The current violence may have broken deep social roots the Cartel once had in Sinaloa. “The boss who in the past covered funeral expenses, defense attorneys, who helped widows putting food on the table”, I was told, “that figure is gone.”

Where things stand now: Los Mayos seem to have the upper hand. Chapitos lost control of key areas in Culiacán and central Sinaloa. Their alliance with CJNG? Sources told me it's weak—more like a temporary, fragile arrangement. CJNG’s forces sent to Sinaloa? Likely already dead.

Despite more counternarcotics ops, investigating actual drug production and trafficking is rare. In fact, the last 12 months saw the fewest drug manufacturing cases brought to courts in Sinaloa in the past five years.

Arrests and seizures spiked but crime prosecution remains weak. Of 1,615 detentions, ~44 were mid- and high-level operatives. The rest, foot soldiers charged with carrying guns (1,551) or drugs (193). A defense attorney recalled packed courtrooms, back-to-back hearings, and young men on line.

Sheinbaum’s has been military-first. Over 14k troops deployed. Sinaloa now has one soldier per 228 residents. The national average is 1 per 707. Convoys of military vehicles are a regular sight. They’ve helped stop open clashes and blockades—but targeted killings and mass executions haven’t ceased.

This is a war on Sinaloa’s youth. At least 55 minors and 439 young adults (under 28) have been killed. That age group now has the highest murder rate: 74.6 per 100k. Disappearances are affecting young people the most too.

Violence has displaced at least 3k people across the state, from farmers whose crops were torched to families with young kids trying to avoid having their children entangled with either faction.

Many victims are found dismembered—missing limbs, heads. “We didn’t have this level of cruelty in the past,” a nota roja journo said. Mass killings have spiked too. Non-lethal crime is up. Carjackings, extortion, illegal gambling. Both factions—especially Chapitos—are going deep into these rackets.

Sinaloa is going through its deadliest era in recent history. From Aug 2024 to July 2025, there were 1,763 official homicides and 1,931 people disappeared. A forensic worker told me these numbers might be an undercount. An additional 111 suspects were killed by federal forces