Markitos Toys: From Dreaming of Being a Narco to Building His Own Empire

The Sinaloan influencer reveals how his childhood dreams were shaped by his environment and shares his personal transformation away from drug trafficking.

On January 8, 2025, an armed attack on the home of Markitos Toys’ parents in the Barrancos sector of Culiacán, Sinaloa, shook the local community and reignited debates about the influencer.

Hitmen knocked down the gate with explosives, fired high caliber weapons at the facade and set fire to the carports. During the attack, José María Batiz Barraza, known as “Chema”, was abducted while he was taking care of the property and feeding the family pets.

This incident takes place against a backdrop of rampant violence in Sinaloa, marked by the internal war between Los Chapitos and La Mayiza, two factions of the Sinaloa Cartel.

“As a child I dreamed of being a drug dealer”: The confession that sparked controversy

In an episode of his podcast with influencer Gordo Arce, Markitos Toys shared an anecdote that left many speechless: as a child he dreamed of being a drug dealer.

“When I was a little boy, I always said: ‘I want to be a drug dealer. I never said I wanted to be a policeman or a fireman. My mom was really pissed off,” he confessed.

According to the influencer, he admired drug traffickers for their success, luxury vehicles and social respect. However, he assures that as he grew up he changed his perspective:

“I understood that this is not a life. I want to be calm and work honestly.”

Markitos emphasized that everything he has he has achieved through his business, social networks and YouTube, categorically rejecting accusations of money laundering.

An iPhone and an Idea: How he started his first business.

Markitos Toys and his brother, Kevin Castro (KC), started their road to success unexpectedly, thanks to an iPhone 5s that Kevin found by chance.

“With that iPhone we even bought cars. We exchanged it for things and sold it, that’s how we generated profits,” explained the influencer.

This simple find turned into a chain of exchanges that allowed them to generate weekly income of up to 10 thousand pesos. For Markitos, it was the gateway to a different life, away from the dangers of drug trafficking.

Controversies that haunt Markitos Toys

Ranch Roll fire and rumors of a kidnapping

In December 2024, two branches of Ranch Roll, Markitos’ restaurant, were burned down in Culiacán. Soon after, rumors surfaced about the kidnapping of his brother Kevin, which coincided with the murder of his close friend, Jesús Miguel “El Jasper”, found handcuffed and shot.

Although Markitos disappeared from social networks for days, he later reappeared denying the rumors and assuring that both he and Kevin were fine.

“Don’t complain about the violence.”

The influencer generated controversy by stating that the citizens of Sinaloa shouldn’t complain about the violence, noting that many have prospered thanks to drug money.

Markitos has been singled out for alleged links to Los Chapitos. In 2023, he publicly defended his relationship with El Nini, Los Chapitos’ former security chief, saying:

“Don’t you have friends?” We don’t get to decide what a friend does for a living.”

What’s next for Markitos Toys?

The armed attack has put the spotlight back on the influencer, who insists that his success comes from his work on social networks. As authorities investigate the whereabouts of “Chema” and search for those responsible for the attack, the incident lays bare the complex interplay between public figures, violence and narco culture in Sinaloa.

Source: La Verdad Noticias