Over 100 Killed or Missing as Sinaloa Cartel War Escalates in Mexico, Reports Reuters

By Lizbeth Diaz

MEXICO CITY – Recent clashes between rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico’s western state of Sinaloa have resulted in the deaths of at least 53 people, with 51 others reported missing since September 9, according to local authorities. The violence appears to be escalating, showing no signs of slowing down.

The conflict stems from the July arrest of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, a prominent figure in one faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, who was apprehended in the United States. Zambada has since claimed that a senior member of the rival faction, Los Chapitos, kidnapped him and transported him to the U.S. against his will.

Since the outbreak of violence on September 9, Culiacan, the state capital, has experienced frequent shootouts, leading to school closures and early shutdowns of restaurants and shops.

Sinaloa’s governor, Rubén Rocha Moya, announced on Friday that over 40 individuals have been arrested in recent days, and more than 5,000 food packages have been distributed across the state in response to the chaos.

In a related effort to restore order, the military recently apprehended the alleged head of security for Ivan Archivaldo Guzman, the leader of Los Chapitos and son of the imprisoned former cartel leader, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. Fernando Perez Medina, also known as "El Piyi," was captured in Culiacan.

Compounding the situation, the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection has been addressing the plight of a tigress that was tied to a tree in Sinaloa. Many high-ranking members of the cartel are known to keep tigers as pets. Due to security concerns, local veterinarians refused to assist, prompting the environmental agency to provide resources such as a cage and a dart rifle to the military for the rescue operation. However, ongoing violence has impeded these efforts.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador addressed the crisis on Thursday, attributing part of the instability to the actions of the United States concerning negotiations with Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the trafficker involved in Zambada’s kidnapping.

U.S. officials have acknowledged that discussions took place with Guzman, although U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, clarified last month that American officials were taken aback to learn of Zambada’s presence in the U.S. and emphasized that no U.S. resources or personnel were involved in the kidnapping incident on July 25.