At least 10 more people have reportedly been killed in Mexico’s northwestern state of Sinaloa, raising the total number of deaths and disappearances to over 100 amid escalating gang violence. This surge in brutality is linked to rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel fighting for control, particularly following the arrest of co-founder Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada in the U.S. in late July.
Since September 9, around 70 people have been killed in Sinaloa, primarily in the capital city of Culiacán, according to reports from officials and the media. Additionally, at least 51 individuals are missing due to the violence.
On Saturday, a series of violent incidents occurred in the Tres Rios area of Culiacán, including a shootout between police and alleged hitmen. Following this, assailants blockaded a road near the prosecutor’s office. Security agents were also attacked by armed men who later took refuge in an apartment building; three suspected gunmen were killed, one was arrested, and two soldiers were injured, as reported by Governor Ruben Rocha Moya.
To bolster security, the federal government deployed 600 soldiers to Sinaloa. Local media also reported seven additional fatalities, including five bodies found in the street, half-naked and wearing hats, likely intended as a message of intimidation.
Zambada, 76, was arrested on July 25 after crossing into the U.S., claiming he was kidnapped in Mexico. He was detained alongside Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, who is serving a life sentence in the U.S. The ongoing violence is believed to be fueled by a power struggle between factions loyal to El Chapo and those aligned with Zambada.
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, set to leave office soon, has partially blamed the U.S. for Zambada’s capture, a claim U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar rejected, stating that the violence in Sinaloa is not the fault of the United States.
