Narco war erupts in Sinaloa between sons of ‘El Chapo’ and ‘El Mayo’ Zambada

EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – The drug war that security experts predicted after the kidnapping and arrest of a major Sinaloa cartel drug lord has erupted in northwestern Mexico.

Sinaloa’s attorney general’s office said 12 people had been killed, 11 wounded by gunfire and 20 kidnapped since Monday in the cities of Culiacan, Mazatlan and Guasave. School classes were canceled Thursday because of the rampant violence. And Gov. Ruben Rocha Moya called off Independence Day celebrations scheduled for Sept. 15-16.

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Mexican news reports on Friday said the death toll was at least twice as high as the government reported. Local and international news channels showed burning vehicles and blocked roads.

“I want to tell you that we have received reinforcements that the president promised,” Rocha said in an online broadcast. “Four combat helicopters and 100 special forces have arrived. That and our resources allow us to efficiently deal with any outbreaks of violence at any time (…) (But) we must admit that these types of events can continue.”

Rocha attributed the violence to two rival groups. Mexican and international security experts identified them as gangs linked to the sons of convicted drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman Loera and forces loyal to Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.

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Zambada was kidnapped in Mexico on July 25 and flown to the United States in a charter plane by one of El Chapo’s sons. Zambada was flown from El Paso, Texas, to New York City on Thursday, where he was scheduled to appear in court on Friday.

“It’s a little surprising that it took this long for the event to happen and for the actual fighting to break out,” said Mike Ballard, director of intelligence for Global Guardian in Virginia. “We’re at that six-week mark now; it makes sense that by now they’d have sort of plotted, planned, and figured things out.”

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According to Ballard, the violence is likely to escalate beyond the Sinaloa cartel’s stronghold to nearby states and border cities in northern Mexico, where the transnational criminal organization, which U.S. authorities have identified as the top exporter of fentanyl to the U.S., has a strong presence.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if there were violent outbreaks in other places that are ostensibly controlled by the Sinaloa cartel — whether it’s the Chapitos or the son of El Mayo,” Ballard said. “All over Baja California, Tijuana, Culiacan, Sonora; all over Chihuahua, Juarez, any of those border cities.”

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The ongoing violence may be retaliation for Zambada’s kidnapping by Joaquin Guzman Lopez, who turned himself in to U.S. authorities after disembarking from the same plane that brought Zambada to the U.S. But it certainly has to do with the question of who gets to keep the drug empire he allegedly built.

Ismael Zambada-Sicairos, also known as “El Mayito Flaco” (Skinny Mayo), is a wanted fugitive in the United States and the son of El Mayo. Security experts believe he is leading the fight against the remaining sons of El Chapo who are not in custody.

Graphic content: In this aerial view, the body of a man lies in the parking lot of a store in the Montebello neighborhood of Culiacán, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on Sept. 12, 2024. (Photo by IVAN MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images)
A pickup truck riddled with bullet holes is seen at the scene of a shooting that left two soldiers wounded, one of whom later died in hospital, in Culiacan, in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, on September 9, 2024. (Photo by IVAN MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images)
Bullet-riddled cars are seen after an armed attack on the facade of a business that sells new and used cars in Culiacán, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on September 12, 2024. (Photo by IVAN MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images)
A burning truck is seen on the streets of Culiacan, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on September 11, 2024. (Photo by IVAN MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images)
A member of the Mexican army stands guard after an armed attack on the facade of a business that sells new and used cars in Culiacán, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on September 12, 2024. (Photo by Ivan MEDINA / AFP)
A burned out truck on the street in Culiacan, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on September 11, 2024. (Photo by Ivan MEDINA / AFP)
Police officers stand guard at the scene of a shooting that left two soldiers wounded, one of whom later died in hospital, in Culiacan, Sinaloa state, Mexico on September 9, 2024. (Photo by IVAN MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images)
A pickup truck riddled with bullet holes is seen at the scene of a shooting that left two soldiers wounded, one of whom later died in hospital, in Culiacan, Sinaloa state, Mexico on September 9, 2024. A series of clashes in northwestern Mexico on Monday left at least two dead and one wounded, in an escalation of violence that authorities attributed to infighting within the Sinaloa cartel following the arrest of its leader, Ismael “Mayo” Zambada. (Photo by IVAN MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images)
Members of the Mexican army are seen in the parking lot of a store where the body of a man was found in the Montebello neighborhood of Culiacán, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on September 12, 2024. (Photo by IVAN MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images)

Ballard said the fight offers the Mexican government an opportunity to target and capture the warring cartel leaders.

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“I wouldn’t be surprised if the Mexican military tries to intervene and use this as a means to go after El Mayo’s son and the remaining sons of El Chapo. They’re busy fighting each other and this might be a good opportunity to go after all of those people as well,” Ballard said.