The Narco Cult of Santa Muerte
By Tony M. Kail
Drug Cartels have created a surge of violence throughout Latin
America as they fight for control of trafficking routes into the
U.S. The violence has from these groups has trickled into the
United States through Texas, Arizona and California. Arson, kidnappings
and murder are common techniques of terror used by these groups.
The concept of 'Narco Terrorism' is essentially terrorist acts
performed in order to further the aims of drug traffickers. Narco-terrorism
has many players in that it has connected strands of family drug
cartels, human traffickers, street level thug gangs and nationalist
groups.
Members of narco-terrorist groups frequently surround themselves
with cultural trappings that endorse the philosophies of the narco-terrorist
mindset. Presently there is an entire 'narco-culture' that embraces
a lifestyle of violence, death and indulgence. One of the most
popular visible icons found among members of this deadly culture
is a figure known as 'Santa Muerte'.
Santa Muerte as a spiritual icon has been frequently found among
members of three of Mexico's major drug cartels: Gulf, Sinaloa
and Juarez as well as the Los Zetas. The use of spiritual icons
as a means of psychological warfare is a technique that is as
old as time. Early history demonstrates that the use of grim images
in warfare gives those that use these techniques a psychological
'edge' over their enemies. Like the 'Jolly Roger' flags of seafaring
pirates, the Santa Muerte image communicates to outsiders that
the owner does not adhere to modern laws of the land.
Santa Muerte also known as 'Saint Death' is an image being used
among many narcotics groups throughout the U.S. and Mexico. The
icon of a grinning skeletal figure has its historical roots in
Mexican folklore. Many of Mexico's poor like those in the slums
of Tepito in Mexico City hold on to the image as a source of spiritual
hope.
The evolution of this image as a form of spiritual 'protection'
among drug cartels and street gangs from Latin America is a fascinating
cultural phenomena. Writer Homer Aridjis studied the saint and
her appearance in the criminal underworld. He comments that "Today
you are going to sell drugs or you are going to kidnap somebody,
you ask her (Santa Muerte) for help so you can commit crimes safely."(i.)
Latin American Culture
Latin American religious culture is painted with a number of
'syncretic' religions that are a result of two or more religious
cultures assimilating elements from each other. Religions such
as Afro-Cuban based 'Santeria', Brazillian 'Candomble' and numerous
other spiritual traditions are bountiful throughout Latin American
countries. Many of these traditions honor numerous saints, deities
and personalities that are indigenous to their landscape and combine
elements with religions such as Catholicism.
One of the phenomena found in many of the traditions is the concept
of 'folk saints' Folk saints are icons and personalities that
tend to develop from a need to create a spiritual entity that
can explain experiences that official teachings of a religion
cannot address. As a result there are a number of icons that are
honored by various religious cultures as being saints that are
not part of a 'canonized' sainthood within a religion. As one
member explained "The Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico's patron
saint, would not sympathize with a life like hers, tending rather
to well-off people with college degrees and nice clothes. Santa
Muerte, she said, hears prayers from dark places."
Folk Saints such as 'Gaucho Gill', a spiritual personality from
Argentina and 'Maximon' a spiritual being from Guatemala are just
two of the hundreds of icons honored by Latin Americans. These
folks saints are typically honored in altars and shrines found
in homes and businesses in Latin America. In the U.S. many of
these images are can be found in images stamped on jewelry, lithographs
and statues in Latin American communities in grocery stores and
pharmacies known as 'Botanicas.'
Santa Muerte is also featured among the faces of many of these
folk saints. Her image has been a consistent presence that has
also been discovered among numerous drug busts and in the course
of search warrants related street gang activity here in the U.S.
Santa Muerte is known by many different names including 'Santisima
Muerte'; 'Holy Death'; 'The Lady in White' and 'La Flaca' or 'The
Skinny One' as well as numerous other folk names. She has been
known by her characteristics as the 'patron saint of death'; 'patron
saint of the poor' and more recently 'patron saint of crime'.
The most popular form of the image is in the form of a statue
resembling the grim reaper. The statue is found in a number of
colors, each one representing a specific power. For instance the
statue that is green represents financial workings or black may
be used in protective workings. The statue may be posed in various
forms including poses holding the earth or the scales of justice.
The statue may be filled with various materials. In many cases
the statue can be held upside down and a clear surface can be
seen on the bottom of the image. The surface is typically filled
with materials such as rice, beans and coins and sealed with wax.
These ingredients symbolize various spiritual concepts associated
with the image.
Over several years a chaotic collection of prayers, rituals and
customs have developed around the saint. The rapid popularity
of the image has slowly pieced together a cohesive identifiable
religious system.
Petitions are typically made to the image of the saint. These
prayers focus on spiritual and physical protection as well as
financial success. Offerings are made to the image in the form
of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, candy and flowers. Contraband
may be placed inside or around the image for protection from authorities.
On the Homefront
There have been a number of incidents discovered by law enforcement
and professional investigators in which the image of Santa Muerte
has been discovered alongside criminal activities including gang
and drug related activities.
In 2007, agents with a multi-jurisdictional task force in Western
Tennessee made an amazing discovery during the execution of a
search warrant. Shrines dedicated to Santa Muerte were placed
throughout the residence where several pounds of marijuana were
being hidden and sold. Statues of various colors were placed among
offerings of rum, cigars and coins. One of the suspects arrested
at the scene explained to the investigators that the statue was
'protecting' his work.
Passaic New Jersey 2008, Investigators with a statewide gang enforcement
unit discover a shrine dedicated to Muerte while investigating
a local brothel being used for prostitution and narcotics sales.
Images of the saint are found in the back of the residence with
offerings of coins, corn and names written on strips of paper.(ii.)
A similar case developed in September of 2009 Southampton New
York where police raided suspected brothels and arrested a group
of men and women operating a prostitution ring. Inside the brothels,
shrines dedicated to Santa Muerte were being maintained to ward
off detection by law enforcement authorities.(iii.)
Law enforcement agencies have learned to look for the patron
saint as a possible red flag of narcotics use and various illegal
activities. In Bisbee Arizona in 2006 a judge allowed prosecutors
to used evidence pertaining to the saint to be used in a court
case involving drug trafficking across the U.S. and Mexican border.
A female trafficking 59 pounds of cocaine and 25 pounds of methamphetamine
in the framework of her vehicle. The trafficker carried amulets
and statues of Santa Muerte as a form of protection as she brought
the contraband into the U.S. (iv.)
Officers involved in street gang investigations are reporting
the discovery of Santa Muerte in the tattoos and jewelry of member
of terroristic gangs such as Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), 18th Street
and Latin Kings. Photographs obtained during investigations have
been discovered with gang members throwing gang signs in front
of altars and shrines dedicated to Santa Muerte.
One photograph revealed the 'colors' or bandana of a Latin King
gang member draped across the statue of Muerte. Another featured
a bag of marijuana hanging from the arm of a statute of Muerte.
In November of 2009, Deputies in Walworth County Wisconsin discovered
images of Santa Muerte used to guard a pound of cocaine being
sold by a father and son in the local community. (v.)
Across the Border
Mexican federal authorities are noting an increase in the discovery
of Santa Muerte images among the jewelry and tattoos of victims
of violent crime. An entire culture of images and music built
around 'narcocultura' has been building for several years.
Narcocultura has been marked by an entire genre of music with
lyrics centering around drug cartels and violence. The culture
glorifies the Mexican drug gangster lifestyle. Icons such as Santa
Muerte and the bandit Jesus Malverde are the spiritual icons of
this movement.
Mexican drug traffickers have embraced the Narcocultura in similar
manner in which American street gangs like the Bloods and Crips
have historically embraced gangster rap music and culture.
One of the most infamous leaders of the Mexican Gulf Cartel, Gilberto
Garcia Mena was known to be a follower of Santa Muerte. During
a federal raid on his home, law enforcement authorities discovered
a number of statues and shrines dedicated to the saint.
Beheadings appear to be a typical modus operandi among many Mexican
drug cartels. A discovery in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula in 2008
may indicate some ties between the cartels and the worship of
Santa Muerte. The heads from eleven decapitated bodies were discovered
near an altar dedicated to Santa Muerte. The following day police
arrested members of the 'Los Zetas' drug cartel in a nearby shootout.
(vi.)
Muerte's image has appeared among ties of police corruption in
Mexico. A major crackdown by the Mexican military in March of
2009 netted one of Mexico's highest rated drug traffickers along
with 12 Mexican law enforcement officers that were found to be
tied to narcotic crimes. The raid took place during the birthday
party for a 15 yr old girl where an ex-soldier in the Mexican
army was arrested sporting a 9mm with a custom gold plated Santa
Muerte grip. (vii.)
About the Author
Tony M. Kail serves as a law enforcement consultant on African
religious cultures. Kail has served as guest lecturer for numerous
gang investigative units and law enforcement departments. He is
the author of Magico-Religious Groups and Ritualistic Activities:
A Guide for First Responders from CRC Press. He can be contacted
through his website at www.cultcrime.org.
This is only a partial version
of the article published in the latest Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland
Security Int'l.
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