An operation of Interinstitutional Security Group allowed the lrelease of 20 people allegedly deprived of liberty in a property located in the sector Campo El Diez, south of Culiacán, Sinaloaan area marked by violence derived from the internal struggle of the Sinaloa Cartel.
The actions were led by elements of the Mexican Army, in coordination with the National Guard, the Secretary of the Navy, the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, the Attorney General’s Office, the State Attorney General’s Office and the State Preventive Police.
Property discovery and rescue
According to the authorities’ report, military personnel were carrying out ground reconnaissance when they detected an address allegedly used to hold several people. During the operation they found:
- 20 people released (17 men and 3 women, all of legal age).
- Weapons and tactical equipment, including an AR-15 type rifle, a slingshot rifle, eight magazines and 90 5.56 x 45 mm caliber cartridges.
- A 12-antenna signal jammer.
- Two tactical vests with ballistic plates, 18 cell phones and various doses of marijuana.
- Additional illicit material, such as 12 tire punctures and $23 in cash.
- A Hyundai Tucson vehicle reported stolen.
According to state authorities, the operation concluded without arrests.
The seized objects were placed at the disposal of the state Public Ministry, while the rescued people were checked to confirm their health status and channeled to the corresponding authorities.
Rescue in the middle of an internal war
The release occurs at a critical moment for Sinaloa, which since September 2024 has accumulated more than 1,700 murders in the context of the confrontation between two factions of the Sinaloa Cartel.
The violence escalated after the capture and delivery to the United States of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, historical leader of the organization, allegedly betrayed by a son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
The internal dispute has led to clashes, displacements and an uptick in kidnappings and uprisings in the region. Washington has repeatedly identified this criminal organization as one of the central actors in the transfer of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid responsible for thousands of overdose deaths in the United States.
The Federal Government and the Government of Sinaloa reiterated that these operations are part of their strategy to safeguard the security of the population. The authorities urged citizens to report emergencies to 911 and make anonymous complaints to 089, especially in areas where criminal presence continues to affect community life.
With information from AFP
