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Russia Today
01-07-2025
- Politics
- 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.
Al Jazeera
21-05-2025
- Al Jazeera
Photos: Tigers, jaguars and elephants flee cartel violence in Mexico
For years, exotic pets owned by cartel members – alongside former circus animals – have resided in a modest sanctuary on the outskirts of Sinaloa's capital in Mexico. However, a violent power struggle erupted last year between rival Sinaloa cartel factions, plunging the region into chaos. The Ostok Sanctuary's leaders have faced armed attacks, persistent death threats and a blockade of essential supplies critical to the survival of their 700 animals. This week, aid workers departed Culiacan, transporting the animals across the state in the hope of shielding them from the worst of the violence. Yet, fighting has become so widespread that many fear it will inevitably reach them. The outbreak of violence began eight months ago, when two rival Sinaloa Cartel factions started battling for territory, triggered by the dramatic abduction of one group's leader. He was kidnapped by a son of the infamous Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman and later handed over to US authorities by private plane. Since then, fierce clashes between heavily armed factions have become a daily reality for civilians in Culiacan – a city that, until recently, had largely been spared the worst of Mexico's violence due to the Sinaloa Cartel's firm control. Zazueta, the sanctuary's director, said the animals' departure from the city is a further sign of how deeply the conflict has permeated everyday life. During periods of intense violence, sanctuary staff could hear gunfire nearby and the noise of cars and helicopters overhead – sounds that distressed the animals. Cartel fighting regularly prevented staff from reaching the sanctuary, leaving some animals without food for days. As a result, many have begun to lose their fur, and at least two have died, according to Zazueta. Further complicating the situation, an increasing number of rescued animals are abandoned former narco pets, left in remote areas of the state. In one case, a Bengal tiger was found chained in a public square. Rumours persist in Sinaloa and other conflict-ridden regions that cartel bosses dispose of their enemies by feeding them to pet lions. The situation reached breaking point for the Ostok Sanctuary in March, when one of their two elephants, Bireki, injured her foot. Veterinarians sought a specialist in Mexico, the United States and beyond, but none were willing to travel to Culiacan. The sanctuary relocated the animals without public announcement, fearing reprisals from local authorities or the same criminal groups that forced them to flee. They hope the animals will find safety in Mazatlan after years of turmoil.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Son of former Mexican Drug Lord ‘El Chapo' reaches plea deal
CHICAGO – The son of former Mexican Drug Lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman has reached a plea deal in his drug trafficking case. A new court filing said Ovidio Guzman Lopez is scheduled to change his plea to guilty at a hearing in Chicago on Wednesday, July 9. Lopez, 34, was arrested in 2023 and extradited to the U.S. where he is awaiting trial. Reported crimes at Chicago Public Libraries on the rise, data shows Lopez and his brother Joaquin are accused of taking over the Sinaloa Cartel after their father's arrest. Both of them face several charges, including drug trafficking and money laundering. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
