https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/sinaloa-cartel-hacked-phones-surveillance-cameras-find-fbi-informants-doj-says-2025-06-27/ Skip to main content Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionals Learn more aboutRefinitiv * World Browse World + Africa + Americas + Asia Pacific + China + Europe + India + Israel and Hamas at War + Japan + Middle East + Ukraine and Russia at War + United Kingdom + United States + Reuters NEXT * Business Browse Business + Aerospace & Defense + Autos & Transportation + Davos + Energy + Environment + Finance + Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals + Media & Telecom + Retail & Consumer + Future of Health + Future of Money + Take Five + World at Work * Markets Browse Markets + Asian Markets + Carbon Markets + Commodities + Currencies + Deals + Emerging Markets + ETFs + European Markets + Funds + Global Market Data + Rates & Bonds + Stocks + U.S. Markets + Wealth + Econ World * Sustainability Browse Sustainability + Boards, Policy & Regulation + Climate & Energy + Land Use & Biodiversity + Society & Equity + Sustainable Finance & Reporting + The Switch + Reuters Impact + COP29 * Legal Browse Legal + Government + Legal Industry + Litigation + Transactional + US Supreme Court * Commentary Browse Commentary + Breakingviews + ROI: Reuters Open Interest * Technology Browse Technology + Artificial Intelligence + Cybersecurity + Space + Disrupted * Investigations * More Sports + Athletics + Baseball + Basketball + Cricket + Cycling + Formula 1 + Golf + NFL + NHL + Soccer + Tennis ScienceLifestyleGraphicsPictures Wider ImagePodcasts + Reuters World News + Reuters Econ World + Viewsroom + The Big View LiveFact CheckVideoSponsored Content + Reuters Plus + Press Releases My News Register Sinaloa cartel used phone data and surveillance cameras to find FBI informants, DOJ says By Raphael Satter June 27, 20259:46 PM UTCUpdated June 27, 2025 * * * * * * * * The seal on the FBI headquarters in Washington A person passes by the FBI seal on the wall of the FBI headquarters, days after the Trump administration launched a sweeping round of cuts at the Justice Department, in Washington, U.S., February 3, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab WASHINGTON, June 27 (Reuters) - A hacker working for the Sinaloa drug cartel was able to obtain an FBI official's phone records and use Mexico City's surveillance cameras to help track and kill the agency's informants in 2018, the U.S. Justice Department said in a report issued on Thursday. The incident was disclosed in a Justice Department Inspector General's audit, opens new tab of the FBI's efforts to mitigate the effects of "ubiquitous technical surveillance," a term used to describe the global proliferation of cameras and the thriving trade in vast stores of communications, travel, and location data. Sign up here. The report said that the hacker worked for a cartel run by "El Chapo," a reference to the Sinaloa drug cartel run by Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, who was extradited to the United States in 2017. The report said the hacker identified an FBI assistant legal attache at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City and was able to use the attache's phone number "to obtain calls made and received, as well as geolocation data." The report said the hacker also "used Mexico City's camera system to follow the (FBI official) through the city and identify people the (official) met with." The report said "the cartel used that information to intimidate and, in some instances, kill potential sources or cooperating witnesses." The report did not identify the alleged hacker, attache or victims. The U.S. Embassy in Mexico referred questions to the State and Justice departments, who did not immediately return messages seeking comment. The FBI and a lawyer for El Chapo did not immediately return messages seeking comment. The collection of granular location data from people's phones by a wide variety of commercial and official actors, combined with ever-growing coverage of surveillance cameras, has posed a thorny problem for intelligence and law enforcement officials, many of whom rely on confidential informants. The report said that recent technological advances "have made it easier than ever for less-sophisticated nations and criminal enterprises to identify and exploit vulnerabilities" in the global surveillance economy. It said the FBI had a strategic plan in the works for mitigating those vulnerabilities and made several recommendations, including more training for bureau personnel. (This story has been corrected to say 'used phone data,' not 'hacked phones,' in the headline) Reporting by Raphael Satter in Washington. Additional reporting by Drazen Jorgic in Mexico City. Editing by Rosalba O'Brien Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab * Suggested Topics: * Cybersecurity * * * * * Purchase Licensing Rights [https] Raphael Satter Thomson Reuters Reporter covering cybersecurity, surveillance, and disinformation for Reuters. Work has included investigations into state-sponsored espionage, deepfake-driven propaganda, and mercenary hacking. * * * * Read Next * A magnifying glass is held in front of a computer screen in this picture illustration taken in Berlin BusinesscategoryTech firms warn 'Scattered Spider' hacks are targeting aviation sector June 27, 2025 * Updated ago * Man holds laptop computer as cyber code is projected on him in this illustration picture WorldcategoryIran's hackers keep a low profile after Israeli and US strikes June 27, 2025 * Hawaiian Airlines airplanes sit idle on the runway at the Daniel K. 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