By "El Huaso" for Borderland Beat
Sinaloa Cartel officer Francisco Beltrán “N” alias "El Payin" was killed when his vehicle exploded just after arriving at Felipe Angeles International Airport just outside Mexico City yesterday afternoon.
Monday, March 30, 2026
Sinaloa Cartel Officer "El Payin" Killed by Probable Car Bomb Outside Mexico City
Sinaloa Cartel officer Francisco Beltrán “N” alias "El Payin" was killed when his vehicle exploded just after arriving at Felipe Angeles International Airport just outside Mexico City yesterday afternoon.
Saturday, March 28, 2026
Narco Hats: A Look at the Cartel Merchandise Industry
El Armadillo for Borderland Beat
A Google image search for "Mayiza gorras" returns dozens of results. One snapback features a gold "MF" and a horse, the logo used to represent Ismael "Mayito Flaco" Zambada Sicairos, the current leader of the Sinaloa Cartel faction built by his father Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada. Another displays a large M topped with a sombrero, a reference to El Mayo himself, known as El M Grande and El del Sombrero. A third reworks the iconic MASECA corn flour logo, replacing the brand name with "MAYIZA." They range from coded to relatively overt. An outsider might scroll past the MF horse logo without a second thought, while the MASECA parody at least puts a recognizable name in front of anyone paying attention. The hats are listed on Amazon, eBay, and Mercado Libre. All of it is available to anyone willing to place an order.
Narco fashion has been evolving alongside the drug war for over a decade. But the hats do not come from nowhere. In Mexico, particularly among young men, custom-designed snapbacks and fitted caps have their own culture that has nothing to do with cartels. Designers produce intricate, detailed work, the scene prizes craftsmanship and exclusivity. These are not simple baseball caps. They are collectors' items. The narco hat market grafts itself onto this existing infrastructure. The production methods are the same, the distribution channels are the same, the audience overlaps. The difference is the imagery.
Commandante Galindo, Alleged Regional Operativa Delta CJNG Leader in Mexico State, Arrested
By "El Huaso" for Borderland Beat
Federal and state authorities carried out a joint operation that led to the capture of Ramiro Ulises “N,” alias “Commandante Galindo,” who is believed to head the “Operativa Delta” cell of the CJNG in eastern State of Mexico.
Federal and state authorities carried out a joint operation that led to the capture of Ramiro Ulises “N,” alias “Commandante Galindo,” who is believed to head the “Operativa Delta” cell of the CJNG in eastern State of Mexico.
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Argentina Designates Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación As a Terrorist Organization
By "El Huaso" for Borderland Beat
This morning, the Argentine government declared the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) a terrorist organization. The designation, the first in Latin America, signals alignment with the Trump administration at a time when close ties with Washington translate into domestic political benefits.
The Mayo-Zetas Mob Fragments in Zacatecas
“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat
Ah, the infamous snitching before a camera while pertaining to a famous cartel.
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Interested in organized crime in Mexico? Borderland Beat is seeking contributors!
Borderland Beat is currently seeking new contributors.
We’re looking to expand our regional coverage and are especially interested in writers with knowledge of underreported areas. If you follow organized crime, security, or regional developments and have been looking for a platform, we’d like to hear from you.
Please note that Borderland Beat is an independent, volunteer-run project and contributions are unpaid. Contributors would submit draft articles for review, and approved pieces will be published with full credit to the author.
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borderlandbeat@gmail.com
Banana Farmer Eduardo Ochoa Arias Found Dead After Kidnapping in Colima
By "El Huaso" for Borderland Beat
Eduardo Ochoa Arias, a banana producer and exporter in Colima, was found dead after being abducted on March 13 in Cerro de Ortega (near Tecomán) by an armed group while traveling through nearby agricultural areas close to the Michoacán border.
17,000 Liters of Precursor Chemicals for Synthetic Drugs Seized in Guanajuato
By "El Huaso" for Borderland Beat
Guanajuato police arrested two men who were transporting over 17,000 liters of chemical precursors used for making synthetic drugs without documentation on the on the Morelia–Salamanca highway.
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Two Police Officers Gunned Down in Villa Juárez, San Luis Potosi
By "El Huaso" for Borderland Beat
Two Guardia Civil Estatal officers were killed in a torrent of gunfire in the town of Villa Juárez, San Luis Potosi yesterday morning. Authorities surged forces to try and locate the culprits, but were unable to find them.
Seven Electricians Released after Kidnapping in Matehuala, San Luis Potosí
By "El Huaso" for Borderland Beat
After two days of being held captive by a criminal group in Matehuala, San Luis Potosí, seven electricians who were kidnapped while traveling to a job site were released. One of the workers stated in an interview that he believes the criminal group sought to recruit them for an electrical project.
Monday, March 23, 2026
The Gulf Cartel Metros Fight Over Security Cameras in Reynosa, Tamaulipas
By "El Huaso" for Borderland Beat
On March 19, the Gulf Cartel Metros faction placed at least three narco banners around Reynosa threatening the city government.
Iranian Hacking Group Threatens Former Canadian Politician with CJNG Beheading
"Socalj" for Borderland Beat
A pro-Islamic regime hacker group that sent death threats to former Ontario MPP Goldie Ghamari earlier this month was named as one of four Iranian intelligence operations shut down by the U.S. government. One of their threats stated that a bounty of $250,000 was placed on her head and information on her and another's location in the US was provided to members of CJNG.
The FBI announced it took down four websites facilitating Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) hacking efforts. The DOJ says these efforts were tied to “psychological operations and transnational repression."
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The FBI announced it took down four websites facilitating Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) hacking efforts. The DOJ says these efforts were tied to “psychological operations and transnational repression."
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Canadian Trafficker Sebastian "Stix" Rollin Extradited to US, Ran Montreal Drug Labs, Tied to Brothers Keeper Gang
"Socalj" for Borderland Beat
A 49-year-old Quebec man has been extradited to the United States to face charges of importing opioids into the US and money laundering. He had been arrested in Spain on February 20, 2026.
According to the indictment, authorities allege Sebastien "Stix" Rollin, who lived in Montreal at the time, arranged the sale of synthetic opioid pills containing protonitazene disguised as oxycodone, to a Tampa, Florida based undercover police officer.
Rollin allegedly claimed to be selling oxycodone, when in fact it was protonitazene, a powerful opioid considered to be three times more potent than fentanyl. Rollin is also tied to a large scale undercover DEA operation against Opinder "Thanos" Singh Sian for importing drugs into the United States and Australia.
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A 49-year-old Quebec man has been extradited to the United States to face charges of importing opioids into the US and money laundering. He had been arrested in Spain on February 20, 2026.
According to the indictment, authorities allege Sebastien "Stix" Rollin, who lived in Montreal at the time, arranged the sale of synthetic opioid pills containing protonitazene disguised as oxycodone, to a Tampa, Florida based undercover police officer.
Rollin allegedly claimed to be selling oxycodone, when in fact it was protonitazene, a powerful opioid considered to be three times more potent than fentanyl. Rollin is also tied to a large scale undercover DEA operation against Opinder "Thanos" Singh Sian for importing drugs into the United States and Australia.
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Mayito Flaco and Ivan Archivaldo Meet Up?
“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat
The probability that something is true holds about as much weight as the possibility that it isn’t. With the latest rumor circulating online, everyone should be mindful of this.
Just months ago, I’d heard that one faction of the Cartel de Sinaloa was on the verge of being completely wiped out. Only to hear weeks later that those claims now applied to the opposition.
The latest gossip today has both cartel heads, Ivan Archivaldo and Ismael Zambada Sicairos, in a meeting that leaves us with more questions than answers.
Source: Contacto Revista
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
CJNG Hitman Commander Killed in Shootout in El Alpuyequito, Colima
Four CJNG members, including “El Joker” a hitman commander responsible for ten murders & ordering another 15, were killed in a police shootout in El Alpuyequito, Colima on Saturday. In 2025, El Joker was arrested and sentenced to 3 years for carrying a firearm, but was conditionally released after paying a 500 peso (USD 28) fine.
