“HEARST”, “Sol Prendido”, and “Redlogarythm” for Borderland Beat
Hitmen working for los Chapitos used photo editing and emojis on a narco banner in a bizarre, extremely online attempt to mock their rival, El Nando, in Sonora.
Chapitos Banner 01 Mocking the Caborca Cartel
On April 27, 2023, multiple narco banners were placed by cartel hitmen at various points in the city of Obregón, located in the state of Sonora.
Obregón is currently contested territory, being fought over by the Sinaloa Cartel – Chapitos faction and the Caborca Cartel. The banners were unsigned but the content of the message attacks Caborca Cartel figures so it is very likely the messages come from Los Chapitos.
There are photos of at least 4 different locations and at least 2 different banner messages.
Banner 1 reads as follows, as translated by Sol Prendido:
This is a call to all citizens in general.
We come with all our might to get rid of the garbage that year after year has had the city in panic. Killing innocent people without caring. Be it a woman, a child, or a student. We’ve had enough of so much death. We ask for your patience. We come to give you tranquility and to bring peace back to the city. Anyone who is selling blue meth in the streets, this is your last chance to fall into formation., if you don’t want to end up like El Regalo and El Wacho. We’re coming after you Commander Lobo. Along with that gang of filthy individuals who are with you.
This banner contains very important information. It’s the first confirmation that the Caborca Cartel leader for the Obregon region, Fernando Salmerón Sánchez, alias “El Nando” also goes by the alias “El Lobo”.
Now, technically, this banner refers to “La Nanda” and “La Loba”, rather than “El Nando” and “El Lobo” however the difference is merely the words being changed to the feminine version. In Spanish, changing a man’s name or alias to the feminine form is a derogatory gesture, implying a lack of toughness.
Chapitos Banner 02 Mocking the Caborca Cartel
The second set of banners utilizes edited images of a rival cartel figure and emojis within the text, creating a message that reads more like an online comment or social media post caption.
Banner 2 reads as follows, as translated by Sol Prendido:
Attention: Notice to the community of Cajeme
It is brought to your attention that the events that are happening lately are because we are removing the last remaining trash from La Nanda aka La Loba. 🤣 This is being done in order to return the tranquility of this city. We ask for your patience as this city will return to what it was before. And to the individuals who sell blue meth, fall into formation. You are on borrowed time before you meet the fate of your Commander 💀Jona aka El Wacho.
This is your last warning.
A photo from Nando’s time in prison was used in this second set of banners. The image is edited to show wolf ears (for his alias “El Lobo” or the wolf), a pink bow, and tears. Chapitos placed similar banners decrying El Nando earlier this month, as covered here.
Although there were vague rumors of El Nando being El Lobo prior, these banners are really the first instance when it was claimed outright.
This revelation means that El Nando was behind the October 2022 interrogation video in which a man working for los Chapitos said he was forced into taking the job through threats to his family. He also claimed the bosses in Sinaloa didn’t pay him and his only chance to make money for food was through kidnapping for ransom schemes.
Nando’s hitmen later dismembered the man seen in the video and left his remains in a macabre public display. To read the full English translation of the video and message left alongside the remains, please see this previous story.