Key Takeaways:
• Rise in death cases in Sinaloa, Mexico, prominently marked by corpses wearing sombreros or with pizza slices pinned on them.
• The spike in violence has followed the surprise arrest of Sinaloa Cartel co-founder Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.
• Over 70 fatalities have been reported in the state since September 9, primarily in the capital, Culiacan.
• Authorities dispatched 600 additional soldiers to improve Sinaloa’s security.
Cartel Violence Intensifies in Sinaloa
After the unexpected arrest of Sinaloa Cartel’s co-founder, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, on American soil in late July 2024, the state of Sinaloa in Mexico has been plagued by rising violence. Recent Mexican media reports have highlighted the chilling discovery of at least ten new deaths this weekend. The victim’s bodies, found with sombreros or pizza slices pinned to them, serve as grim testament to the ongoing conflict between rival cartel factions in the region.
Recent Unrest and Unchecked Bloodshed
This spate of violence is yet another episode in the ongoing power struggle within Sinaloa Cartel since Zambada’s arrest. The death toll has steadily climbed, with more than 70 fatalities reported in Sinaloa since September 9, most of them in the state’s capital, Culiacan.
Three incidents transpired last Saturday in the Tres Rios area in Culiacan. One such occurrence involved a gunfight between the police and suspected hitmen, culminating in a roadblock 650 feet from the prosecutor’s office. In another confrontation, attackers targeted security agents, eventually retreating into a nearby apartment building. The resultant firefight cost three alleged criminals their lives, wounded two soldiers, and led to one arrest.
Governor’s Actions and Intervention of Federal Government
Sinaloa Governor Ruben Rocha Moya shared the details of these incidents on social media, adding that security forces succeeded in evacuating six adults and a minor from the combat zone. Governor Rocha also traveled to Mexico City to meet with president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum last Saturday.
In response to escalating violence, the federal government mobilized an additional 600 soldiers to Sinaloa to improve the security situation.
A Symbolic War on Display
Among seven other casualties reported by local media, five were left on the streets scantily-clad and donning hats – presumed to be an attempt at intimidation between rival factions. Bodies left in public places, such as streets and cars, adorned with sombreros or pinned with pizza slices, signify the ongoing warfare between the cartel factions.
Incarceration of Zambada and Inner Rivalries
Zambada, 76, was arrested alongside Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of another Sinaloa Cartel co-founder, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, on July 25. The wave of violence in Sinaloa is believed to be the result of a rift between gang members loyal to El Chapo and his sons and factions aligning with Zambada.
While El Chapo remains behind bars in a maximum-security US prison, his co-founder Zambada recently pleaded not guilty in a New York court in a drug trafficking case accusing him of endorsing murder and torture.
Mexican President Blames America for Unrest
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, due to leave office this month, has attributed part of the blame for Zambada’s capture and subsequent unrest to the United States. This blame was promptly dismissed by the US ambassador, Ken Salazar, who labeled it incomprehensible to hold the United States accountable for such violence.
As the government grapples to contain the high level of violence, the bloodstained streets of Sinaloa bear witness to the stark reality of cartel warfare and the urgent need for peace.