Wed Dec 04 16:10:17 UTC 2024: ## Culiacán’s Cartel War Escalates Amid Fears of Trump’s Return

**Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico –** The city of Culiacán, heartland of the Sinaloa drug cartel, is gripped by escalating violence, fueled by a power struggle within the cartel and fears of a further deterioration under a potential second Trump administration. A recent surge in bloodshed, triggered by the arrest and extradition of cartel co-founder Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, has left at least 425 dead and over 500 disappeared across Sinaloa state since September.

A journalist who recently visited Culiacán describes a city paralyzed by fear. Shootouts are commonplace, businesses close early, and the streets are deserted at night. Even the normally bustling “narco-cemetery,” Jardines del Humaya, is eerily quiet. The pervasive fear is palpable, with residents meticulously tracking the locations of violence and casualties.

The violence stems from a conflict between Zambada’s followers and “Los Chapitos,” the sons of imprisoned cartel leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. Despite the horrific consequences, the US Ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, reportedly celebrated the situation, a sentiment sharply at odds with the reality on the ground.

The journalist notes the irony of a “D.A.R.E. to Resist Drugs and Violence” bumper sticker affixed to a vehicle near a shrine to Jesus Malverde, the unofficial patron saint of drug traffickers. The author points to the US’s role in fueling the violence, citing the ongoing “war on drugs” and its contribution to the staggering number of homicides in Mexico since 2006. The author also highlights the devastating impact of the US’s approach to migration, exemplified by the dangers faced by migrants traveling on “La Bestia,” the notorious “train of death.”

The presence of heavily armed Mexican military and National Guard offers little reassurance, given their own history of human rights abuses. The author observes a “mental health epidemic” amongst the population, a consequence of the constant exposure to violence and the widespread disappearances, which officially number nearly 112,000, though the true figure is believed to be much higher. Families of the missing have placed photographs and names of their loved ones on a “tree of hope” near the cathedral, a poignant symbol of the city’s suffering.

With the prospect of a Trump return to power – a figure who previously suggested using missiles against Mexico to combat drug cartels – concerns are mounting that the already dire situation in Culiacán could worsen dramatically. The city, already grappling with a pervasive culture of violence, faces an uncertain and potentially catastrophic future.

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