At least 10 more people are believed to have been killed as the government deploys 600 troops to boost security in the face of gang violence.
At least ten more people have reportedly been killed in Mexico’s northwestern state of Sinaloa, bringing the number of people killed or missing to more than 100, as rival cartel factions clash in horrific violence that shows no sign of abating anytime soon.
The latest violence, reported by authorities and media on Sunday, comes after the surprise arrest of Sinaloa Cartel co-founder Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada in the United States in late July, which reportedly sparked an internal power struggle within the group.
About 70 people have been killed in the state since September 9, mainly in the capital Culiacan, the AFP news agency reported, citing official and press reports.
Reuters news agency reported that 51 other people were missing following the violence.
The first of three incidents Saturday in Culiacan’s central Tres Rios neighborhood was a shootout between police and suspected hitmen, after which unknown assailants blocked a road with cars and motorcycles about 200 meters (650 feet) from the prosecutor’s office.
In addition, security officers were attacked by armed men, who then fled into a building.
A shootout ensued, in which three suspected gunmen were killed, another arrested and two soldiers wounded, Governor Ruben Rocha Moya wrote on X.
On Saturday, Rocha traveled to Mexico City to meet with President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum.
The federal government also sent 600 troops on Saturday to bolster security in Sinaloa.
Mexican media also reported seven other deaths.
The bodies of five people were dumped in the street, half-naked and wearing hats, in what appears to be a message of intimidation to warring factions. Nothing is known about the other two deaths.
Authorities have not yet commented on the deaths.
Zambada, 76, was arrested on July 25 after crossing the U.S. border. He claims he was kidnapped in Mexico and handed over to U.S. authorities against his will.
He was arrested along with Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of Sinaloa cartel co-founder Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who is serving a life sentence in the United States.
The wave of violence is believed to pit gang members loyal to El Chapo and his sons against other gang members close to Zambada.
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who leaves office at the end of the month, has placed part of the blame for the situation on the United States, saying it unilaterally planned Zambada’s capture.
U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar rejected that claim on Friday.
“What is happening in Sinaloa is not the fault of the United States,” he said, adding that the United States cannot be held responsible for the “massacres that we see in different places.”
