Kidnapping of son of El Chapo fuelled wave of violence in Sinaloa

One year after the kidnapping (and release) of the children of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, the repercussions of this event and the absence of El Chapo have left behind one thousand and 43 violent murders in the state of Sinaloa, Mexico.

Federal authorities established as a theory that the responsible behind the kidnapping was the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), in partnership with Alfredo “Mochomito” Beltrán Guzmán, nephew of El Chapo .

Mochomito – son of drug lord Alfredo “ Mochomo” Beltrán Leyva, sentenced to life imprisonment in the United States – was arrested in Zapopan, Jalisco, in December 2016 and is currently imprisoned in the Metropolitan State Prison of Guadalajara, Jalisco.

Six months after his arrest, Beltrán Guzmán was considered the responsible for the reign of terror that spread across the region.

With the transfer on January 19, 2017, of Joaquín Guzmán Loera – identified as one of the leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel – to the United States, the dispute for the control of this criminal organization between the members of the Cartel escalated.

During a visit to Sinaloa to assess the situation of violence, the Mexican Secretary of National Defense , Salvador Cienfuegos, said the lack of leadership in the Sinaloa Cartel has caused a violent struggle, reason why he assigned an additional military task force in the State, with backup from specially trained personnel.

Dámaso López Núñez, the main aspirant to the leadership of the Cartel, was arrested last May. His son, Dámaso López Serrano, godson of El Chapo , crossed the border on July 27 and surrendered before DEA authorities .

Genaro Robles Casillas, Secretary of Public Safety, said that, in his opinion, the intensity of violence has reduced. He said last July, there were 35 homicides less than those recorded one year ago.

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