Criminal Groups Use Larger Names to Evade Detection, Mexico Security Chief Says

Local criminal organizations in Mexico are adopting the names of larger, more established cartels to shield their activities, according to Omar García Harfuch, the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection. He acknowledged that these smaller, often violent groups, exploit the reputation of bigger organizations, even if they have no direct affiliation.

Harfuch announced that his office will conduct a comprehensive review by federal entity to ascertain the total number of these local and more expansive criminal groups responsible for generating violence. He highlighted recent successes in Sinaloa, where over 6,000 firearms were seized and more than 2,500 individuals arrested for high-impact crimes, including significant criminal leaders.

The security secretary also observed a shift in the dynamics of the Sinaloa Cartel, noting a reconfiguration of its factions. Previously, arrests in areas like Culiacán primarily targeted members of a specific faction, known as "Los Chapitos." However, Harfuch stated that current arrests now include individuals from "Los Chapitos" as well as other factions, indicating a reduction in the dominance of any single group.

Regarding the investigation into the assassination of Bernardo Soriano Castro, former deputy prosecutor for High-Impact Crimes in Baja California Sur, Harfuch confirmed that the state's Attorney General's Office is leading the inquiry. Additionally, authorities have identified a cell within the Sinaloa Cartel operating in Los Cabos, involved in drug dealing and illicit entertainment businesses.