Shootout In Sinaloa, Mexico Leaves 19 Dead Amid Rising Cartel Violence

A violent shootout near Culiacán, the capital of Mexico’s Sinaloa state, resulted in the deaths of 19 suspected gang members and the arrest of a local cartel leader, according to a statement from Mexico’s defense ministry on Tuesday. The incident, which occurred on Monday approximately seven miles (11 km) outside the city, involved more than 30 gunmen who opened fire on soldiers. The ministry reported that some of the assailants managed to escape as federal agents returned fire.

The detained individual has been identified as Edwin Antonio “N,” with his last name withheld per Mexican legal norms for accused criminals. He is said to be a local leader within the Sinaloa Cartel, associated with its prominent co-founder, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. A document obtained by Reuters from Mexico’s national registry of detained persons confirmed the apprehension of Edwin Antonio Rubio Lopez by military forces in Sinaloa.

In addition to the arrest, authorities seized seven vehicles and nearly 30 firearms, which included machine guns, ammunition, and military-style vests and helmets.

This surge in violence in Sinaloa can be traced back to the late July arrest of Zambada, who was flown to a US airstrip near El Paso, Texas, and subsequently taken into custody by American officials. The elderly cartel leader, believed to be in his 70s, has claimed that a senior member of the Los Chapitos faction, another division of the Sinaloa cartel, kidnapped him and transported him to the United States against his will.

Security analysts note that the escalating gang violence in Sinaloa likely stems from conflicts between rival factions, which has intensified since early September, leading to approximately 200 fatalities and over 300 individuals reported missing, according to official data.