El Mayo, Los Chapitos and near death experiences.

March Q & A

Hey! Welcome back to my monthly correspondence dispatch where every 15th of the month I open up my ‘ask me a question’ box on Instagram (click here to go to my IG) and find your answers three days later here, on the Correspondence section. I enjoy keeping in touch with you! I tried to group all of the similar questions the best I could, and if I left yours out it was probably because I couldn’t understand it.

Hope you enjoy our correspondence!

Best,

Luis

El Paso, TX, Mar.15 2024

Has there been a time during your investigation you though could be your last?

In 2018 while filming a documentary for Showtime called ‘Ready for war’ we were at a Juarez cartel stash house in the outskirts of the city. Our main character, a deported US veteran training sicarios had ask us to meet up there for our last interview. As we went inside a very young man, probably under 18 years old locked the front door and hid the key. Inside the place I remember the first thing that struck me was a grim Santa Muerte altar on one oof the corners. All of the windows were blocked with wood chunks and by the kitchen was another man, older, smoking crack.

Half into the interview the crackhead asked us to stop filming and began asking for our passports or IDs. He was sure my ID was not legit and that we were police or DEA or something. He then seized all of our IDS and passports and began calling someone. Then he took photos of us with his cellphone to send them to what seemed to be his boss. Our character ordered the kid to open the front door, and he just grabbed a shotgun from the corner and said no and sat on an old mattress on the floor.

There was another door, covered with a dirty blanket, but I noticed that a shovel covered with dirt and blood was behind that curtain. When our character saw me looking behind the worn blanket he ordered me to leave that alone. I noticed this was not a drugs or arms stash house, but a cartel cemetery.

The crackhead got a call and asked us to do a bump of coke. We all did. Even our sound guy, who had never tried any drugs. They let us go.

When I got back to our hotel a man was waiting for me sitting in the lobby and I recognized him. It was Mike, an old source who had been in prison for over 15 years for killing a woman. He said he was the boss of all of those guys and he had ordered to kill us and burry us in that place, but he recognized me from the photo the crackhead sent earlier. And that was a close call.

Una entrevista con Julián Leyzaola?

Me encantaría. Creo que sería una conversación interesante, sobretodo por que los métodos del teniente para mi nunca justificaron los resultados. Sería interesante saber qué piensa él después de tantos años.

Plaga interview?

I already did. Its archived here on this very substance account. Baja California state government said they would have a presser to show proof of him being locked up somewhere, but they never did…

Do you think Okran Leaks is legit?

I got more than 10 times a question regarding Ocran. I do think he is legit 100%. Probably knows what he is talking about first hand.

Who runs Durango right now, besides El Mayo?

After the capture of G1 is probably El Toluco or El Avestruz.

Cuándo vas para Tamaulipas?

He ido un par de veces. Si sale algo por allá, ahí estoy!

Do you think the Mexican government will ever capture the rest of Los Chapitos?

I’m sure at least one more will fall. There is still a lot of pressure by the US government to nab either Alfredo or Ivan. So I would guess its only a matter of time to see a new capture of one of them so the US can call the Chapitos organization dismantled.

Leads on where the Perez twins are in the USA?

I don’t even know who these Perez twins are compadre…are you sure you are not talking about the Flores twins?

Tienes YouTube?

Si! Estoy como @Luischaparro, próximamente estaré subiendo episodios semanales de mi propio podcast.

Will you ever get a chance to interview Vicente Zambada or his bro Mayo Gordo?

Not yet. Very recently I was steadily talking to one of the Zambada’s trying to figure out if there was a chance to interview Mayo Flaco, but at the end it was way too risky.

Ya tuvo algún contacto con IAG?

Cero suerte hasta ahora.

How can I see your full videos?

I have a new section here at my website under ‘video’ tab, I’ll be posting all of my full clips there!

Do cartel kidnap Mexican travelers that go into tourist places?

Usually not, unless something pops up: either a photo, a name or a vehicle they could think is rival, police or useful for them. But generally they would stay away from tourists since most jefes de plaza order their men to stay away to avoid heating the plaza.

Who is the highest ranked cartel member you have been face to face with?

I would have to say Dámaso López Serrano. I was once in touch with Ovidio through middle men to request a permit to film in Culiacán inside their weed dispensaries, but never face to face.

Cuándo sale tu nueva entrevista con El Bordo?

Creo que en un par de semanas! Quedó muy buena la verdad. Siempre me divierto mucho en El Bordo. Además están por sacar una entrevista con El Taliban de Tijuana y se ve que va a estar con todo!

Update on Mayo’s communication with the Chapitos and his health?

For all I know El Mayo is still in good ledes with Los Chapitos. After the arrest of El Nini El Mayo allegedly asked Ivan to cut ties with El Flaquito de Tijuana if they wanted to keep his support, and reportedly they did. So now Los Chapitos are benefiting from the perks of being friends with El Mayo, removing all doubts that they were not in good standing or even that there could be a war.

Also recently rumors surfaced sayin El Mayo had lost a leg to diabetes, which sources denied. Who really knows…

Thoughts on the rumors that Los Chapitos are trying to become MX top weed dealers?

I don’t think these are rumors. If you go to my YouTube channel @luischaparro and look for one of my documentaries inside of Los Chapitos weed industry you’ll find a full report on how they are turning Culiacán into a Mexican version of LA when it comes to weed.