Stefano Ritondale

And what he realized in his study is that the territorial cartels were a lot more violent because they needed to hold the territory either against their rivals or against the Mexican government. If they couldn't achieve territorial control through corruption, they're gonna do it through violence. The Zetas cartels is a perfect example of a very territorial cartel.

And what he realized in his study is that the territorial cartels were a lot more violent because they needed to hold the territory either against their rivals or against the Mexican government. If they couldn't achieve territorial control through corruption, they're gonna do it through violence. The Zetas cartels is a perfect example of a very territorial cartel.

What I've noticed, and I've had conversations with a lot of people and specifically with him, is that basically all the cartels are now territorial. They've all transitioned. Yes, they send products, But they require the territorial control first and foremost over everything else.

What I've noticed, and I've had conversations with a lot of people and specifically with him, is that basically all the cartels are now territorial. They've all transitioned. Yes, they send products, But they require the territorial control first and foremost over everything else.

What I've noticed, and I've had conversations with a lot of people and specifically with him, is that basically all the cartels are now territorial. They've all transitioned. Yes, they send products, But they require the territorial control first and foremost over everything else.

And that's the problem that we're running into, that they become a territorial-centric organization and they fight each other. And the weaker sometimes the cartel gets, that's when the split happens and the violence increases, because that's the focus. So like the Sinaloa Cartel, I spoke of one split, which was the Chapitos and the Mayito Flaco, right? The Mayo Zapata.

And that's the problem that we're running into, that they become a territorial-centric organization and they fight each other. And the weaker sometimes the cartel gets, that's when the split happens and the violence increases, because that's the focus. So like the Sinaloa Cartel, I spoke of one split, which was the Chapitos and the Mayito Flaco, right? The Mayo Zapata.

And that's the problem that we're running into, that they become a territorial-centric organization and they fight each other. And the weaker sometimes the cartel gets, that's when the split happens and the violence increases, because that's the focus. So like the Sinaloa Cartel, I spoke of one split, which was the Chapitos and the Mayito Flaco, right? The Mayo Zapata.

Well, before that, there was another split within Los Chapitos. There was a split that affected Sonora, which, as I mentioned in the beginning of the podcast, kind of you have the cartels and then their factions. Mm-hmm. There was a couple of factions that were used to be very close to the Chapitos, and they were, I'm gonna name two just for argument's sakes.

Well, before that, there was another split within Los Chapitos. There was a split that affected Sonora, which, as I mentioned in the beginning of the podcast, kind of you have the cartels and then their factions. Mm-hmm. There was a couple of factions that were used to be very close to the Chapitos, and they were, I'm gonna name two just for argument's sakes.

Well, before that, there was another split within Los Chapitos. There was a split that affected Sonora, which, as I mentioned in the beginning of the podcast, kind of you have the cartels and then their factions. Mm-hmm. There was a couple of factions that were used to be very close to the Chapitos, and they were, I'm gonna name two just for argument's sakes.

Los Fantasmas, kind of like the ghost, and Los Salazars. Those were kind of two main ones, and there's more. They were very active in Sonora. And this is one of the few areas that you can directly point into Mexico where the violence happening probably was triggered because of the human smuggling routes and they wanted to control that.

Los Fantasmas, kind of like the ghost, and Los Salazars. Those were kind of two main ones, and there's more. They were very active in Sonora. And this is one of the few areas that you can directly point into Mexico where the violence happening probably was triggered because of the human smuggling routes and they wanted to control that.

Los Fantasmas, kind of like the ghost, and Los Salazars. Those were kind of two main ones, and there's more. They were very active in Sonora. And this is one of the few areas that you can directly point into Mexico where the violence happening probably was triggered because of the human smuggling routes and they wanted to control that.

In 2023, 2024, no, 2023, the Salazars and Los Cazadores, well, Fantasma, they're called Fantasma Cazadores. They broke off from Los Chapitos and formed their own thing. They're kind of lumped under this umbrella term called the Independent Cartel of Sonora. And they've been battling it out in Sonora, right, which is borders Arizona.

In 2023, 2024, no, 2023, the Salazars and Los Cazadores, well, Fantasma, they're called Fantasma Cazadores. They broke off from Los Chapitos and formed their own thing. They're kind of lumped under this umbrella term called the Independent Cartel of Sonora. And they've been battling it out in Sonora, right, which is borders Arizona.

In 2023, 2024, no, 2023, the Salazars and Los Cazadores, well, Fantasma, they're called Fantasma Cazadores. They broke off from Los Chapitos and formed their own thing. They're kind of lumped under this umbrella term called the Independent Cartel of Sonora. And they've been battling it out in Sonora, right, which is borders Arizona.

And the reason why is they want that territorial control because of the human smuggling. That's one of the main reasons they really want that control. And this has been, prior to this other civil war, this has been a civil war within Los Chapitos that has been extremely violent in Sonora.

And the reason why is they want that territorial control because of the human smuggling. That's one of the main reasons they really want that control. And this has been, prior to this other civil war, this has been a civil war within Los Chapitos that has been extremely violent in Sonora.

And the reason why is they want that territorial control because of the human smuggling. That's one of the main reasons they really want that control. And this has been, prior to this other civil war, this has been a civil war within Los Chapitos that has been extremely violent in Sonora.