The ongoing turf war between factions of the Sinaloa cartel has led to a doubling of disappearances in the region, highlighting the challenges faced by Mexican authorities as they navigate pressures from both local violence and international expectations on drug trafficking.
Surge in Disappearances in Sinaloa Amid Cartel Conflict
Surge in Disappearances in Sinaloa Amid Cartel Conflict
As violence escalates in Sinaloa due to rival factions of a cartel vying for control, the number of reported disappearances has dramatically increased, prompting urgent government action.
The number of reported missing persons in the troubled Mexican state of Sinaloa has skyrocketed, as violent clashes between two rival factions of the notorious Sinaloa cartel intensify. Official reports indicate that over 200 individuals have vanished amidst the chaos that erupted following the arrest of key cartel leader Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada in the United States. His followers, known as "Los Mayos" or "La Mayiza," have accused members of the rival faction, "Los Chapitos," linked to Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán's legacy, of betrayal, further escalating the turf war.
In response to the alarming rise in violence, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has deployed her security chief, Omar García Harfuch, to Sinaloa. The recent spike in disappearances and killings has overshadowed Sheinbaum's early tenure as the nation’s first female leader, a position she assumed on October 1, promising an approach that would eschew a militaristic drug war strategy.
However, the pressures of increasing violence and the expectations from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who insists on stronger actions against fentanyl trafficking, have compelled Sheinbaum's administration to prioritize security in Sinaloa. In a public statement, she announced a "zero tolerance" policy aimed at restoring order.
In a significant development in the crackdown on drug trafficking, Mexican authorities recently announced the largest fentanyl seizure in the country's history, with an estimated value of $394 million and over a tonne of fentanyl pills confiscated from two locations in Sinaloa. García Harfuch confirmed on social media that these operations would continue until the violence in the state is effectively addressed.
At the same time, other actions by the Mexican government, including the apprehension of over 5,200 migrants in a single day, appear to be a direct response to Sheinbaum’s commitments to address both drug-related issues and migration pressures stemming from commitments made to Trump. This multifaceted crisis underscores the complex dynamics at play in Sinaloa as the government seeks to regain control amid ongoing cartel violence.
