Could Two Of The Main Mexican Cartels Form An Unlikely Alliance This Year? There Are Signs

The ongoing turf wars between "Los Chapitos" and "La Mayiza" for control of the Sinaloa Cartel has taken a huge toll to both cliques in the nearly four months since the violent conflict began. In an attempt to have the upper hand, the group led by the sons of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán is seemingly reaching out to one of its fiercest rivals in the last few years: the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG).

According to a specialized Mexican journalist, the alliance between "Chapitos" and the CJNG has been on the works for months, even before they declared war to "La Mayiza" back in Sept. 9. But despite agreeing to a truce, the alliance is yet to materialize as no joint operations have been seen in Sinaloa since both sides allegedly started working with each other.

In an interview with Infobae Mexico, Luis Chaparro recounted how the alliance came to be. He argues that Jesús Alfredo Guzmán Salazar, son of "El Chapo," met with a close subordinate of CJNG leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantez alias "El Mencho" in Zapopan, Jalisco, where they allegedly agreed to a deal.

"They agreed to hand over territories that 'Los Chapitos' controlled, especially around the U.S.-Mexico border, in exchange of firearms and soldiers in order to fight 'Los Mayos,'" Chaparro said. "They even talked about developing their own logo to distinguish their alliance," he added.

And although there was an unofficial agreement from both sides, nothing else has happen to indicate that "Chapitos" and the CJNG are working with each other to push "Los Mayos" out of Sinaloa.

"As of now there haven't been any new developments...no territories have been transferred to the Jalisco Cartel and CJNG people are yet to be seen operating in Sinaloa or Culiacán," Chaparro said.

Feud between "Los Chapitos" and "El Mencho"

The rivalry between both criminal organizations goes way back, concretely to the 2016 kidnappings of Jesús Alfredo and César Guzmán at a restaurant located in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco while they celebrated Ovidio Guzmán's 33rd birthday.

Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán struck a deal with "El Mencho" to free his two sons by paying two million dollars and large amounts of drugs, according to a report from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

"Chapitos" and CJNG met in Guadalajara

According to other reports from Illicit Investigations, the first meeting between both criminal groups took place months before "Los Chapitos" broke away from "La Mayiza" in order to gain full control of the Sinaloa Cartel.

Audias Flores Silva, also known as "El Jardinero", met with Abidel Guzmán Araujo alias "El Gabacho" in Guadalajara in order to negotiate the alliance. As one of "El Mencho's" most trusted men, Flores Silva negotiated with "Los Chapitos" until they agreed to a deal.

As part of the alliance, "Los Chapitos" offered to guarantee the safety of one of the daughters of "El Mencho" while "Alfredillo" accepted to move to a ranch located in CJNG territory as part of the deal.

The gesture was interpreted as a sign of good faith which allowed the alliance to materialize into a more formal agreement. But as Chaparro reiterates, authorities are yet to see both criminal groups working together in Sinaloa.