By Steve Neavling
Border Patrol agents in western Texas have been warned of potential gunfire from members of the Sinaloa Cartel following the July arrest of two of its high-profile leaders, according to an internal memo.
Historically, Mexican cartels have avoided violent confrontations with U.S. law enforcement to avoid severe retaliation. However, the arrest of Sinaloa Cartel cofounder Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López, son of Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán, on July 25 has changed this dynamic, particularly among younger cartel members.
An internal memo, obtained by NewsNation, alerted federal agents in Texas’ El Paso sector to the new threat. The warning came after contractors working on a ranch in Eagle Pass, Texas, reported gunfire through the border fence on October 15.
“They fear no one anymore, especially US law enforcement,” former Homeland Security Investigation agent Victor Avila told NewsNation. “They do have the resources and they do have the capability, and they will use them against us.”
Under El Chapo’s leadership, the Sinaloa Cartel had prohibited the production of fentanyl, with violators facing the death penalty. The order came from his sons, including Joaquín Guzmán López, who was arrested in July after allegedly betraying Zambada and forcing him onto a plane to the U.S.
As the cartel leadership fractures, violent infighting between rival factions has escalated. In Sinaloa, more than 190 people have been killed in ongoing violence.
Cartel members have also reportedly established blockades throughout Culiacán, the largest city in Sinaloa. At these checkpoints, drivers are stopped at gunpoint while cartel members inspect their phones.
Anyone found to have contacts with rival cartels or who has sent the wrong text or photo can face severe consequences, including injury or death.
