Worsening Sinaloa Cartel War Paralyzes Life in Mexican City, Reports Reuters

By Jesus Bustamante

CULIACAN, Mexico – Authorities in the western Mexican state of Sinaloa announced the cancellation of national day celebrations and the shutdown of schools on Thursday due to a surge in violence linked to internal conflicts within the Sinaloa Cartel. The ongoing clashes have resulted in 12 fatalities since Monday.

In Culiacan, the state capital with a population of nearly 1 million, shootouts, gunfire, and abandoned vehicles have become commonplace. Social media videos depict convoys of heavily armed gunmen traversing major roads, leading many businesses to close their doors.

The tensions between the two dominant factions of the Sinaloa Cartel have escalated since late July following the arrest of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, a leader of one of the factions, in the United States. Zambada, who is believed to be in his mid-70s, claims that a senior member of the rival faction, Los Chapitos, kidnapped him and transported him to the U.S. against his will.

Ruben Rocha Moya, the state governor, expressed concern for the safety of children and young people while announcing the suspension of schools and the national day festivities planned for September 15. He emphasized the need to prioritize their protection.

Public transport in Culiacan is operating at reduced capacity as many residents choose to stay home and avoid traveling. In response to Zambada’s arrest, the federal government has deployed over 500 additional special soldiers to the region.

Outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador remarked that the military is striving to maintain order and emphasized the importance of ensuring that the public remains unaffected by the violence.