Cartel Infighting in Culiacan Claims Over 500 Lives, Paralyzing Daily Life

Violence erupts in Mexico's Sinaloa state following the arrest of cartel co-founder, with hundreds dead and missing since September.

The power struggle between factions of the Sinaloa cartel, triggered by the July arrest of co-founder Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, has left over 500 people dead and hundreds missing since September.
The conflict pits 'Los Mayos,' loyal to Zambada, against 'Los Chapitos,' led by the sons of jailed cartel leader Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, with reports of gruesome torture and killings.
Culiacan's economy and daily life have been devastated, with businesses shuttered, streets deserted, and thousands losing jobs as violence escalates across the city.
The Mexican government has deployed 11,000 soldiers to the region, but residents remain fearful, with many avoiding public spaces and some institutions reverting to remote operations.
The violence underscores the broader toll of Mexico's ongoing drug war, which has resulted in over 450,000 murders and more than 100,000 disappearances since 2006.