‘Narcoblockades’: Strategies of Terror and Control in the Streets

• ‘Narcoblockades’ Are Violent Cartel Tactics to Pressure Authorities.
• The 2019 ‘Culiacanazo’ Is a Landmark Example of These Blockades.
• The Podcast Mundo Narco Analyzes Narcoblockades and Their Connection to Impunity.

In recent years, ‘Narcoblockades’ have become a common tactic employed by organized crime groups.

Their primary goal is to pressure authorities to release their leaders or protect their interests.

This strategy reflects the power and impunity with which these organizations operate.

Additionally, they are often used in response to government operations against them.

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‘Narcoblockades’ of extreme violence pose a direct threat to citizen safety.

At the same time, they destabilize entire regions, creating an atmosphere of fear and chaos.

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Economic and social activities grind to a halt, severely affecting daily life.

Civilians are caught between terror and the inability of authorities to control the situation.

One of the most shocking incidents involving ‘Narcoblockades’ occurred on October 17, 2019, during an attempt to capture Ovidio Guzmán, son of Joaquín «El Chapo» Guzmán.

In response, the Sinaloa Cartel launched a violent campaign of terror in Culiacán.

Cartel members took to the streets armed with high-caliber weapons.

They also set vehicles on fire and blocked key roadways, bringing the city to a standstill.

The chaos extended to attacks on businesses, such as convenience stores and gas stations, which were set ablaze.

The ‘Narcoblockades’ intensified the atmosphere of panic among the population.

Photographs and videos captured the impact of the violence and went viral on social media.

These images showed a city under siege, highlighting the scale of the terror.

‘Narcoblockades’ operate under a clear but devastating mechanism designed to create immediate chaos and pressure.

Criminals begin by stopping vehicles at strategic points, where they threaten drivers with firearms and force them to abandon their vehicles.

These vehicles are then set on fire and used to block main roads, paralyzing traffic in critical areas.

In this way, criminal groups assert control and hinder the authorities’ response.

In addition to blocking roads, ‘Narcoblockades’ often involve attacks on businesses and public property.

Stores and gas stations are targeted and set on fire to amplify the terror’s impact.

Images of the chaos, captured in photos and videos, quickly spread on social media, heightening public fear.

This display of violence aims not only to overpower authorities but also to instill panic and destabilize affected communities.

The main goal of ‘Narcoblockades’ is to pressure authorities into meeting their demands.

These demands often include the release of a captured leader or the suspension of operations against them.

Through the use of extreme violence, criminal groups seek to impose their will.

This method underscores their ability to directly challenge the state.

The bonus episode of the Mundo Narco podcast, hosted by journalists José Luis Montenegro and Jesús Lemus Barajas, delves deeply into the phenomenon of ‘Narcoblockades.’

The hosts analyze how this tactic has become a key “modus operandi” for cartels in their pursuit of strategic advantages.

Through rigorous investigations, victim testimonies, and official documents, they provide a detailed and unique perspective.

The podcast also explores the immediate impact of these actions and their connections to retribution, government deals, and the impunity surrounding them.

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