Threats Against U.S. Citizens from Mexican Cartels

A troubling development has emerged as Mexican cartel gunmen unfurled two banners directed at FBI Director Kasz Patel and other officials from both the U.S. and Mexico. These threats specifically target American citizens residing in the Cabo San Lucas and San Jose areas. It seems to underscore the belief that the United States is deeply entangled in the ongoing turf wars of the Sinaloa and Baja California cartels.

The banners first appeared in Baja California on Sunday, reportedly signed by a faction known as Los Chapitos. They vow to attack U.S. citizens in Mexico starting that same day, a response to recent raids on drug labs and weapons seizures.

This threat comes amid rising violence in several Mexican states linked to the brutal conflict between Los Chapitos and another faction of the Sinaloa cartel, known as the Maisa faction. The bloodshed escalated following the capture of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada by Los Chapitos, leading to what has become a fierce power struggle lasting over 14 months, resulting in thousands of deaths and widespread chaos.

Both factions of the Sinaloa cartel have been designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. government, a classification made by the State Department earlier this year.

The violence seems to be spilling over into Baja California, an area known for its popular beach resorts that attract many American tourists. Recently, the U.S. Treasury implemented sanctions against key members of the Sinaloa Cartel in Baja California, including various companies linked to them. One of the controversial individuals involved was a former mayor of Rosalito, creating further tensions.