El Chapo’s sons BAN fentanyl: Banners are hung in Sinaloa warning gangsters the opioid is ‘prohibido’
- Banners that outlaw the production and sale of fentanyl were spotted across four cities in the Mexican state of Sinaloa on Monday
- The warnings were issued by Los Chapitos, the sons of former Mexican drug lord Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán, who control half of the Sinaloa Cartel
- The appearance of the banners come two weeks after El Chapo’s son, Ovidio Guzmán, was extradited to Chicago
A faction of the Sinaloa Cartel operated by the sons of Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán claims that it has outlawed the sale and production of fentanyl.
Banners were spotted Monday hanging off overpasses in the Sinaloa cities of Ahome, Culiacán, Guamúchil and Mazatlán where ‘Los Chapitos,’ as the former Mexican drug lord’s sons are known, issued stern warnings not to sell the drug.
The signs said that ‘media misinformation’ meant the government was failing to go after ‘the true culprits of this epidemic’ and warned that the making or transportation of fentanyl was ‘strictly prohibited.’
‘We have never been nor will we be related to that business. You have been warned. Respectfully, Chapitos,’ it added.
The posting of the banners, or ‘narcomantas’ as they are known, comes after El Chapo’s son, Ovidio Guzmán, was extradited to the United States on September 15.
The US holds El Chapitos responsible for much of the fentanyl trade in the blood-soaked state and has vowed to arrest the three remaining brothers.
Los Chapitos, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel that is operated by three of El Chapo’s sons, had banners set up this week that banned the production and sale of fentanyl. ‘Due to the incessant misinformation of some media and the obvious omission of the government in not investigating and prosecuting the true culprits of this epidemic, in Sinaloa the sale, manufacture, transportation or any type of business that involves the substance is strictly prohibited, known as fentanyl, including the sale of chemicals for its production,’ the large sign reads in Spanish. ‘We have never been nor will we be related to that business.. You have been warned. Respectfully, Chapitos’
Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán’s son, Ovidio Guzmán (pictured) was extradited to Chicago on September 15. He appeared before a federal court judge three days later and pleaded to drug trafficking, money laundering and weapons charges
The Sinaloa Cartel, founded by former Mexican drug lord Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán, has played a role in manufacturing and smuggling fentanyl to the United States, according to officials
In May, the four siblings released a public statement through Mexican media outlet Milenio distancing themselves from accusations brought forward by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that singled out Los Chapitos of leading the fentanyl trade in an April federal indictment.
‘We have never produced, manufactured or commercialized fentanyl nor any of its derivatives,’ they claimed in the letter. ‘We are victims of persecution and have been made into scapegoats.’
Mike Vigil, who once was in charge of the DEA’s international operations, told The Associated Press that the banners were just a ploy from Los Chapitos.
Iván Guzmán and Jesús Guzmán each have $10 million rewards hovering over their heads for information that would lead to their arrest and/or conviction. A $5million reward is being offered for Joaquín Guzmán.
‘I think the Chapitos started feeling the pressure when they increased the reward for their capture. I think they are trying to create a massive illusion to take the pressure off,’ he said. ‘It’s almost like a big campaign to convince the US they’re not involved. It’s nothing more than pure propaganda.’
Leo Silva, a former DEA agent who worked in Mexico, said Los Chapitos raised the banners to pin the blame for fentanyl production on to others.
‘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.’
A Milenio report published Wednesday indicated that Los Chapitos stance on the fentanyl trade changed as soon as Ovidio Guzmán was arrested by Mexican security forces in the Sinaloa capital city of Culiacán in January.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is offering a $10 million reward for information that leads to the arrest and/or conviction of Jesús Guzmán, one of Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán’s three who now operate half of the Sinaloa Cartel after their brother, Ovidio Guzmán, was extradited to the United States last week
Ivan Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar (pictured) joined his brother, Jesús Guzmán, in the DEA’s 10 most-wanted list
Joaquín Guzmán is one of El Chapo’s four sons who took over the Sinaloa Cartel following his arrest and extradition to the United States. But now only three remain in power after their sibling, Ovidio Guzmán, was handed over by Mexican authorities September 15
A 29-year-old drug dealer, whose name has been withheld, told the outlet that text messages were sent via WhatsApp instructing everyone to stand down.
‘The decision comes from the top, from the brothers, and any person who is surprised to disobey will be punished,’ a text message obtained by Milenio read.
The street-level dealer recalled that ‘all of a sudden fentanyl was banned and Los Chapitos started to kill their own sellers’ who refused to adhere to their commands.
The dealer, who used his earnings off fentanyl sales to purchase a motorcycle, PlayStation 5 and eliminate personal debts, said that at least 10 people have been either killed or kidnapped since January for not following orders.
The most recent murder took place September 8when the body of Luis Benitez was abandoned outside a Culiacán hospital after he had been shot twice.
Benitez was one of the DEA’s 10 most-wanted fugitives and a Los Chapitos trafficker who moved fentanyl in powder and pill form from Mexico to the United States. A $1 million reward was offered for information that could lead to his arrest and/or conviction.
In July, Sinaloan investigative outlet Riodoce reported that Los Chapitos had told producers in Culiacán, the state capital, to stop manufacturing fentanyl.
Soon afterwards, bodies were discovered of men who had been tortured and had fentanyl pills dumped on them, in an apparent signal to others.
Luis Benitez, a former Los Chapitos trafficker, was died from two gunshot wound on September 9 in Culiacán, the capital of the western Mexico state of Sinaloa, which happens to be the Sinaloa Cartel’s home turf. Los Chapitos, as El Chapo’s sons are known, share control of the Sinaloa Cartel with their father’s old partner, Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada. It’s believed that Benitez was killed after he refused to follow orders from Los Chapitos to stop the production and sale of fentanyl
Several banners were found hanging for road overpasses in Sinaloa on Monday. The signs were signed by Los Chapitos, who announced a complete ban on the production and sale of fentanyl
Another street dealer told Milenio that fentanyl sale ban dealt a significant blow to the profits they were accustomed to seeing, but that it wasn’t worth risking their lives over it.
‘One could sell cheap coke at a ‘washed’ price, if you placed little fentanyl on because it was more potent and the customer thought it was giving them something of good quality,’ the dealer explained.
‘I have no doubt that many people stopped selling or are going to stop selling,’ he added. ‘I’m not going to take a risk. I will obey.’
It not clear if Los Chapitos will impose a total ban across Sinaloa – most of the territory is controlled by El Chapo’s old partner, Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, who runs another powerful grouping of the cartel.
Silva doubted Los Chapitos would stay away from fentanyl.
‘It’s too much money to turn down or turn their back on,’ he said.
An estimated 109,680 overdose deaths occurred last year in the United States, according to numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 75,000 of those were linked to fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.
US prosecutors allege much of the production occurs in and around the state capital, Culiacan, where the Sinaloa cartel exerts near complete control.
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