Additional Coverage:
- Why cellphone chats can be death sentences in cartel stronghold (newsbreak.com)
Sinaloa Cartel Violence Escalates After Drug Lord Arrests
The ongoing conflict within Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel has reached new heights, leading to a bloody “chain of hunting.” Cartel members are targeting individuals with phones containing evidence of rival faction members.
Cellphone Chats as Death Sentences
Cartel gunmen stop people and demand their phones, searching for contacts or photos that could indicate membership in opposing factions. If any suspicious content is found, the phone owner and their contacts face potential kidnapping, torture, and death.
Escalating Violence
Since the arrests of drug lords Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López in the United States in July, a new generation of younger and more violent cartel leaders has emerged. They use extreme violence, kidnapping, and cellphone tracking to gain control.
Kidnappings and Silent Killings
The conflict has resulted in a surge of armed carjackings. Cartel members steal sedans to conduct undetected kidnappings. Victims are often forced into vehicles and left with burst tires and running engines in the middle of the street.
Civic Fear and Government Response
Residents of Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa state, are living in fear and have drastically reduced their outings. The government has sent in army troops, but they lack the expertise to effectively combat the cartel’s urban warfare tactics.
Economic Impact
The violence has had a devastating impact on the economy. Businesses have closed and jobs have been lost. The once-popular seaside resort of Mazatlan is now inaccessible due to roadblocks set up by cartel members.
Hopelessness and Frustration
Residents have lost faith in both police and soldiers to protect them. Civic activist Estefanía López has struggled to organize peace marches due to widespread fear. The local army commander has admitted that the cartel factions, not authorities, control the cessation of violence.
Read More About This Story:
- Why cellphone chats can be death sentences in cartel stronghold (newsbreak.com)