A private investigator explains the recent surge in violence in Mexico's popular tourist destinations, revealing that four cartels are engaged in a fierce battle for control.
Mexico's once-tranquil resort areas have become a battleground as four powerful cartels vie for dominance. Private investigator Jay Armes III, who specializes in kidnappings in Mexico, sheds light on the escalating violence.
Armes notes that Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) and Sinaloa, two of Mexico's most ruthless cartels, are at the heart of the conflict. They have flooded the United States with meth and fentanyl, using violence to protect their turf. The territorial disputes have spilled over into Mexico, leading to a surge in violence.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Sinaloa and CJNG have "effectively eliminated any competition in U.S. markets" and control the flow of illicit drugs into the country. This dominance has extended into Mexico, where cartels operate in all 50 states, clashing in American cities and infiltrating U.S. markets.
In recent arrests, federal prosecutors have charged seven Sinaloa Cartel members, including "Skittles Man," with supplying thousands of fentanyl pills in Florida. The cartel's notorious rainbow-colored pills have become a deadly threat.
The DEA's report highlights the cartels' global reach beyond Mexico and the U.S., detailing their leadership structures and drug trafficking operations. Synthetic drugs like fentanyl have fueled the crisis, as they are cheaper to produce and more potent than plant-based drugs.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's administration has come under fire for downplaying cartel violence and denying any foreign intervention. Despite pressure to address the issue, Obrador has refused to acknowledge the involvement of cartels.
Armes draws a chilling comparison between the current situation and the 2019 arrest of Ovidio Guzman Lopez, the son of former Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán. The cartel's brutal siege of Culiacan forced authorities to release Lopez, highlighting the immense power and danger posed by the cartels.
In contrast, El Mencho's brother was released without incident after his arrest, showcasing the Jalisco cartel's influence and its ability to operate without resorting to violence. Armes warns that this is a sign of a more formidable and insidious threat.
As the conflict continues, tourists and locals alike face increased danger in Mexico's resort areas. The cartels' lust for power and control has transformed once-safe havens into battlegrounds, a grim reminder of the unchecked violence that grips the country.
