Canadian drug lord Mathieu Bélanger's murder in Playa del Carmen is reportedly linked to a faction of the Sinaloa cartel, known as Los Chapitos, according to initial investigations by federal authorities.
Bélanger, also known as "Barbu", arrived in Playa del Carmen in 2022 and quickly took command of a powerful gang of Canadian drug traffickers residing in the area. He also partnered with the "Los Menores" gang to facilitate the transportation of cocaine and other drugs to the Quebec region in Canada.
His arrest in April and subsequent unexplained release were widely reported by outlets such as Bloomberg and ABC News. Bélanger had reportedly formed alliances with the sons of notorious drug lord El Chapo Guzman, as well as corrupt members of the Mexican police.
Bélanger's death has shed light on the internal conflicts and inherent violence within the drug trafficking world. It serves as a stark reminder that while the justice system may at times appear complicit, the criminal underworld is unforgiving.
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