A Mexican cartel is threatening U.S. citizens and FBI Director Kash Patel.

Cartel gunmen put up two banners in Mexico. The messages were addressed to Patel and other officials from the U.S. and Mexico. The banners threaten U.S. citizens living in the Cabo San Lucas and San Jose areas.

The threats point to U.S. involvement in the cartel’s turf war. The violence spans Sinaloa and Baja California.

The banner first surfaced on Sunday in Baja California. Gunmen left two banners allegedly signed by Los Chapitos. This is a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel.

The banners claim they will start targeting U.S. citizens in Mexico. The attacks would begin on Sunday. They say this is in response to recent lab raids and weapons seizures.

Several states in Mexico are experiencing high levels of violence right now. An ongoing turf war is responsible for most of the bloodshed. Los Chapitos and the Mayiza faction of the Sinaloa Cartel are fighting each other.

Both factions went to war following a significant capture. Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada was captured by Los Chapitos. They flew him to Texas where U.S. authorities were waiting.

That perceived betrayal led to a fierce turf war. The conflict has been raging for over 14 months now. It has led to thousands of murders and cartel kidnappings.

The U.S. government considers both factions Foreign Terrorist Organizations. The U.S. Department of State made this designation earlier this year.

The turf war has spread to new areas. Both Baja California and Baja California Sur are now affected. These regions are home to popular beach resort areas.

U.S. tourists frequently visit these locations.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury recently took action. They issued a series of sanctions against Sinaloa Cartel members. Various businesses in Baja California were also sanctioned.

One individual sparked considerable controversy. She was the former mayor of Rosarito. She had since become a federal legislator.

The cartel banners represent a direct threat to Americans. FBI Director Patel is named specifically in the messages. The cartels are angry about U.S. law enforcement operations.

Recent raids have targeted cartel drug labs. Authorities have also seized weapons from cartel members. The cartels view these operations as interference in their business.

Los Chapitos controls significant territory in Mexico. They are sons of infamous drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. Their faction has grown increasingly violent in recent years.

The Mayiza faction is loyal to El Mayo Zambada. His capture by Los Chapitos was seen as a betrayal. The resulting war has devastated parts of Mexico.

Thousands of people have died in the fighting. Many more have been kidnapped by cartel members. The violence shows no signs of stopping.

American tourists continue to visit Mexican beach resorts. Many are unaware of the escalating cartel violence. The State Department has issued warnings about travel to certain areas.

But these warnings are often ignored.

The cartel threats put Americans in Mexico at serious risk. The banners indicate a shift in cartel strategy. They are now willing to target U.S. citizens directly.

This represents a dangerous escalation in cartel tactics.

FBI Director Patel faces a serious challenge from these terrorist organizations. The cartels operate with impunity in parts of Mexico. They control vast territories and have enormous resources.

U.S. law enforcement continues operations against the cartels. The Treasury Department sanctions aim to cut off their funding. Law enforcement raids target their drug production facilities.

But the cartels are fighting back with threats and violence.

Americans living in or visiting Cabo San Lucas and San Jose should take these threats seriously. The cartels have shown they are willing to carry out brutal attacks. They have killed thousands of people in their ongoing war.

The situation in Mexico continues to deteriorate. Cartel violence affects more areas every month. Popular tourist destinations are no longer safe havens.

The Trump administration has designated these cartels as terrorist organizations. This allows for stronger action against them. But the threats against Americans show the cartels are not backing down.