Mexican Authorities Discover 20 Bodies in Sinaloa Amid Intensified Cartel Violence
Mexican authorities have uncovered 20 bodies in the state of Sinaloa, a region embroiled in a violent feud between rival factions of the Sinaloa drug cartel. This discovery marks a grim milestone in the ongoing conflict, which has seen a significant surge in brutality.
On Monday, the state prosecutor’s office reported that four of the victims had been decapitated, with their bodies found hanging from a bridge near Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa. An additional 16 bodies, including one decapitated individual, were found inside a van parked beneath the bridge. The severed heads were discovered in a bag near the scene.
This gruesome find marks the culmination of the most violent month in the ongoing war between Sinaloa cartel factions, exacerbated by evidence suggesting the involvement of their main rival, the Jalisco New Generation cartel. The conflict erupted on September 9, 2024, following the arrest of two prominent crime bosses in El Paso, Texas. Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, co-founder of the Sinaloa cartel with Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, was among those detained. El Mayo accused El Chapo’s son of betrayal, leading to a factional war within the cartel.
Despite the deployment of thousands of soldiers into Sinaloa by the Mexican government, the violence has persisted, claiming nearly 3,000 lives. A message left at the scene of the latest discovery pointed to La Mayiza, a faction led by El Mayo’s son, as being responsible.
In a significant development, El Chapo’s sons, known as Los Chapitos, have reportedly allied with their former rivals, the Jalisco cartel. This potential alliance could drastically alter the dynamics of the conflict and the structure of their criminal organizations, which have extensive operations both within Mexico and globally.
The situation has drawn the attention of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which has cautioned against the implications of this alliance. The Chapitos have been identified by U.S. authorities as key figures in the trafficking of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid linked to numerous overdose deaths in the United States.
Under pressure from the Trump administration, Mexican authorities have intensified their efforts against fentanyl trafficking, leading to a decrease in fentanyl seizures at the U.S.-Mexico border. The administration has also designated the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and has taken steps to limit financial transactions that could facilitate money laundering by these groups.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/30/mexico-sinaloa-cartel-violence
