Aguaruto Prison Case: Drug Trafficking, Violence and Internal Control Exposed

The Aguaruto Penitentiary in Culiacán, Sinaloa, was the most heavily raided prison in Mexico during 2025. Throughout the year, state and federal authorities conducted dozens of operations that revealed a high level of criminal control, internal violence, and alleged cases related to drug trafficking.

In the second half of the year alone, more than 60 searches and preventive inspections were carried out. The greatest intensity was concentrated between October, November, and December, a period in which high-powered weapons, explosives, large quantities of drugs, and advanced communication systems were seized.

Operations at Aguaruto Prison

The inspections were conducted by an inter-institutional deployment that included the Sinaloa Public Security Secretariat, the Special Operations Group (GOES), the State Preventive Police, the Mexican Army, the National Guard, the Mexican Navy, the State Attorney General’s Office, and the Federal Attorney General’s Office.

The operations uncovered a prison with a thriving clandestine economy, internal disputes over control of drug trafficking, and the logistical capacity to maintain constant communication with the outside world.

In addition, deaths in custody, violent clashes, and allegations of torture during the inspections were reported throughout the year.

Technology Revealed Inside Aguaruto Prison

One of the most significant findings of 2025 was the use of state-of-the-art technology inside the prison. Authorities located at least two Starlink antennas, Wi-Fi modems, and equipment designed to circumvent signal jamming.

Hidden video surveillance cameras, storage devices, and components of clandestine networks that allowed for internal monitoring and unrestricted external communication were also seized.

In one of the most sensitive operations, an illegal tunnel approximately 15 meters long, equipped with lighting and ventilation, was discovered, forcing authorities to reinforce perimeter security and update escape detection protocols.

Drug Seizures

Drug seizures revealed the existence of a structured drug trafficking system within the Aguaruto prison, with supplies for distribution and internal consumption.

Among the seized items were:

Marijuana: 5,940 grams, 227 doses, cigarettes, and small bags

Cocaine: 97 grams, 161 doses, and packages ready for distribution

Crystal methamphetamine: at least one small bag

Psychotropic pills: 13 units

Drug trafficking paraphernalia: digital scales, marijuana grinder, heat sealing machine, makeshift pipes, and cigarette packs used as packaging

These figures reflect an active and contested illegal market within the penitentiary.

Weapons and Dangerous Objects

During 2025, 22 firearms were seized, including assault rifles, pistols of various calibers, and a submachine gun. A homemade explosive device was also found and subsequently destroyed.

The arsenal included magazines, more than 340 rounds of ammunition, and an alarming number of bladed weapons and blunt objects manufactured or adapted in a makeshift manner.

In total, more than 500 bladed weapons and nearly 300 blunt objects were confiscated, reinforcing the narrative of constant violence inside the prison.

Contraband Telecommunications and Electronics

The operations allowed for the systematic removal of prohibited electronic equipment in Aguaruto, including:

183 cell phones and 170 chargers

18 Wi-Fi modems and 9 broadband devices

23 communication radios and 8 chargers

58 SIM cards

USB drives, hard drives, and microSD cards

Bluetooth speakers, hidden cameras, and smartwatches

Computer equipment, signal amplifiers, and MP3 players

The quantity and variety of devices reflect an infrastructure designed to maintain criminal operations from within the prison.

Deaths, Fights, and Allegations of Torture in Aguaruto

During the year, at least five deaths in custody were recorded. Some incidents were related to internal conflicts, while others were investigated as possible suicides or medical emergencies.

Meanwhile, the State Human Rights Commission received complaints of alleged violent searches. Its president, Óscar Loza Ochoa, denounced possible acts of torture, such as waterboarding and electric shocks, and demanded that investigations be opened.

The State Public Security Council described the Aguaruto prison as a “battleground” between factions of the Sinaloa Cartel. Authorities identified a direct conflict between Los Chapitos and La Mayiza, a dispute that would explain the level of violence, weaponry, and technology detected throughout 2025.

Source: La Verdad Noticias