Part 4/10:
Creativity played a vital role in El Chapo's success. His cartel became notorious for employing innovative smuggling techniques, such as elaborate tunnel systems beneath the United States-Mexico border, and hiding drugs within everyday items, like fire extinguishers and cans of chili peppers. Such resourcefulness allowed El Chapo to maintain a steady flow of narcotics into the U.S., even as law enforcement intensified its efforts to intercept shipments.
However, the evolution of violence that accompanied his operations revealed a darker side. El Chapo fostered sub-gangs within the Sinaloa Cartel, blamed for thousands of murders, spreading terror across Mexico through fierce battles with rival cartels. This reign of brutality would soon draw the attention of both the DEA and the FBI.