Fears Of A Sinaloan Civil War Grow, CJNG Is Sanctioned, And The Juarez Quinceanera Murders (9/12/24)

Beyond The Horizon

The ongoing internal conflict within the Sinaloa Cartel in Culiacán is escalating into a highly volatile situation, driving fears that a full-scale civil war between the factions led by Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada and Los Chapitos (El Chapo's sons) may be imminent. The recent capture of key cartel leaders, including Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, has aggravated tensions between the two groups, sparking violence throughout Sinaloa.
This struggle for dominance, particularly over key regions within Culiacán, has led to several shootouts, blockades, and targeted attacks. Recent clashes have left multiple casualties, and military forces have been deployed to curb the violence. The factions are strategically positioning themselves, recruiting gunmen, and stockpiling weapons in anticipation of a larger conflict. The violence is being fueled by long-standing tensions over control of the cartel, with Los Chapitos seeking to solidify their position while El Mayo’s faction aims to maintain its influence.
There are increasing signs that both sides are preparing for an extended battle, with many fearing that the violence could spiral out of control, resulting in a full-blown civil war within the cartel. Local communities have been caught in the crossfire, with public services being disrupted, schools closing, and a general sense of fear spreading across the region​.
In our second segment..
The U.S. Department of the Treasury recently imposed sanctions on Ivan Cazarin Molina, also known as "El Tanque," a high-ranking member of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). El Tanque plays a critical role in CJNG's operations, particularly in fuel theft, one of the cartel's largest non-drug revenue sources. He is responsible for managing a vast network of fuel theft operations in Veracruz and Jalisco, where stolen fuel is sold through ostensibly legitimate gas stations and to third-party distributors. His fuel theft operations generate millions of dollars annually, strengthening CJNG's capacity to traffic deadly drugs like fentanyl into the United States.
The sanctions target El Tanque and several of his associates, blocking their assets in the U.S. and prohibiting U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with them. This move aims to disrupt CJNG's financial operations, which rely on various criminal activities, including drug trafficking, extortion, and money laundering. Alongside El Tanque, multiple fuel-related companies connected to his network were also sanctioned, further curbing CJNG's ability to profit from its illicit activities​.
In our third segment..
In Ciudad Juárez, a quinceañera celebration on September 8, 2024, turned into a tragic massacre when armed men stormed the event and opened fire, killing five young people, including three minors. The attack occurred in the Francisco I. Madero neighborhood, where at least 20 shell casings were found at the scene. Among the victims, four were male, and one was female. Two victims died on-site, while others succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and authorities are still investigating. The attack left the community shocked, with residents expressing fear and sadness over the increasing violence in the region. No suspects have been arrested yet, as the perpetrators fled before authorities arrived.
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source:
Sinaloa violence sparks fear of intra-cartel war in Mexico - Sight Magazine
source:
Man dubbed "The Tank" accused by U.S. of leading fuel theft ring for ruthless Mexico cartel - CBS News
source:
Mexico quinceañera teen murders investigation continues in Juárez (elpasotimes.com)