A journalist in northern Mexico is expressing serious concerns for her safety after a notorious drug lord publicly declared intentions to kill her due to her reporting. Despite the threats made through banners by this drug lord, President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration has declined to offer any protection, in spite of existing programs meant to safeguard at-risk journalists.
The situation became evident last week when Jose Rodolfo “El Rodo” Ramones Barba’s armed group displayed banners in San Nicolas, in Nuevo Leon state. In these banners, El Rodo proclaimed that his enemies had failed to eliminate him and he was now planning retaliatory actions. He also targeted journalist Valdez, branding her a subpar reporter and threatening her over her coverage of his activities and location.
Over the weekend, Valdez took to social media to reveal that her application for protection through Mexico’s Journalists Protection Program had been declined. Officials cited a perceived lack of danger in her work for their decision. This denial has fueled significant criticism of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s government, accused of failing to curb the influence of drug cartels.
In 2020, Breitbart Texas was the first to publish an image of El Rodo, who currently leads an independent crime organization called Los Rodos. This group has gained control over certain areas in the Monterrey metropolitan region, located near the Mexico border. Previously, El Rodo was affiliated with the Gulf Cartel but later distanced himself from it, temporarily joining forces with the rival Cartel del Noreste of Los Zetas to seize control of significant territories.
Recently, authorities from the Nuevo Leon State Bureau of Investigation detained El Rodo in Monterrey as he was recovering from injuries caused by a rival attack. Earlier in January, gunmen had attempted to kill him in a supermarket parking lot.
