The recent arrest of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada on July 25, 2024, has significantly intensified infighting within the Sinaloa Cartel, leading to a surge in violence across the state of Sinaloa. The power struggle mainly involves two primary factions: the "Mayiza," loyal to El Mayo, and the "Chapitos," led by the sons of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.

The arrest of Zambada has been particularly controversial, with reports suggesting that he may have been betrayed and forcibly handed over to U.S. authorities by members of the Chapitos faction. This act of alleged treachery has deepened existing rifts within the cartel, triggering a series of violent incidents in northern Mexico. For instance, the weekend following Zambada’s arrest saw at least ten murders in Sinaloa, all linked to the ongoing cartel conflict.

The Mexican government has responded by deploying additional military troops to the region, aiming to prevent further escalation. However, despite these efforts, the situation remains tense. There are concerns that the violence could spread to other regions, especially in territories where the Sinaloa Cartel is already competing with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

Observers fear that without strong and unified leadership, the Sinaloa Cartel could fragment further, leading to even more violence and instability in the region. The arrest has also sparked speculation about whether Zambada might leverage his insider knowledge of corrupt officials to influence the cartel's leadership succession or to mitigate the crackdown from Mexican authorities.



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source:

Sinaloa cartel infighting rises in northern Mexico following the detention of 2 drug lords in July | AP News