More than two months since the eruption of the war between "Los Chapitos" and "La Mayiza," the two factions of the Sinaloa cartel, hundreds of people in northern Mexico have been reported missing while hundreds more have died in the ongoing clashes.
But according to reports from a specialized Mexican journalist that knows the ins and outs of how cartels operate, the clique loyal to Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán and his sons is now targeting newly elected officials in Sinaloa who, her sources say, have direct links to Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada.
Attacks on politicians are not new in Mexico. When "El Mayo" was allegedly kidnapped by Joaquín Guzmán López, testimony from Zambada himself revealed that members of "Los Chapitos" killed Hector Cuén, a federal deputy and former mayor of Culiacán and a political opponent of Sinaloa Gov. Rubén Rocha Moya, who is currently being investigated of conspiring to cover up Cuén's death.
In her podcast "Narcosistema," investigative journalist Anabel Hernández revealed that two sons of "El Chapo" who remain at large and lead the "Chapitos" are now sending death threats to other newly-appointed politicians in the state of Sinaloa, as they allegedly have ties to "El Mayo.".
Among the mayors in danger is Estrella Palacios Domínguez, the first woman to be elected as mayor of Mazatlán, the second-largest city in Sinaloa. According to sources close to Hernández, a group of armed men intercepted Palacios Domínguez's vehicle as she traveled between Mazatlán and Culiacán.
The "attack" was reportedly a warning for Palacios Domínguez, who was sworn in on November 1, as well as a message for her and other politicians that said "tell everyone that, whoever is not with us, is going to be killed."
Hernández's sources claim that Palacios Domínguez reached her current role with the help of Zambada. Before being a public official, Palacios Domínguez competed in beauty pageants. She has denied any links to the drug lord, although she has admitted in the past that her father, Renato Palacios Velarde, does have a close relationship with "El Mayo."
Palacios Velarde is believed to be highly involved in his daughter's political career, arguing that his relationship with high-profile cartel members helped propel his daughter's campaign for mayor.
Another official being targeted by "Los Chapitos" is Octavio Bastidas Manjarréz, who serves as a mayor in the municipality of San Ignacio, in southern Sinaloa. Bastidas Manjarréz was intercepted by a group of armed men the same day as Palacios Domínguez was attacked.
Hernández says that Bastidas Manjarréz has a family link to René Bastidas, also known as "El 00," who works for Zambada and his son, Ismael Zambada Sicairos, a.k.a "El Mayito Flaco."
In her podcast, Hernández revealed that "El Mayo" used his power and influence in Sinaloa to place some of his allies in high-profile government positions. Such was the case for Gerardo Vargas Landeros, who is currently the mayor of Ahome, a municipality in northwest Sinaloa.
"The threats made by "Los Chapitos" not only encompasses mayors, but it also colludes deputies that owe Zambada their current positions," said Hernández in her podcast.
Besides Cuén, who was reported dead the same day "El Mayo" was allegedly kidnapped by Guzmán López, the deaths of Héctor Ramón Escobar Manjarrez and Faustino Hernández Álvarez are two others that have been attributed to members of the Sinaloa cartel since turf wars began on Sept. 9.
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