Chapitos & CJNG fight for the Heroin Crown

According to a DEA spokesperson, Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG have fought several battles in the USin a fight for territory.

United States- Despite their leader’s capture, the Sinaloa Cartel, which is now presumably under the command of Chapo’s sons, continues to be one of the major threats towards the USas the trafficking of heroin continues to increase. During an interview, DEA spokesperson, Russell K. Baer said that Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG are fighting for the crown of heroin in the US, a territory which was dominated by Colombian groups in the past.

 ”El Chapo might be in custody and perhaps even stripped from power, but his sons are very involved in the criminal activities of the cartel” says Baer

 Mexico is also being fought in the US, where CJNG has increased its wealth, influence, and ability to traffic drugs.

 According to the DEA, during the last few years, Mexican cartels have now taken over the role that Colombian cartels such as Medellinand Cali used to have during decades in the past. Historically, the heroin market in the UShad been divided by the Mississippi river with Mexican brown or black heroin in the west and white heroin in the east. The white heroin was first introduced from Asia and then from Colombiabetween 1997 and 2010 according to the latest DEA report published in June.

 Despite this, Mexican cartels have learned how to produce white heroin in the last few years and have become the most powerful suppliers of some major cities in the east coast such as Chicago, Philadelphia, and Washington. This has almost caused the complete elimination of the traditional Mississippiline that separated the types of heroin. Its new power in the drug market is such that in 2014, 79% of the heroin analyzed by the DEA originated from Mexico. With the Colombian groups almost wiped off the map, Mexican criminals have found an unexpected ally in China, according to Baer.

 The DEA spokesperson said that the criminals from Mexicoand China are responsible for the arrival of fentanyl to the US. Fentanyl is an extremely potent analgesic that is between 30 and 50 times stronger than heroin (fentanyl is what is suspected of causing the overdose and subsequent death of singer Prince).

With the intention of tackling this problem, 14 DEA agents recently traveled to Peking and other provinces in Chinato meet with a delegation of high ranking Chinese officials. That same Chinese delegation came to the USand met with members of the government, according to Baer. In its latest report, DEA highlighted the threat that heroin represents and that it has continued to increase since 2007 and that in 2014 alone, 10,574 Americans died as a result of an overdose involving this drug. According to authorities, more Americans die from heroin overdoses than from firearms or traffic accidents.