EL QUITO'S | Mexico's Sinaloa cartel put up posters claiming gang is no longer selling fentanyl
“El Chapo” Guzman’s sons apparently no longer in the ‘apache’ game.
Níall Feiritear
Today at 12:16
Signs have appeared in northern Mexico claiming that the notorious Sinaloa Cartel is no longer pushing the synthetic opioid drug fentanyl.
The drug, known as ‘apache’ or ‘china town’ , causes thousands of overdoses worldwide every year- and is one of the most profitable income streams for the infamous crew, so investigators have poured cold water over the claims.
Nonetheless, one of Mexico’s top journalists, Michelle Rivera, wrote a translation on social media about what the banners revealed.
“In Sinaloa the sale or trafficking of Fentanilo is prohibited, say the Chapitos. Placed in various points throughout the State,” the broadcaster stated.
“The sale, manufacture, transportation or any type of business that involves the substance known as fentanyl is strictly prohibited, including the sales for its production.
“They also assure that they have never been related to the fentanyl business. ‘Depend on the consequences,’ they warn.”
The banners appeared in the northern state on Monday, known as "narcomantas", and were signed by Los Chapitos, the sons of El Chapo Guzman who took over their dad’s evil gang when the crime boss was extradited to the United States in 2017.
Prosecutors in Sinaloa confirmed that the banners appeared on overpasses and near motorways, but could not say whether they were genuine or who had placed them there.
Earlier this year, U.S. government named Los Chapitos, or "little Chapos", as the main importers of fentanyl into the United States.
In September, Ovidio Guzman, the youngest of the four Los Chapitos brothers, was caught and extradited as US authorities desperately try to stem the crisis.
Leo Silva, a former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent who worked in Mexico, said the banners were likely an attempt by Los Chapitos to take the heat off themselves.
"Coupled with extradition of one of the brothers, it's a ploy to take the heat off of them," Silva said. "I don't see them stopping production,” Mr Silva said.
In July, Sinaloan investigative outlet ‘Riodoce’ reported that Los Chapitos had told producers in Culiacan, the state capital, to stop manufacturing fentanyl.
After this, dead bodies began to appear hanging from bridges and on the side of roads, appearing to have been tortured and with fentanyl pills stuffed in the pockets.
A large portion of the territory where the banners appeared is controlled by El Chapo's former buddy, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, who runs another powerful offshoot of the Sinaloa cartel.
DEA agent Silva doubted Los Chapitos would cease production of the addictive pills.
"It's too much money to turn down or turn their back on," Silva stated.
Mexico’s drug cartels have captured worldwide attention recently for committing mass murder.
In two of the most recent slaughters, separate groups of teenage boys were dispatched in a very gruesome manner, with videos of the lead up to the killings and the actual murders being recorded and sent to family members of the deceased.
It is thought that one group of boys had applied to work in a call centre which was secretly run by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
The youngsters were then killed reportedly for not wanting to take part in the gang’s nefarious activities.
https://www.sundayworld.com/crime/w...-longer-selling-fentanyl/a764043516.html
