Banners appeared Monday in northern Mexico purportedly signed by a faction of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel claiming that the gang has sworn off the sale and production of the synthetic opioid fentanyl.
But experts quickly cast doubt on the veracity of the claim, saying that fentanyl - which has caused tens of thousands of overdose deaths in the United States - remains one of the cartel’s biggest money makers.
“In Sinaloa, the sale, manufacture, transport or any other business dealing with fentanyl, is strictly prohibited, including the sale of chemicals used to produce it,” the banners read. “You have been warned. Respectfully, Chapitos.” In September, Mexico extradited Ovidio Guzmán López, one of the Chapitos, to the United States to face drug trafficking, money laundering and other charges. Mexican security forces captured Guzmán López, alias “the Mouse,” in January in Culiacan, capital of Sinaloa state, the cartel’s namesake.
“The Sinaloa Cartel strategy is to move away from plant-based drugs” like cocaine, marijuana and heroin, Vigil said. Giving up fentanyl - which could strengthen the rival Jalisco gang - “is going to give Jalisco the keys to basically overshadow them in terms of money.” The Chapitos became known for grotesque violence that appeared to surpass any notions of restraint shown by earlier generations of cartel leaders.
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