Army Special Forces Deployed to Sinaloa Amidst Homicide Surge

In response to a significant increase in violent crime, Mexico's Army has deployed 90 special forces soldiers to Sinaloa to reinforce security operations. The deployment aims to combat criminal groups and address the recent spike in homicides that has plagued the state over the last three days.

The elite troops arrived in the state capital, Culiacán, at the Ninth Military Air Zone and were subsequently moved to a barracks. There, they will receive instructions regarding ongoing operations in Culiacán and the municipality of Escuinapa. The Secretary of Public Security for the State, Sinhue Téllez López, announced the reinforcement, highlighting the alarming rise in intentional homicides.

Official figures from the State Attorney General's Office indicate a grim reality: on Thursday alone, ten violent murders were recorded across Culiacán and Escuinapa. Among the victims were three women, and reports also mentioned injured minors. This surge in violence underscores the escalating security challenges faced by the region.

In a separate but related development, federal and state forces apprehended Hilario Martínez Gómez, the former director of Municipal Police and Transit in Escuinapa, along with an individual identified as Misael “N” “El Güero Pin.” This operation reportedly led to the clearing of blocked highways. Authorities noted that Martínez Gómez had been dismissed from the police force eight months prior and had no prior record of involvement with criminal groups operating in southern Sinaloa.

The arrival of these special forces signifies a heightened effort by authorities to regain control and restore order in a state grappling with escalating cartel-related violence.