In a startling revelation, the Justice Department disclosed that a hacker associated with the notorious Sinaloa Cartel compromised Mexico City's surveillance system to track an FBI official's movements in 2018. This cyber assault resulted in the intimidation and assassination of witnesses and informants involved in the investigation of the cartel's activities.
The breach surfaced during a Justice Department Inspector General audit, which scrutinized the FBI's handling of technical surveillance threats. At the heart of the investigation was Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, the cartel's infamous leader, who had been extradited to the U.S. in 2017.
The hacker, whose identity remains undisclosed, exploited the cellphone of an FBI assistant legal attaché (ALAT) based at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City. With access to detailed call logs and geolocation data, the hacker could pinpoint the attaché's location at any given time. The surveillance didn't end with digital tracking; the hacker also tapped into the city's camera network, closely monitoring the official and identifying his contacts.
According to an FBI case agent, this intelligence was used by the Sinaloa Cartel to threaten and, in some instances, lethally silence potential informants or witnesses cooperating with law enforcement. The specific casualties of these actions have not been made public, likely due to security concerns.
Fox News attempted to obtain comments from several government bodies, including the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City and the FBI, but responses were not immediately forthcoming.
The Justice Department's report underscores the increasing ease with which criminals and less sophisticated foreign entities exploit the vast data collection and storage practices of the modern age. This method of Ubiquitous Technical Surveillance (UTS) harnesses information from everyday technology, presenting significant challenges to law enforcement agencies.
As criminal organizations grow more sophisticated in their use of technology to collect intelligence on law enforcement and their sources, the FBI is actively improving its counter-surveillance measures. Officials are dedicated to bolstering defenses against the cyber tactics that threaten agents, witnesses, and the integrity of criminal investigations.
This hacking incident demonstrates the evolving battlefield of law enforcement, where cyber capabilities have become as crucial as traditional investigative methods. The ongoing struggle to protect sensitive information from cybercriminals linked to organized crime is a top priority for federal law enforcement.
