Shootout With Mexican Military, 19 Sinaloa Cartel Members Killed

Illustration of the Mexican army. (Pixabay-Hrgonzalez)

JAKARTA - At least 19 members of the Sinaloa cartel were killed in a shootout with Mexican army forces.

Mexico's Ministry of Defense (Kemenhan) said dozens of members of the dangerous cartel were killed after attacking Mexican soldiers who were in Culiacan state.

Citing CBN News, Wednesday, October 23, the attack began on Monday this week. More than 30 members of the Sinaloa cartel were involved in the attack followed by gunfire.

Sinaloa is a Mexican state with thousands of Culiacan cities.

The region has experienced a spike in violence since a cartel founder named Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada was arrested in the United States (US) in July 2024.

Zambada's arrest sparked a war between "cattle families" involving Joaquin's children "El Chapo" Guzman, drug dealer and founder of the Sinaloa cartel.

Mexico's Ministry of Defense said dozens of cartel members who died were suspected of being linked to the Zambada faction.

Zambada, 76, was arrested in the southern US while landing with "El Chapo" son and presiding over a faction of the "Champitos" cartel, Joaquin Guzman Lopez on July 25, 2024.

Zambada, who is a veteran drug dealer, accused Lopez of assaulting him and handing him over to US law enforcement.

According to an indictment released by the US Department of Justice in 2023, members of the "Chapitos" cartel used a scathing bottle opener, electric shock, and chili to torture rivals in the drug business.

The Chapitos that are inspired also do not hesitate to punish their victims by giving them to tigers to eat alive.

In the indictment, it was also explained that the sons of "El Chapo" consisting of 28 people were members of the Sinaloa cartel. They were charged in a massive investigation into fentanyl trading announced in April 2023.

Meanwhile, "El Chapo" is serving a maximum-security life imprisonment in Colorado after being convicted in 2019 on charges including drug trafficking, money laundering, and gun-related offenses.