Recently, two online “drug banners” emerged, warning Americans against traveling to Mexico’s Los Cabos region, provoking fears about cartel intimidation. Despite these alarms, local authorities in Baja California Sur assert that no such signs ever existed.
The banners, allegedly from a faction of the Sinaloa cartel named La Chapizza, contained threats aimed at Americans in this popular tourist area. The images of these banners circulated widely on social media, but investigations found no evidence to support their existence.
Joe Peters, a district attorney from Pennsylvania who previously worked in the White House drug trafficking office, commented on the seriousness of the cartel situation. “Having a sophisticated cartel so close to home is indeed alarming,” he remarked, emphasizing the impact on both the U.S. and Mexican governments. “They employ intimidation tactics akin to the mafia.”
Narcomantas, as these public banners are called, have historically been a means for cartels to assert power, intimidate rivals, and send messages to the public. Peters pointed out that given their proximity to the U.S. border, reports of such banners should not be taken lightly. He added, “Considering the number of Americans visiting Latin America for various reasons, there’s a significant risk of extortion.”
Peters warned that the current situation bears resemblance to tactics he witnessed firsthand during the 1980s and ’90s with Colombian drug cartels that maintained control through intimidation and corruption. “Their strategy is quite straightforward: control the political structure through fear,” he explained.
What sets today’s scenario apart, he highlighted, is just how close the danger is to the U.S. Many Americans frequently visit these regions for leisure or business, making them particularly vulnerable to potential crimes such as extortion or kidnapping.
His advice? It’s simple, yet crucial. “Avoid going unless absolutely necessary. Just please, exercise caution and stick to safer areas.”
