The Greedy Kingpin of Durango: Episode 2

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The Greedy Kingpin of Durango (#TGKPOD): Episode 2 – Corruption & Power in Durango

Editor’s Note: In Episode 1, we traced Alejandro Cabrera Sarabia’s ruthless rise, earning him the nickname “El 02.” His brutal tactics transformed the Cabrera family’s operations from strategic planning into a reign of terror. Now, we explore how Alejandro tightened his grip on power, using not only violence but a meticulously crafted web of corruption. This chapter reveals the political deals, bribery of officials, and economic strongholds that enabled the Cabrera family to dominate Durango and Zacatecas.

Durango, Mexico — The sun creeps over the jagged hills of Durango, casting long shadows on a region where the state no longer holds the reins. This is Cabrera Sarabia country now. Alejandro Cabrera Sarabia didn’t just kill rivals—he bought the very institutions designed to rein him in. His empire isn’t just built on violence; it thrives on corruption that starts at the top and trickles down like poison. His brother-in-law, Héctor Herrera, a local deputy for Morena, runs his own web of influence deep inside Durango’s government. The Cabrera family’s reach isn’t limited to politicians—it contaminates every layer of the power structure, ensuring that nothing moves without their say-so.

A Family Affair: The Ties that Bind

Alejandro’s personal life bleeds into his criminal empire. He’s married to Héctor Herrera’s sister, making Héctor a political ally and family. With these blood ties, the Cabreras have sewn themselves into the heart of Durango’s political machine. Twice the mayor of Otaez, Héctor ensured the Cabreras’ criminal operations thrived unchecked. Otaez, Alejandro’s stronghold, became a sanctuary for cartel activity. Drug-smuggling airstrips ran freely, while local police turned a blind eye, their loyalty bought with bribes disguised as gifts.

Alejandro’s sons, Alejandro Jr. and Jorge collect daily extortion payments from street vendors and other small businesses in Durango. Meanwhile, his daughter, spoiled and influential in local politics, strengthens the family’s grip on power. At her quinceañera, luxury trucks were handed out to police officers—a brazen display of the Cabreras’ stranglehold on law enforcement.

The Political Web: Buying Power in Durango

The Cabrera family’s influence reaches far beyond family ties. When Esteban Villegas Villarreal campaigned for governor of Durango, the Cabreras reportedly funneled an estimated 100 to 150 million pesos into his run, roughly between $5.5 million and $8.25 million USD. Alejandro allegedly referred to Villegas as “his employee,” claiming that the state police would safeguard his operations. This wasn’t just talk—the Cabreras’ infiltration of state security is well-known.

Many officials are believed to be on the family’s payroll, from the Secretary of Public Security to local police commanders. Even Jesús Antonio Rosso Holguín, the former Secretary of Public Security and father-in-law of Governor Esteban Villegas (married to Marisol Rosso), allegedly received 50,000 pesos monthly, approximately $2,750 USD. When authorities arrested Felipe Cabrera Sarabia, Alejandro’s brother, they uncovered a list of bribed officials totaling over 3 million pesos monthly. This investment reportedly kept the Cabreras beyond the law’s reach.

Her campaign workers became targets when Marina Vitela ran against Villegas in the 2022 gubernatorial race. Days before the election, police detained several of Vitela’s top aides on bogus charges of vote-buying, a move orchestrated by the Cabreras. The warning was unmistakable: cross us, and you’ll pay the price. Villegas won the governorship, and with him in office, the Cabreras tightened their chokehold on Durango’s political and economic power.

Extortion: The Lifeblood of Control

While drug trafficking filled their coffers, the Cabreras expanded their empire through ruthless extortion. No corner of Durango’s economy was safe—everyone reportedly paid a “tax” to the Cabrera family, from car dealerships to taco stands. Those who resisted paid in blood. In one notorious incident, a homemade bomb tore through a car dealership just outside Durango City, wrecking several vehicles. Although authorities quickly labeled it a “private dispute,” locals knew better. This wasn’t a simple argument—it was a warning from the Cabreras. Pay up, or face the consequences.

The bombing was just a glimpse of how the Cabreras’ extortion network operates. Their racket touches every sector—from sawmills and restaurants to gas stations and seafood markets. Even public events, like municipal fairs, aren’t spared. The Cabreras demand their cut from every transaction, slowly bleeding Durango’s businesses dry while the state government turns a blind eye.

The Narco-Politician: Héctor Herrera’s Role

Alejandro’s brother-in-law, Héctor Herrera, is more than just an influential political figure—he’s reportedly the architect of the Cabreras’ dominance in Durango. As a deputy for Morena, Héctor skillfully manipulated his influence to shield the family’s operations. He allegedly engineered the 2022 election interference that secured Esteban Villegas’s victory and facilitated the creation of drug-smuggling airstrips in Vascogil. The Cabreras’ power went unchecked as Héctor ensured local law enforcement turned a blind eye. Their lavish mansion in Otaez, used to host high-ranking officials, was more than just a show of wealth—it was a brazen display of control over Durango’s political elite.

Héctor’s influence, however, stretches beyond Durango. His criminal reach extends into Zacatecas, where he collaborates with Olegario Chaidez, a top commander for Los Mayos and a close compadre of the Cabrera family. Meanwhile, El Zarco—another key figure—controls significant territories in Zacatecas, keeping rival cartels like the CJNG at bay. El Zarco’s operations are highly organized and militarized, utilizing advanced technology like Starlink antennas for seamless communication.

He runs fortified safehouses, including a notorious one near Chalchihuites, where his soldiers regroup and plan their moves. Together with the Cabreras, El Zarco has turned Zacatecas into a cartel battleground where every criminal faction fights for dominance.

The Expansion into Zacatecas

Durango isn’t the only territory in the Cabreras’ sights. José Luis Cabrera Sarabia, known as “El 03,” commands their operations in Zacatecas, overseeing critical trafficking routes with the help of Olegario Chaidez Villarreal. Together, their alliance has proven effective in keeping the CJNG at bay, though the battle for dominance is far from over. Zacatecas is now a warzone, with the Cabreras gaining more territory. Meanwhile, El Zarco, as a key lieutenant under José Luis, controls certain territories and fortifies the Cabreras’ hold on the region.

Olegario Chaidez Villarreal—also referred to as Sr. O or General Villa—serves as the armed muscle for the Cabrera group in Zacatecas. Meanwhile, El Zarco, a separate lieutenant under José Luis, leads operations in fortified territories in Zacatecas. His loyal enforcers, who refer to themselves as “people of Villa,” maintain a stronghold in the Sierra of Zacatecas, covering Chalchihuites, Jiménez del Teul, and Sombrerete along the Durango border.

His power extends beyond violence—his empire thrives on kidnapping, extortion, and control over nearly every aspect of local economies. He dominates the beer trade, street lighting, stolen fuel, drug trafficking, and municipal fairs, but his reach goes further. He reportedly pulls strings in mining, agriculture, livestock, cigarette sales, garbage collection, and scrap metal industries. With local police, the National Guard, and the army (SEDENA) on his payroll. El Zarco runs a militarized, tech-savvy operation, using tools like Starlink antennas for secure communication.

As Zacatecas sinks deeper into chaos, the Cabreras have thrown their weight behind Los Mayos in their ongoing war against Los Chapitos. The conflict has already claimed dozens of lives. Narcomantas, ominous banners that serve as public declarations, have appeared across the state, condemning the Cabreras and branding them as “greedy pigs” for violating cartel codes. But Alejandro Cabrera Sarabia, ever defiant, refuses to back down. His focus remains on defending his territory, no matter the cost.

A State Held Hostage

Durango is a state held hostage—not just by criminals but by the very officials sworn to protect its people. The Cabrera family has embedded itself into every layer of government, ensuring that extortion, murder, and drug trafficking thrive without interference. The recent attack on the car lot is just another violent message to the community: pay up or face the consequences. Businesses can’t survive without handing over a cut to the Cabreras, and those who dare resist are met with swift and brutal retaliation.

As violence continues to escalate across Durango and Zacatecas, the state government remains conspicuously silent. Esteban Villegas, propped up by Cabrera’s money, seems more interested in preserving his power than safeguarding the public. Meanwhile, Alejandro Cabrera Sarabia pulls the strings of his criminal empire with the full backing of his political allies. Durango’s future grows darker with each passing day as the Cabreras tighten their grip, their reign bolstered by a state apparatus that abandoned its citizens long ago.

Mica’s Analysis

In Episode 2, we’ve pulled back the curtain on the layers of corruption that underpin the Cabrera family’s operations. Their stranglehold on Durango’s economy, through widespread extortion and deep political connections, leaves little room for any legitimate authority to stand against them. The bombing of the car lot is just one example of the violence they wield to enforce their dominance, underscoring a more significant issue: the total collapse of governance in Durango. The state has become the Cabreras’ playground, with Alejandro’s network transforming their criminal enterprise into a fully-fledged narco-state.

And the Cabreras’ ambitions don’t stop at Durango. With a growing foothold in Zacatecas, their influence is spreading rapidly. As the Sinaloa Cartel fractures and alliances shift, the Cabreras are positioning themselves as a dominant force in the region, challenging even Los Chapitos and the CJNG. But this unchecked ambition comes with a price. Their reckless expansion has sparked backlash within the cartel world, isolating them in a landscape where enemies multiply as fast as allies vanish.

As we move into Episode 3, we’ll delve deeper into the rising violence between the Cabreras and their rivals and the growing unrest gripping Zacatecas and Durango. We’ll examine how Alejandro’s aggressive tactics are beginning to have unintended consequences, escalating external tensions and setting the stage for a conflict that threatens to rip the region apart.

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For years, Alejandro Cabrera Sarabia mainly remained unknown outside of Durango. The world knew of Los Cabreras, but Alejandro operated in the shadows. That anonymity ended when Mayito Flaco ignited the Sinaloa Cartel war on September 9, 2024, sparking a violent conflict that has now raged for 39 days. Alejandro, once a ghost in the cartel world, now finds himself at the heart of a war that could reshape the entire region.

The Cabrera family’s reign of terror is no longer confined to the shadows. It’s out in the open, and they’re daring anyone to stop them. But with rising resentment simmering in both Durango and Zacatecas, cracks are beginning to show in their empire. Can they hold on to control, or will the weight of their greed bring their empire crashing down?