Narco-saint
Narco-saints(Spanish:Narcosantos) areCatholic Saintsandfolk saintsthat arevenerated(or sometimes worshipped) by criminals such as money launderers, smugglers, and drug traffickers, particularly in the United States and Latin America.[1]
Narco-saints are venerated through means condemned by the Catholic Church, although their rites are a form offolk Catholicism.While they may be venerated by non-criminals, criminal organizations tend to take their religious practices to extremes. In the case ofSanta Muerte,some followers are known to commithuman sacrificeon behalf of drug cartels.[2][3]TheDrug Enforcement Administrationsays that narco-saints embolden drug cartels, and make them more dangerous, particularly because drug traffickers are "not afraid of death" if they worship them.[4]
Many drug cartel leaders have attempted to portray themselves as modern folk-heroes, often with religious aspects, creatingcults of personalityaround themselves in their communities. After the deaths of notable drug lords such asNazario Moreno GonzálezandPablo Escobar,they were seen as narco-saints by followers.[5][6]
Notable narco-saints
[edit]- Holy Infant of Atocha[2]
- Jesús Malverde[2]
- Jude the Apostle[2]
- Maximón[2]
- Nazario Moreno González[5]
- Pablo Escobar[6]
- Raymond Nonnatus[2]
- Santa Muerte[1][2]
- Sarita Colonia[7]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abFlannagin, Jake (September 2014)."The Rise of the Narco-Saints".The Atlantic.Retrieved10 June2022.
- ^abcdefgVincent, Isabel (21 December 2021)."Santa Muerte and five more 'religious' saints worshiped by drug cartels".New York Post.Retrieved10 June2022.
- ^"El Centro Field Note No. 1: Ciudad Juárez Prison Interview - Sicario Human Sacrifice to Santa Muerte".Small Wars Journal.20 October 2018.Retrieved10 June2022.
- ^"Drug cartels worship 'narco saints,' making them more dangerous, DEA says".WSBTV News.7 May 2019.Retrieved10 June2022.
- ^abKnott, Tracey (19 July 2012)."Dead Drug Boss 'Sainted' in Mexico".InSightCrime.Retrieved10 June2022.
- ^abWallace, Arturo (2 December 2013)."Drug Boss Pablo Escobar still divides Colombia".BBC News.
- ^"¿Por qué Sarita Colonia es conocida como la santa de los delincuentes?".LP Derecho (Peru).1 March 2021.Retrieved10 June2024.