The Sinaloa Cartel's recent recruitment of teenagers to carry out a hit in California highlights the ongoing violence and rivalry with the Arellano Félix Cartel stemming from drug trafficking incidents.
A drug shipment theft in Tijuana at the end of 2023 sparked a violent clash between the Sinaloa Cartel and the Arellano Félix Cartel (CAF), leading to escalating conflicts across the Mexico-United States border. Recent accusations in the United States have shed light on the retaliatory actions taken by the Sinaloa organization, particularly their alarming decision to recruit a pair of teenagers to execute a murder on their behalf. This showcases not only the brutality of cartel operations but also the lengths to which these groups will go to maintain their power and control in the drug trade.
The U.S. Department of Justice documents reveal that members of the Arellano Félix Cartel stole a shipment of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl that belonged to the Sinaloa Cartel, prompting an immediate reaction from the latter. After an initial attempt to assassinate their target in Tijuana failed when he fled to the United States seeking asylum, the Sinaloa Cartel resorted to hiring young individuals to carry out their violent intentions, embodying a disturbing trend of involving minors in cartel-related activities.
