ALABAMA - Ever since Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada was captured along with Joaquín Guzmán López, one of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán's sons, on July 25 in Texas, Mexican authorities in the state of Sinaloa have been on high alert due to ensuing clashes between Los Chapitos and La Mayiza, two factions of the Sinaloa Cartel fighting for territory in the state.
The turf war between both groups has seen an uptick in violence since Sept. 9, heavily impacting the citizens of Culiacán, Sinaloa's capital. And according to recent findings from the Mexican National Guard, the cartels are now using technology developed by Elon Musk's SpaceX company to support their actions.
While patrolling the small town of Monte Verde on Sept. 13, members of the Mexican National Guard were ambushed by an armed group, leading to pursue them.
Despite not being able to capture the assailants, authorities were able to find and seize two trucks that contained firearms, explosives, a drone and even a satellite antenna developed by SpaceX, a company founded by Elon Musk in 2002 that specializes in spacecraft manufacturing as well as satellites.
According to reports from independent journalist Luis Chaparro, the trucks belong to the faction led by Ismael Zambada Sicairos, also known as "Mayito Flaco," son of "El Mayo." Chaparro added that the antenna found on top of a hood in one of the trucks seized was a Starlink, a device that is capable of connecting to the internet in almost any corner of the world, including rural areas in which internet access is limited.
A Starlink system seized to Zambada’s henchmen in Sinaloa this week, along with weapons, ammo and a dron. pic.twitter.com/5VOMeDZRNc
— Luis Chaparro (@LuisKuryaki) September 14, 2024
Contrary to other services, Starlink satellites orbit closer to the Earth, allowing users to get internet using a small antenna that connects to a router. riminal organizations have been reported using this technology in the past due to its ability to offer internet connection in secluded areas.
Last October, a video on social media went viral in which it showed alleged members of the Sinaloa Cartel using a device similar to Starlink to patrol the area. Just like the device seized by Mexican authorities this month, the antenna was located on top of the hood of one of the vehicles used by the criminal group.
In response to the ongoing violence in northern Mexico, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) continues to partly blame the U.S. for the cartel-related violence in Sinaloa.
Speaking at one of his daily press conferences, AMLO was asked if the U.S. government was "jointly responsible" for the current situation. "Yes, of course... for having carried out this operation," he answered, again claiming the U.S. played a role in the taking of Zambada without Mexico's knowledge.
"It was totally illegal, and agents from the Department of Justice were waiting for Mr. Mayo," AMLO said, adding: "If we are now facing instability and clashes in Sinaloa, it is because they made that decision," he said.
This weekend, the U.S. answered back through Salazar, who said that "what is being seen in Sinaloa is not the fault of the United States," adding that the country cannot be held responsible for "the massacres that we see in different places."
As tensions between both factions of the Sinaloa Cartel continue to increase, so does the death toll from the turf wars in the Mexican state. According to local media and specialized journalists, at least 31 people have died with an additional 37 people reported to be missing. They say bodies are being left on the streets as apparent messages to the opposing fraction.
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