EXCLUSIVE: An expert has weighed in after popular YouTuber El Pinky was found ‘executed’ in Culiacán city, Mexico, suggesting he was a ‘prime target for elimination’
20:40, 16 Jan 2025Updated 20:43, 16 Jan 2025
El Pinky was found dead on January 10(Image: dpaul04_/Instagram )
After popular YouTuber El Pinky was found dead in Culiacán city, Mexico, last week, authorities linked the grim “execution” to the Sinaloa Cartel. An expert recently told the Daily Star it was no surprise the social media star was killed, as El Pinky was a “prime target for elimination”.
The influencer’s death is the latest in a grim trend, marking the sixth time since November last year a YouTuber is suspected of being slain by the cartels. A chilling video emerged following the death of El Pinky (real name Agustin Paul), showing him battered and bruised. The 22-year-old was seen being interrogated by a Mexican cartel in the footage, where he was accused of collaborating with rival gang ‘La Mayiza’.
Cartel expert Dr. Robert Bunker told us that El Pinky’s death could be explained because of the “state of civil war” now seen with the Sinaloa cartel.
El Chapo, ex-leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, an organisation now engaged in a bitter civil war (Image: AP)
“Factions of the Sinaloa are now actively engaging each other,” said Dr. Bunker. “We are seeing open street gun battles, sicario hits, and even weaponised drone bombardments of opposing cartel elements.
“Given the great social media influence YouTubers can have, they are viewed, when associated with a rival Sinaloa faction or even an outside cartel/faction allied to it, as prime targets for elimination.”
He added: “El Pinky’s association with the ‘La Mayiza’ faction vs ‘Los Chapitos’ sealed his fate. The flyers dropped by plane over Culiacán prior to his death were meant as an overt public statement that this is what would happen to anyone that crossed ‘Los Chapitos’ like he did.”
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The leaflets dropped alleged El Pinky had laundered money for La Mayiza, a rival gang. Investigators are treating the case as a premeditated murder allegedly carried out by the Sinaloa cartel, a drugs gang once controlled by notorious drug lord El Chapo, who were allegedly responsible for dropping the leaflets.
Other YouTubers with large followings were also named on leaflets dropped around Culiacán city on January 9. This included ‘Dos Dias’ artist Peso Pluma and YouTuber Markitos Toys.
Police are now investigating the possible motives behind El Pinky’s murder, with his YouTube content being considered as a potential factor. Known for posting viral challenges and humorous videos to his 98,000 subscribers on his channel ‘Los Plebes de Barrancos’, El Pinky’s significant online presence may have attracted unwanted attention from the cartel.
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It follows the death of YouTuber Miguel ‘El Jasper’ Vivanco who was also found dead in Sinaloa last year. According to his family, cartel hitmen abducted El Jasper from his home two nights before his bullet-riddled body was discovered in November 2024.
Both El Jasper and El Pinky were tortured before their murders, leading to speculation that Mexican cartels could be responsible for their deaths.
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