Violence rages in Culiacan: It's the mopping up of what's left'

"Blood marks the days in Sinaloa, a useful description for almost any of the last 60 weeks in which the state, and particularly its capital, Culiacan, have lived at war. The battle between factions of the Sinaloa Cartel rages in waves, like last week's, which resulted in almost 50 murders, a situation that is difficult to interpret. Sometimes, shootouts and attacks occur in the upper part of Culiacan, and sometimes in the southern areas."

"It's the mopping up of what's left, says an agent from the security forces deployed in the capital, with years of experience in the area. When he says what's left, the agent is referring to one of the warring factions known as Los Chapitos, which bands together the still-at-large sons of the former Sinaloa Cartel drug lord, Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, and their followers, and which has been seriously decimated in recent months."

"Authorities also reported the death of one of the main operators of this faction, Ezequiel Rubio, alias Morral, who was allegedly killed in the clash. Morral and some of those arrested were allegedly part of the Los Chimales criminal network led by Jose Angel Canobbio, alias Guerito, one of the main scions of Los Chapitos and the protagonist of countless corridos and alleged criminal exploits."

Sinaloa has experienced prolonged, wave-like violence concentrated in Culiacan and spreading to municipalities such as Navolato, Guasave and Los Mochis. Shootouts and attacks have produced almost 50 murders in recent waves, affecting both northern and southern neighborhoods. Los Chapitos, the faction formed by El Chapo Guzman's sons and followers, has been seriously decimated by sustained operations. Security forces report arrests of multiple members, the killing of operator Ezequiel Rubio alias Morral, and the capture of figures linked to the Los Chimales network. Jose Angel Canobbio alias Guerito was arrested and later extradited to the United States along with other alleged traffickers.

Read at english.elpais.com