For more than a week, several states in Mexico have faced widespread devastation as torrential rains, fueled by the remnants of Hurricane Priscilla and Tropical Storm Raymond, put entire communities across Veracruz, Hidalgo, Puebla, Querétaro and San Luis Potosí under water. The storms destroyed homes, isolated towns and overwhelmed local infrastructure.
As of Oct. 17, at least 72 people have died and dozens remain missing, according to data from the Mexican government.
Local authorities estimate that more than 100,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. Landslides and collapsed bridges have shut down major highways, while power outages and water supply disruptions continue to affect many areas.
As residents struggle to rebuild, a report from Milenio found that drug cartels are exploiting the widespread devastation and desperation to gain both influence and public approval in affected regions.
Earlier this week, The Latin Times highlighted videos shared on social media that showed heavily armed men dressed in military-style uniforms distributing emergency aid to residents in Veracruz. The men are believed to be members of the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), led by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho.”
The aid bags reportedly included food and basic supplies, and were marked with the cartel’s insignia. In one video, the men can be heard saying, “On behalf of the Lord of the Palms and the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación,” as they hand out the bags.
Milenio noted that this kind of so-called humanitarian aid by organized crime groups is not unprecedented. Past investigations have documented similar actions going back to the era of the Guadalajara Cartel, whose leaders once contributed to the construction of roads, schools, and churches in rural communities.
An article published in the Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities at the Autonomous University of Chiapas, and cited by Milenio, explains that these gestures of “altruism” are often calculated strategies to win over public support.
“If part of the profits generated by crime are directed toward easing the poverty experienced by many of the communities where they operate, then in the eyes of those communities, criminal activity may appear less harmful,” wrote researchers Jesús Alberto López González and Mauricio Lascuráin Fernández, who noted this dynamic specifically in the context of cartel behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. “It gains legitimacy to the extent that it can provide services and fulfill roles traditionally associated with the state.”
These acts of “assistance” also serve as tools for territorial control. Criminal groups use these moments of crisis to assert their presence and expand influence. Luis Astorga, a sociologist and researcher at the Institute of Social Research at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), told Milenio that such actions often lead to long-term extortion.
“I’ll sell you the idea because you’ll have no choice but to go along with whatever I want to do,” Astorga explained. “That means replacing the state by collecting taxes, it’s plain extortion.” He added that these actions can also reflect internal conflicts between rival groups. “It’s a message: ‘I’m protecting you not only from me, but from others.'”
On Oct. 14, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was asked about the videos showing cartel members handing out aid packages. She expressed disapproval and questioned their authenticity.
“We saw the videos. We’re not certain they show actual disaster zones, but regardless, that is clearly not right,” Sheinbaum said, emphasizing that only the government should be responsible for emergency response efforts.
Originally published on Latin Times
