Escalating violence northern Mexico following the capture of top cartel leader Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada continues to dominate the headlines, with a recent report claiming that a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel that answers to the drug lord has declared war on another one faithful to the sons of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.
Concretely, a series of audios reported by local press allegedly confirm that Ismael Zambada Sicairos, son of the Sinaloa Cartel co-founder, gives the green light to move on the "Chapitos" in the area. A voice in the audios adds that the local government is "on their side" and clarified that they are targeting the opposing cartel faction and not the government. "We won't fight the government, they're on our side," the voice says.
The decision could also have to do with Zambada's belief that he was ambushed by Joaquín Guzmán López, son of "El Chapo" and leader of the "Chapitos."
Analysts have speculated about the possibility that Guzmán López took "El Mayo" to U.S. authorities in hopes of getting a better deal for himself, as he was considering turning himself in.
His faction, now allegedly led by Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar, another son of "El Chapo," has been involved in a power struggle with other groups vying for cartel control, especially the "Mayiza," controlled by family members and associates of "El Mayo." His apparent entry into the Witness Protection Program could signify a significant shift in the ongoing battle against drug trafficking.
The latest flareup took place this week, when two people were killed during a series of clashes that also led to the suspension of classes and public transportation in the area.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) said it's "highly likely" that increased violence in the state of Sinaloa is linked to the recent capture of Zambada.
Speaking at his daily press conference, AMLO acknowledged ongoing clashes in the area and said Zambada himself has called for restraint. "He wrote that violence is not convenient or something like that. We don't want violence, no one wants it, the people of Sinaloa don't deserve violence," he said.
"I want to tell the citizens of Sinaloa and Culiacán that we are paying attention and there are enough troops to guarantee peace and safety. Things are calming down," the president added.
The government has sent at least 1,000 troops to the region in an attempt to help prevent an explosion of violence. But despite the military presence, cartel members from both sides have begun mobilizing, with reports of gunmen being recruited and weapons stockpiled. A source close to Zambada's operations indicated that the "Chapitos," as Guzmán López and his brothers are known, have as many as 5,000 gunmen at their disposal, while the Mayiza, relies on alliances forged over decades.
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