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Authorities in the Mexican state of Sinaloa reported on Sunday that at least 14 people were killed in a surge of violence that followed the arrest of drug trafficker Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada in the United States.
Most of the killings occurred in Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa state, according to the state attorney general’s office.
The prosecutor’s office announced on Sunday that they had launched 10 investigations into the homicides of the 14 individuals.
In recent months, clashes in Culiacan between rival criminal groups vying for control of territory have disrupted daily life and forced closures of businesses and schools.
Violence has escalated in the Pacific coast state since the arrest of Sinaloa cartel leader Zambada in late July, when he was extradited to the United States and taken into custody.
Mexico’s new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has sent hundreds of military personnel with armored vehicles and high-powered weapons to Sinaloa in an effort to quell the violence, but the conflicts persist.
Authorities revealed on Saturday that coolers containing human remains, including a head, were discovered in various parts of Sinaloa with symbols referencing the feuding gangs.
Last Tuesday, a shootout on the outskirts of Culiacan resulted in the deaths of 19 suspected gang members, with one local cartel leader being apprehended.
Between September 9 and October 18, at least 172 individuals were killed and over 200 others were reported missing, marking the period as one of heightened violence, according to authorities.
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