Culiacan, Mexico, the capital of Sinaloa state, is once again facing a brutal resurgence of cartel violence, echoing the grim events of 2019. Residents are living under a cloud of fear as organized crime groups assert their power, leaving a chilling mark on the city. This is not the first time Culiacan has been caught in the crossfire of Mexico’s drug war, but the current wave of violence is described by locals as having an unprecedented impact, raising serious concerns about safety and security in Culiacan Mexico.
The echoes of the 2019 “Battle of Culiacan” still resonate, a stark reminder of the cartels’ capacity to paralyze the city. That year, the capture of El Chapo’s son, Ovidio Guzmán, triggered a massive and forceful response from cartel gunmen, transforming Culiacan into a temporary warzone. Now, years later, the city is grappling with a new surge of violence that feels even more profound.
Oscar Loza Ochoa, a respected human rights advocate from the Commission for the Defense of Human Rights of Sinaloa, highlights the deep emotional and psychological toll this crisis is taking on the population. Speaking about the pervasive insecurity caused by organized crime, he stated, “It’s damaging us on an emotional and psychological level. This is leaving an indelible mark on us.” His words underscore the lasting trauma inflicted upon the people of Culiacan as they navigate daily life under the shadow of cartel dominance.
September marked a turning point as Culiacan began to witness increasingly brazen displays of cartel power, further eroding the sense of state control. A state police officer was kidnapped, heavily armed convoys openly patrolled the streets, and cartel factions erected blockades on major highways. These events served as chilling daily reminders of the cartels’ unchecked influence within Sinaloa. As the number of bodies discovered and disappearances increased, the city’s infrastructure began to buckle under the strain. Schools closed their doors, and hotel reservations were canceled, reflecting a city in retreat, gripped by fear.
By the end of September, the violence had metastasized beyond Culiacan, spreading south to Mazatlan, a coastal city previously considered relatively safer. In a disturbing incident in Mazatlan, an armed group stormed a local hospital, demanding immediate medical attention for their wounded. Their menacing message to hospital staff – “If they die, you die” – vividly illustrated the cartels’ ruthless impunity and their disregard for human life and established institutions.
The outskirts of Culiacan became grim dumping grounds for bodies. One particularly disturbing incident involved the discovery of five corpses in an abandoned white van, accompanied by a spray-painted message: “Welcome to Culiacán.” This chilling message, intended to intimidate and terrorize, became a macabre symbol of the city’s descent into violence and a stark warning to anyone entering or residing in Culiacan Mexico.
Battles between rival cartel factions and confrontations with the Mexican army further intensified the chaos. One such clash erupted in Culiacan’s bustling commercial district, forcing the evacuation of a shopping mall as gunfire echoed through the area. These public displays of violence, in the heart of the city’s economic activity, underscored the pervasive nature of the conflict and the sense of vulnerability felt by ordinary citizens in Culiacan Mexico.
In a desperate plea for peace, approximately 1,000 citizens marched through Culiacan at the end of September, their voices united in demanding an end to the bloodshed. However, their calls for peace seemed to go unanswered as the violence showed no signs of diminishing. Fear of explosives, armed drones, and car bombs has become deeply embedded in the daily conversations of Culiacan residents. Anonymous WhatsApp channels have emerged as a primary source of information, but also a breeding ground for disinformation, further fueling anxiety and uncertainty.
Despite the overwhelming challenge, authorities reported arresting over 180 individuals and seizing hundreds of weapons and vehicles, including some fortified with homemade armor, by early October. The sheer volume of seized materials highlighted the scale of the cartel presence and their sophisticated operations within Culiacan. Furthermore, the theft of over a thousand vehicles in just three months underscored a critical aspect of cartel operations, as stolen cars are frequently utilized for criminal activities throughout Culiacan and the wider region.
The Mexican government has maintained a significant military presence in the state, with thousands of troops deployed. In a move that underscored the disruption to normal life, the army converted a primary school in Culiacan into a military barracks in late November. The sound of gunfire in Culiacan has become so commonplace that schools in affected areas frequently suspend in-person classes and revert to virtual learning, a practice reminiscent of the COVID-19 pandemic era, highlighting the normalization of violence in daily life.
Amidst the pervasive violence, a growing wave of anger and desperation has risen among the families of those who have disappeared since the surge began. At the end of November, a group of women, united by the agonizing uncertainty of missing loved ones, staged a protest in front of the Sinaloa Government Palace. “Find the guilty alive and punish them, now!” they chanted, their voices echoing the collective demand for justice and accountability.
These women directly confronted Sinaloa’s governor, Rubén Rocha Moya, accusing him of refusing to engage in dialogue and ignoring their pleas for help. Carolina Verástica, a protester holding a poster of her missing father, a police officer, poignantly conveyed the personal tragedy underpinning the broader crisis. She explained that her family had lost contact with him the previous day, November 26, after he contacted his aunt to say he was heading home from his shift. Her story is just one of many, illustrating the human cost of the relentless violence gripping Culiacan Mexico and the urgent need for lasting solutions.
