Violent clashes between rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel have left at least 53 people dead and 51 missing in Mexico’s western Sinaloa state since September 9, local authorities reported on Friday.
The conflict erupted following the July arrest of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, 74, a legendary trafficker and leader of one cartel faction, in the United States. Zambada claims he was kidnapped by members of Los Chapitos, another faction led by the sons of jailed kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, and forcibly taken to the U.S.
The violence has severely disrupted daily life in Culiacán, the state capital, forcing schools to close and businesses to shutter early. Governor Rubén Rocha Moya announced that over 40 people have been arrested, and more than 5,000 food packages distributed across the affected areas.
On Thursday, Mexican military forces arrested Fernando Perez Medina, known as “El Piyi,” the alleged head of security for Ivan Archivaldo Guzmán, leader of Los Chapitos. This arrest marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict.
In a bizarre twist, Mexico’s Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) reported efforts to rescue a tigress tied to a tree, highlighting the extravagant lifestyles of cartel leaders who often keep exotic animals as pets.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has partly blamed the United States for the instability, referencing prior surrender talks between U.S. officials and Joaquín Guzmán López, the trafficker accused of kidnapping Zambada. U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar has denied American involvement in Zambada’s kidnapping, stating that U.S. officials were surprised to find him on U.S. soil.
As the violence continues unabated, concerns grow about the Mexican government’s ability to control the situation and the potential for further escalation in this long-standing cartel conflict.
