Overview

• During a surprise inspection on July 9, joint forces from the Policía Estatal Preventiva, Guardia Nacional and Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional seized two Starlink antennas at the Penal de Aguaruto in Culiacán.
• With these devices, the 2025 total of confiscated satellite antennas at the prison has risen to five, reflecting a persistent contraband trend.
• Investigators also recovered 45 mobile phones, six modems, two mobile broadband antennas, two radios and 15 USB drives concealed in prison modules.
• Officials warn that inmates are leveraging high-end satellite connectivity to bypass state controls and coordinate illicit communications with external networks.
• The prison’s known vulnerabilities were further highlighted by its history of mass escapes, including the 2019 Culiacanazo, and a tunnel uncovered in May 2025.