Sinaloa, Mexico – In recent weeks, the city of Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa state, has been engulfed by a surge of violence following high-profile arrests in the United States that have sent shockwaves through the notorious Sinaloa drug cartel. The arrests of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman’s son, Ovidio Guzman, and cartel leader Ismael Zambada have sparked a brutal power struggle that has left the city in chaos.
Residents have been forced to stay indoors as schools and businesses shuttered, with public celebrations cancelled and the streets deserted. The local government reports that the fighting has resulted in the deaths of at least 40 individuals, though the actual number is believed to be much higher. The violence, primarily involving cartel members, has spared the general civilian population to some extent, as they hunker down in their homes.
The clashes are the result of a split within the cartel. Historically united under El Chapo, the cartel divided into factions led by El Chapo’s sons, known collectively as “Los Chapitos,” and a rival group led by Zambada, known as “El Mayo.” The cooperation between these factions has deteriorated dramatically following the alleged betrayal and extradition of Zambada by members of Los Chapitos.
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The Mexican government, under President López Obrador, has maintained a controversial “hugs not bullets” policy, which aims to reduce violence by avoiding direct confrontations with organized crime groups. However, this policy has come under severe criticism, especially now as the government appears to leave the resolution of the conflict to the warring cartel factions themselves, without intervening to protect its citizens.
The situation in Sinaloa remains tense as the local population braces for more uncertainty, hoping for a resolution that can restore peace to their beleaguered city.