A faction within Mexico’s notorious Sinaloa cartel has displayed banners throughout the state, declaring the cessation of production and sale of fentanyl, an extremely potent drug more powerful than heroin.
Reportedly ordered by the sons of former Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, these banners, commonly referred to as “narcomantas,” emerged in northern Sinaloa state on Monday, as reported by Reuters news agency.
The banners bore the signature of “Los Chapitos,” a group of brothers who assumed control of their father’s criminal empire after Guzman’s extradition to the United States in 2017. These sons are known as “the Chapitos,” drawing their name from their infamous father.
The messages on the banners explicitly stated, “In Sinaloa, the sale, manufacture, transport, or any other business involving fentanyl is strictly prohibited, including the sale of chemicals used to produce it. You have been warned. Respectfully, Chapitos.”
These banners appeared at a time when U.S. authorities are intensifying pressure on Mexico to take action against criminal groups involved in fentanyl production. This year, the U.S. government identified the “little Chapos” as the primary suppliers of fentanyl to the United States.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 109,680 overdose deaths occurred in the United States last year, with approximately 75,000 linked to fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.
U.S. prosecutors allege that a significant portion of fentanyl production takes place in and around the state capital, Culiacan, where the Sinaloa cartel holds considerable sway.
The authenticity of these banners remains uncertain, and experts have expressed doubts, arguing that fentanyl continues to be one of the cartel’s major sources of income.
