Sinaloa Cartel's internal war fails to stop fentanyl shipments to U.S., report says

Despite ongoing internal warfare among factions of the Sinaloa Cartel, the flow of fentanyl to the United States remains undeterred, according to a new report from International Crisis Group (ICG). The violence plaguing the Mexican state of Sinaloa has persisted, claiming over 3,000 lives in the past two years, even with a substantial federal military presence.

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the violence in that Mexican state, with more than 3,000 deaths in two years, continues despite the federal government's military deployment

David Mora, lead researcher for the ICG report titled 'The Heirs' War in Sinaloa: Combating Crime in Mexico Under U.S. Pressure,' explained that the crisis has transformed rather than dissipated, shifting to more rural areas amid the government's military deployment. The conflict intensified following the 2024 capture of drug lord Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada in the U.S., which fractured the cartel between the 'Los Mayos' and 'Los Chapitos' factions amid accusations of betrayal.

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the crisis of violence has not dissipated, but rather has "transformed" and displaced to the most rural areas amid the strong military deployment of the Executive

After nearly two years of internal strife, the ICG investigation concludes that the Mexican state is "far" from achieving a "fundamental change" in the balance of power within organized crime. Mora noted that attacks have become more focused, with Los Mayos reportedly gaining ground against Los Chapitos. The victims are often young men and even minors, both disappeared and murdered.

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the Mexican state "is far" from achieving a "fundamental change" in the balance of forces of organized crime.

Despite the cartel's internal struggles, the demand and price for fentanyl in the U.S. remain "equal" and "relatively stable." This indicates the adaptability of criminal markets, suggesting other groups may be filling supply gaps. The report highlights that various Sinaloa Cartel factions still control significant territory, with some areas effectively governed by criminal groups rather than the state. Mora, who interviewed over 60 individuals for the analysis, pointed out that over 10,000 military personnel are deployed in the state, primarily in the capital, Culiacán, achieving large drug seizures but failing to significantly reduce the high levels of violence compared to previous periods.

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what we see now is that they are much more focused attacks, they are less random.