On October 21, 2024, an intense conflict in Culiacán, Sinaloa State, Mexico led to the death of 19 alleged Sinaloa cartel members at the hands of Mexican soldiers. The clash was initiated by an assault from over 30 gunmen on military personnel about seven miles from the state capital.
According to the Mexican Defense Department, the soldiers reacted in self-defense, strictly adhering to legal protocols and respecting human rights. Seized in the operation were seven vehicles, almost 30 firearms, including machine guns, ammunition, and military-style vests and helmets.
The conflict led to the capture of Edwin Antonio Rubio López, a high-ranking member of the “Mayitos” faction, which has pledged loyalty to imprisoned drug lord Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García.
About 3,300 soldiers and National Guard members have been stationed in Sinaloa by the federal government in response to the growing violence. However, attacks on local newspapers and persistent violence remain a concern in the region.
The current conflict was ignited after Zambada alleged that he was kidnapped and forced onto a plane by Joaquín Guzmán López, a leader of the rival “Chapitos” faction. This faction, notorious for their brutal tactics including torture, consists of the sons of imprisoned drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzman, who co-founded the cartel with Zambada.
The Sinaloa Cartel, one of the largest fentanyl trafficking organizations, is responsible for a significant portion of the illegal fentanyl entering the United States, as per U.S. officials.
Since the beginning of September, approximately 200 people have been killed and over 300 are presumed missing in Sinaloa due to rising cartel violence. In a broader perspective, drug-related violence in Mexico has resulted in more than 450,000 deaths since 2006.
This shootout poses a significant challenge for Mexico’s new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, who had previously vowed to avoid armed clashes with criminal groups. Former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has alleged that U.S. authorities had covert agreements with one of the criminal groups, leading to the current violence, a claim denied by U.S. officials.
U.S. intelligence analysts predict that the conflict could continue for years as both the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels have operations across all 50 U.S. states, controlling global drug trafficking networks.