How Mexican criminal groups use technology, social media to dominate fentanyl market

MEXICO CITY — Two rival criminal groups that have cornered the deadly fentanyl market have done so largely with ingenuity and the latest technology, say current and former Mexican and U.S. law enforcement authorities.The Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels have evolved into high-tech geeks, relying on savvy business skills, encrypted communication gadgets and social media to recruit dealers to peddle their drugs across the border and into North Texas.That’s without ever setting foot on U.S. soil, said Aileen Teague, an assistant professor at Texas A&M University, who specializes in the history of drug cartels in Mexico.“The possibilities of drug cartels using tech for their advantage are endless,” she said, adding there is a need for regulations forcing social media companies to do more to block ads for fake prescription pills.Breaking NewsGet the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond.Related:How does fentanyl get to Dallas? Federal investigation reveals the pathwayIn general, anyone with a smartphone — more than 80% of the U.S. population — and WiFi access can connect with criminal networks that bootleg deadly pills, said Vanda Felbab-Brown, a Brookings Institution expert on Mexican drug cartels.“Fentanyl is the social media drug,” she said. “Virtually anyone has access to it.”For example
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