Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel: Betrayal Fuels Deadly Power Struggle
Military forces guard headquarters of the specialized prosecutors office for organized crime. Fighting among rival factions left at least 15 people dead. Free Malaysia Today
Mexico’s criminal defense ministry, la Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional (SEDENA), announced the arrest of Edwin Antonio ‘El Max’ Rubio Lopez of the Sinaloa Cartel on October 22. The Sinaloa Cartel is struggling amid internal conflict with no sign of abating, perpetuating casualties in the drug trafficking organization (DTO).
El País explains that the DTO in Sinaloa contains various factions. Two of the most prominent ones are led by Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Los Chapitos, the sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera. El Mayo and El Chapo co-founded the Sinaloa Cartel and have been associated since their early days in the drug trade in the 1980s. Their longstanding alliance allowed them to build significant influence and power in the drug trafficking scene, establishing the Sinaloa Cartel as one of the most formidable organizations in Mexico and the world.
However, the dynamic within the cartel has shifted significantly following the arrest of El Mayo on July 25. Reports suggest the arrest may have stemmed from a betrayal from the Guzmán family, raising questions of Joaquín Guzmán López's involvement. According to Aljazeera, it was López who lured El Mayo into custody under false pretenses, promising a meeting while actually planning to have him arrested in the United States.
Latin News reports that a statement El Mayo issued to his lawyer claimed he was taken against his will to the United States and alleged collusion between the DTO and high-level Sinaloa state Officials. This revelation underlines the complexities of power within the cartel and raises concerns about internal loyalty and alliances as well as the potential for further violence stemming from these betrayals.
Conflict within the Sinaloa Cartel has exacerbated violence across its territory, leading to numerous fatalities. El País estimates that violent clashes between Los Chapitos and El Mayo's faction have resulted in over 200 deaths since September. The escalating violence has highlighted the DTO's organizational instability and has implications for the broader community, which often finds itself caught between warring factions.
The recent arrest of El Max, identified as a pivotal operator in El Mayo's structure, marks another significant moment in this ongoing conflict. AP News reports that his capture by Mexican army troops during a violent confrontation ended in the deaths of 19 individuals associated with his faction. The arrest illustrates the extreme lengths to which these factions will go to assert control and reveals the chaotic state of the cartel's current operations.
Latin News reported on the data in the latest national survey on urban public security. The survey shows that 55.7 percent of residents of Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa, said they considered the city unsafe, up from 44.7 percent in the June report, the largest increase of any Mexican city. The Committee to Protect Journalists expresses their concern over the recent violence of unidentified attackers who fired at the offices of the El Debate newspaper on October 17.El Max’s arrest underscores the escalating conflict within the Sinaloa Cartel, marked by violence and betrayal between its factions. This turmoil has resulted in a growing sense of insecurity among residents of Culiacán, reflecting broader safety concerns as violence and activity of the factions disrupt the region. As the situation unfolds, it remains crucial to address the implications for both the local communities and the longevity of the DTO.