The New Face of Violence: How the Sinaloa Cartel’s Factional War is Shaking Culiacan

The ongoing factional war within Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel has turned cellphone chats into potential death sentences in Culiacan. The once familiar violence in the city has escalated to unprecedented levels, leaving residents in fear and businesses shuttered.

The Rise of New Cartel Leaders

• With the apprehension of drug lords Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López, a new generation of younger, more violent drug lords has taken control.
• These leaders employ extreme violence, kidnapping, and sophisticated tactics like cellphone tracking to eliminate rivals.
  

  The Impact on Culiacan
  

• Armed carjackings have surged, with cartel gunmen targeting smaller sedans for silent kidnappings.
• The State Council on Public Safety reports an average of six killings and seven disappearances or kidnappings daily in the city.
• Approximately 200 families have fled their homes due to the escalating violence.
  

  Government Response and Challenges
  

• The government blames the United States for allowing drug lords to surrender, fueling the conflict.
• The army’s urban combat tactics have proven ineffective against cartel firepower, leading to civilian casualties.
• Local police forces have been disarmed, leaving residents feeling unsafe and businesses closed.
  

  Economic Fallout
  

• Over 180 businesses in Culiacan have closed since the conflict began, resulting in nearly 2,000 job losses.
• Attempts to revive the economy through evening events have failed due to residents’ fear of violence.
• Residents who can afford it escape the city by plane, as road travel has become dangerous.

  The escalating violence in Culiacan not only poses a threat to residents’ safety but also has severe economic repercussions. The rise of a new generation of violent cartel leaders has transformed the city’s landscape, leaving businesses closed and families displaced. The government’s response has been inadequate, with law enforcement agencies struggling to contain the violence. As the conflict persists, the future of Culiacan hangs in the balance, impacting the lives and livelihoods of its residents.