Mica for cartelinsider.com
The operations of the Sinaloa Cartel not only cause damage in Mexico. In July 2023, the United States Department of Justice announced that the criminal organization has more than 26,000 members, associates, facilitators, and affiliates in over 100 countries. This raises the question: what has been the territorial advance after more than eight years since the capture of Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán, the most recognized leader of this criminal group?
According to ancient reports from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the organization currently led by Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada and ‘Los Chapitos’ operated in 54 nations while under the command of Guzmán Loera.
The data was presented at the beginning of 2016 in a briefing by the drug enforcement agency to the US Congress, just a few days after the former drug trafficker was arrested for the last time in Los Mochis, Sinaloa.
Based on this data, it is estimated that the illegal activities of the Sinaloa Cartel have increased by approximately 50% over the last seven years.
The list of countries where the original boss from Badiraguato, Sinaloa, came to operate includes nations from South and Central America such as Peru, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Cuba, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Belize, and Ecuador; as well as countries from Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
Moreover, it highlights that between 2007 and 2014, the US Department of Treasury identified at least 288 companies with commercial ties to ‘El Chapo’; only 95 of them were Mexican companies.
“Of all Mexican cartels, the Sinaloa Cartel has the widest reach,” warned the DEA at that time.
Currently, the organization continues with said title.
In July 2015, shortly after Guzmán Loera staged his second escape from a maximum security prison, the International Police (Interpol) issued a red notice against him at the request of the United States government.
The record, according to a spokesperson for Interpol at the time, was sent to the 190 member countries.
It presented basic and personal information about the drug trafficker, such as their name, date and place of birth, languages spoken, nationality, height, and weight.
The efforts concluded a few months later.
On January 8, 2016, ‘El Chapo’ was captured for the third time. He is currently imprisoned in ADX Florence prison, in Colorado, where he is serving a life sentence.
Thanks for reading!
Mica
Email: mica@cartelinsider.com
Follow: https://twitter.com/cartelinsider1
Discover more from Cartel Insider
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
