Los Chapitos And Los Mayos Send Each Other Messages With Pizzas And Hats; What’s The Meaning And Origin Of The Symbols?

Elements that, in everyday life, might not mean much, but in the violent war that the state is experiencing, they have become a designation. 

In the world of drug trafficking, symbols matter as much as weapons. Today, two icons that have become representative of the factions fighting for control in Sinaloa: sombreros rancheros and pizzas. 

Elements that, in everyday life, might not mean much, but in the violent war that the state is experiencing, they have become a kind of message between the rival groups.

Symbol of the sombrero

On the one hand, the ranchero hat, linked to Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada’s group, evokes tradition and the old school of drug trafficking in Sinaloa. This symbol represents men connected to the region’s rural roots. In recent days, several bodies found on highways carried sombreros, a grim signature attributed to the opposing group.

Pizza symbol

In contrast, Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman’s sons, known as ‘La Chapiza’, have adopted a more modern symbol: the pizza. 

This icon, derived from the name of their organization, has become ubiquitous on souvenirs and products related to the drug trafficking subculture. 

However, this image has taken a macabre turn; in one of the most disturbing cases, a head was found inside a pizza box, a clear threat from the group.

What is the significance of both symbols?

Jesús Bustamante, investigative journalist and president of the June 7th Journalists Association, explained the importance of these symbols:

“All these symbols are important because they are telling the opposing groups, but also society who is responsible for what is happening. 

“By finding sombreros or pizza boxes on top of bodies in the sites where attacks have been registered, it’s clear that the war is between the sons of El Chapo and Ismael El Mayo Zambada. We have already seen this in other stages of violence, such as the war against the Beltran Leyva or the Damaso clan, where the groups left distinctive hats to mark their victims,” he said.

Since Monday, September 9, the violence between the factions of ‘El Mayo’ Zambada and the sons of ‘El Chapo’ has intensified, transforming what was once an alliance into an all-out war.

This confrontation is not only fought with bullets, but also with carefully crafted messages. Every symbol, be it a sombrero or a pizza, is a way to mark territory and sow fear.

What was once an alliance between two of Mexico’s most powerful drug trafficking families has now become a ruthless conflict. 

Each confrontation, each abandoned body, represents not only a show of force, but a piece of violent propaganda, where the symbols are as lethal as the acts themselves.

Bustamante added: “Since the capture of Ismael El Mayo Zambada it was clear that this would end in violence. The Chapitos have always fought for territory, they did it against the Dámasos and now against a Mayo cell in Tepuche. In the absence of a clear leader like El Mayo was, they are looking to take control of territory, while those loyal to El Mayo are seeking revenge for what they perceive as a betrayal.”

In addition, these symbols not only serve as messages in the war, they have also become fashionable. They feature in songs and narco ballads, and are part of the identity of youth as young as 16, who proudly carry weapons and these insignias.

Meanwhile, authorities struggle to contain the ravages of this war, but the conflict between the Zambadas and the Chapitos seems far from over, marking a new stage in the history of drug trafficking in Sinaloa. 

Source: Milenio