In 2018, a hacker employed by Mexico’s notorious Sinaloa drug cartel spied on an FBI official stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, using surveillance methods to track informants for targeted killings, according to findings published by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General.
The report, released on Friday, revealed that the hacking incident occurred amid the FBI’s investigation targeting cartel leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. During the inquiry, the FBI learned through an informant that the cartel had hired a skilled cyber agent providing extensive hacking services, including mobile phone surveillance and data extraction.
Employing sophisticated cyber methods, the hacker targeted the FBI’s assistant legal attaché at the embassy, a pivotal federal agent who coordinated closely with local law enforcement authorities in Mexico. Although specifics of the breach remain undisclosed, the hacker successfully used the official’s mobile phone number to gather call logs and geolocation data, providing a comprehensive picture of the agent’s movements and contacts.
The intrusion extended to exploiting Mexico City’s surveillance camera systems, allowing the hacker real-time tracking of the attaché’s movements throughout the city. Information obtained through these means enabled the cartel to identify and subsequently target individuals the agent met, including informants and witnesses cooperating with the FBI investigation. The report indicated that the cartel employed this intelligence not only for intimidation but, tragically, to orchestrate the murders of potential sources involved in the case.
When asked for a response, the FBI referred inquiries to the Department of Justice, which did not provide immediate comment. This troubling incident underscores a broader, ongoing conflict involving advanced surveillance capabilities deployed by both cartel operatives and Mexican law enforcement.
Historically, Mexico has seen significant investment from federal and local authorities in digital espionage technologies, including well-known spyware solutions contracted from companies such as Hacking Team and NSO Group, which police agencies utilize in combating drug cartel operations, activists, and journalists alike.
Parallel to the authorities, criminal organizations have also enhanced their capabilities, deploying encrypted communication networks and employing dedicated cyber operatives to evade detection, hack opponents, and track law enforcement activities. According to previous investigations, Mexican cartels have consistently leveraged digital tools, even going so far as to misuse security tracking software intended for official governmental use to eliminate rivals and conceal criminal activities.
In 2017, separate reports documented the involvement of cartel-affiliated hackers aiding authorities in locating Dámaso López Núñez, a top lieutenant of “El Chapo,” after previously attempting to penetrate Mexico’s highest-security penitentiary, Altiplano Federal Prison, during Guzmán’s detention there.
This latest revelation further highlights the escalating sophistication and lethal consequences associated with cyber espionage activities rooted deeply within Mexico’s ongoing struggle against organized criminal networks.
