CJNG + Los Chapitos: Mexico's Most Dangerous Narcos Are Signaling a Terrifying Alliance

A video shared across social media platforms this week has ignited alarm among security experts and the public alike, appearing to show a chilling new chapter in Mexico's ongoing cartel war: a public show of unity between two of the country's deadliest criminal organizations, the Sinaloa Cartel Los Chapitos and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

Dozens of men, dressed in tactical military-style gear and wielding high-powered rifles, were recorded posing in formation in the center of Cacalotán, a small town in southern Sinaloa. Behind them: the colorful tourist letters spelling out the town's name and the unmistakable façade of the local church. The video appears to confirm what has long been rumored but never before seen in such bold fashion: a potential alliance between the sons of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán and the CJNG.

In the footage, cartel members can be heard shouting phrases like "puras cuatro letras," a reference to CJNG, while others yell, "We're here, cabrones." Emojis of a pizza slice and a rooster—widely understood online as symbols of Los Chapitos and CJNG leader Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes—accompanied the posts sharing the video.

For years, these two groups were locked in a brutal turf war marked by ambushes, mass killings, and even the reported kidnapping of Chapitos members by CJNG operatives. But with the growing threat of La Mayiza, the rival Sinaloa faction loyal to Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, sources say the strategic calculus has changed.

Security analysts believe internal fractures, high-profile arrests, and an erosion of control have weakened the Chapitos enough to force a pact with their former enemies. "This is survival mode," said one Mexican intelligence source. "They've been bleeding territory and influence."

The official response

Mexico's government responded swiftly—at least symbolically. The day after the video surfaced, on June 9, the country's Defense Department reported the seizure of a .50 caliber Barrett rifle, over 800 rounds of ammunition, and 13 loaded magazines during a patrol in Cacalotán. The statement did not confirm a link to the video, but the timing suggests a possible show of state presence following the cartel's public stunt.

Experts are calling the potential alliance one of the most dangerous developments in recent memory. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment warns that such a partnership could drastically expand both groups' reach, firepower, and access to corrupt officials. "This could alter the criminal power structure across multiple regions," the report states.

Beyond the strategic implications, the symbolism of the video is stark. The once bitter enemies are now sharing uniforms, staging coordinated displays, and occupying public squares together.

So far, federal authorities in Mexico have not officially confirmed the video's authenticity or commented on whether the alliance is real. But the message it sends—both to rivals and civilians—is unmistakable: something terrifying is taking shape in the mountains of Sinaloa.