“Socalj” for Borderland Beat
From an Infobae Article
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September 9, 2024 marked the beginning of an internal war in the Sinaloa Cartel that, after a year of clashes between the Los Chapitos and Los Mayos factions , left a balance of 1,850 people killed (according to the latest security reports), more than 1,800 forced disappearances and a climate of insecurity that transformed the daily and economic life of Sinaloa.
Official figures reveal that during this period, 46 members of security forces (including municipal and state police, investigative agents, and federal agents) lost their lives, 33 of them in Culiacán.
The victims are not limited to those involved in the conflict: women, girls, boys, and especially young men are among the dead.
State Security
Given the situation, federal authorities have stepped up their presence in Sinaloa. The deployment includes elite Special Forces units, paratroopers, intelligence personnel, and Ocelot armored vehicles.
The state also obtained direct intervention from the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar García Harfuch, which allowed for a temporary reduction in high-impact crimes.
Furthermore, the daily lives of students in Sinaloa have changed drastically. From preschool to university, students and teachers have adopted safety measures in the classroom to prevent possible shootings by listening for gunshots, lying on the floor, and covering their heads. These types of protective strategies reflect the level of risk the population faces in their daily lives.
The placement of these messages, called “pazmantas,” was carried out by the Culiacán Valiente collective with the aim of sending a positive message to all Sinaloans living in Culiacán, which has been the main focus of the clashes.
Economic Costs
Economic losses are estimated at 36 billion pesos, while the state-run Coparmex reports the loss of more than 35,000 jobs. Furthermore, business closures have spread throughout the state, and nightlife in Culiacán’s iconic locations remains paralyzed. This wave of violence has led the population to prioritize the security of their homes, limiting social and economic activity.