La Paz councilwoman wears a T-shirt with an image of "El Chapo" at an official event

During official activities of the 18th City Council of La Paz, Baja California Sur, the seventh councilor María del Carmen Aguilar Mendoza was photographed wearing a T-shirt with a caricature of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán , currently imprisoned in the United States.

The images, which initially circulated on their own social media platforms since July 11, have generated strong criticism from citizens, who question whether their use can be interpreted as an apology for crime .

The t-shirt worn by the councilwoman depicted a caricatured version of "El Chapo" wearing a beige cap and jacket, reminiscent of his first capture in 1993, modified in the style of Mario Bros. The caption "Super Chapo Bros" accompanied the image, alluding to the iconic video game character.

Aguilar Mendoza wore the garment at various events, including a meeting of the El Esterito Neighborhood Defense Committee, a reforestation campaign in the Solidaridad neighborhood, and cleanup work at Laguna Azul Park. All of this was documented in photographs where he appears alongside other council members and municipal officials.

Criminal law experts warn that this incident could fall under Article 208 of the Federal Penal Code, which punishes public condoning of crime with community service. Furthermore, the Baja California Sur Penal Code also provides for penalties of up to three years in prison in similar cases.

The controversy comes amid a growing wave of violence in Baja California Sur, where disputes between organized crime groups have been reported in recent months. Between April and July alone, at least 40 narco-banners have been found in the region.

To date, the La Paz City Council , headed by Mayor Milena Quiroga Romero , has not issued any official statement on the matter. There has also been no information on whether an investigation will be opened or whether the councilwoman will be sanctioned. Morena, the party to which Aguilar Mendoza belongs, has also remained silent.