In makeshift workshops in Culiacán, mechanics linked to the Sinaloa Cartel work at night to hide fentanyl shipments. Using tools, car parts, and headlights, the operators wrap the drug in aluminum foil and charcoal to evade X-rays and spray it with chemicals that disguise its scent from trained dogs.
Night Operations and Modified Vehicles
One of these mechanics, with more than two decades in the business, explained to The New York Times how he carved a false compartment behind the driver’s door of a car to hide six kilograms of the opioid, valued at up to $90,000.
The method varies with each operation: sometimes the gas tank is used, other times the engine or the body, always seeking to avoid detection.
Strategies Under Pressure
The cartel faces a simultaneous offensive: the United States government, under the Donald Trump administration, has ordered military measures against groups designated as terrorist organizations, while Mexico has deployed hundreds of soldiers to dismantle their structure.
Faced with this scenario, the criminal organization has opted for longer routes, reduced loads, and detailed plans that include “halcones” (lookouts)—lookouts who warn of checkpoints or patrols—and bribes to military personnel at strategic points in Sinaloa and Sonora. Coordination is key: each driver receives coded instructions on roads and detours, avoiding improvisation.
Border Crossings and Corruption
On the journey to the border, the cartel network includes coordinators on both sides, who verify the security of the crossing. According to testimonies collected by The New York Times, in some cases, U.S. border agents are involved, accepting payments to allow vehicles to pass without inspection.
One driver recounted how he had to stop for several days in Sonora after receiving a tip-off that his car had been identified. The operation ultimately continued thanks to a vehicle swap and new payments to contacts at the border, allowing the drugs to arrive in Tucson, Arizona, before being shipped to California.
Adaptation and Unexpected Alliances
The report notes that, in addition to diversifying routes to the United States, the Sinaloa Cartel has redirected shipments to Europe, moved laboratories outside its home state, and reduced its payroll to sustain operations. It has even formed alliances with former rivals to keep the business going.
Despite the pressure, the members interviewed showed no intention of abandoning fentanyl production and trafficking. They argue that demand in the United States remains high and that if they don’t supply it, another criminal group will.
Territorial Control According to the DEA
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the cartel maintains almost total control of Arizona’s southern border, especially in San Luis Río Colorado and Nogales, facilitating the entry of shipments through ports like Mariposa.
Even with increased seizures, more checkpoints, and higher bribery costs, the organization continues to find ways to maintain its routes and adapt to each threat.
Source: unotv
