Overview

• On July 27, 90 Special Forces operators departed Santa Lucía Air Base aboard a C-130 Hércules to reinforce operations in Culiacán.
• These troops bolster an existing contingent of 1,500 Army soldiers and 300 elite forces under the 9th Military Zone’s unified command with the National Guard and Air Force.
• Their mandate prioritizes inhibiting criminal acts, conducting joint patrols with state and municipal authorities and protecting civilians.
• Sinaloa has seen 1,731 homicides in the past year, a 243% increase driven by clashes between the Chapitos and Mayiza branches of the Sinaloa Cartel.
• Authorities reported 14 executions in Ahome and Culiacán over the July 26–27 weekend despite earlier military deployments.