Son of El Chapo pleads guilty in connection with running Sinaloa Cartel
USA TodayJUL 9
El Chapo's Son Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Charges in US
Above: Former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on Jan. 5, 2023. Image copyright: Geraldo Vieyra/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
This guilty plea represents a major victory in the fight against the deadly fentanyl epidemic that has devastated American communities. The crackdown on the Sinaloa Cartel demonstrates that no criminal organization is beyond the reach of law enforcement, and Operation Take Back America is successfully dismantling these transnational threats. The cooperation agreement will provide crucial intelligence to further prosecute cartel members and protect American lives.
Establishment-critical narrative
The aggressive pursuit of cartel leaders may create more violence and instability rather than solving the drug crisis. Disrupting established criminal networks often leads to power vacuums and territorial wars, as seen with the ongoing bloodshed in Sinaloa, where over 1,300 people have died. The drug trade consistently adapts and bounces back, making sustained disruption nearly impossible to achieve.