Sinaloa Cartel’s Internal War Begins – Region in Lockdown as More Than 100 Dead and Missing

By David Amoruso for Gangsters Inc.

Sinaloa is going to the mattresses, as the Mafia term for a turf war goes. More than 100 people have been killed or gone missing in the western Mexican state of Sinaloa in recent weeks after the cartel’s two main factions—one led by Los Chapitos, the other loyal to “El Mayo” Zambada—“officially” began their war among themselves for supremacy of the Sinaloa cartel two weeks ago.

The reason behind the war is the arrest of the Sinaloa Cartel’s longtime leader, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, in the United States on July 25. He flew there in a private jet, along with Joaquín Guzmán López, one of the sons of “El Chapo” Guzman and one of Los Chapitos, who was also arrested upon arrival in the United States. Although much remains unclear about how exactly everything happened, the accepted story seems to be that Guzmán López lured or kidnapped Zambada onto the plane and delivered him into the hands of U.S. authorities.

For decades, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman had worked closely together to form Mexico’s most powerful drug cartel. After “El Chapo’s” arrest, his sons followed in his footsteps and took over his operations. The partnership with Zambada continued, but speculation about possible infighting between the two factions was already rife.

The apparent betrayal of one of Los Chapitos, which led to the capture of Zambada, sent shock waves through the Sinaloa cartel. Since late July, both factions have begun preparing for war and violence has flared up several times.

But the war itself didn’t begin until Sept. 9, local authorities said Friday. The infighting pits the faction led by Ivan Archivaldo Guzman of Los Chapitos against the faction led by Ismael “Mayito Flaco” Zambada Sicairos, Zambada’s son. Both sides have heavily armed private armies to do their bidding.

Ordinary people suffer

Fathers and sons, betrayal, untold wealth, death and destruction. If it weren’t real life, this story would be a screenwriter’s dream. A Greek tragedy of epic proportions. Except it’s real life. And it affects the lives of countless ordinary people.

John Holman reported for Al Jazeera how cartel members were filmed telling a busload of travelers to turn around because there was a bloodbath ahead. In Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa, “there is fear in the air,” he said. “Most schools are closed and hours have been shortened.” The city’s nightlife has ground to a halt as all parties have been canceled due to the (threat of) violence.

See Holman’s full report below:

Cartels are the government

On Thursday, the Mexican military arrested Fernando “El Piyi” Perez Medina, the alleged head of security for Ivan Archivaldo Guzman, in Culiacán, but Mexican authorities have largely shown restraint in their fight against the war.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador blamed the United States for part of the violence, saying it carried out “this operation” that resulted in Zambada’s arrest.

Asked when things would return to normal on the streets of Sinaloa, Regional Commander Jesus Leana Ojeda said: “It doesn’t depend on us. It depends on the groups in conflict stopping fighting and leaving the population alone.”

A disturbing answer that tells us that the cartels – and not the government – ​​determine what life is like in Mexico.

Sicarios prepare for a long war

As civilians hide in their homes, the cartel’s enforcers are preparing for a long war, two senior sicarios tell Sky News’ Stuart Ramsay. “One of the two has to win. This is just the beginning. It’s going to be a long time. We don’t know how long. A year, two years, three years. Maybe. It’s going to be a long time.”

His partner agrees: “It’s just beginning. One of the parties has to die for it to end. There has to be a winner.”

The War on Drugs, however, has no real winners. And as the saying goes, “While two dogs fight over a bone, a third one runs away with it.” While the Sinaloa cartel wages a dirty war among itself, its competitors will watch and wait.

Once a faction emerges victorious, it will find itself in a new war. Against a well-equipped enemy. In the Underworld, wars never really end. They only pause at the right time to start again.

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