Following the arrests of two powerful drug lords, Joaquin Guzman Lopez and Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, in the United States, violence erupted in the northern Sinaloa state of Mexico, where one of the country’s most powerful drug cartels is based. The Sinaloa state security secretariat confirmed that Mexican military personnel were attacked and roads were blocked in the state capital, Culiacan, which is known as the stronghold of the jailed drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and his sons. Gunmen attacked a military patrol in the Penasco area and set up roadblocks in the nearby locality of Limon de Los Ramos, with the aim of blocking authorities from reaching certain areas.
State Governor Ruben Rocha stated that assailants set two vehicles on fire in an effort to impede authorities, but did not specify a motive for the attacks. The use of burning vehicles as roadblocks is a common tactic deployed by drug cartels to prevent police or military units from accessing certain areas. The detentions of the top Sinaloa drug lords had raised concerns about the possibility of wider violence breaking out in Sinaloa, as there had been fears that the recent arrests could lead to retaliatory actions by cartel members.
In July, Joaquin Guzman Lopez had apparently kidnapped Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, an older kingpin from a rival faction of the cartel, and flown him to the United States, where they were both detained in El Paso, Texas. The younger Guzman reportedly told Zambada they were going to scout out real estate in the country’s north, but instead took him to the US. Mexican authorities believe the abduction of Zambada may have been linked to the arrest of Ovidio Guzman, another of El Chapo’s sons, who had been detained earlier in January 2023 before being extradited to the US.
The US ambassador to Mexico stated that Ovidio Guzman remained in US custody, but did not provide further details on his whereabouts. Experts, including former US Drug Enforcement Administration agent Mike Vigil, speculate that Guzman Lopez may have given up Zambada in exchange for benefits for himself and his brother Ovidio. Zambada appeared in a Texas court and pleaded not guilty to charges of drug trafficking, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit murder. Guzman Lopez also denied drug trafficking charges and was transferred to Chicago, where he is serving a life sentence in prison.
At this point, only one of El Chapo’s sons, Ivan Archivaldo, who is accused of cartel links, remains free. The US has offered a reward of $10 million for information leading to his arrest. The continued presence of individuals with cartel ties in Mexico and the US highlights the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in combating organized crime and drug trafficking. The recent violence in Sinaloa serves as a reminder of the volatility and danger inherent in the world of drug cartels and the impact of high-profile arrests on criminal organizations.
