‘Don’t go near the mountains’: Cartel violence spreads to Mazatlán as the war in Sinaloa fragments
The city, Sinaloa’s main tourist destination, is in the grip of a wave of violence that left 14 homicides in the first week of August
Southern Sinaloa has become a dangerous region due to escalating cartel violence. A resident of the highlands of Concordia warned their relatives in Mazatlán about the dangers of the mountains, stating that the area is still experiencing fighting. Official reports indicate a surge in violent events, with 14 people confirmed murdered and eight injured in the first week of August alone.
The situation worsened after the death of Cristhian Guadalupe Pérez Pérez, known as "El Texas," in an unusual operation in Culiacán. Since his death, homicides have reportedly decreased in Culiacán, but violence has shifted southward, particularly in Mazatlán. Reports indicate that up to 32 violent events were recorded in Mazatlán in the first week of August, with 14 confirmed murders and eight injuries.
The violence has forced people to flee from towns like Tepuche, which had been under attack since February. In San Ignacio, a municipality farther south, armed men have been conducting drone attacks, arson, and other violent acts, causing several towns to become deserted ghost towns. Despite the presence of armed men, residents report a decrease in violence due to shifting allegiances among the criminal groups.
Written by urgent.news from El Pais English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
