Death Toll Keeps Rising in Sinaloa as Turf Wars Rage On and Spill Over to Other Mexican States

The turf war between factions of the Sinaloa Cartel has spilled over to other states in northern Mexico, including Sonora, Baja California, Chihuahua, and Durango.

The struggle between Los Chapitos, led by the sons of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, and the "Mayiza," loyal to arrested drug lord Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, has unsettled more communities across the region, leaving residents fearful of further confrontations and leading to a sharp rise in homicides and other criminal activities. About 70 people have died since September 9, when the war between the sides formally began.

Ciudad Obregón in southern Sonora has seen a sharp rise in violence, with residents reporting a heightened sense of fear. Journalists on the ground describe a tense atmosphere, with many unsure if these incidents are a precursor to larger-scale violence or isolated warnings from cartel groups.

Fears are mounting that the violence could escalate further, and authorities are attempting to respond; in Sonora, the detention of 20 alleged members of Los Chapitos' armed wing suggest a direct connection between the rising violence and cartel activities.

In Chihuahua, 11 bodies were recently found in the municipality of Ojinaga. Local officials have downplayed the possibility that the deaths are linked to the cartel war, but the rising number of homicides in the region indicates a broader pattern of unrest.

The federal government sent 600 additional troops to the area in an attempt to mitigate violence, but the general population is struggling to maintain daily life. In Culiacán, a recent military operation resulted in the death of a local lawyer, who was mistakenly identified as an armed suspect. The incident has further fueled public outrage, with residents expressing frustration over the growing instability.

Businesses in affected areas are closing early, schools remain shut, and many families, particularly in Culiacán, are living in fear. Residents report that they only leave their homes for essential activities, while car thefts and kidnappings continue to rise, further complicating the situation for local communities.

Local media and specialized journalists have also been reporting bodies being left on the streets as apparent messages to the opposing faction.

Five bodies were recently found near a water park on the outskirts of Culiacán. All were positioned against a wall, adorned with large sombreros on their heads and smaller ones on their bodies. A more recent incident describes bodies left in the street, half-naked and wearing hats.

Though the exact meaning is often unclear, specialized journalist Ioan Grillo explained, the sombreros could be a reference to the "Mayiza," a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel loyal to Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada. Other bodies have seen pizza slices or boxes attached to them, possibly referencing the Chapitos, who are nicknamed "Chapiza" (a play on the word pizza).