EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – The narco war that security experts predicted in the wake of the abduction and arrest of a major Sinaloa cartel drug lord has broken out in northwest Mexico.
The Sinaloa Attorney General’s Office says 12 people have been killed, 11 injured by gunfire and 20 abducted since Monday in the cities of Culiacan, Mazatlan and Guasave. Classes were canceled in school on Thursday due to roving violence. And Gov. Ruben Rocha Moya called off Independence Day celebrations scheduled for Sept. 15-16.
Mexican news reports on Friday said the death toll was at least twice as large as the government was reporting. Local and international news outlets captured images of burning vehicles and roads being blocked.
“I want to tell you we have received reinforcements the president promised,” Rocha said in an online broadcast. “Four gunships and 100 special forces soldiers have arrived. That and our resources allow us to efficiently confront any violent flareups at any time […] (But) we have to admit these types of events could continue.”
Rocha attributed the violence to two rival groups. Mexican and international security experts identified them as gangs associated to the sons of convicted drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman Loera and forces loyal to Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.
Zambada was abducted in Mexico and flown to the United States in a charter airplane by one of El Chapo’s sons last July 25. Zambada on Thursday was flown out of confinement in El Paso, Texas, to New York City, where he was scheduled to appear in court Friday.
“There is a little bit of surprise that it took this long for when the precipitating event took place and the actual fighting broke out,” said Mike Ballard, director of intelligence for Virginia-based Global Guardian. “We’re at that six-week mark; it makes sense now they sort of planned, plotted, figured things out.”
Ballard said the violence likely will escalate beyond the Sinaloa cartel stronghold into nearby states and border cities in northern Mexico where the transnational criminal organization American authorities have labeled as the main exporter of fentanyl into the U.S. has a strong presence.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if you had violent flareups in other places that are ostensibly controlled by the Sinaloa cartel – whether by the Chapitos or El Mayo’s son,” Ballard said. “Anywhere in Baja California, Tijuana, Culiacan, Sonora; anywhere in Chihuahua, Juarez any of those border towns."
The ongoing violence may or may not be in retaliation for Zambada's abduction reportedly at the hands of Joaquin Guzman Lopez -- who turned himself in to American authorities after stepping off the same aircraft that brought Zambada to the U.S. But it certainly has to do with who gets to keep the drug empire he allegedly built.
Ismael Zambada-Sicairos, aka "El Mayito Flaco" (Skinny Mayo) is a wanted fugitive in the United States and the son of El Mayo. Security experts believe he's leading the fight against the remaining sons of El Chapo who are not in custody.
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Graphic content: In this aerial view the body of a man lies in the car park of a shop in the Montebello neighborhood of Culiacán, Sinaloa State, Mexico, on September 12, 2024. (Photo by IVAN MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images) ![]()
A pickup truck riddled with bullet holes is pictured at the crime scene after a shooting confrontation that left two soldiers wounded, one of whom later died in the hospital in Culiacan, Sinaloa State, Mexico on September 9, 2024. (Photo by IVAN MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images) ![]()
Bullet-ridden cars are seen after an armed attack against the facade of a business selling new and pre-owned cars in Culiacán, Sinaloa State, Mexico, on September 12, 2024. (Photo by IVAN MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images) ![]()
A truck on fire 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 against the facade of a business selling new and pre-owned cars in Culiacán, Sinaloa State, Mexico, on September 12, 2024. (Photo by Ivan MEDINA / AFP) ![]()
A burned truck is seen on the streets of Culiacan, Sinaloa State, Mexico, on September 11, 2024. (Photo by Ivan MEDINA / AFP) ![]()
Police officers stand guard at the crime scene after a shooting confrontation that left two soldiers wounded, one of whom later died in the 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 pictured at the crime scene after a shooting confrontation that left two soldiers wounded, one of whom later died in the 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 injured, in an escalation of violence that authorities attribute to infighting within the Sinaloa Cartel following the capture of its leader, Ismael "Mayo" Zambada. (Photo by IVAN MEDINA/AFP via Getty Images) ![]()
Members of the Mexican Army are seen in the car park of a shop 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 says the fighting gives the Mexican government an opportunity to sweep in and capture the warring cartel leaders.
"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 he remaining sons of El Chapo. They're preoccupied with fighting each other and now may be a good opportunity to go after all those folks as well," Ballard said.