In Mexico, drug violence has escalated dramatically, particularly in Culiacán, where cell phone communications have become a death sentence amid the Sinaloa cartel's ongoing power struggles. Cartel members stop individuals on the street or in cars, checking their phones for contacts associated with rival factions. This has led to a climate of fear, with residents avoiding leaving their homes, especially at night. Ismael Bojórquez, a journalist from Culiacán, highlighted the dangers of even short trips outside the city due to cartel checkpoints that search for incriminating information on cell phones. The violence surged following the arrests of cartel leaders Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López in the U.S., leading to a month-long wave of violence marked by murders and kidnappings.
The situation has prompted community leaders to call for increased security measures, including police presence outside schools, as parents fear for their children's safety. However, the local police force has been temporarily disarmed due to suspicions of corruption linked to the cartels. Meanwhile, the local economy has suffered as businesses close and residents flee the violence, with many young people opting to stay home rather than venture out.
In a related context, Genaro García Luna, Mexico's former public security secretary, awaits sentencing in the U.S. after being convicted of accepting bribes from drug traffickers, including the Sinaloa cartel. Prosecutors have requested a life sentence, citing that his actions facilitated drug trafficking that resulted in countless deaths in both Mexico and the U.S. García Luna was once celebrated as a key figure in Mexico's war on drugs but is now viewed as a significant contributor to the cartel's operations due to his betrayal of public trust. His case underscores the complexities and corruption within Mexico's fight against drug trafficking, as well as the repercussions of cartel violence on society.
