San Diego, birthplace of Serafín Zambada Ortiz, plays a crucial role in trafficking between Mexico and the US. (Archive)
The city of San Diegoin the south of Californiais the birthplace of Serafín Zambada Ortizson of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambadaone of the leaders of the Sinaloa cartel. Serafín, born in 1990, came into the world in this border region that, according to data from the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)has a strategic importance in the crossing of people and goods between Mexico and the United States. This proximity to Tijuana makes San Diego a constant and extensive trafficking junction, which has facilitated large-scale drug smuggling networks for decades.
According to him United States Department of Justicethe connections of the poster Sinaloa They extend to the south of Californiaespecially in San Diego, where the organization has established routes for the transit of drugs to other states. The importance of San Diego in the life of Zambada Ortiz not only lies in the fact that it was his birthplace, but that it was also one of the key points for his movements and those of his family between Mexico y USA. Serafín Zambada Ortiz spent part of his childhood and youth between this city and Culiacán, Sinaloa, where his family connections gradually involved him in the cartel’s activities, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.
San DiegoIn addition to its strategic relevance for criminal organizations, it is one of the main cities in Californiarecognized both for its proximity to the Mexican border and for its growing Latino population. According to the United States Census, more than 30% of residents identify as Latino, a significant demographic that has shaped the city’s culture, economy, and daily life. This large Latin community also maintains strong ties with Mexico, making San Diego a culturally diverse place and a point of exchange between both countries.
The Sinaloa cartel establishes key routes for drug trafficking in San Diego. (Google Maps)
San Diego is located in the extreme southwest of California, along the coast of the Pacific Ocean, and shares a border with Tijuana, Baja California. This proximity makes it one of the most active international crossings, with approximately 50 million legal crossings annually, according to data from the Customs and Border Protection (CBP). With a population of around 1.4 million inhabitants, San Diego It is the second largest city in Californiaafter Los Angelesand the eighth largest in USA. The importance of this city in the trafficking of goods and people makes it especially susceptible to smuggling activities, making it an area of interest for US and Mexican security agencies.
In addition to its importance in border traffic logistics, it is characterized by having a diverse economy, supported by sectors such as tourism, defense and technology. The Latino community, in particular, plays a key role in this economy, with sustained growth in small and medium-sized businesses that include everything from restaurants and stores to technology companies. The influence of the Latino community is felt throughout the city, in areas ranging from Barrio Loganknown for its Chicano art, to the district of Chula Vistawhere the majority of the population is of Mexican origin, according to the US Census Bureau.
More than 30% of San Diegans identify as Latino, according to the United States Census. (Getty Images)
San Diego is a major tourist destination for both American and Mexican visitors, and features iconic attractions such as the San Diego Zoothe park Balboa and the USS Midwaya floating naval museum in the city center. Furthermore, the beaches of La Jolla y Mission Beach They attract millions of tourists a year. This tourism is an important economic engine and creates a close cultural link with Mexicosince a considerable proportion of visitors come from Tijuana and other nearby Mexican cities. According to the San Diego Tourism DepartmentAround 3 million Mexicans visit the city annually, which boosts the local economy and strengthens exchange between both nations.
The Latino community has been crucial in the development and promotion of several of these attractions, incorporating cultural elements into local events and festivities. Balboa Park, for example, hosts celebrations of the Day of the Deadand the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park organizes mariachi festivals and events related to Hispanic heritage. This cultural interconnection has allowed San Diego to remain an attractive and accessible city for Latinos, who represent a third of its population and have been a fundamental part of the growth of emblematic neighborhoods and districts such as Logan Heights y San Ysidroaccording to the US Census Bureau.
San Diego, an active border crossing, sees approximately 50 million legal crossings annually. (Google Maps)
According to him United States Department of JusticeSan Diego is one of the main accesses for drug trafficking from Mexico, especially at ports of entry such as San Ysidro y Otay Mesawhere thousands of people and vehicles cross daily. This constant influx has been taken advantage of by the Sinaloa cartel to establish drug trafficking and distribution routes in the United States. The authorities have recorded an expansion of operations of this cartel in Southern California, especially after the arrest of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmánwhen the organization began to distribute territories of control among new leaders, including some relatives of “El Mayo” Zambada.
The life of Serafín Zambada Ortiz It took place between San Diego and CuliacanSinaloa, cities with completely different realities. Since his birth in the United States, Serafín alternated his years of childhood and youth between both countries, benefiting from American citizenship and the ease of movement on the border. As he grew up, and according to statements obtained during his trial, he assumed a role within the Sinaloa Cartel, which involved greater involvement in the organization’s activities in California and other regions of the United States, according to Business Insider.
In 2013, Zambada Ortiz was arrested while crossing the border Nogales, Arizonatoward USA. After his arrest, in which he was accused of conspiracy to distribute large quantities of drugs, he was sentenced in 2018 in a San Diego court, where he received five and a half years in prison. In his testimony before the court, he described his life under the influence of drug trafficking and referred to his upbringing as a “golden cage” that, although surrounded by luxuries and protection, did not allow him to distance himself from the world of organized crime.
Serafín Zambada Ortiz alternated his life between San Diego and Culiacán, under the influence of drug trafficking. (Facebook)
The influence of the cartel Sinaloa in San Diego has been reflected in an increase in drug seizures, especially fentanyl and methamphetamines, since 2021. According to reports from the DEAthese drugs are transported through established routes in San Diego, using methods such as underground tunnels and vehicles adapted for smuggling. These techniques have made San Diego a crucial point in the national narcotics distribution network, and have motivated greater collaboration between US and Mexican authorities in the border region to reduce the cartel’s influence.
