The Dark Side of Influence in Mexico's Cartel War The recent killing of César Gastélum, a 24 year old TikTok influencer, in Culiacán, Sinaloa, has highlighted a disturbing trend: Mexican drug cartels co opting social media personalities to further their interests.
This is not merely a case of influencers being caught up in crossfire but a deliberate tactic to use online personas to promote cartel agendas.
The Sinaloa cartel, responsible for trafficking millions of kilos of fentanyl, meth, and cocaine into the United States, has been quietly recruiting social media influencers to promote their messages.