Cartel Hacker Spied on FBI Official

Cartel Surveillance of U.S. Embassy Revealed

A recent U.S. government report indicates that in 2018, a hacker, contracted by the Sinaloa drug cartel led by Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, conducted surveillance on the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City. The objective was to identify individuals of interest for potential targeting and elimination by the cartel.

FBI Investigation and Report Findings

The Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General disclosed this incident on Friday. The information was released within a report evaluating the FBI’s counter-surveillance measures, designed to safeguard its personnel, investigations, and operational activities.

This surveillance occurred during the FBI’s investigation that ultimately resulted in El Chapo’s arrest. The cartel reportedly alerted the FBI to the fact that they had engaged a hacker.

Hacker’s Capabilities and Actions

The hacker presented a range of services focused on exploiting vulnerabilities in mobile phones and other electronic devices. They successfully monitored individuals entering and exiting the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City.

This included observing the FBI assistant legal attaché, a federal agent collaborating with local law enforcement. The report details how the hacker was able to utilize the official’s mobile phone number.

Specifically, the hacker gained access to call logs – both incoming and outgoing – and obtained geolocation data associated with the official’s phone.

Furthermore, the hacker compromised Mexico City’s camera system to track the attaché’s movements throughout the city and identify individuals they met with, as stated in the report.

The case agent indicated that the cartel subsequently used this information to intimidate, and in some cases, kill potential sources or cooperating witnesses.

Official Responses

The FBI directed inquiries to the Department of Justice, which did not provide a response to a request for comment.

Mexico’s Position in Surveillance Technology

Mexico has long been a focal point for advanced surveillance and hacking capabilities, utilized by both law enforcement and criminal organizations.

For over a decade, Mexican law enforcement agencies have invested heavily in spyware from companies like Hacking Team and NSO Group, targeting cartels, activists, and journalists.

Conversely, the Sinaloa cartel has employed encrypted phones, specifically designed to minimize surveillance risks by removing core functionalities and incorporating encrypted communication technologies.

Cartel Use of Hacked Systems

Investigations, such as one conducted by Vice News, have revealed that Mexican cartels were exploiting security software used by government agencies. This allowed them to locate rivals and conceal their criminal activities.

Earlier reports, dating back to 2015, indicated that cartels maintained “a hacker brigade” dedicated to building and managing their own communication networks.

In 2017, it was revealed that a hacker employed by the Sinaloa cartel assisted authorities in locating and arresting Dámaso López Núñez, a high-ranking cartel lieutenant. This same hacker was initially hired in 2014 to attempt a breach of the Altiplano Federal Penitentiary, where El Chapo was incarcerated at the time.