The Mexican army was attacked on Thursday by armed groups in Sinaloa as tensions continue to rise following the arrest of two prominent cartel leaders, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López, son of "El Chapo."
Local media reported images of burning cars blocking roads, images that have already been seen in the region during clashes with cartels. The latest episode took place in the northern area of Culiacán, the state capital.
"Authorities are calling citizens to stay calm as they deal with the situation," said the state's Public Security Secretariat in a statement. The message was echoed by Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya. There were no reports of casualties following the incident.
En medio de las tensiones por la captura de Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada y Joaquín Guzmán López, hijo de "El Chapo" Guzmán, este jueves se registró una nueva jornada violenta en #Culiacán, #Sinaloa. Bloqueos y quema de vehículos fue el resultado de un ataque a militares... pic.twitter.com/Oj9HNKgxWm
— Jorge Montiel (@Jorge_montiel) August 30, 2024
Even though there didn't seem to be a clear reason for the attack, Zambada's arrest has further destabilized an already volatile region. While the Mexican government has delivered stern warnings (and pleas) to organized crime in the region, hoping to prevent a full-out war between warring factions in the Sinaloa Cartel, things are heating up, as many analysts expected, especially as Zambada has accused Guzmán of ambushing and delivering him to U.S. authorities.
The government has sent at least 1,000 troops to the region in an attempt to help prevent an explosion of violence. But despite the military presence, cartel members from both sides have begun mobilizing, with reports of gunmen being recruited and weapons stockpiled. A source close to Zambada's operations indicated that the "Chapitos," as Guzmán López and his brothers are known, have as many as 5,000 gunmen at their disposal, while Zambada's faction, known as the Mayiza, relies on alliances forged over decades.
Observers have noted that the fallout from this power struggle could extend beyond the cartel, involving other organized crime groups across Mexico as they vie for control of the Sinaloa cartel's lucrative fentanyl smuggling routes.
Reports of heightened violence, even if still contained, have already emerged. on August 17, seven people were killed in Elota, including several Mayiza operatives . Earlier, on August 2, six individuals were killed in La Loma during an alleged confrontation with the army, raising concerns among residents who fear further escalation.
The division between the Chapitos and the Mayiza has also extended into the prison system, where inmates are now more concerned about having to choose sides. The Chapitos' alleged betrayal is seen as a significant breach of cartel codes, and while violence has not yet exploded, the potential for conflict looms large.
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