Drug cartels in the Mexican state of Sinaloa have near complete control in all aspects of society, both the physical and virtual one, with many social media influencers and celebrities using their platforms to either share cartel propaganda or to glorify their illicit activities.
As The Latin Times reported in recent weeks, criminal groups have relied on social media to spread their message and gain support for their cause. In late October a famous Culiacán TikToker known as "El Chilango" was killed by two men while recording one of his videos.
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Almost two months later, another internet celebrity known as "El Gordo Peruci" has met the same fate after a group of armed men opened fire against him and his wife.
Leboardo Aispuro was a famous YouTuber and content creator who amassed thousands of followers across different social media platforms. In most of his videos "El Gordo Peruci" played games with his friends, went out to eat at restaurants and, at times, made jokes about organized crime groups and flashed firearms.
The attack against him took place right outside of his home located in the 21 de Marzo neighborhood. Aispuro's wife was also at the scene. Both were transported to the hospital with gunshot wounds but the YouTuber died on the way to the hospital while his wife died while receiving medical assistance at the hospital.
According to Infobae, the YouTuber shared two videos on the same day he was murdered. During the first video uploaded at around 2 p.m., he can be seen making a complaint after an alleged act of vandalism took place at his Culiacán home.
Aispuro said in the video that someone had stolen a few of the Christmas lights that he had used to decorate his house. He added that although he counted with security cameras, he had to turn them off as a rumor that spread across Culiacán warned people of getting rid of their cameras to avoid any "video evidence" that could incriminate cartel activities.
"Ever since turf wars began, I haven't uploaded anything," he said. "I didn't take them off, but I did turn them off. So I can't see at what time it happened or who did it," Aispuro added in the video.
Six hours later, "El Gordo Peruci" uploaded what would be his final video in which he was playing games with a few of his friends and other social media celebrities.
Social media influencers allegedly involved with drug cartels
In late November, another YouTuber was murdered in Culiacán after he allegedly had ties with the Sinaloa Cartel faction known as "Los Chapitos."
Jesús Miguel Vivanco García, also known as "El Jasper," was found dead in a remote location in Culiacán. Authorities that found his body confirmed that "El Jasper" had been the victim of an attack that left 70 gunshot wounds all over his body.
Vivanco García made several collaborations with Marcos Eduardo Castro Cárdenas, also known as "Markitos Toys," another famous Culiacán YouTuber with alleged ties to "Los Chapitos."
According to investigative journalist Anabel Hernández, "Markitos Toys" is involved in fentanyl trafficking and provision of weapons. In a podcast, Herández said that Castro Cárdenas is one of the leaders of hitmen employed by the cartel faction that focuses on providing the group with money and firearms in their war against "La Mayiza."
In November of 2023, "Markitos Toys" was trending on social media after he shared a video of himself crying after Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, a.k.a "El Nini" was arrested by Mexican authorities. Pérez Salas served as a security chief for "Los Chapitos" before being detained.
Despite his alleged connections with "Los Chapitos," Castro Cárdenas recently left Mexico after two of his restaurants were targeted for attacks, setting them on fire with homemade bombs.
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