure federal prison in the US.
His capture did not bring an end to the cartel; power shifting to other leaders and the flow of drugs north has continued unabated.
Recent advances in surveillance technology and their availability to criminal groups and 'less-sophisticated nations' are now viewed as an 'existential' threat by US intelligence agencies like the FBI and CIA, the DOJ report stated.
After returning to office in January, US President Donald Trump has taken a hardline approach toward Mexico's role in the drug trade.
In one of his first moves, he designated several Mexican cartels, including the Sinaloa Cartel, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations — a move that could open the door to expanded military or intelligence operations.
Last week, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on three Mexican financial institutions accused of laundering cartel money, presumably cutting them off from the American financial system.
Trump has also floated the possibility of missile strikes on cartel drug labs inside Mexico. Meanwhile, the CIA is reportedly conducting drone surveillance missions deep into Mexican territory to monitor cartel operations.
The policies have strained US–Mexico relations. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has criticized the lack of evidence behind some of Washington's actions and warned against violating the country's sovereignty.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
5 days ago
- Russia Today
Mexican drug cartel hacked FBI phone to kill informants
A hacker working for Mexico's most powerful drug cartel accessed the phone records and geolocation data of a senior FBI agent assigned to the US Embassy in the country, according to the latest report by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General. The incident took place in 2018, when the FBI was working on a high-profile case gathering evidence against notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin Guzman Loera, nicknamed 'El Chapo,' the longtime leader of the Sinaloa cartel. The cyber operative hired by the gang also managed to tap into Mexico city's CCTV network, allowing the cartel to monitor the agent's movements and identify individuals he met with, some of whom were later intimidated or killed, the report stated. Under Guzman's leadership, the Sinaloa cartel became the main supplier of drugs to the US, trafficking vast quantities of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, and marijuana. Guzman was arrested in Mexico in 2016 and extradited to the US. In 2019, a federal court in Brooklyn sentenced him to life in prison plus 30 years. He is now serving his sentence in ADX Florence, the most secure federal prison in the US. His capture did not bring an end to the cartel; power shifting to other leaders and the flow of drugs north has continued unabated. Recent advances in surveillance technology and their availability to criminal groups and 'less-sophisticated nations' are now viewed as an 'existential' threat by US intelligence agencies like the FBI and CIA, the DOJ report stated. After returning to office in January, US President Donald Trump has taken a hardline approach toward Mexico's role in the drug trade. In one of his first moves, he designated several Mexican cartels, including the Sinaloa Cartel, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations — a move that could open the door to expanded military or intelligence operations. Last week, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on three Mexican financial institutions accused of laundering cartel money, presumably cutting them off from the American financial system. Trump has also floated the possibility of missile strikes on cartel drug labs inside Mexico. Meanwhile, the CIA is reportedly conducting drone surveillance missions deep into Mexican territory to monitor cartel operations. The policies have strained US–Mexico relations. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has criticized the lack of evidence behind some of Washington's actions and warned against violating the country's sovereignty.
Russia Today
5 days ago
- Russia Today
US firefighters killed in sniper ambush
Two firefighters were shot and killed in an apparent ambush while responding to a wildfire in the US state of Idaho on Sunday. Emergency crews were dispatched to Canfield Mountain, a popular hiking and biking destination in Coeur d'Alene, around 1:30pm local time. Roughly 30 minutes later, reports of gunfire began coming in, according to the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Robert Norris told reporters that a SWAT team had been deployed and was engaged in a firefight with the suspect. 'We are actively taking sniper fire as we speak,' he said. The Sheriff's Office later stated that the body of the suspected gunman was found on Canfield Mountain, with a firearm located nearby. Lieutenant Jeff Howard told ABC News that authorities are investigating whether the blaze was intentionally ignited to draw firefighters into a trap. Civilians, including hikers, were seen fleeing the area. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino confirmed that federal agents were deployed to provide 'tactical and operational support.' A police helicopter was dispatched to assist but was unable to land due to continued gunfire. Idaho Governor Brad Little condemned the attack, calling it a 'heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters.'
Russia Today
6 days ago
- Russia Today
Germany seeking ‘cyber dome' from Israel
Germany should look to Israel as a model for countering online threats, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said Sunday, calling for the creation of a 'cyber dome.' Dobrindt made the statement after a visit to Israel on Saturday, just days after the conclusion of the country's 12-day military conflict with Iran. In an interview with the German tabloid Bild, Dobrindt praised Israel's civil defense infrastructure and urged his country to adopt similar approaches to modern threats. 'We will work closely with Israel on this. Germany needs a cyber dome – a powerful, digital shield against espionage, sabotage, and to protect critical infrastructure such as energy and communications companies,' he said. Dobrindt did not provide specifics. His use of the term 'cyber dome' appeared to reference Israel's Iron Dome short-range missile defense system. Earlier this month, Germany's Federal Crime Office (BKA) reported record levels of cybercrime in 2024, documenting over 131,000 cases. The agency specifically blamed pro-Russian and anti-Israeli hacktivist groups for a surge in denial-of-service operations targeting government agencies and private businesses. Germany's new government, which took office in May, has backed Israel in its recent conflict with Iran. Chancellor Friedrich Merz said West Jerusalem was doing 'dirty work for us' by launching strikes in order to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. The confrontation between Israel and Iran involved long-range strikes between the two nations. According to West Jerusalem, the conflict has resulted in an estimated $3 billion in direct damages to the country. Tehran has accused the Jewish State of committing an act of international aggression and said it was acting in self-defense by retaliating. Last week, Merz's government approved a proposed budget that includes substantial new public debt in order to sharply increase defense spending, which is set to double by 2029. Berlin has argued the investment is necessary to guard against a potential Russian attack on NATO. Moscow, however, has dismissed the scenario as implausible and accused Western governments of using fear tactics to rationalize deteriorating living conditions for their citizens.
