The sons of notorious drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, better known as “Los Chapitos,” have reportedly banned the production and sale of fentanyl in Sinaloa, a state in Mexico. If the Sinaloa Cartel stops manufacturing the dangerous drug, it could potentially help bring an end to America’s fentanyl problem once and for all. But there is some speculation about whether or not El Chapo’s sons will keep their fentanyl ban in place for the long haul.
El Chapo’s Sons and Their Drug Empire
Infamous drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was extradited to the U.S. in 2017 and sentenced to life in prison. But that hasn’t necessarily stopped his reign of terror in Mexico.
Guzman’s four sons, who go by the collective nickname “Los Chapitos,” have all reportedly gotten involved in the family business in recent years and helped usher the notorious Sinaloa Cartel into a new era. They’ve been able to do it by building a fentanyl empire that has proven to be extremely profitable. One recent report revealed the cartel has figured out how to use $800 worth of chemicals to create almost $600,000 worth of fentanyl at a time.
A Fentanyl Ban?
Despite all the success El Chapo’s sons have enjoyed thanks to fentanyl, a new report suggests they might be switching up the approach they’ve been taking to the illegal drug trade. According to this report, Los Chapitos may have put up banners in Sinaloa recently announcing the enacting of a ban on both the production and sale of fentanyl in the Mexican state.
“In Sinaloa, the sale, manufacture, transport, or any other business dealing with fentanyl is strictly prohibited, including the sale of chemicals used to produce it,” the banners said. “You have been warned. Respectfully, Los Chapitos.”
Is This Really Happening?
Because of all the money the Sinaloa Cartel has been able to make by selling fentanyl, there is some skepticism surrounding the banners about the drug’s ban. Mexican authorities have already come out and said they aren’t sure if the banners were actually commissioned by El Chapo’s sons.
However several sources have spoken with reputable news outlets in the U.S. and confirmed that both the banners and the fentanyl ban are legitimate.
How Soon the Fentanyl Ban Could Make an Impact
If the Los Chapitos banners that went up in Sinaloa are, in fact, real, the next question will be about how long it would take for a fentanyl ban to have an impact. Many people hope it would limit the amount of fentanyl that’s been making its way into the U.S. and other countries right away. But experts warn it might not produce the immediate results that so many people want.
The Sinaloa Cartel is one of the biggest and most powerful cartels in Mexico, but it’s just one of almost 200 cartels in total. So it wouldn’t be surprising to see other cartels continue to manufacture and sell fentanyl. It also wouldn’t be surprising to see the Sinaloa Cartel continue to use fentanyl as part of its drug operation in other parts of Mexico outside of Sinaloa.
Could This All Be an Act?
There is also some concern that El Chapo’s sons and the Sinaloa Cartel as a whole might just be putting on an act right now to appease government officials in both Mexico and the U.S. The U.S. government is currently applying a lot of pressure on the Mexican government in an attempt to stop so much fentanyl from finding its way into America.
Some analysts believe Los Chapitos might be feeling the effects of this pressure in the form of drug raids and arrests, which could be why they’ve decided to publicize the fact that they’ve decided to ban fentanyl.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is also offering $10 million to anyone who can provide information that leads to the arrest of two of El Chapo’s sons, which could be another reason why the Sinaloa Cartel is making it seem as though it’s putting a fentanyl ban in place.
What This Could Mean for America
If El Chapo’s sons and the Sinaloa Cartel do decide to ban fentanyl for good, it could have huge ramifications in the U.S. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fentanyl is responsible for about 75,000 overdose deaths among Americans each year.
A fentanyl ban instituted by the Sinaloa Cartel could help bring that number down dramatically in the coming years. It could also improve the relationship that exists between the U.S. and Mexico.
The post Unexpected Twist in America’s Fentanyl Problem: Are El Chapo’s Sons the Key to Solving It? first appeared on The Net Worth Of.
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