Police say Mexico’s violent Sinaloa cartel committed seven murders in a single day as fears of a cartel war grow. The seven killings brought a weekly total to 19, with 12 more occurring in the previous six days. The Sinaloa prosecutor’s office released a statement saying victims were found in four separate locations, including two in the state capital, Culiacan, and five in Concordia, where officials stated that “violent events have occurred between criminal groups.”
The Sinaloa cartel, named after the Pacific Coast Mexican state where it is most active, was led by Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who is currently serving a life sentence in an American maximum security prison. Guzman was found guilty on several charges, including drug trafficking and money laundering, in 2019. A New York federal judge also placed a $12.5 billion forfeit on the drug lord, but he insisted he had not received a fair trial and that his incarceration amounted to torture.
The billionaire gangster brought hundreds of tons of cocaine to the United States throughout his career, as well as heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana. El Chapo – or “Shorty” – was also responsible for hundreds of murders, kidnappings, and acts of torture, as well as rape of underage girls.
During his dramatic trial, one witness said he saw Guzman murder three people. Former bodyguard Isaias Valdez Rios also testified that “Shorty” ordered the torture and death of two prior associates who had joined a rival gang. Their bodies were burned. Other witnesses told the court that Guzman had a rival buried alive and ordered a hit on an associate because he wouldn’t shake his hand.
The latest violent outbreak involving Guzman’s cartel follows the arrest of its co-founder, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, and El Chapo’s son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez. The violence is believed to be a loyalty clash, with those loyal to El Chapo going to war with Zambada’s followers. Mr. Zambada pleaded not guilty to several charges, including murder and trafficking, at a New York court in July.
In Mexico, tensions were so high that schools in Sinaloa were closed, and some summer festivities were canceled. Following the recent wave of killings, several businesses likewise closed their doors, and some public services were cut.
