Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa in northwestern Mexico, is reeling under a wave of brutal violence as a civil war tears through the infamous Sinaloa Cartel. Rival factions are locked in a fierce battle for dominance following the recent arrest of cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. This internal feud pits Los Chapitos, the group aligned with the sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, against Los Mayitos, loyal to El Mayo’s family. The fight for control has left over 500 people dead and more than 600 missing since clashes erupted in September, transforming the city into a chaotic battleground.
Culiacán’s streets, once bustling with nightlife, now empty by dusk. Schools close at the first sign of gunfire. Many businesses have shut their doors, while hotels and bars suffer devastating financial losses. The economic toll has already reached 18 billion pesos (£740 million), with over 25,000 formal jobs vanishing. The population lives in fear as convoys of gunmen patrol freely, highways are blockaded, and explosive threats loom large. Even state security cameras have been destroyed, leaving residents to rely on whispered rumours and anonymous WhatsApp messages for safety updates.
Among the many heart-wrenching stories is that of Rosa Lidia Félix Camacho, a mother on a desperate search for her missing son, Jesús Tomás Félix Félix. The 56-year-old staged a month-long hunger strike outside the city’s cathedral to pressure authorities into action. She finally met with Sinaloa’s governor, yet her son remains missing. Rosa’s grief echoes that of countless others across Sinaloa, with protests erupting as families demand answers and justice for their loved ones who have disappeared or been killed.
This violence traces its roots back to the Sinaloa Cartel’s turbulent past. Formed from the remnants of the Guadalajara Cartel in the 1980s, the group rose under the leadership of El Chapo and El Mayo. However, with El Chapo jailed for life in the US and El Mayo arrested in July, the cartel’s once-stable power dynamic has crumbled. El Mayo’s claim that he was betrayed by Los Chapitos to facilitate his capture has fuelled the deadly feud.
The impact on Culiacán is not only physical but emotional, as residents grapple with trauma and an uncertain future. Yet amid the fear, a spirit of resilience endures. Artists like Catherine Quiñónez Morales are creating murals aimed at inspiring hope. Businesses are adapting, focusing on daytime trade rather than night sales. Community leaders are urging people to reclaim the city through revitalisation projects, cultural events, and coordinated safety measures.
Despite their best efforts, Culiacán remains a city under siege, caught in the crossfire of a power struggle within one of the world’s most powerful cartels. With no end to the violence in sight, the lives, livelihoods, and futures of its residents hang in the balance.
Source: OCCRP
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