“El Armadillo” for Borderland Beat
Borderland Beat received the following image from a verified source within the Cartel del Sinaloa – Chapitos faction. Below is the translated text
“This is an announcement from Alejandro Lopez Guzman informing the people that as of this moment we are offering a 10 million pesos reward for information leading to the capture and/or killing of the narco governor of Durango, Esteban Villegas, for his relationship and cooperation in taking care of the Cabrera narcoterrorists and their organization in the state of Durango where he has provided security and allowed for the free distribution of drugs. We are also offering 2 million pesos for each commander and each government official involved with the Cabrera.”
Governor Villegas, a member of the PRI who took office in 2022, is being accused of allowing the Cabrera Sarabia brothers to reign in Durango.
Illicit Investigations has reported on the relationship between the Governor and the cartel brothers “The current governor of Durango, Esteban Villegas Villarreal, is another kingpin. A longtime friend of the Cabrera Sarabia brothers, when he served as Mayor of the state capital, he used the cartel’s front companies as suppliers, delivering gasoline and food to the municipality. Villegas Villarreal frequently meets with the Cabrera Sarabia brothers, informing them about the political inner workings of the state and federal government. These bosses have consolidated their economic power not only through drug trafficking but also by collecting fees throughout the state and acting as contractors for the state government and some municipalities.”
Less is known about Alejandro Lopez Guzman but our sources indicate he is a cousin of Ovidio “El Raton” Guzman Lopez and Joaquin “El Guero Moreno” Guzman Lopez, who both are in US custody. Alejandro is believed to be a high ranking member of Los Chapitos who manages his own faction in the organization, though details beyond this are unclear. What is clear is that this move is a strike in the ongoing war between the two factions of the Sinaloa Cartel. The Cabrera Sarabia brothers are allies of Ismael Zambada Sicairos “Mayito Flaco” and an obstacle for Los Chapitos in their fight to eliminate their rivals and take full control of Durango.
This offer of roughly $500,000 USD comes as the State Department prepares to designate various criminal groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, including the Sinaloa Cartel.