Mexican Authorities Investigate Reports Plane Throwing Out Explosives in Northern Sinaloa

Residents of Sinaloa have been witnesses of the ongoing turf wars involving the two most prominent cliques within the Sinaloa Cartel— Los Chapitos and La Mayiza.

More than 400 homicides, kidnappings, extortions have been reported since early September, with constant shootouts being the norm. But according to recent reports, authorities might have a new case in their hands as an alleged small plane throwing out explosives was seen by residents in the municipality of El Rosario, a mountainous region in northern Sinaloa.

According to testimonies from witnesses, a small plane was seen on Nov. 30 throwing out multiple explosives around the communities of Sinaloa's Rosario mountain range. The news outlet Riodoce reported that the sightings took place in the communities of Maloya and Charco Hondo.

The attacks involving C4 explosives allegedly took place around 11 a.m. and investigations from military personnel say no injuries or fatalities were caused by the explosives. Although the situation did not escalate, the outlet says these are not isolated cases, as more sightings took place a day prior in the Charco Hondo community.

Residents of La Rastra and Palamarito also said to have heard shootings in nearby hills as well as seeing a small plane circling the area.

But according to officials, there might be a discrepancy between what residents allegedly saw and what investigators found. Sinaloa's minister of public safety Gerardo Mérida Sánchez said that such attacks cannot be confirmed and added that no evidence of explosives was found by military personnel.

Although no proof was found, Mérida Sánchez said that law enforcement continues to patrol the area where the small plane was sighted.

Cartel's use of small planes

Throughout the years, cartels have incorporated high-tech devices to give them the upper hand against rival gangs or against the federal government. Drones, satellites and the use of small aircrafts have been appropriated by criminal groups and used as weapons to conduct their illicit activities.

In recent months, cartels have increased their use of planes to conduct attacks against rival cliques and military personnel.

On Nov. 8, a video that went viral on social media showed the exact moment in which a small plane was cornered by local and federal agents. Similarly, Mexico's armed forces deployed to the state of Durango seized two small plans that conducted aerial attacks in the communities of Tamazula and Vascogil.

According to different reports, the Sinaloa Cartel faction loyal to Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada counts with a strong influence in the municipality of Tamazula, which has prompted Durango's Gov. Esteban Villegas Villareal to request the federal government for more aerial support to combat such attacks due to Durango's lack of aircrafts to combat the cartel's threat in the sky.

At least 80 homicides reported in Sinaloa in November

According to the state's ministry of public safety, at least 80 homicides were reported in November. Cases of forced kidnappings were also on the rise, with state authorities reporting that at least 375 people continue to be missing although advocacy groups say that number is closer to 500 since turf wars erupted on Sept. 9 following Zambada's arrest.