Escalating violence between rival factions of one of Mexico’s most notorious drug cartels has left at least 15 people dead this week in Sinaloa, a cartel stronghold plagued by gunfire, abductions, and arson, authorities said on Friday.
Security reinforcements have been deployed to Sinaloa, the base of jailed kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and his sons, where bodies have been found abandoned in the streets.
The surge in violence follows the July arrest of Sinaloa Cartel co-founder Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada on U.S. soil. Zambada, 76, claimed he was kidnapped in Mexico and delivered to U.S. custody against his will. He was arrested alongside El Chapo’s son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, both of whom are now facing charges in the U.S.
The recent wave of violence in Culiacan, the state capital, is believed to be the result of infighting between members loyal to El Chapo’s sons and those aligned with Zambada. Zambada pleaded not guilty to a range of charges in a New York court on Friday. Sinaloa state governor Ruben Rocha Moya confirmed the conflict originated after the July 25 arrests.
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador urged the rival factions to “act with a minimum of responsibility” and avoid harming civilians. He called for residents to remain cautious, expressing hope that “normality will soon return to Culiacan”.
In addition to the 15 deaths, the state prosecutor’s office is investigating 20 cases of suspected forced disappearances. Authorities have also closed schools and canceled Independence Day celebrations in certain areas due to the violence. “There will be no celebration, neither public nor private,” the governor stated.
The National Chamber of Commerce reported that many businesses have closed, and supermarkets are facing food shortages due to panic buying. “Workers do not feel safe going to their jobs, and business owners face challenges operating under these conditions,” the chamber said.
The U.S. issued a security alert on Thursday, warning of car thefts, gunfire, roadblocks, and burning vehicles in Culiacan, and urged American citizens to remain vigilant.
Culiacan has been the epicenter of cartel violence, including in October 2019, when an aborted attempt to capture Ovidio Guzman, one of El Chapo’s sons, sparked riots. The city saw similar unrest in January 2023 when Ovidio was finally apprehended.
Since 2006, more than 450,000 people have been murdered in Mexico, much of the violence linked to drug trafficking and gang-related crime.
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