The Greedy Kingpin of Durango: Episode 1

Episode 1: The Rise of “El 02” – Alejandro Cabrera Sarabia’s Path to Power

Editor’s Note: This article is the first in a ten-part deep dive that will walk you through the layers of corruption, violence, and power that define Alejandro Cabrera Sarabia’s rise as “El 02.” Throughout this series, we will reveal the deep-seated influence of the Cabrera family across Durango, Zacatecas, and beyond, exposing the dangerous alliances, betrayals, and ruthless tactics that fuel Mexico’s ongoing cartel wars. While this installment focuses on Alejandro’s ascension, a future episode will cover his younger brother, José Luis Cabrera Sarabia, known as “El 03,” in-depth, exploring his role and the battles that have shaped the family’s criminal empire.

In the pine-covered hills of Durango, fear flowed as freely as the mountain streams. Alejandro Cabrera Sarabia, “El 02,” didn’t just deal in drugs; he squeezed every peso from local businesses. His enforcers roamed the streets, demanding “taxes” from anyone trying to survive. As stories spread of those who disappeared after refusing to pay, Alejandro’s grip tightened, transforming Durango into a kingdom ruled by greed and terror.

Alejandro’s rise was not born from diplomacy or strategic brilliance but from a relentless drive to subdue. His leadership style was a far cry from traditional cartel figures like his older brother, Felipe Cabrera Sarabia, known as “El Inge” or “El 01.” Where Felipe had run operations with a measure of calculation, Alejandro wielded power with unrestrained aggression.

Felipe’s Legacy and the Shift in Power

Alejandro’s ascent began in the shadow of his older brother, Felipe Cabrera Sarabia, also known as “El Inge.” Felipe was a logistics mastermind, managing cocaine and heroin shipments from Durango’s poppy fields to Chicago’s urban markets. He built the family’s reputation on order and reliability, crafting alliances and maintaining stability within the Sinaloa Cartel’s framework. But Felipe’s arrest in 2011, followed by his extradition to the U.S. in 2012, shattered the delicate balance he maintained in the Golden Triangle—a lawless region spanning Durango, Sinaloa, and Chihuahua, known for its drug-producing fields.

Felipe’s arrest coincided with a wave of extreme violence in Durango. The state had become notorious for its mass graves, stark reminders of the cartels’ brutality. In 2011 and 2012, authorities unearthed over 383 bodies in a series of grim discoveries, exposing the human toll of cartel power struggles. The Sinaloa Cartel and Los Zetas clashed over key trafficking routes, with the violence spilling into the lives of everyday people.

When Felipe was handed a 19-year sentence for trafficking in 2023, Alejandro saw an opportunity to reshape the family’s empire. With Felipe sidelined, the region became even more volatile, and Alejandro capitalized on the power vacuum. He discarded the low-profile approach, opting for open displays of control. Businesses in Durango quickly learned that the price of resistance was steep, as “El 02” imposed his will not just with threats but with brutal follow-through.

Felipe had been the tactician; Alejandro was the enforcer. The shift in power moved the Cabrera family from logistical finesse to an era dominated by fear and coercion. The drug trade continued, but Alejandro’s reign was underpinned by extortion, and where Felipe had earned respect, Alejandro demanded obedience.

The Rise of “El 02” and Expansion into Zacatecas

The eruption of violence in Durango during the discovery of mass graves also coincided with the broader fragmentation of the Sinaloa Cartel. Alejandro, who had always operated in his brother’s shadow, now found himself stepping into a leadership role. As he solidified his grip on Durango, he faced the challenge of quelling unrest while simultaneously expanding the family’s influence. His younger brother José Luis Cabrera Sarabia, known as “El 03” or “JL,” became instrumental in extending their reach into neighboring territories.

While Alejandro took the reins as jefe de plaza in Durango, JL acted as the plaza boss in Zacatecas, a state already marred by cartel violence. Together, they sought to control the lucrative drug routes coursing through the Golden Triangle and bolster their ally, Mayito Flaco Zambada, in a power struggle against Los Chapitos. But this wasn’t just about expanding territory; it was about surviving in a shifting cartel landscape where violence had become the norm.

Extortion as the Cornerstone of Control

The mass graves and the surge of federal scrutiny pushed the Cabrera family to shift tactics. The violence laid bare the fragility of their operations, forcing them to consolidate power swiftly. Under Alejandro’s command, they turned to extortion as a central revenue stream. Nothing was off-limits; restaurants, sawmills, brothels, and gas stations all had to pay “cobro de piso”—a tax for the right to operate. Even street vendors were forced to hand over a share of their meager earnings.

Just like any business, expansion requires capital. The cobro de piso rackets provided Los Cabreras with the resources needed to fund their parallel wars in Zacatecas and Sinaloa. The money not only financed their operations but gave them the means to go to war. The brothers’ efforts in Zacatecas targeted the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), which sought to wrest control of the region from the Sinaloa Cartel. At the same time, they fought in the “Sinaloa Civil War,” aligning with Mayito Flaco to challenge Los Chapitos for dominance within the cartel’s fractured hierarchy.

Alejandro’s methods delivered quick gains but came with reckless exposure. His tactics sparked criticism within the cartel, especially from traditionalists who viewed his approach as short-sighted. To them, he wasn’t merely pushing boundaries—he was bulldozing over them, endangering the cartel’s long-term stability for fleeting power.

The first key to a successful cartel isn’t trafficking drugs—it’s corrupting the government. In this picture, you see more than just politicians; you see the pillars of power for the Cabrera family. Each of these ‘narco-politicians’ plays a role in shielding the cartel’s operations. In this deep dive, we’ll uncover how each helps keep Durango’s most powerful criminal organization thriving.

The Marriage of Politics and Crime

Alejandro understood that brute force alone wasn’t enough to secure his empire; political manipulation was equally vital. The 2022 Durango gubernatorial election served as a case in point. As the campaign heated up, Marina Vitela, the Morena party candidate, found her campaign operators targeted. In the early hours of June 5th, police conducted a raid, arresting several of her close associates on allegations of vote-buying. Vitela herself attempted to intervene, climbing onto the back of police vehicles to prevent the transfer of her detained staff while condemning what she called a “repressive” act by authorities. The incident drew widespread media attention and was denounced as politically motivated, casting a shadow over the election process.

Sources close to the Cabrera family allege that Alejandro, through his brother-in-law Héctor Herrera, used his connections to orchestrate the crackdown on Vitela’s campaign. By targeting Morena’s efforts, Alejandro effectively ensured that his ally, Esteban Villegas, would face less opposition. Villegas, a candidate with rumored ties to the Cabrera family, eventually secured the governorship. This incident further solidified the Cabreras’ control over Durango’s political landscape, where the line between governance and criminal enterprise blurred.

Enforcers and Corruption: The Machinery of Power

To enforce his rule and expand their criminal enterprise, Alejandro leaned on enforcer groups like Los Flechas, a unit tasked with violence and intimidation. Los Flechas operated as the backbone of Los Cabreras, ensuring payments were made and dissent was crushed. Their influence extended beyond Durango, clashing with CJNG in Zacatecas and confronting Los Chapitos in a volatile game of brinkmanship. The fighting in Zacatecas became a microcosm of the larger “Sinaloa Civil War,” with the brothers positioning themselves as crucial allies to El Mayo by engaging multiple adversaries.

But muscle alone was not enough. Alejandro’s ability to maintain his hold depended on a well-oiled network of corruption. His brother-in-law, Héctor Herrera, was pivotal in shielding the cartel from scrutiny. As a deputy for the Morena party and former mayor of Otaez, Herrera’s political clout was an asset Alejandro exploited, intertwining crime with governance. The arrangement was mutually beneficial; millions meant for public works were siphoned off into the Cabreras’ accounts, financing their lifestyle and fueling their war efforts.

The deeper this corruption ran, the more it fanned public resentment. Communities watched services deteriorate while the Cabrera brothers flaunted their wealth. Alejandro’s rise had come at a steep cost, and it wasn’t just his rivals who bristled under his rule—resentment simmered among the very people he claimed to protect.

The Turning Tide: Enemies on All Sides

As Alejandro’s expansion accelerated, he faced mounting challenges not only from rival groups but also within his own organization. His aggressive tactics and reliance on extortion drew scrutiny from traditionalists in the cartel, who viewed his approach as a departure from the measured strategies that had long defined the Sinaloa Cartel. Los Chapitos seized on this discontent, openly criticizing the Cabrera brothers for fueling unnecessary violence and greed.

The escalating conflict extended beyond the internal power struggle. CJNG’s incursions into Zacatecas threatened to sever key trafficking routes, forcing Alejandro to bolster alliances with El Mayo to maintain the family’s stronghold. Yet, as the cartel splintered under the strain of multiple fronts, narcomantas appeared across the region, branding Alejandro and JL as “greedy pigs” who had lost sight of the cartel’s traditional code.

Alejandro Cabrera Sarabia’s rise signaled a new era of ambition across Durango, Zacatecas, and Sinaloa. His transformation of the family business from logistics to a regime marked by intimidation brought rapid gains, but also sowed seeds of discord. With CJNG and Los Chapitos applying pressure from all sides, the reign of “El 02” teeters on the edge, as external threats and internal divisions threaten to unravel his empire.