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CNN interviews Sinaloa cartel member in Culiacán
CNN conducted an interview with a member of the Sinaloa cartel, discussing U.S. policy and cartel operations. The man described himself as a victim of demand.
American broadcaster CNN held an interview with an active member of the Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel. The meeting took place in a residential neighborhood of Culiacán, in the state of Sinaloa. According to CNN, the preparation took several weeks. The journalists not only searched for a suitable interviewee but also persuaded him to speak, assuring him they had no ties to the FBI or the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. On the day of filming, the crew arrived at the location and were met by a man with a radio and a rifle, monitoring communications throughout the interview.
Speaking to the journalists, the cartel member commented on former U.S. President Donald Trump’s policy of labeling Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations. He called the situation “terrible,” but added, “people need something to eat,” implying the lack of alternative sources of income. When asked what he would say to Trump personally, he responded that, with all due respect, “all the consumers are in the U.S.,” and that if not for the American demand, the cartels wouldn’t exist.
The interview also touched on the current state of affairs in Sinaloa. According to the interviewee, the cartel is facing challenging times. Due to increased operations by the Mexican military and law enforcement, their activities have been partially reorganized. Drug production is now conducted in smaller batches to remain mobile. Smaller equipment is being purchased to ease transportation, allowing labs to be relocated quickly in case of raids.
He noted that the cartel moves its laboratories between regions and production stages. Some facilities have been relocated to states with less military presence. Spending on informants within police and military ranks has increased. This strategy, in his view, helps the organization remain resilient under external pressure.
CNN stated that their operations during the interview did not violate U.S. law. The crew did not share coordinates or identities with law enforcement. Nevertheless, the report sparked public outcry in the U.S. Republican Party members especially criticized CNN for giving a criminal a public platform and trying to portray the cartel member in a “humanizing light.”
Critics argue that such coverage contributes to the legitimization of criminal activity, while U.S. authorities consider cartels one of the main threats to domestic security. Reports of drug trafficking, violence, and bribery of officials remain in the public spotlight, especially amid proposals by some politicians to label Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations and take military action outside U.S. borders.
The journalists also shared an unusual detail: the Mexican army has recently been conducting raids on drug labs. Often, soldiers find empty camps with minimal signs of activity — plastic dishes, chemical traces, trash. Sometimes, signs are left behind with contact numbers and cooperation offers.
According to law enforcement officials, in some cases, people do call these numbers, indicating the cartels’ efforts not only to disappear but also to recruit loyal members even after losing equipment. Such tactics highlight the high level of organizational adaptability and ability to adjust to changing circumstances.
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