Most BRUTAL Torture Methods by Mexican Cartel's

Summary

The video script delves into the horrifying world of Mexican drug cartels, highlighting the brutal and sadistic torture methods employed by infamous figures like El Chapo and his Sinaloa Cartel. It recounts specific acts of violence, such as the gruesome murder of Hugo Hernandez and the torturous interrogation of DEA Agent Enrique 'Kiki' Camarena. The script also touches on the corrupt involvement of law enforcement officials and the systemic use of torture within Mexico's criminal justice system. The narrative serves as a chilling reminder of the cartels' power and the extreme measures they take to maintain their reign of terror.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Hugo Hernandez's kidnapping by the Sinaloa Drug Cartel led to a gruesome display of violence, illustrating the cartel's brutal methods.
• 😷 The Sinaloas are known for their sadistic torture techniques, including chainsaw dismemberment and skinning victims alive.
• 🔪 Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, the leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, is notorious for his hands-on approach to torture, often participating personally.
• 🐅 El Chapo's sons, 'Los Chapitos', continue the family's legacy of violence, with reports of feeding victims to tigers and using corkscrews as torture tools.
• 🗡️ The Zetas Cartel is infamous for its extreme acts of brutality, such as public beheadings and mass cremations at La Gallera ranch.
• 💀 The 1985 torture and murder of DEA Agent Enrique 'Kiki' Camarena by the Guadalajara Cartel is a chilling example of cartel violence.
• 👮‍♂️ Corruption within Mexican law enforcement is rampant, with officers like Luis Cárdenas Palomino facilitating cartel activities and participating in torture.
• 🔧 Torture by Mexican law enforcement is systemic, with methods including electric shocks to genitals and waterboarding.
• 🗣️ The cartels' theatrical brutality is a calculated PR strategy to instill fear and project power, similar to tactics used by terrorist organizations.
• ⚰️ The cartels' acts of violence are often captured on video, serving as a form of intimidation and a gruesome form of propaganda.

Q & A

What happened to Hugo Hernandez on the night of January 2, 2010?

Hugo Hernandez was kidnapped by Sicarios from the Sinaloa Drug Cartel while taking an evening walk in Sonora state, Mexico.

What is the significance of the Sinaloa Drug Cartel in Mexico?

The Sinaloa Drug Cartel is one of the most feared and powerful drug cartels in Mexico, known for their brutal and creative methods of violence and torture.

What gruesome discovery was made in Los Mochis on January 8, after the Sicarios finished with Hugo?

Hugo's torso and limbs were found in two large plastic containers, and his face, stitched onto a soccer ball, was discovered in a plastic bag near City Hall with a threatening note.

Who is Joaquin Guzman, and what is his nickname?

Joaquin Guzman is the now incarcerated leader of the Sinaloa Drug Cartel, commonly known by his nickname, El Chapo, which translates to 'Shorty' in English.

What was the fate of rival drug peddler Israel Rincon at the hands of El Chapo's men?

Israel Rincon was brutally tortured, his teeth were ripped out, and he was electrocuted before being murdered and his body disposed of, with the torture video posted online.

What is one of El Chapo's most notorious methods of torture mentioned in the script?

One of El Chapo's notorious torture methods involved beating people with a branch until their bodies were 'like rag dolls' from broken bones, followed by throwing them onto a bonfire.

What is the 'Colombian Necktie' and why is it an urban legend associated with Pablo Escobar?

The 'Colombian Necktie' is a form of torture where the victim's throat is slit and their tongue is pulled through the wound. It is an urban legend because, although it was practiced, it is often misattributed to Pablo Escobar's Medellin Cartel when it actually predates the cartel by decades.

What is the significance of the video recordings made by the cartels during their acts of torture and murder?

The video recordings serve as a form of propaganda, aiming to instill fear and establish the cartels' reputation as ruthless and unstoppable forces in their territories.

How do the cartels use psychological torment in their acts of violence?

Cartels use psychological torment by forcing victims to kill each other, as seen in a leaked video where students were coerced into decapitating and beating each other to death.

What is the 'El Guiso' method of torture, and which cartel leader was known for using it?

The 'El Guiso' method of torture involves forcing victims into 55-gallon metal drums and setting a fire underneath to slowly boil them alive. This method was attributed to Miguel Ángel Treviño Morales, an alleged leader of the Los Zetas cartel.

What was the impact of the San Fernando Massacre on the notoriety of Los Zetas?

The San Fernando Massacre in 2011, where Los Zetas kidnapped and murdered 193 people, significantly increased the cartel's notoriety for extreme brutality and violence.

Outlines

00:00

😱 Horrific Kidnapping and Torture by Sinaloa Cartel

The paragraph recounts the chilling abduction of Hugo Hernandez by the Sinaloa Drug Cartel in Mexico. The details of his brutal torture, including being beaten, dismembered, and decapitated, are described. His face was gruesomely stitched onto a soccer ball, and his body parts were left in plastic containers as a message. The paragraph also discusses the broader context of violence within Mexican drug cartels, highlighting their extreme methods to instill fear and assert dominance.

05:04

🔪 Torture and Violence by Mexican Drug Cartels

This paragraph delves into the various forms of torture and violence perpetrated by Mexican drug cartels, including the Sinaloa Cartel and their rivals. It provides examples of horrific acts such as feeding victims to tigers, using corkscrews, and forcing people to become drug mules. It also recounts infamous cases like the torture and murder of DEA Agent Enrique 'Kiki' Camarena by the Guadalajara Cartel, and the brutal tactics of the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel (CJNG), including the public decapitation of a woman and the torture of a rival cartel member.

10:04

🐊 The Zetas' Barbaric Acts and Law Enforcement Corruption

The paragraph focuses on the extreme violence of the Los Zetas drug cartel, detailing their acts of torture such as 'El Guiso,' mass killings, and the use of La Gallera ranch for atrocities. It also touches on the corruption within Mexican law enforcement, with examples of officers like Luis Cárdenas Palomino, who was involved in torture and drug trafficking. The paragraph discusses the systemic nature of torture within Mexican institutions and the impact of this on the fight against drug cartels.

15:06

🗡️ The Legacy of Violence and Torture in Drug Cartels

This paragraph discusses the historical context of torture methods used by drug cartels, including the Colombian Necktie and other brutal practices during La Violencia. It contrasts the theatrical brutality used by cartels as a form of PR with the actual tactics used by groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS. The paragraph concludes with a darkly humorous note on the importance of being polite to cartel members should one encounter them in Mexico.

Keywords

💡Sicarios

Sicarios are professional hitmen, often associated with drug cartels in Mexico. In the video script, they are depicted as individuals wearing ski masks who kidnap Hugo Hernandez, showcasing their role as enforcers for the Sinaloa Drug Cartel. Their actions are brutal and swift, illustrating the level of fear and violence associated with these groups.

💡Sinaloa Drug Cartel

The Sinaloa Drug Cartel is one of the most powerful and feared drug trafficking organizations in Mexico. The script describes their brutal methods, such as the horrific torture and dismemberment of Hugo Hernandez, to instill terror and maintain their dominance in the drug trade. The cartel's notoriety is further emphasized by the mention of its infamous leader, Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman.

💡El Chapo

Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman is a former leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, known for his ruthless tactics and small stature, which is reflected in his nickname 'Shorty.' The script details his involvement in various acts of torture and murder, emphasizing his role as a symbol of the cartel's brutality and power. His methods, such as the torture of rival drug peddler Israel Rincon, are used to exemplify the extremes to which cartel leaders will go to assert control.

💡Torture Methods

The script provides a grim account of various torture methods employed by Mexican drug cartels. These methods are designed to inflict maximum pain and terror, such as electrocution, chainsaw dismemberment, and being buried alive. The detailed descriptions of these acts underscore the inhumanity and the psychological warfare used by the cartels to maintain their grip on power.

💡Cartel Violence

Cartel violence is a central theme in the video, highlighting the extreme measures taken by drug cartels to assert dominance and intimidate rivals. The script mentions shootings, stabbings, decapitations, and other brutal acts, which are not only meant to harm the victims but also to send a message of fear to the public and rival groups.

💡Los Zetas

Los Zetas is another notorious drug cartel in Mexico, known for its exceptional acts of brutality. The script references their horrific crimes, such as the public beheading of a woman and the San Fernando Massacre, where 193 people were murdered. These instances illustrate the cartel's use of violence as a tool for intimidation and control.

💡Drug Mules

Drug mules are individuals who transport illegal drugs for cartels, often under duress. The script mentions that El Chapo's sons are known for forcing local civilians to become drug mules, with severe consequences for those who refuse. This term highlights the exploitation and coercion that cartels use to expand their operations.

💡Corruption

Corruption within law enforcement is a significant issue addressed in the script, with examples such as Luis Cárdenas Palomino, a law enforcement official who was actually working for the cartels. This corruption undermines the rule of law and enables the cartels to operate with impunity, further complicating efforts to combat drug-related violence.

💡Human Rights Violations

The script alludes to various human rights violations committed by both the cartels and corrupt law enforcement officials. These include torture, forced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings. The mention of these violations emphasizes the urgent need for accountability and the protection of individuals from such abuses.

💡Psychological Torture

Psychological torture is a method of inflicting harm through mental and emotional suffering. The script describes how cartels and corrupt police officers use this tactic, such as threatening the families of victims, to extract information or confessions. This form of torture is highlighted to show the multifaceted nature of the violence and intimidation tactics used by these groups.

💡Criminal Enterprise

A criminal enterprise, as depicted in the script, refers to the organized and systematic nature of drug cartel operations. The cartels are portrayed as multi-billion dollar industries that engage in brutal competition, necessitating extreme violence to protect their interests. This term encapsulates the scale and complexity of the cartels' activities, which extend beyond drug trafficking to include violence, corruption, and intimidation.

Highlights

Hugo Hernandez's kidnapping by Sicarios from the Sinaloa Drug Cartel in Sonora, Mexico.

The brutal and horrific torture methods employed by the Sinaloa Cartel, including chainsaw dismemberment.

The discovery of Hernandez's dismembered body and his face stitched onto a soccer ball with a threatening note.

The competitive nature of Mexico's drug cartels and their need to establish dominance through extreme violence.

Joaquin Guzman, aka El Chapo, and his role in redefining brutality within the drug cartel landscape.

El Chapo's personal involvement in torture, including beating victims with a branch until their bodies were 'like rag dolls'.

The existence of a specialized torture room in Antonio 'Jaguar' Marrufo's mansion, complete with drains and soundproofing.

El Chapo's sons' continuation of their father's brutal methods, including the use of corkscrews and feeding victims to tigers.

The infamous case of DEA Agent Enrique 'Kiki' Camarena's torture and murder by the Guadalajara Cartel in 1985.

The Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel's (CJNG) brutal methods, including chainsaw torture and public recordings of their acts.

Los Zetas' acts of extreme violence, such as the forced decapitation of victims and mass murder at La Gallera ranch.

The San Fernando Massacre, where Los Zetas kidnapped and murdered 193 people, forcing some to fight to the death.

The Gulf Cartel's retaliatory violence against Los Zetas, including the public decapitation of captured members.

The prevalence of cartel-related corruption within Mexican law enforcement, with examples of officers facilitating torture.

The systemic issue of torture within Mexican law enforcement, including the use of psychological and physical torture techniques.

The comparison of Mexican cartel violence to that of other infamous drug kingpins, such as Pablo Escobar and the Medellin Cartel.

The strategic use of theatrical brutality by cartels as a form of propaganda to instill fear and assert control.

Transcripts

January 2, 2010. It’s a warm night in  Mexico’s Sonora state when 36-year-old  

Hugo Hernandez is taking an evening walk.  He has no idea that, in the next few days,  

his name will be in newspapers all over the world  - for the most horrifying reason imaginable.

As he walks, he barely registers  the van approaching from behind,  

until it pulls up next to him, and the side  panel slides open. Several men in ski masks  

pile out and make a run for Hernandez.  They beat him down, zip-tie his wrists,  

and pull a black sack over his head. In a matter  of seconds, this human cargo is bundled up into  

the back of the van, which speeds away  from the curb with a screech of tires.

He’s just been kidnapped by Sicarios from  the Sinaloa Drug Cartel, one of the most  

feared and powerful drug cartels in all of  Mexico. But Hugo’s ordeal isn’t over. Not by  

a long shot. He’s about to find out exactly  why the Sinaloas command so much terror.

When Hugo Hernandez wakes up, he’s in Sinaloa  territory. The Sicarios beat him viciously 

while one among their number readies a chainsaw.  This is where everything gets messy - Both in the  

room where Hernandez is being held and in  our knowledge of the story. We don’t know  

for sure whether Hernandez was alive when they  expertly peeled off his face. We don’t know if  

he was alive when they cut off every one of  his limbs, before tearing his head from his  

torso. We can only hope, for Hugo’s sake,  that they were feeling merciful that day.

What we do know is what happened afterward.  On January 8, after the Sicarios are finished  

with Hugo, his torso and all of the limbs  that used to be attached to it turn up in  

two large plastic containers on the  streets of Los Mochis. Hugo’s face,  

meticulously stitched onto a soccer  ball, is found in a plastic bag near  

City Hall with a note that reads, “Happy  New Year, because this will be your last.”

Because when it comes to the  dark art of violence and torture,  

the drug cartels of Mexico are  nothing if not disgustingly creative.

You’ve heard the stories - Shootings, stabbings,  decapitations. It’s all true, and what’s more,  

it’s generally underselling just how brutal  agents and even leaders of Mexico’s biggest  

drug cartels can be. This is a multi-billion  dollar industry, and one of the most competitive  

in the world. It’s why some of Mexico’s  leading drug cartels, like the Sinaloas  

and the Zetas, need to go so above and beyond in  establishing that they’re not to be messed with.

And leading the charge is Joaquin Guzman, the now  incarcerated leader of the Sinaloa Drug cartel,  

that you might know better by his nickname, El  Chapo - “Shorty”, in English. And if the career  

of Joe Pesci has taught us anything, it’s that  little guys with a homicidal streak are some of  

the scariest gangsters of all. Let’s take a look  at some of the ways that El Chapo has redefined  

brutality even as drug cartels go, with some of  his uniquely strange and sadistic torture methods,  

starting with how he saw fit to punish rival  drug peddler Israel Rincon, aka El Guacho.

According to unsealed court documents,  El Chapo’s men got ahold of Rincon and  

dragged him into a garden outhouse  on one of his properties. There,  

the torture began: While Cartel agents filmed the  interrogation, Rincon’s teeth were ripped out,  

and he was electrocuted in the ear. He was beaten  and humiliated as they extracted information from  

him, but Seventually, the pain got too much  for Rincon to bear, and he fell unconscious.

At this point, the Sinoloa torturers called in  a doctor to treat and revive El Guacho so they  

could continue torturing him.  Once the torturers got bored,  

they murdered Rincon and disposed of his body in  Culiacán before posting the footage of the brutal  

torture to the internet. And what happened  to Rincon was only the tip of the iceberg.

El Chapo is a hands-on torture enthusiast. While  he often delegates his acts of brutality to some  

of his countless underlings, he’s also more than  happy to roll up his sleeves and get to torturing  

himself. According to one eyewitness, he beat  two people with a branch until their bodies were,  

quote, “like rag dolls” from so many broken  bones, before having them thrown onto a bonfire.

Another incident had him non-fatally shoot a rival  cartel boss before ordering that the man be buried  

alive to suffocate slowly. A witness at El Chapo’s  trial, Isaias Valdez Rios, described the latter’s  

torture as follows: “He had burns made with  an iron on his back, his shirt was stuck to  

his skin. He had burns made with a car lighter all  over his body. His feet were burned.” It was only  

after days of being left for dead in an old wooden  structure that El Chapo saw fit to bury the man.

One of the drug lord’s most trusted  associates, Antonio "Jaguar" Marrufo,  

had a special room in his mansion built  specifically for the torture and murder  

of their rivals in the drug trade. The  room had a fitted drain in the ground  

to let the blood drain away more easily, as  well as non-stick tiles and soundproofing  

technology to stop anyone from the outside  from hearing the horrific screams from within.

El Chapo’s apples didn’t fall far from the tree,  either. His sons - Iván and Alfredo Guzmán Salazar  

and Joaquín and Ovidio Guzmán López - formed  their own Sinaloa splinter cartel known as “Los  

Chapitos,” or “Little Chapos,” along with close El  Chapo associate, hitman Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas,  

aka El Nini. As you’ve probably predicted  by now, they share their old man’s love  

of horrific torture, and keep a ranch in  Navolato where the worst of it takes place.

People close to the matter have reported that  they twist corkscrews into the flesh of their  

victims before yanking them out and rubbing hot  chilli peppers on the open wounds. Some are fed,  

either dead or alive, depending on how lucky  they are, to the tigers some of El Chapo’s  

sons keep as pets. They’re also known for  making drug mules out of the local civilians,  

in many cases killing them and their  families if they refuse the offer.

But Mexico’s cartel community isn’t going to let  the Sinaloa syndicate have all the “fun.” There  

are plenty of horrific instances of violence and  torture from El Chapo’s many competitors, and now,  

we’re going to take you on a traumatic  crash course through some of the worst  

ones. Seriously, we’re begging you, put down  that sandwich. It’s gonna get really gross.

Probably one of the most infamous cases of  cartel torture was the one committed against  

DEA Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena in 1985 when  his undercover investigation was blown open by  

members of the ruthless Guadalajara cartel. Kiki’s  death was anything but quick, as his captors saw  

fit to torture him to death over the course  of 30 hours of grueling and humiliating hours.

On February 7th, 1985, he was ambushed by a group  of armed men in Guadalajara on the way to the US  

Consulate. He went without a struggle, knowing  that he was outmatched, and he was taken to a  

secondary location where the torture commenced.  He was bound to a chair while the cartel torturers  

recorded the interrogation, beating him  so viciously that his skull, jaw, nose,  

cheekbones, and windpipe were crushed. We can  only imagine the horror that Kiki felt when his  

captors produced a power drill, which they used  to drill into his skull while he was still alive.

How do we know he was still alive? The toxicology  

report showed the presence of  amphetamines in Kiki’s system,  

despite the fact that he never used the drugs  himself. This implied to DEA investigators  

that Kiki was given the drugs so that he would  remain awake and conscious during his torture.

In more recent years, members of the Jalisco  Nueva Generación Cartel (or CJNG) captured a  

member of a rival cartel, the aforementioned Los  Chapitos, and decided to record his torture and  

murder. By the time the video started, the  man’s face was already beaten and bloody,  

and his arms were tied behind his back on  a chair. One of his torturers produced a  

chainsaw while another questioned him,  and began sawing into the man’s legs.

Eventually, when the torturers  had done all they wanted to,  

they sawed off the man’s legs  entirely and poured water onto him.

Then there are the horrific crimes of Los Zetas,  one of the best-known drug cartels outside of the  

Sinaloa Cartel. The Zetas don’t have the Sinaloa’s  numbers or name recognition, but they make up  

for it with their truly extraordinary acts of  brutality. In one video, a woman in a pink shirt  

is forced onto her knees by a Los Zetas agent, who  holds up a straight razor before saying, “Well,  

gentleman, this is what happens to all those  in the Gulf Cartel. On behalf of Los Zetas.”

The woman does not resist, seemingly  drugged, as the man holds the razor  

to her throat and slices off her head  over the course of a brutal 40 seconds,  

as her perforated throat wheezes air.  This particular video understandably  

garnered massive controversy  when it was leaked on Facebook.

Much like Los Chapitos, the Zetas even have  their own murder, torture, and body disposal  

ranch: La Gallera ranch in northern Veracruz.  After taking it over in 2011, the Zetas have  

used it as a hub of mass cremation, incinerating  their victims to avoid evidence of their crimes  

ever coming to light. These cremations were  performed in the ranch’s twelve “Kitchens,”  

in a scene described by witnesses as something far  worse than any horror movie could ever conjure up.

Some victims were dissolved in bathtubs full  of acid. Others were chopped up and fed to  

crocodiles. In more pedestrian but no less  horrifying cases, the bodies of the kidnapped,  

tortured, and murdered were buried in mass  graves around the property. Perhaps the most  

upsetting part is that the locals knew this  was happening for years, and even reported it,  

but the corrupt local police were in the  pocket of the Zetas, and nothing was done.

Whenever Los Zetas and the kitchen  mixes, something horrible is sure to  

happen - and this fact is true all the way  to the top. Miguel Ángel Treviño Morales,  

one of the alleged leaders of the cartel group,  had a particular form of torture and execution  

he enjoyed that’s referred to as “El Guiso”  or “The Stew.” Victims would be forced into  

55-gallon metal drums alive, and a fire would then  be set underneath them, slowly boiling them alive.

The incident that truly put Los Zetas on the  map was the infamous 2011 San Fernando Massacre,  

where the Zetas kidnapped and murdered 193  people on La Joya Ranch. After hijacking a  

number of buses, the victims were dragged to the  ranch, where the women were brutalized and killed,  

and the men were given weapons and forced to  fight each other to the death. People who were  

willing to kill to save their own lives were  then recruited as more ruthless hitmen for  

Los Zetas in what is perhaps the most horrific  job application process in modern history.

The most horrifying part is that  this isn’t even an isolated incident.  

Multiple cartels have used forcing people  to kill others as a source of psychological  

torment. A video that leaked online in 2023  appeared to show the horrifying fate of 5  

students lured onto a cartel compound, who  were forced to kill each other on camera  

when they refused an offer to join the  cartel. The video depicted one student  

decapitating another with a machete, as another  had their head beaten in with a piece of rock.

The cocky and in-your-face style of Los  Zetas made them plenty of enemies. They  

hanged two members of the Gulf Cartel, and  in one video, filmed themselves disposing of  

the headless bodies of 49 migrant workers  whom they’d murdered. The former was seen  

as particularly insulting by members of the  Gulf Cartel, because the Zetas had originally  

served as their security force, before  splintering off and forming their own group.

In 2012, the Gulf Cartel struck back with some  horrific violence of their own. They released  

a video of several captured members of the  Zetas tied up, and pleading for mercy as  

they’re interrogated about their leaders. When the  Gulf Cartel operatives tire of asking questions,  

they descend on the Zetas with machetes, brutally  hacking off each of their heads without so much as  

a flicker of remorse. Cartel members live  by the machete, and die by the machete.

Filming their crimes, as you may have  noticed, is pretty standard for cartels.  

In one particularly vile video filmed  by a group of unknown cartel members,  

you can see them goofing off with a severed human  face while surrounded by dead bodies. One of them  

puts the face on like a Halloween mask, while  his cartel friends laugh and joke about it.

You may be feeling a little queasy hearing  about all this murder and mayhem - though  

it kind of makes us wonder why you clicked  on a video called “Mexican Cartels' Most  

Brutal Torture Methods” - but, at the  very least, we’ve got a consolation:  

The Cartel isn’t running unopposed. Mexico’s  finest are on the case, the top cops who  

want to put cartels like the Sinaloas and the  Zetas on notice. Like Luis Cárdenas Palomino,  

a law enforcement official once voted “Mexico’s  best police officer,” and he won’t rest until--

Wait, he was working for the cartel, too? AND  he was also involved in torturing people!?

That’s right, while we personally think that  Palomino’s “best police officer” award should  

be revoked, he’s in the runnings for one of its  most criminal and corrupt. He was arrested for  

abusing suspects under his care, facilitating  torture, and essentially being a glorified  

errand boy for El Chapo. His former boss, Genaro  Garcia Luna, was also imprisoned for corruption  

and drug trafficking, so he’s been doing a  fine job holding up institutional traditions.

Palomino has a shady past, having been  implicated in a murder in his adolescence,  

before proving himself to be a reliable asset for  cartel bigwigs who wanted a friend on the inside  

of Mexican law enforcement. Because of crooked  cops like Palomino, Mexican law enforcement  

and special forces have been accused of a bevy of  horrific crimes - from taking bribes to committing  

straight-up massacres on the cartel’s behalf.  And, of course, there’s plenty of torture, too!

One of the favorite methods of people like  Palomino is known locally as the chicharra,  

which involves using a cattle prod  to repeatedly shock the genitals of  

a prisoner in order to induce confessions  - even if they know the person they’re  

tormenting is innocent. They’ve also been  known to repeatedly suffocate victims  

with plastic bags, employ Guantanamo-style  waterboarding techniques, and beat victims  

within an inch of their life, sometimes  accidentally killing them in the process.

Dr. Robert Bunker, a research director at  the security consulting firm C/O Futures LLC,  

said of the torturous cartel cops,  “Basic [torture] techniques can  

include the use of bladed instruments,  pliers, and clippers, but fire, water,  

and electrical-based approaches  can also be readily applied.”

But we can’t lay the responsibility of  all this torture at the feet of Palomino;  

it’s far more systemic in nature than that.  An anonymous Mexican police commander told  

the Daily Beast, “Torture is committed on  a grand scale, and it will never disappear,  

because our institutions lack the resources  and capacity to prosecute someone for what  

is done through torture.” This same anonymous  commander to his cartel-corrupted co-workers  

employed psychological tortures as well as  physical, like arresting the families of  

victims and threatening to kill or torture  them too in order to induce confessions.

Former DEA chief of international operations Mike  Vigil actually claimed that brutal torture methods  

have been a part of the Mexican law enforcement  credo even outside of Cartelian influence. He  

said, “All of Mexico’s security forces have  used torture since their very inception,  

and it has become normal for them. They look at it  as an easy way to solve cases and don’t understand  

that it is a violation of human rights or  that anyone will confess when tortured.”

Of course, Mexican drug cartels don’t have  an absolute monopoly on disturbing cartel  

violence. After all, one of the most feared  and infamous drug kingpins of all time,  

Pablo Escobar, was Colombian. However, one of the  most popular factoids about how Escobar’s Medellin  

Cartel liked to torture people is actually an  urban legend: The dreaded Colombian Necktie.

Now, we don’t mean that it was a total myth like  the Iron Maiden, it was very much practiced on  

people for a number of years. The torture involves  slitting the victim’s throat, and yanking the  

tongue out of the wound, so it rests against  the upper chest like a bloody necktie. However,  

while it’s commonly misattributed to Pablo  and his gang, it was actually a feature of  

a brutal period of the Colombian Civil War  known as La Violencia, which went on for a  

decade between 1948 and 1958 - predating the  1976 rise of the Medellin Cartel by decades.

For all our torture and mutilation fans  out there, La Violencia was a goldmine of  

atrocities - From the Colombian Necktie to the  “Flower Vase Cut,” where victims’ limbs were  

cut off and stuffed into their body, to a torture  where - much like the Mexican cartels - victims’  

genitals were cut off and shoved into their  mouth. And, perhaps most upsetting of all,  

cases where pregnant women had the fetuses cut  out of their wombs and replaced with a rooster.

The cruel irony of all the coverage of  Mexican Cartel brutality - including this  

video - is exactly what the cartel wants. The  theatrical brutality of the cartel is a brutal  

but sophisticated PR move, advancing their  image as feared and unstoppable gangsters  

who rule their respective territories. Very  similar to the tactics employed by terrorist  

groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS with their  own traumatic videos of horrific violence.

But the acts of torture and  murder are often so audacious;  

how could they not provoke some kind of reaction?

But if this video has taught you  anything, it’s hopefully this:  

If you find yourself taking a vacation to  Mexico any time soon, and you happen to  

run into someone involved in a drug cartel  - Remember to be polite. If we make another  

one of these videos, we’d hate for any of  our subscribers to appear in that sequel.

Now check out “El Chapo Versus Pablo Escobar -  How Do They Compare?” Or watch this video instead!