In the midst of a raging violence epidemic, authorities in Guanajuato state estimate that there are approximately 60,000 “houses of terror” – abandoned or soon-to-be-abandoned buildings seized by organized crime and transformed into torture chambers or dens for drug users.
The term “house of terror” is not a new one in Mexico, but it has taken on a different meaning in Guanajuato. For residents like Julián, 32, who prefers to remain anonymous due to his involvement in the illicit trade, these houses are also known as “panic rooms.”
Julián describes these establishments as places where people can indulge in cocaine and other substances without fear of detection or reprisal. He claims that there are numerous such locations throughout León, the state’s capital city.
According to Julián, a typical house of terror may have two windows partially covered by thin curtains and a cracked floor. He shows a photo on his phone of one such location, pointing out a red stain he believes is blood.
Julián reveals that these houses are frequently used for drug consumption, with cocaine being the most widely used substance. He explains that it is often smoked in its solid form, known as crack, or mixed with other substances like bicarbonate to create a stronger effect.
The use of cocaine has become widespread in Guanajuato, with authorities reporting 620 seizures between January 2020 and April 2024. The majority of these seizures took place in León, Julián’s hometown and the hub of his illicit business.
Julián believes that the presence of organized crime groups in Guanajuato is a significant factor contributing to the state’s drug consumption problem. He also suggests that many people who traveled abroad and returned to Mexico with addictions have contributed to this issue.
Alberto Guerrero Baena, an expert on security and violence issues, agrees with Julián, stating that Guanajuato serves as a nerve center for cocaine trafficking in central Mexico.
Julián’s candid admission about working for the “four letters” – a term commonly used to refer to the CJNG. He seems to find humor in the idea of fear, especially when it comes to others.
The situation in Guanajuato highlights the need for authorities to address the root causes of drug consumption and organized crime. It also underscores the importance of providing support services to those struggling with addiction.
In an effort to combat this issue, the Mexican government has implemented various initiatives aimed at reducing violence and promoting public safety. However, much work remains to be done to tackle the complex challenges facing Guanajuato and other regions plagued by organized crime and drug-related violence.
In most parts of the country, the four-letter cartel is the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel (CJNG), led by El Mencho, but in Guanajuato, it may be the CSRL or Santa Rosa Lima Cartel, once a powerful local criminal group that was led by José Antonio Yépez, El Marro, which has now divided into multiple armed wings.
Both groups are vying for control of drugs in the state against three other major rivals: the Sinaloa Cartel, the Gulf Cartel and La Unión de León. This has turned Guanajuato into a hotbed of intentional homicides with 10 per day last year alone.
The individuals responsible for the two car bombs that exploded on October 24 are likely members of one of these five criminal groups: one in Jerécuaro and the other in Acámbaro.
The damage caused to houses and businesses suggests an unprecedented use of explosives, much more lethal than the first car bombs seen at the beginning of the so-called “war on drugs.”
“I think that in Guanajuato they are aware of the serious problem they have: they have already crossed the barrier of terrorism, although the federal government does not want to recognize it,” says Guerrero Baena.
“The federal strategy has been from top to bottom, and I think that this does not work in some states; I think that a key point is to work in the municipalities, especially in the southern area where it borders Michoacán. There, in that region, the majority migrate because of violence,” he adds.
Minors carrying .38 caliber and 9 mm pistols
At first glance, Julian doesn’t seem like a threatening person. Even when he wants to portray himself as one, his thug attitude appears false. Deep down, it seems like he’s scared, although he assures us that he is a careful guy, except that he doesn’t bring his gun to our meeting.
“If you saw me armed, you’d think differently about me,” he says and smiles. “You have to be armed when going into the ‘panic houses’ because you never know who wants to steal from you.” There are some who come in with a knife, a stick, or even sticks. I bring my revolver and if I want, I’ll blow the head off whoever wants to take my things,” he says.
Increasingly, he claims that the “panic houses” become meeting places to buy or sell weapons. It’s common for those who don’t have money to offer a 9mm pistol or a .38 caliber revolver in exchange for a pass that will ease the pain of withdrawal.
And increasingly, he claims that it is minors who offer these transactions. Another consequence of the abandonment of these homes.
“There are already children aged 10 and 11 years old. Some consume, they are all lost there, even drooling from so much drug. Others, I think, are sent by their parents to sell weapons, and this is how they get money,” he says.
Again, his statements are confirmed by official data. In October of this year, a citizen asked the National Guard about minors arrested for carrying weapons between 2020 and 2024, requesting details on each arrest by age, entity, and type of weapon.
The National Guard responded with a database of 122 minors under 18 years old who have been arrested for carrying a weapon in those four years. The youngest is just eight years old; most are 17 years old.
Michoacán leads this black statistic with 29 teenagers arrested; Guanajuato comes second, tied with Sonora, with 23 arrests.
Irapuato ranks as the municipality at the national level with the most minors arrested for carrying weapons: between 14 and 17 years old when they were caught by members of the National Guard. Short, long, and homemade weapons were seized from them.
“If you saw a ‘house of panic,’ if you slept a night there, you would realize that this is enough. How are politicians going to fix something like this? I say that there is no remedy,” Julián perceives and shakes his head.
“It’s as if Guanajuato were one of those addicts. How do you get it back on its feet? There is no way. It cannot be done.” I would like to tell him that there is a remedy, although I don’t know what it is either. What I do know is that tons of cocaine, panic houses, and armed minors are not the solution.
And he laughs again, showing me his teeth and shaking his pack. Tonight, panic will break out in his head when he snorts cocaine until he almost dies.
Source: Milenio
