Table of Contents
- A City Living in Fear
- The Business That Fuels the Violence
A City Living in Fear
The capture and death of Mexico’s most wanted drug lord, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, was hailed as a major victory by the government of Mexico. President Claudia Sheinbaum praised special forces for bringing him down. But in the cartel stronghold of Culiacán, the aftermath has brought not peace, but more bloodshed.
Here, fear has become routine.
Paramedic Héctor Torres has witnessed the transformation firsthand. Once, he said, the city pulsed with nightlife. Now, silence descends before dark. His ambulance is frequently called to scenes where survival is rare bodies sprawled on sidewalks, inside garages, or beside bicycles.
The violence stems from fractures within the Sinaloa Cartel, once unified under powerful leaders like Ismael Zambada. His imprisonment in the United States left a vacuum that rival factions are now fighting to fill.
The consequences are devastating. Paramedics wear heavy body armor, knowing attackers could still be nearby. Soldiers man checkpoints across the city. Even hospitals and funerals are no longer safe.
Children have become victims. One teenage boy was shot dead while riding his bicycle, his body left in the street as police marked shell casings around him.
For families, the suffering does not end with death. Many simply disappear.
Reynalda Pulido has spent years searching for her missing son, digging through fields with other mothers. They probe the earth for hidden graves, driven by hope and grief. “A mother will always look,” she said. “No matter how far.
The Business That Fuels the Violence
At the center of this war is fentanyl a synthetic opioid that has become one of the world’s deadliest drugs.
In a hidden basement, a cartel producer known as Román packed kilogram bricks of white powder destined for American cities. Each package, stamped and sealed, could fetch nearly $30,000 in New York City.
The trade has become more efficient and more profitable. Instead of pills, traffickers now ship powder, easier to conceal and transport.
Despite pressure from both governments, production continues uninterrupted.
Even Donald Trump, who labeled cartels terrorist organizations, has failed to stem the flow. Traffickers insist demand guarantees supply.
“As long as people want it,” Román said, “it will continue.”
Meanwhile, ordinary citizens pay the price.
On one recent evening, Héctor and his partner responded to another shooting. Two men lay bleeding in the street innocent bystanders caught in crossfire. Against the odds, both survived.
It was the first time in months that Héctor had transported victims who were still alive.
He removed his gloves, soaked in blood, and lit a cigarette.
Around him, soldiers stood guard. Above, a helicopter circled.
And in Culiacán, the war went on.
Edited By : Aman Yadav