Internal Cartel Conflict Could Be Behind Recent Spike in Western Mexico Violence Leonardo Goi - InSight Crime
go to original February 14, 2017

Cartel Power Struggle Fueling Rising Violence in Mexico (NTD.tv)

Internal struggles for power between factions of the Sinaloa Cartel may have led to an increase in violence in western Mexico, the latest example of internecine conflict that has plagued the crime group for years.

Two sons of captured Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán suffered injuries on February 4 after one of the kingpin's closest associates allegedly tried to assassinate them, El Universal reported. El Chapo was arrested in Mexico in January 2016 and extradited to the United States last month.

The recent ambush was reportedly carried out by Dámaso López, known as "Licenciado," who allegedly targeted two of El Chapo's sons as well as Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, another top leader of the Sinaloa Cartel.

The attack on El Chapo's family coincides with a recent surge in violence in the state of Sinaloa. Between February 5 and February 7, shootings between police forces and members of organized crime groups claimed the lives of 12 people.

The new wave of violence forced authorities to take extraordinary measures, and on February 8, 148 schools across Sinaloa were closed after new clashes involving organized crime groups broke out.

Although the apparent attempted assassination of El Chapo's sons by Licenciado is a sign that feuds within the Sinaloa Cartel may be on the rise, internal struggles within the organization were occurring well before El Chapo's capture.

Read the rest at InSight Crime

Related: A Kingpin's Killing Puts the Complexity and Brutality of Mexico's Drug War on Vivid Display (Business Insider)

Related: Attack on El Chapo Guzman's Sons Just Part of Drug Lord's Neverending Saga (The Inquisitr)

Related: Mexican Official: Cartels Send $64B in Drugs Into US Annually (FoxNews.com)

Related: Costa Rica’s Attorney General Says Mexico Cartels are Recruiting, Training Local Groups (Q Costa Rica)

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