Browsing: mica

This article was initially published in five chapters on Borderland Beat in 2018, following my 2017 investigation into the high-profile kidnapping of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s sons in Puerto Vallarta.

Over time, I’ve refined and expanded the story, combining all the chapters into this single, cohesive narrative. Based on years spent in Vallarta and ongoing efforts to stay informed on the region’s shifting dynamics, this version integrates firsthand accounts and deeper insights.

While the facts remain unchanged, this revision presents a more comprehensive look into my time there investigating one of the boldest cartel acts in recent memory.

In a recent surge of cartel violence, a video response from the Mayito Flaco faction has ignited tensions, challenging rival group led by Iván Archivaldo Guzmán, known as “El Chapito,” to cease their online provocations and face a direct confrontation.

**Excerpt for Cartel Insider:**
From Cartel Queen to Catwalk: Emma Coronel’s Bold Return at Milan Fashion Week

Emma Coronel Aispuro, the wife of infamous drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, is stepping into a new spotlight. Just one year after her release from a Los Angeles prison, Coronel is set to open and close the runway for designer April Black Diamond at Milan Fashion Week. The former beauty queen, once entangled in the inner workings of the Sinaloa Cartel, is now redefining herself in the world of high fashion. Despite her controversial past, Coronel’s return is being hailed as a story of redemption, strength, and transformation.

Stay tuned as *Cartel Insider* covers the latest on Coronel’s unexpected comeback and what it means for her future.

In the heart of the Sinaloa Cartel civil war, a leaked, translated audio reveals cracks within Los Chapitos. McKlein, a key figure in the Mayos faction, accuses El Piyi and El Peris of attempting to defect. This propaganda plays a crucial role in the ongoing battle, alongside precision strikes by Mexican Marines.

In the darkness of a desolate highway, R-27’s voice trembled through the radio, pleading for help that would never come. His desperation echoed through a viral video, spreading doubt across social media—was this genuine, or a carefully crafted piece of cartel propaganda meant to weaken the Chapitos’ resolve?