The Latest Breaking News from Los Chapitos

During the hearing, Guzmán López also admitted for the first time that he lured Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada into his own kidnapping by claiming he needed help settling a dispute.

"They are extremely fine people, good people, good folks," Chávez said. "I have met everyone, including Amado Carrillo Fuentes and many others, and they are all extremely fine people. At least with me. What they do otherwise, I do not know."

Despite rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela, Mexican officials say they do not believe their country faces a similar risk of U.S. military action, at least for now.

According to Animal Político, Omar Garcia Harfuch's claim is misleading, as it relies on a narrow timeframe that skews the data presented by federal officials.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced new sanctions targeting eight Mexican nationals and 12 Mexican companies allegedly linked to Los Chapitos, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel battling for control of the drug trafficking organization in northern Mexico.

A Mexican journalist confirmed the authenticity of a new image of Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, son of "El Chapo" Guzman and leader of the "Chapitos" faction of the Sinaloa Cartel

Ismael Zambada Sicairos, son of Sinaloa Cartel Leader "El Mayo" Zambada, has reportedly reached a deal with an offset of the Zetas to face the alliance reached between the "Chapitos" and the Jalisco cartel, according to a new report.

The decision also led to the cancellation of several concerts that had been scheduled. World-renowned singer Miguel Bosé had been set to perform in Culiacán, but his concert was canceled following the governor's announcement.

Despite the staggering number of casualties, neither side had gained a clear upper hand—until last month. According to a report from CrashOut, sources within La Mayiza now believe they are on track to win the conflict by the end of the year.