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AI-Created Fake Images Fuel Chaos Following Mexican Drug Lord’s Death
Following the death of Mexico’s most-wanted drug lord, Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, gunmen from his powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) unleashed a wave of violence across Mexico that was amplified by a coordinated disinformation campaign using artificial intelligence.
The military operation that killed the CJNG leader on Sunday triggered criminal violence in 20 of Mexico’s 32 states, as cartel members burned vehicles and blockaded roads. Simultaneously, thousands of AI-generated fake images flooded social media, exaggerating the extent of the destruction.
AFP’s fact-checking team in Mexico analyzed a dozen fake images and videos related to the operation that were shared more than 38,500 times across various platforms. One of the most widely circulated was an AI-generated aerial image showing Puerto Vallarta, a popular tourist destination on Mexico’s Pacific coast, engulfed in flames.
While CJNG members did burn vehicles and vandalize businesses in the beach resort, the actual damage was significantly less severe than depicted in the false images, which were designed to magnify the perception of chaos and the cartel’s power.
“One was the Jalisco Cartel, magnifying the chaos,” explained Alberto Escorcia, a journalist specializing in social media analysis, who identified three distinct groups disseminating false information during the violence. Escorcia himself received threats on social media after exposing the disinformation campaign on the platform X.
Mexico’s security secretary, Omar Garcia Harfuch, confirmed that authorities had identified “multiple accounts” spreading disinformation related to the operation. “We’re going to do a deeper job to find out what relationship they have to the criminal organization,” he stated at a press conference, noting that some accounts appeared to be dedicated solely to spreading false information.
The digital campaign extended beyond simply exaggerating the violence. Academic researchers detected expressions of sympathy and admiration for Oseguera, who until his death had a $15 million bounty offered by the U.S. government.
“There was a notable and sustained volume of publications and comments with expressions of admiration, mourning,” and aspirational identification with the drug lord, according to Valeria Almaguer, subdirector of the Seminar on Violence and Peace at the College of Mexico.
Her research team found messages lamenting “El Mencho’s” death across Instagram, TikTok, and X, often accompanied by CJNG-associated emojis and “narco-corridos” – popular songs celebrating criminal organizations.
This social media activity aligns with previous research documenting over 100 TikTok accounts dedicated to cartel recruitment and propaganda. “The CJNG leads the use of TikTok as a channel of recruitment and propaganda,” stated a report published by the seminar in April 2025.
Mexican authorities have previously taken action against such online recruitment efforts. In March 2025, following the discovery of a CJNG training center in Jalisco, the Security Secretary’s Office identified 39 profiles dedicated to recruiting young people. These accounts were subsequently removed by TikTok at the government’s request.
The dual strategy of physical violence and digital manipulation demonstrates the evolving tactics of Mexico’s criminal organizations, which increasingly leverage social media to amplify their impact, spread fear, and recruit new members. As cartels become more sophisticated in their use of technology, distinguishing between real and manufactured threats presents a growing challenge for authorities and citizens alike.
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13 Comments
The ability of cartels to leverage AI-generated content is a sobering development. Tackling this challenge will require close coordination between Mexico’s security forces, digital forensics experts, and social media platforms.
Agreed. Developing robust counter-disinformation capabilities should be a top priority for the Mexican government. Timely debunking and public awareness campaigns will be crucial in limiting the impact of these tactics.
This is a concerning development. Using AI to spread disinformation during a security crisis is extremely dangerous. Mexico must find ways to combat this new tactic, while also addressing the underlying cartel violence.
Agreed. The cartel’s ability to leverage AI-generated fake content is alarming. Authorities will need robust fact-checking and public awareness efforts to counter the spread of this kind of manipulation.
The CJNG’s use of AI-generated fake images is a troubling development. Combating this kind of sophisticated disinformation will require a coordinated effort between Mexico’s security forces, digital forensics experts, and social media platforms.
Agreed. Rapid response and public awareness campaigns will be critical to limiting the impact of these manipulated media. Mexico must stay ahead of the cartels’ evolving tactics to protect its citizens and maintain stability.
This incident highlights the growing threat of AI-powered disinformation. Mexico must invest in strengthening its digital defenses and work closely with international partners to stay ahead of the cartels’ evolving tactics.
The CJNG’s use of AI-generated images to exaggerate the scale of the violence is a disturbing new tactic. It underscores the need for Mexico to invest in advanced digital forensics capabilities to rapidly identify and debunk such disinformation.
Absolutely. Fact-checking teams will be critical, but the government must also work to disrupt the cartel’s disinformation networks and hold social media platforms accountable for the spread of these fake images.
The use of AI-generated fake images to exaggerate the scale of the violence is a disturbing new tactic. Authorities will need to move quickly to identify and counter these disinformation campaigns, while also addressing the underlying security challenges.
Exactly. Mexico’s government must develop robust digital forensics capabilities and work closely with social media platforms to rapidly detect and debunk these kinds of manipulated media. Failing to do so could further erode public trust and exacerbate the crisis.
This is a chilling example of how criminal organizations can exploit emerging technologies to sow chaos and confusion. Mexico will need a multi-pronged strategy to address both the violence and the accompanying disinformation campaign.
This is a sobering reminder of how criminal organizations can leverage emerging technologies to spread disinformation and amplify the perception of chaos. Mexico will need a comprehensive strategy to address both the violence and the accompanying information warfare.