Vapes are becoming an increasingly significant part of Mexican cartels' business portfolios, and their grasp of the now-legal market is only expected to increase as President Claudia Sheinbaum plans a natiowide ban of the product. The soon-to-be illicit business is now a focal point in the Sinaloa Cartel turf war with "dozens" of dispensaries attacked in the past three months, as first reported by Milenio.
The Vape Turf War
The Mayiza and the Chapitos are the central players in a violent power struggle that continues to engulf the state of Sinaloa. The factions of the Sinaloa Cartel are locked in a fierce battle for control of drug markets, triggered by the power vacuum left after the arrests of their top leaders. However, their battles have recently moved into Sinaloa's e-cigarrete dispensaries, initially dominated by the Chapitos.
Dozens of dispensaries have been reportedly "incinerated, shot at, and attacked" in the past three months, presumably by members of the Mayiza.
American and Chinese Products
An anonymous dispensary owner told Milenio that the Chapitos took over the market by force over a year ago, mandating business owners to sale personalized iJoy Bar vapes produced in China. The electric inhalation products are marked with a Mexican flag and a logo that reads 'made for Mexico,' making them easy to distinguish. Dispensary owners were demanded a sales comission by the cartel.
According to the source, the Chapitos also control the distribution of THC-containing e-cigarettes under the California-based brand Backpack Boyz. The American business operates as a wholesaler, and as of December 21, all of their disposable vapes were listed as out of stock, per its website.
Backpack Boyz Narco Corrido
The brand's popularity within the cartel is highlighted in various narco corrido songs, including one intepreted by Mexican celebrity Peso Pluma, who has been targeted by cartel threats in the past. The songs implicitly refer to the THC or marihuana-laced vapes.
"We are now part of the Backpack Boyz company and we plant everywhere—I'm the best in the market and we now have various dispensaries in the region."
- Rancho Humilde, Backpack Boyz Corrido Lyrics
The Latin Times reached out to iJoy Bar and Backpack Boyz for a statement, inquiring whether they were aware of their product's involvement in the Sinaloa Cartel's turf war. However, no response was received before publication.
Forced Entry Into a Legal Market
The Sinaloa Cartel's entrance to the vaping business was evidenced by a viral social media video of two teenagers being tortured in 2023. The victims were forced to walk naked around the streets of Guasave, Sinaloa holding a sign that read: "This is what happened to me for selling vapes without permission."
Since then, multiple Mexican news outlets have reported incidents of e-cigarrates and vapes being laced, some with liquids fabricated in narco labs using cocaine, fentanyl, and methanphetamine.
Mexico's Shift of E-Cigarettes and Vapes
As the vape turf war develops, the Congress of Sinaloa recently approved a new law that makes selling e-cigarretes and vaping devices illegal. It also increases punishments for making, selling, or distributing fentanyl and other synthetic drugs.
The legality of the product could similarly be banned nationwide, as Sheinbaum has announced her intention of prohibiting its sale and distribution citing public health concerns.
'Handing Over Market' to Cartels
Critics argue that the move will only strengthen the cartels' hold on the business, which highly targets minors with candy-like packaging and flavors.
Angélica Ospina, doctor specializing in harm reduction, told German news outlet DW that the decision to ban the product would put an end to any hope of regulation. "This will not put an end to vaping devices; it will only eliminate the legal ones and hand over the entire market to smuggled products," Ospina said.
A Growing Business
The previous administration similarly tried to ban e-cigarrets, but failed to do so. It instead passed regulatory laws which led to a hike in the product's prices. Political observers suggest this is what attracted cartels to the growing vaping business, as they found a way to provide cheaper and unregulated e-cigarrets. According to the pro-e-cigarette organization Pro-Vapeo, the products generate about 5 billion pesos, or approximately $280 million annually.
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