This week, soldiers from the Mexican Army killed 19 cartel gunmen and apprehended a local crime boss during a violent encounter in the troubled state of Sinaloa. The clash is part of an ongoing turf war between rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel, which has resulted in numerous murders and forced disappearances.
The shootout occurred approximately six miles east of Culiacán, as confirmed by the Army in a statement to reporters. A convoy of soldiers approached a house when they came under fire from over 30 armed men. The military responded, resulting in the deaths of 19 gunmen and the capture of their leader, although several assailants managed to flee the scene.
Among those arrested was Edwin Antonio “El Max” Rubio Lopez, identified as a cell leader within the Sinaloa Cartel. Authorities report that El Max serves as a lieutenant for the faction aligned with imprisoned kingpin Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. During the operation, the military seized an arsenal that included four mounted machine guns, 17 rifles, five handguns, a .50 caliber rifle, seven vehicles, and various body armor and helmets.
The turf war in Sinaloa continues between factions loyal to El Mayo and those aligned with Los Chapitos. The violence escalated following a betrayal on July 25, when Los Chapitos lured El Mayo to a meeting only to capture him and hand him over to U.S. authorities in El Paso, Texas. The ongoing conflict has led to hundreds of forced disappearances and murders in the region.
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