Culiacán, Mexico — In a deadly shootout on October 21, 2024, Mexican military forces killed 19 individuals believed to be affiliated with the notorious Sinaloa cartel. The confrontation, which unfolded approximately seven miles from Culiacán in Sinaloa State, escalated rapidly when a group of over 30 armed men engaged the soldiers.
According to Mexico’s Defense Department, the military personnel were reacting in self-defense and adhered to lawful engagement protocols while upholding human rights standards. In the aftermath of the gunfight, seven vehicles and nearly 30 firearms, including machine guns and military-grade protective gear, were seized.
One significant outcome of the clash was the capture of Edwin Antonio Rubio López, identified as a high-ranking figure within the “Mayitos” subgroup of the cartel. This faction remains loyal to Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García, a long-time cartel leader now behind bars.
In light of recent escalations in violence, the federal government has stationed about 3,300 military and National Guard members throughout Sinaloa. Despite these heightened security measures, the region continues to experience attacks on media outlets and ongoing violent encounters.
The increase in hostilities reportedly began following the alleged abduction of Zambada by forces loyal to Joaquín Guzmán López, who leads the rival “Chapitos” faction. The “Chapitos” includes sons of the incarcerated drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzman and is notorious for its ruthless tactics.
The Sinaloa Cartel, co-founded by Zambada and Guzmán, is recognized by U.S. authorities as a significant player in the global drug trade, notably active in trafficking fentanyl into the United States. This has positioned them as a key focus of U.S. anti-narcotics efforts.
The ongoing conflict in the Sinaloa region has led to approximately 200 fatalities since September, with an additional 300 people reported missing. Nationwide, the broader context of drug cartel violence in Mexico has resulted in over 450,000 deaths since 2006, underscoring the severe impact of these criminal enterprises.
This violent episode poses a substantial challenge to Mexico’s newly inaugurated president, Claudia Sheinbaum, who pledged to seek alternatives to armed confrontations with such groups. Her approach marks a potential shift from the strategies of her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who has attributed recent violence to alleged covert interactions between U.S. officials and one of the factions, an allegation U.S. authorities firmly reject.
U.S. intelligence indicates that the strife involving major cartels like Sinaloa and Jalisco, which have extensive narcotics operations across all 50 U.S. states, is likely to endure for years. This ongoing conflict not only affects Mexico but also has far-reaching implications for international drug trafficking and law enforcement strategies worldwide.