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In 2018, a hacker working for the Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel, led by the infamous El Chapo, reportedly spied on the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City to identify potential targets for the cartel to eliminate, as per a recent U.S. government watchdog report.
The Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General disclosed the incident in a published report investigating the FBI’s efforts to combat surveillance, aiming to safeguard its employees, investigations, and operations.
### Uncovering the Incident
The report detailed how the hacking incident occurred while the FBI was involved in the operation that eventually led to El Chapo’s capture. It was revealed that someone associated with the cartel informed the FBI about the hiring of a hacker by the criminal organization.
The hacker offered services related to exploiting mobile phones and electronic devices and managed to observe individuals entering and leaving the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City. This included monitoring the FBI assistant legal attaché, a federal agent working overseas alongside local law enforcement.
### The Hacker’s Intrusion
The hacker somehow obtained the official’s mobile phone number and accessed their calls, geolocation data, and even tapped into Mexico City’s camera system to shadow the attaché and identify their contacts. This information was then utilized by the cartel to intimidate and, in some cases, eliminate potential sources and witnesses.
When approached for comment, the FBI redirected inquiries to the Department of Justice, which remained silent on the matter.
For years, Mexico has been a hotbed for surveillance and hacking techniques across both legal and criminal fronts in the ongoing drug war. Law enforcement agencies have invested heavily in spyware to combat cartels, while criminal organizations like the Sinaloa cartel have employed encrypted communication technologies to evade detection.
In a constant battle for supremacy, Mexican cartels have tapped into security software used by local authorities to locate rivals, conceal crimes, and maintain their operations.
The intricate web of surveillance and hacking activities in Mexico showcases the relentless pursuit of power and control in the ongoing drug war, with technology serving as a key tool in this dangerous game.
