Culiacan, the capital city of Mexico’s Sinaloa state, has recently become a warzone due to escalating violence between two main factions of the Sinaloa drug cartel. In an effort to mitigate danger, an elementary school principal vigilantly checks messages before dawn, ready to alert parents if it seems safer to suspend classes. This has become the new routine in a city where an atmosphere of fear and disruption hangs over its million residents. The once vibrant city now lives in the shadow of cartel dominance, with loud noises spurring children into seeking cover and musicians relegated to performing at street corners for change.
Previously, the residents of Culiacan felt a peculiar sense of protection under the unified control of the cartel. However, the recent turmoil has left many calling for decisive action, some even grateful for international pressures such as those from U.S. President Donald Trump, challenging Mexico to take stronger actions against the cartels. This sentiment brings a glimmer of hope that the cartel’s grip could be loosened and the narrative of them as protectors rewritten.
The current wave of violence traces back to a power struggle ignited in September after the reportedly arrested Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and one of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s sons made headlines. What followed shattered a longstanding rule of not harming uninvolved civilians, sparking a conflict involving carjackings, kidnappings, and deadly shootouts. Over 900 deaths have resulted from the feud, tearing communities apart and often leaving families in distress over missing loved ones.
Communities find themselves trapped between rival factions labeled as “Chapos” and “Mayos.” Residents live in constant fear, some witnessing bodies discarded in the streets, others experiencing the agony of mysterious disappearances without explanation. Families find themselves crafting survival protocols: forbidding solo outings, tracking locations via cell phones, and anxiously scanning social media for signs of danger.
Recent strategic shifts in dealing with the violence have been attributed to the new political climate in Mexico, affected largely by U.S. sentiments and promises to clamp down on illicit drug activity crossing borders. With President Claudia Sheinbaum now at the helm, Mexico has launched more aggressive operations against the Sinaloa cartel. Federal oversight on security operations has increased significantly, culminating in multiple cartel arrests and daily military operations. These efforts have started to expose and break down cartel defenses, manifesting in large drug seizures and fractured operational structures.
Culiacan’s security landscape is also restructuring itself. Authorities dismantled cartel surveillance networks, doubling their countermeasures in recent operations. While the factions feel weakened, experts like veteran journalist Ismael Bojórquez warn that consistent pressure remains necessary to completely nullify cartel influence.
While some citizens cautiously express gratitude for these efforts, life remains fraught with the constant threat of violence. Families continue to mourn victims of stray bullets, remaining unsure of safety when leaving their homes. Overcoming this pervasive fear and rebuilding a community at peace proves an arduous journey.
Educational institutions, like Socrates Elementary, mirror this struggle. Principal Victor Manuel Aispuro works under the strain of ensuring students’ safety; the school occasionally lies almost deserted due to fears, with a significant number of families having evacuated the city entirely. Each day, he assesses whether it’s safe to hold classes in person.
Organizations dedicated to restoring community trust and strength conduct workshops, where children express their fears in writing. It’s a revealing process, capturing the terror felt by the youngest in the community—a profound fear that includes gun violence and the looming threat of extortion or death. Citizens are being called to reflect on their attitudes toward cartel violence and recognize an urgent need for change.
