On October 24th, in Culiacán, Sinaloa, a harrowing event unfolded when a group of six individuals, including Jesús Alberto Chaidez Beltrán, a 13-year-old boy, and Pamela Alison Perea Rojo, aged 23, were forcefully taken by an armed group.
This event marked the beginning of a tragic tale that ended in Tamazula, Durango, where six lifeless bodies showing signs of torture were discovered four days later.
The Sinaloa Cartel’s Shadow
It’s believed that these abductions and subsequent deaths were orchestrated by a faction of the notorious Sinaloa Cartel, specifically by ‘Los Chapitos,’ led by the sons of Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán. The link to the cartel deepened with the involvement of Juan Andrés “N,” alias ‘El Chango,’ a member of ‘Los Ninis,’ the armed wing responsible for the security of Iván Archivaldo, Jesús Alfredo, and Joaquín Guzmán.
Journalist Jorge Fernández Menéndez reported, “Juan Andres N, alias ‘El Chango,’ a member of the Ninis in the service of Los Chapitos, was arrested last November 4. Authorities (point to him) as the person allegedly responsible for the kidnapping of six young people in Culiacan.”
The Arrest of ‘El Chango’
During ‘El Chango’s’ arrest on November 4, authorities seized weapons, a vehicle, and a significant quantity of fentanyl pills despite ‘Los Chapitos’ prohibition against the manufacture and distribution of this synthetic opioid in Sinaloa. Fernández Menéndez noted that ‘El Chango’ received direct orders from Iván Archivaldo Guzmán and worked for Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, alias ‘El Nini,’ both high-priority targets for U.S. authorities offering substantial rewards for information leading to their capture.
‘El Chango’ was known for engaging in kidnapping, homicide, and torture, although the duration of his service with the Sinaloa Cartel remains unclear.
The Fate of the Kidnapped Youths
Among the kidnapped youths was Jesús Alberto Chaidez Beltrán, taken from the Bosques del Rey subdivision in Culiacán alongside Pamela Alison and four others. Their disappearance led to immediate search efforts, but it was in Tamazula, Durango, where their tragic fate was revealed. Pamela Alison was later found alive under undisclosed circumstances on October 30.
The motive behind these crimes is suspected to be related to the victims providing information to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) about drug trafficking leaders, a claim not yet confirmed by authorities.