The violent struggle between rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel in western Mexico has resulted in 53 deaths and 51 missing people since clashes erupted on September 9.
According to local authorities, the conflict between the two most powerful wings of the drug cartel intensified following the July arrest of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a legendary trafficker, in the United States.
Zambada, 74, claims that a senior member of the Los Chapitos faction kidnapped him and forced him to the U.S. against his will.
The resulting infighting has turned the capital city of Culiacan into a battleground, disrupting daily life with shootouts that have forced schools to close and businesses to shut down early.
Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya announced that over 40 people have been arrested recently, and more than 5,000 food packages have been distributed across the state.
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Despite efforts by Mexico’s military to control the violence, they have struggled to make significant progress.
On Thursday, the military arrested Fernando Perez Medina, known as “El Piyi,” the alleged head of security for Ivan Archivaldo Guzman, leader of Los Chapitos and son of the notorious former cartel boss Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.
In a bizarre twist, Mexico’s Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) reported that it was aiding local authorities in caring for a tigress tied to a tree—an animal often kept as a pet by senior cartel members.
Due to the ongoing violence, veterinarians in Sinaloa have refused to assist, leading Profepa to provide the military with the necessary equipment to rescue the animal, although the rescue has yet to be carried out.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Thursday pointed fingers at the United States, blaming them in part for the chaos by “carrying out this operation,” referring to earlier surrender talks between U.S. officials and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the trafficker responsible for Zambada’s abduction.
While U.S. officials have confirmed holding talks with Guzman, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar stated last month that American authorities were surprised to find Zambada on U.S. soil, adding that no U.S. resources or personnel were involved in the July 25 kidnapping.
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