Latest news with #ALAT
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
El Chapo's Mexican drug cartel ‘hired hacker to infiltrate public CCTV cameras to track down and kill FBI informants'
The FBI says it's drafting a plan to plug security gaps, including more training for agents NARCO WARS El Chapo's Mexican drug cartel 'hired hacker to infiltrate public CCTV cameras to track down and kill FBI informants' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EL CHAPO'S ruthless cartel used a hacker to break into Mexico City's CCTV system and track down FBI informants — before having them killed. A shocking new US Justice Department report reveals the Sinaloa Cartel, once run by Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán, hired a tech expert to spy on American agents and expose their sources. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 El Chapo's (pictured) ruthless Sinaloa cartel used a hacker to break into Mexico City's CCTV system to spy on FBI informants Credit: AFP or licensors 3 The hacker was used to track down agents and expose their sources before they were killed Credit: Reuters 3 The FBI says it's drafting a plan to plug security gaps, including more training for agents Credit: AP The hacker hacked into Mexico City's camera network and phone records in 2018, tailing an FBI assistant legal attaché (ALAT) at the US embassy. Armed with this intel, the cartel was able to 'intimidate and, in some instances, kill potential sources or cooperating witnesses,' the report said. The Justice Department added: 'According to the FBI, in addition to compromising the ALAT's phone, the hacker also accessed Mexico City's camera system, used the cameras to follow the ALAT through the city, and identified people the ALAT met with.' The findings shine a harsh light on how cartels are now using cutting-edge tech to stay a step ahead of law enforcement. Read more cartel stories CARTEL BUTCHER US woman killed by Mexico cartel after 'mistaking her dad's truck for rival' The audit warned that new technology has 'made it easier than ever for less-sophisticated nations and criminal enterprises to identify and exploit vulnerabilities' in government data. It comes as Mexico's cops desperately try to catch up. In Chiapas this week, police unveiled armed drones to take on cartels fighting for smuggling routes along the Guatemalan border. Just weeks ago, the same force sparked a diplomatic storm by chasing gunmen into Guatemala and engaging in a wild street shootout. The Sinaloa Cartel — once commanded by El Chapo, who's now locked up in the US — remains locked in a bloody battle with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Meanwhile, a new breed of younger, tech-savvy narcos is ramping up tactics like cryptocurrency laundering and state-of-the-art surveillance. Horror moment bomb drone blows up enemy truck…but this ISN'T Ukraine- vid shows warring cartels Trump wants to crush 'The cartels run a multi-billion-dollar global enterprise and utilize sophisticated technology to enhance their business operations,' said Derek Maltz, former acting DEA chief. 'They utilize state-of-art sophisticated surveillance techniques to identify law enforcement activities and their adversaries.' The FBI says it's drafting a plan to plug these glaring security gaps, including more training for agents. But the Justice Department report warned the threat is so severe that some in the FBI and CIA call it 'existential'. Mexico's long-running drug war rages on with no end in sight. More than 400,000 people have been killed since the government first declared war on the cartels in 2006, and tens of thousands more have vanished without a trace. Despite high-profile arrests and military crackdowns, groups like Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation continue to expand their reach, both at home and across borders. In the US, the stakes are equally dire. Authorities have repeatedly blamed Mexican cartels for driving the fentanyl crisis, which has fuelled a record surge in overdose deaths. Washington has labelled these syndicates 'foreign terrorist organisations' in everything but official designation, ramping up efforts to cripple their finances and supply chains.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
El Chapo's Mexican drug cartel ‘hired hacker to infiltrate public CCTV cameras to track down and kill FBI informants'
EL CHAPO'S ruthless cartel used a hacker to break into Mexico City's CCTV system and track down FBI informants — before having them killed. A shocking new US Justice Department report reveals the Sinaloa Cartel, once run by Advertisement 3 El Chapo's (pictured) ruthless Sinaloa cartel used a hacker to break into Mexico City's CCTV system to spy on FBI informants Credit: AFP or licensors 3 The hacker was used to track down agents and expose their sources before they were killed Credit: Reuters 3 The FBI says it's drafting a plan to plug security gaps, including more training for agents Credit: AP The hacker hacked into Mexico City's camera network and phone records in 2018, tailing an FBI assistant legal attaché (ALAT) at the US embassy. Armed with this intel, the cartel was able to 'intimidate and, in some instances, kill potential sources or cooperating witnesses,' the report said. The Justice Department added: 'According to the FBI, in addition to compromising the ALAT's phone, the hacker also accessed Mexico City's camera system, used the cameras to follow the ALAT through the city, and identified people the ALAT met with.' The findings shine a harsh light on how cartels are now using cutting-edge tech to stay a step ahead of law enforcement. Advertisement Read more cartel stories The audit warned that new technology has 'made it easier than ever for less-sophisticated nations and criminal enterprises to identify and exploit vulnerabilities' in government data. It comes as Mexico's cops desperately try to catch up. In Chiapas this week, police unveiled armed drones to take on cartels fighting for smuggling routes along the Guatemalan border. Just weeks ago, the same force sparked a diplomatic storm by chasing gunmen into Guatemala and engaging in a wild street shootout. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun The Sinaloa Cartel — once commanded by El Chapo, who's now locked up in the US — remains locked in a bloody battle with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Meanwhile, a new breed of younger, tech-savvy narcos is ramping up tactics like cryptocurrency laundering and state-of-the-art surveillance. Horror moment bomb drone blows up enemy truck…but this ISN'T Ukraine- vid shows warring cartels Trump wants to crush 'The cartels run a multi-billion-dollar global enterprise and utilize sophisticated technology to enhance their business operations,' said Derek Maltz, former acting DEA chief. 'They utilize state-of-art sophisticated surveillance techniques to identify law enforcement activities and their adversaries.' Advertisement The FBI says it's drafting a plan to plug these glaring security gaps, including more training for agents. But the Justice Department report warned the threat is so severe that some in the FBI and CIA call it 'existential'. Mexico's long-running drug war rages on with no end in sight. More than 400,000 people have been killed since the government first declared war on the cartels in 2006, and tens of thousands more have vanished without a trace. Advertisement Despite high-profile arrests and military crackdowns, groups like Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation continue to expand their reach, both at home and across borders. In the US, the stakes are equally dire. Authorities have repeatedly blamed Mexican cartels for driving the fentanyl crisis, which has fuelled a record surge in overdose deaths. Washington has labelled these syndicates 'foreign terrorist organisations' in everything but official designation, ramping up efforts to cripple their finances and supply chains. Advertisement Mexico's most dangerous cartels Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) – The most violent and rapidly expanding cartel, known for extreme brutality, including cannibalism, drone warfare, and high-profile assassinations. Led by Nemesio 'El Mencho' Oseguera Cervantes. Sinaloa Cartel – Once led by Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán, this powerful cartel is known for sophisticated drug trafficking networks and ruthless tactics, including face peeling and mass executions. Los Zetas – Originally formed by ex-special forces soldiers, Los Zetas are infamous for military-style operations, public massacres, and the 'Highway of Death' killings. Gulf Cartel – One of Mexico's oldest cartels, involved in human trafficking, kidnappings, and violent turf wars, often clashing with Los Zetas. Beltrán Leyva Cartel – Known for alliances with other criminal groups and deadly feuds, this cartel specialises in assassinations and corruption at the highest levels. Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel – A rising force primarily involved in fuel theft and extortion, responsible for deadly attacks against rivals and law enforcement.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Deadly cartel hacked surveillance cameras to track and kill FBI informants
An infamous Mexican drug cartel known for its association with drug lord 'El Chapo' used a hacker to track down and kill informants for the FBI by accessing surveillance cameras, a shock new report suggests A hacker employed by a fearsome cartel once led by 'El Chapo' managed to gain access to surveillance cameras in Mexico City to track down and kill informants for the FBI, according to a report by the US Justice Department. The hacker also obtained the phone records of an FBI official known as an 'assistant legal attaché' (ALAT) at the American embassy in the Mexican capital. The 'Audit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Efforts to Mitigate the Effects of Ubiquitous Technical Surveillance' said the hacker was employed by the Sinaloa Cartel, synonymous with Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán - who was arrested for a final time in 2016 before being extradited to the US. The FBI was working on El Chapo's case when it was tipped off that the hacker offered 'a menu of services related to exploiting mobile phones and other electronic devices'. After identifying the ALAT at the embassy, the hacker used their phone number to 'obtain calls made and received, as well as geolocation data'. The report said: 'According to the FBI, in addition to compromising the ALAT's phone, the hacker also accessed Mexico City's camera system, used the cameras to follow the ALAT through the city, and identified people the ALAT met with. According to the case agent, the cartel used that information to intimidate and/or kill potential sources or cooperating witnesses.' The report said the incident in 2018 led to the Sinaloa Cartel using the information to 'intimidate and, in some instances, kill potential sources or cooperating witnesses'. The hacker, victims and ALAT were not identified in the report. In a stark warning to authorities attempting to curtail the power of drug cartels, the report also warned that advances in technology had 'made it easier' for 'less-sophisticated nations and criminal enterprises to identify and exploit vulnerabilities' in information collected by governments. The Bureau said a plan was in process to try and tackle such vulnerabilities; this includes more training for agents. This week, police in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas unveiled a fleet of armed drones they say will better position them against the heavily armed drug cartels vying for control of their border with Guatemala. Frequently outgunned by cartels with heavy guns and increasingly with drones that drop improvised explosive devices, Mexican authorities are trying to catch up. Concerningly, the same Chiapas state police force generated an international diplomatic incident earlier this month when they pursued an alleged gunmen into neighbouring Guatemala, engaging in an extended shootout in the streets of border town La Mesilla. The drones could be equipped to carry guns or to fight fires, said Chiapas Security Secretary Óscar Aparicio Avendaño. He did not explain what the rules of engagement would be for police using an armed drone. Chiapas has struggled in the past couple years with competition between Mexico's two most powerful cartels, the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, as they fight for control of lucrative smuggling routes along the Guatemalan border.
