A mustachioed Robin Hood figure in Mexican folklore, Malverde is considered the patron saint of the thousands of people who dedicate themselves to smuggling and merchandising cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine.
In boom times, admirers and believers swarm the shrine erected here in Malverde’s honor. They paper the building’s walls with photographs of themselves (sometimes with their guns, multiple cellphones and snakeskin cowboy boots showing) in an effort to seek his blessing. They hang plaques praying the saint will protect them on their "journey" from Culiacan to San Diego or Chicago — their smuggling routes.
The temple was deserted during a recent visit save for Dona Tere, a caretaker, and a couple of forlorn souvenir salesmen who hawk candles, Malverde key chains and painted busts in all sizes of the not quite Vatican-approved saint. [Culiacan, Mexico, feels the pain of a drug-induced recession, LA Times, Oct 21, 2008]