Violence Erupts in Sinaloa as Cartel Activity Increases
Mexican authorities reported that military personnel have faced attacks and roads have been blocked with burning vehicles in northern Sinaloa state, an area notorious for drug cartel violence, CBS News reports.
The state police department confirmed that the disturbances began just north of the state capital, Culiacán, home to the Sinaloa cartel. Similar outbreaks of violence have typically occurred in conjunction with the arrests of cartel leaders.
Images and videos from local media depicted scenes of chaos, with vehicles ablaze blocking roadways. State Governor Rubén Rocha said that assailants had set fire to two vehicles with the intention of obstructing authorities. He urged calm but did not provide details about the motivations behind the attacks or the possibility of victims.
Reports of roadblocks also surfaced from another district where Ovidio Guzmán, the son of imprisoned drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, was captured in January 2023 prior to his extradition to the United States. Cartels in Mexico frequently employ tactics like burning vehicles to hinder police or military access to certain areas.
Despite the unrest, the Secretary of Public Education in Sinaloa announced that classes would proceed as scheduled on Friday.
Recent fears of escalating violence in Sinaloa have arisen in light of the recent arrests of top Sinaloa cartel leaders in the US. In late July, Joaquín Guzmán López, another son of El Chapo, reportedly kidnapped Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a senior drug boss from a rival cartel faction.
Federal prosecutors disclosed earlier this month that an arrest warrant has been prepared against Guzmán López for the kidnapping. Meanwhile, Mexico’s state prosecutor’s office called on US authorities to urgently clarify Ovidio Guzmán’s legal status and whereabouts, linking his case to Zambada’s abduction. It was reported that Ovidio Guzmán was removed from US prison on July 23, just two days before his brother’s and Zambada’s arrests.
US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar confirmed on July 26 that Ovidio Guzmán remains in US custody but did not elaborate on his location.
Zambada recently appeared in a Texas court in a wheelchair, pleading not guilty to charges of drug trafficking, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit murder. Meanwhile, Guzmán López was transferred to Chicago, where he denied charges related to drug trafficking.
Currently, only one of El Chapo’s sons, Ivan Archivaldo, remains free, with the United States offering a reward of $10 million for information leading to his arrest.
