Culiacan, Mexico is currently experiencing a wave of violence as a power struggle within the Sinaloa drug cartel rages on. In late September, a man was found dumped amid rubbish, a victim of the ongoing conflict. More bodies, with sombreros placed on their heads as a message, have been left on the main highway out of the city. The violence, which hasn’t been seen in 15 years, has resulted in over 90 confirmed deaths so far.
The conflict within the cartel began in July, when a rupture occurred between two powerful factions. The capture of Ismael Zambada Garcia, also known as “El Mayo,” by the US authorities, led to a power vacuum within the organization. This vacuum sparked a violent war between different factions, with shootouts and casualties becoming a common occurrence in Culiacan.
Despite the deployment of over 3,000 federal police and soldiers in the city, the criminal groups remain ever-present on the streets. Many businesses have been forced to close, and schools are shut, as residents live in fear of the ongoing violence. The surge in violence has also resulted in a significant increase in disappearances reported in the city.
Isabel Cruz, who runs a group that searches for missing persons, has received threats to stop publishing information about the missing individuals. Despite the risks, Cruz continues her work, as the violence in Culiacan shows no signs of abating. The situation in the city has brought daily life to a standstill, with residents living in fear and uncertainty amidst the ongoing conflict.
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