According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the Sinaloa drug cartel has engaged hackers to keep tabs on FBI informants.
A recently released report from the DOJ inspector’s office details a plot from 2018 where the cartel sought to locate and eliminate informants in Mexico City. However, it stops short of providing specifics on how many individuals were threatened or killed.
In this 47-page audit, it’s revealed that the hackers tracked individuals visiting the U.S. embassy in Mexico City and identified key figures linked to the cartel, such as the FBI assistant legal attaché.
Moreover, the hackers monitored movements of FBI informants by accessing geographical data from their mobile phones and listening in on their calls. They also exploited various surveillance cameras around Mexico City to identify people meeting with FBI agents.
The report emphasizes that the cartel leverages this intelligence for blackmail and, in some instances, to eliminate potential informants and witnesses.
It highlights the current leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, who is serving a life sentence in a Super Max facility in Colorado after his extradition in 2017.
Derek Maltz, a former acting DEA administrator, noted that the cartel is a multi-billion dollar enterprise utilizing advanced technology to enhance its operations. “They employ cutting-edge surveillance methods to monitor law enforcement activities and track adversaries,” he said.
The document discusses advances in data mining, facial recognition, and computer network exploitation, making it significantly easier for criminal organizations to pinpoint FBI personnel and operations.
Some agents, alongside CIA partners, regard this evolving threat as “existential,” according to the report.
In light of this increased danger posed by the Sinaloa cartel, the FBI is formulating strategies to address possible weaknesses and enhance training initiatives for ongoing and future operations.
Earlier this year, President Trump classified the Sinaloa Cartel as a terrorist organization, noting its role in trafficking lethal drugs like fentanyl and heroin across the U.S.-Mexico border.
The U.S. State Department has also pointed out that the Sinaloa cartel is notorious for instilling fear through violence against civilians, government officials, and journalists.
Currently, the cartel is reportedly led by the sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, who are asking U.S. officials to offer a $10 million reward for the capture of Ivan Guzman Salazar and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar.
