**Primary Article:**
**Sinaloa Cartel Operative “El Dimas” Found Deceased in Culiacán**
Dimas Díaz Ramos, known by the nicknames “El Delta” or “El Dimas”, a former agent of the now-defunct State Judicial Police and alleged collaborator with the Sinaloa Cartel, was discovered dead on November 7, 2024. His body was found wrapped in a tarpaulin and showed signs of torture near the El Carrizalejo cemetery in Culiacán de Rosales municipality.
Díaz Ramos, 51, was identified shortly thereafter, his body laying beside a roadway leading to the Sanalona district. The head of the State Public Security Secretariat confirmed that the victim was the former Judicial Police agent. The body was found in isolation, devoid of any personal belongings, and it appeared to have been deliberately placed at the location, as explained during a briefing by state authorities.
State security forces reported the discovery of a lifeless person wrapped in a blood-stained white tarpaulin on a road near Carrizalejo after a 911 emergency call. The body was located by military personnel.
It is alleged by authorities that the Sinaloa Cartel, which Díaz Ramos reportedly served, plotted the assassination of former Mexican President Felipe Calderón. These claims came to light in 2009 when Ramón Eduardo Pequeño García, then-chief of the Anti-Drug Division of the Federal Police, announced the arrest of “El Dimas” and four associates in Culiacán. He asserted that the cartel had targeted Calderón following his administration’s aggressive crackdown on cartel activities, including the seizure of significant sums of cartel assets.
“El Dimas” was accused of being a financial operator for the Sinaloa Cartel under the leadership of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. He was reportedly responsible for drug trafficking operations involving concealing narcotics in tires and vegetable shipments across several Mexican states.
In 2010, “El Mayo” Zambada, in a rare media interview, refuted the assassination plot allegations as fabrications by government officials to justify their anti-drug campaign.
**Secondary Article:**
**Sinaloa Cartel’s Continued Influence Amidst Leadership Struggles**
Despite the recent death of a key operative, the Sinaloa Cartel maintains significant influence within Mexico’s narcotics landscape. The organization continues to grapple with internal power struggles following the extradition of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and ongoing legal battles faced by Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada’s sons.
Reports indicate the cartel has shifted its focus toward expanding international distribution networks, leveraging synthetic drug production while navigating increased pressures from competing factions and law enforcement operations. The death of “El Dimas” suggests ongoing volatility within the cartel’s ranks and highlights the persistent dangers faced by its members.
Globally, law enforcement agencies remain vigilant, employing enhanced cross-border cooperation to curb the cartel’s activities, particularly in the trafficking of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs, which have become a lucrative parallel to traditional operations.
As Mexican authorities continue their efforts to dismantle the cartel’s infrastructure, the inherent complexities of the criminal underworld present enduring challenges. Such crackdowns often lead to fragmented leadership, thereby contributing to the emergence of splinter groups seeking autonomy or allegiance, further complicating the enforcement landscape.
Recent initiatives by the Mexican government aim to address the socio-economic factors contributing to organized crime, reflecting a more comprehensive approach to mitigating cartel influence beyond militarized confrontation. However, the enduring legacy and adaptability of the Sinaloa Cartel underscore the multifaceted nature of Mexico’s battle against narcotrafficking.