El Chapo's Mexican drug cartel ‘hired hacker to infiltrate public CCTV cameras to track down and kill FBI informants'
EL CHAPO'S ruthless cartel used a hacker to break into Mexico City's CCTV system and track down FBI informants — before having them killed.
A shocking new US Justice Department report reveals the Sinaloa Cartel, once run by Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán, hired a tech expert to spy on American agents and expose their sources.
3
3
3
The hacker hacked into Mexico City's camera network and phone records in 2018, tailing an FBI assistant legal attaché (ALAT) at the US embassy.
Armed with this intel, the cartel was able to 'intimidate and, in some instances, kill potential sources or cooperating witnesses,' the report said.
The Justice Department added: 'According to the FBI, in addition to compromising the ALAT's phone, the hacker also accessed Mexico City's camera system, used the cameras to follow the ALAT through the city, and identified people the ALAT met with.'
The findings shine a harsh light on how cartels are now using cutting-edge tech to stay a step ahead of law enforcement.
The audit warned that new technology has 'made it easier than ever for less-sophisticated nations and criminal enterprises to identify and exploit vulnerabilities' in government data.
It comes as Mexico's cops desperately try to catch up.
In Chiapas this week, police unveiled armed drones to take on cartels fighting for smuggling routes along the Guatemalan border.
Just weeks ago, the same force sparked a diplomatic storm by chasing gunmen into Guatemala and engaging in a wild street shootout.
The Sinaloa Cartel — once commanded by El Chapo, who's now locked up in the US — remains locked in a bloody battle with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
Meanwhile, a new breed of younger, tech-savvy narcos is ramping up tactics like cryptocurrency laundering and state-of-the-art surveillance.
Horror moment bomb drone blows up enemy truck…but this ISN'T Ukraine- vid shows warring cartels Trump wants to crush
'The cartels run a multi-billion-dollar global enterprise and utilize sophisticated technology to enhance their business operations,' said Derek Maltz, former acting DEA chief.
'They utilize state-of-art sophisticated surveillance techniques to identify law enforcement activities and their adversaries.'
The FBI says it's drafting a plan to plug these glaring security gaps, including more training for agents.
But the Justice Department report warned the threat is so severe that some in the FBI and CIA call it 'existential'.
Mexico's long-running drug war rages on with no end in sight.
More than 400,000 people have been killed since the government first declared war on the cartels in 2006, and tens of thousands more have vanished without a trace.
Despite high-profile arrests and military crackdowns, groups like Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation continue to expand their reach, both at home and across borders.
In the US, the stakes are equally dire.
Authorities have repeatedly blamed Mexican cartels for driving the fentanyl crisis, which has fuelled a record surge in overdose deaths.
Washington has labelled these syndicates 'foreign terrorist organisations' in everything but official designation, ramping up efforts to cripple their finances and supply chains.
Mexico's most dangerous cartels
Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) – The most violent and rapidly expanding cartel, known for extreme brutality, including cannibalism, drone warfare, and high-profile assassinations. Led by Nemesio 'El Mencho' Oseguera Cervantes.
Sinaloa Cartel – Once led by Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán, this powerful cartel is known for sophisticated drug trafficking networks and ruthless tactics, including face peeling and mass executions.
Los Zetas – Originally formed by ex-special forces soldiers, Los Zetas are infamous for military-style operations, public massacres, and the 'Highway of Death' killings.
Gulf Cartel – One of Mexico's oldest cartels, involved in human trafficking, kidnappings, and violent turf wars, often clashing with Los Zetas.
Beltrán Leyva Cartel – Known for alliances with other criminal groups and deadly feuds, this cartel specialises in assassinations and corruption at the highest levels.
Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel – A rising force primarily involved in fuel theft and extortion, responsible for deadly attacks against rivals and law enforcement.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
4 hours ago
- BBC News
CCTV image appeal over attempted rape of woman in Doncaster
Police investigating reports of an attempted rape in Doncaster have issued a CCTV image of a man officers would like to speak to about the was reported to have happened at about 01:30 BST on Saturday as a woman was walking at Doncaster Harbour, according to South Yorkshire woman was believed to have been approached by a man who spoke to her and then dragged her to the floor and attempted to rape her before she fought him off and fled, a force spokesperson who recognised the man in the picture, who was white, aged between late 20s-30s, with only one eye and of stocky build with a dark beard, was asked to contact police. The man also had tattoos on his lower right leg and had short dark hair, fade-shaved to the side, the spokesperson Supt Nikki Shimwell, from South Yorkshire Police, said: "We understand that a report of this nature will cause concern within our communities. "We have been carrying out extensive inquiries to locate the suspect, and our investigation continues at pace, with officers dedicated to the case."We are now asking for your help to identify the man in the image, as we would like to speak to him in connection to the report."Anyone who saw the man in the CCTV image was warned not to approach him, but instead to call 999. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Shock details emerge about teenager, 15, accused of stabbing Universal Store co-founder Greg Josephson to death during a house party
A teenager charged over the fatal stabbing of a Universal Store co-founder had attended three different schools - including two of Brisbane 's most exclusive private boys' colleges. Greg Josephson, 58, was allegedly stabbed to death during a teen house party at his three-storey home on Oriel Road in Clayfield, an affluent inner northern Brisbane suburb, on Thursday night. Police allege an altercation took place between the father-of-three and a 15-year-old boy, who are believed to be known to each other. The 15-year-old was arrested in nearby Barlow Street soon after the discovery of the body, before he was charged with one count of murder. CCTV footage shows the moment police arrested the teenager, The Courier Mail reported, with a neighbour saying they witnessed the young man being loaded by officers into the back of a police car. Daily Mail Australia can reveal the teenager had changed several schools. Around 30 teenagers, many of whom are from private schools, had attended the house party to celebrate the end of the school term and unknowingly partied downstairs while Mr Josephson's body lay upstairs. Teenagers oblivious to the tragedy unfolding were rounded up in the backyard of the house as officers searched the grounds of the large block, with Queensland Police later stating they had found the alleged murder weapon at an undisclosed location. CCTV showed the accused boy on the same evening at a cafe in nearby Ascot walking across a patio area while wringing his hands. Neatly dressed in a button-up shirt and dark trousers, the boy proceeded to squeeze his way into a narrow rubbish area at the back of the venue. He then appeared to create a barricade by moving several bins in front of him. Police arrested the 15-year-old at about 8.15pm after he called Triple-0. He was refused bail and later taken to hospital to have a minor injury to his hand treated. His case was listed in Brisbane Children's Court on Friday and adjourned until September 2. The accused will remain in custody until then. On Saturday, forensic police continued to search the Oriel Road property, which the Josephson family had been in the process of selling to move to the Sunshine Coast. Mr Josephson co-founded the Universal Store with his brother Michael in 1999. He built up an Australia-wide network of 53 stores, and sold the business in 2018 to private equity investors in a reported $100million deal. He had also amassed a multimillion-dollar property portfolio, including the $13.9million Noosa Reef Hotel on the Sunshine Coast, and a $3.5million group of boutique cottages in Cooran, in the Noosa hinterland. The Josephson brothers come from a clothing dynasty in Brisbane, their great-grandfather having started Josephson's Clothing Factory in 1910, their grandfather creating the Can't Tear 'Em' workwear brand, and their uncle distributing Lee Cooper jeans. The house where Mr Josephson was allegedly murdered had been on the market for 43 days when he died. He and his wife Tamra, who shared children, had bought the 1930s Art Deco home in 2016, conducted a major renovation and were planning to move to Noosa to live. Queensland Police are urging anyone with information, or with CCTV or dashcam footage from the area, to come forward to assist with the investigation. Police said they had still to interview some of the young people who attended Thursday's party. 'We are still establishing the timeline of what has happened at this address,' inspector Jane Healy said. Acting assistant commissioner Rhys Wildman said police will allege a household implement was used during an altercation between the man and the teen. 'There was some sort of altercation that's resulted in this 58-year-old male tragically losing his life,' he said. 'It's not a case of carrying knives, it's unfortunately occurred in a home.'
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Wrestling fan arrested after trying to break into WWE star Liv Morgan's home while brandishing an air rifle
An obsessed Canadian pro wrestling fan was arrested after showing up at WWE superstar Liv Morgan's home with an air rifle, before leaving a handwritten note on her porch claiming it was just a 'friendly visit.' Shawn Chan, 41, of Scarborough, Ontario, was taken into custody earlier this month at the WWE Performance Center after security recognized him from surveillance footage attempting to break into Morgan's Florida home while carrying an air rifle, according to an FBI probable cause affidavit obtained by The Independent. Before leaving, Chan left a handwritten note that read: 'I came here to pay just a friendly visit, nothing more... Yea, I just wanted to let you know that I was here,' the court docs allege. Chan is currently being held at the Paso County Detention Center, where he faces a domestic violence charge. He faces up to five years behind bars if convicted. 'She expressed concern that her home address was known to the public and that two other individuals had shown up to her residence without invitation or notice,' the affidavit read. 'The victim explained she does not bring fan mail into the house because of the number of concerning messages she receives.' A federal court filing unsealed on Friday alleges that Chan obtained a passport on the very day he boarded a flight to Orlando - the same city where Morgan lives and trains. Although the 31-year-old wrestler isn't named in the court docs, the dates and details align with contemporaneous reports about Chan's June arrest on state charges related to Morgan, as reported by The Independent. However, the release of the affidavit revealed that Chan's alleged stalking began in May, according to the documents. On May 26, the Canadian citizen boarded a flight to Orlando and told US customs upon arrival that he would be staying at the WWE Performance Center - a training facility that offers no lodging accommodations. According to the affidavit, the center serves as a 'state-of-the-art training facility designed to develop well-rounded athletes with aspirations of joining the WWE,' and 'does not have any hotel rooms, dorm rooms or other lodging.' After just four days in Orlando, Chan allegedly took a two-hour trip west of the city and arrived at a residence that, according to court docs, appears to match the description of Morgan's home. Video footage showed a man, believed to be Chan, arriving just after 5 p.m. on May 31 - dressed in a black shirt, tan shorts, and a black baseball cap, with a large black backpack slung over his shoulder, as reported by The Independent. Instead of using the driveway, chilling footage allegedly showed Chan sneaking through the yard - circling the property twice before finally stepping onto the front porch. Once at the front door, the affidavit states, he allegedly began searching for a way inside - specifically reaching around the doormat, presumably in search of a spare key hidden underneath. He then shifted focus to the door handle, where court docs allege he 'touched around the bottom of the door, swiped the locking mechanism on the door several times with his hand, grabbed the front door handle and leaned into the door attempting to open it.' After failing to break in, Chan allegedly retrieved a long air rifle pellet gun (pictured) that he had left ominously propped against the front porch wall - a weapon capable of firing metal pellets at 600 feet per second, per the court docs After failing to break in, Chan allegedly retrieved a long air rifle pellet gun that he had left ominously propped against the front porch wall. 'The air rifle is a Sig Sauer MCX.177 air rifle capable of firing metal pellets at 600 feet per second,' according to the affidavit. 'Chan can be seen sitting on the front porch with the pellet gun before standing and walking to the front door,' it added. According to court docs, the 41-year-old wrestling fanatic lingered around the property for more than two hours, seemingly waiting for Morgan to return - though she was out of town at the time, The Independent reported. Chan allegedly then left a note on the porch alongside several delivered packages, in which he claimed to have been wronged by the gaming community while insisting he was simply paying her a 'friendly visit.' The note, according to the affidavit, also included Chan's home address in Canada and his phone number. On June 3, just days after allegedly staking out Morgan's home, Chan attended the WWE Performance Center, where court filings state she is known to 'make appearances.' While it remains unclear whether the women's tag team champion was at the facility that day, security quickly recognized Chan from surveillance footage and alerted law enforcement to his presence. On June 3, just days after allegedly staking out Morgan's home, Chan attended the WWE Performance Center (pictured) - where court filings state she is known to 'make appearances - and was taken into custody Deputies then arrived on the scene, took Chan into custody, and conducted a search of his belongings, as reported by The Independent. Among his belongings, officers discovered two mysterious bottles of liquid, each adorned with Chinese writing. When questioned about the liquid, Chan allegedly dismissed it as medication - one of which he claimed to carry in case of injury, to treat ailments like bleeding, according to the affidavit. 'Chan was also in possession of a Canadian passport in his name, which was issued May 26, 2025... the same day he traveled to Orlando,' the docs allege. After seeing the footage, Morgan later told officers that she had no idea who Chan was and expressed concern over what personal information of hers might have been made public. Chan was indicted on Wednesday on one count of interstate domestic violence and is scheduled to appear in Orlando federal court for arraignment on July 18.
