Notorious Meth Dealer Outlines Plan to Take Over Baja California
In what authorities are calling a bold and audacious move, local drug lord Juan "El Chapo" Hernandez announced this week his intention to take control of the entire state of Baja California.
I caught up with Hernandez at his sprawling compound just outside Tijuana. Here he is, surrounded by dozens of heavily armed henchmen, his face obscured behind a gold-plated AK-47.
"We've been planning this for a long time," he tells me through a translator. "Baja California is the perfect place for us to expand our operations. We've been making and selling meth here for years. Now we're going to take over the entire damn state."
Hernandez is no stranger to violence. He's been involved in the drug trade for more than two decades, rising through the ranks to become one of Mexico's most powerful and feared cartel leaders. But this, he says, is his biggest challenge yet.
"We're going to need a lot of help," he admits. "We're putting out the call to anyone who wants to join us, come be a part of this historic moment. We're going to need soldiers, engineers, chemists, cooks, drivers, medics, and maybe even some artists, who knows? We want to build something special here."
It's unclear how the Mexican government will respond to Hernandez's announcement. In the past, they've been quick to stamp out any sort of criminal activity, but this time it might be different.
"They can try to stop us, but they'll fail," Hernandez says, his steely gaze locking onto mine. "We're not just a group of criminals, we're a community. We've got each other's backs. And we're not afraid to die for what we believe in."
As Hernandez speaks, I can't help but think about the sheer scale of his plan. Taking over an entire state? It seems crazy, impossible even. But then again, this is a man who built a drug empire from nothing. Who's to say he can't do it again?
The stakes are high, that much is clear. Hundreds of lives are at risk, and the future of Baja California hangs in the balance. But it's hard not to admire the sheer audacity of Hernandez's plan. Whether or not he succeeds, one thing's for sure: this is going to be one hell of a ride.
