Sinaloa Violence Fuels Fears of Intra-Cartel War in Mexico, According to Reuters

By Jesus Bustamante and Lizbeth Diaz

MEXICO CITY – Recent shootouts in the western Mexican state of Sinaloa have raised concerns about the potential outbreak of an intra-cartel war following the arrest of notorious trafficker Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada in July.

Authorities reported the deaths of one soldier and two civilians on Monday. Online videos showed heavily armed gunmen moving on foot or in vehicles around Culiacan, the state capital, amid ongoing gunfire. Numerous cars and businesses suffered gunfire damage.

Although calm returned by Tuesday morning, several shops opted to close at midday.

Since Zambada’s arrest on July 25, analysts have been predicting conflict within the Sinaloa Cartel. Zambada, who is believed to be in his mid-70s, claimed a senior member of the Los Chapitos faction, led by the sons of former Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, kidnapped him and transported him to the United States against his will.

Zambada and Los Chapitos are known to be the main factions within the powerful crime syndicate.

A security official in Sinaloa mentioned that fighters from the Los Chapitos faction entered areas controlled by Zambada to assert dominance. However, some media reports suggested it was Zambada loyalists who initiated the hostilities against Los Chapitos.

“It is believed that there may be more fighting, and these clashes are between the same two groups within the cartel,” commented America Armenta, an independent journalist from Culiacan.

In response to the escalating violence, Mexican authorities deployed an additional 90 special forces soldiers to Sinaloa on Tuesday, bringing the total number of elite troops sent to the state since Zambada’s arrest to nearly 600.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador stated that the government is closely monitoring the situation and taking necessary measures to restore order.

“It’s a confrontation, and I hope it’s temporary,” Lopez Obrador remarked during his daily press conference on Tuesday.