The brutal conflict between rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel continues to grip northwestern Mexico with terrifying intensity. In one of the deadliest incidents this year, authorities discovered 20 bodies—many mutilated—along Highway 15, just north of Culiacán. The violence marks yet another chapter in the bloody power struggle between groups loyal to Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and those backing Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s sons, known collectively as Los Chapitos.
Initial reports surfaced late Sunday evening when authorities were alerted to a gruesome scene near a bridge: four decapitated men hung by their limbs, with a nearby bag containing five severed heads. On Monday, the Sinaloa State Attorney General’s Office confirmed additional details. A truck parked nearby contained 16 more victims—15 intact bodies and one decapitated—all male and bearing gunshot wounds.
Investigators also recovered threatening messages written on tarps and painted onto the truck, allegedly from a faction led by Ismael Zambada Sicairos, alias “Mayito Flaco,” the son of El Mayo. The messages directly accused Los Chapitos, namely Iván and Alfredo Guzmán Salazar, of betrayal and misconduct. None of the victims have yet been publicly identified.
This mass killing follows a string of violent acts, including roadblocks set up in the municipality of Navolato on Sunday, just 25 miles from where the bodies were found. The Attorney General’s Office is reportedly exploring a theory that the current wave of violence was triggered in September, following an alleged abduction of El Mayo by another of El Chapo’s sons, Joaquín Guzmán López. He is currently facing trial in the United States on charges related to drug trafficking and multiple homicides.
The recent discovery bears chilling resemblance to a similar event in late September, when six bodies were found in a white truck in Culiacán’s Alturas del Sur neighborhood. At that time, a message reading “Welcome to Culiacán” was believed to target then-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who was planning a final visit to the region with President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum.
The violence shows no signs of slowing and is having a devastating impact beyond cartel ranks. Since the factional fighting reignited in September, at least 47 children and teenagers have lost their lives in related crossfire. Authorities also report the deaths of 28 women and nearly 40 police officers. Over 1,700 people have disappeared during the same period, pointing to an alarming humanitarian crisis in the region.
Economic instability has followed the violence, with the region seeing a significant downturn as communities across Sinaloa—and even parts of Baja California and Sonora—grapple with the repercussions. The Sinaloa Cartel remains heavily involved in drug trafficking operations, particularly fentanyl distribution, and weapons smuggling across the region.
Despite government efforts, the cartel’s grip on the state—and its internal bloodshed—continues to endanger lives and paralyze local economies. As authorities work to identify the victims and unravel the motives behind the killings, fear continues to dominate everyday life in the heart of cartel territory.
