In a stark and alarming display of organized crime's grip on Mexicali, two threatening messages, known as "narcomantas," were placed addressing the city's new Director of Municipal Police, Julián Leyzaola Pérez, less than 72 hours after he assumed office. These chilling warnings, signed by a criminal group known as Los Rusos, highlight the immediate dangers faced by law enforcement officials in a region grappling with escalating violence.
Early in the morning of March 21, 2025, at approximately 5:00 AM, a dead body bearing gunshot wounds was discovered alongside the first narcomanta at the Lázaro Cárdenas road distributor. Eyewitness accounts cited a white pick-up truck driving away from the scene after the grisly act, noticeably dropping the body before leaving the disturbing message. The rowdy scene attracted police attention as they began to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Minutes following the first display, another narcomanta appeared near the intersection of the highway to San Felipe and Héctor Terán. This specific spot acted as a backdrop for a message that welcomed Leyzaola to his new role while simultaneously issuing a stark warning. "Welcome to the capital Leyzaola. Here you are going to get skinned. We are not going to let your eggs be made, pure verga. Mexicali has an owner, here we are going to kill you puto. We do not forgive, so get verga," stated the threatening missives.
The discovery of these messages and the corpse heightened existing concerns about the region's law enforcement challenges, particularly as they unfolded just hours after a crime was reported in the Santa Mónica neighborhood, where an illegal deprivation of liberty had taken place. This succession of events underscores the precarious situation faced by police as they begin to assert control over organized crime factions vying for influence.
The emergence of Los Rusos, a faction reported to be aligned with the Sinaloa Cartel, has intensified tensions in the region as they challenge rivals, notably a faction known as Los Chapitos, for control over drug trafficking routes. In recent years, organized crime groups, like these, have increasingly resorted to brutality to establish dominance, with narcomantas becoming a common tool for sending messages of intimidation to both rival factions and law enforcement.
As Julián Leyzaola takes on the task of leading police efforts against crime, the narcomantas serve as a chilling introduction—a stark reminder of the adversities awaiting him. Law enforcement agencies have initiated an investigation into the messages and the events that led to the shocking discovery of the body, yet they currently find themselves in a precarious position.
Despite the ongoing turmoil, the response from the authorities has been prompt. Local police and the State Forces of Public Safety arrived at the locations where the narcomantas were discovered. They were swiftly removed for further analysis, although little information has been provided regarding the investigations into these significant threats.
Local citizens express a mix of fear and concern for the safety of their neighborhoods as organized crime continues to assert its presence. Leyzaola’s response to these initial threats may lay the groundwork for his tenure and the public's perception of his ability to govern effectively amid such dire circumstances.
Authorities are already grappling with growing criticism regarding their effectiveness in curbing crime as the number of violent incidents continues to rise. The grim occurrences have left residents longing for a resolution, hoping that law enforcement can assert its authority in the face of these rampant threats.
In this climate of fear, the recovery of Mexicali from organized crime’s grip remains an uphill battle. The very first message aimed at the new Director poses a daunting challenge for both him and the citizens who look to him for leadership and protection.
As investigations deepen, community members hope that the supposed warnings will not reverberate into greater acts of violence and that the authorities can establish secure conditions—they long for safety as they navigate their daily lives amidst the shadowy presence of organized crime. What remains to be seen is how Leyzaola will respond to these threats and whether he can regain control over a city that many see as already owned by criminals.
