The arrest of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, the former top leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, in July 2024 marked a breaking point for the Sinaloa Cartel. The arrest led to an all-out war between two of the cartel’s factions, Los Chapitos and El Mayo, leading to a spike in violence in the group’s stronghold in Sinaloa. Violence has also spread to territories controlled and disputed by the Sinaloa Cartel as other criminal groups seek to leverage the fracture for territorial expansion. The outbreak of clashes and attacks following the arrest contributed to 2024 recording some of the highest levels of violence linked to organized crime in Mexico over the last six years.
Webinar | How the Sinaloa Cartel rift is redrawing Mexico’s criminal map
May 14 @ 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Join ACLED on Wednesday, 14 May at 9:00 Mexico City | 17:00 Brussels for a live conversation examining how the fallout of the Sinaloa Cartel dispute has set off a broader realignment of criminal groups in Mexico and opened up opportunities for new conflicts in contested territories. In this discussion, moderated by ACLED Associate Analysis Manager Daniel Herrera Kelly, we will hear from the report’s authors, ACLED Senior Analyst for Latin America & the Caribbean Sandra Pellegrini and Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean Research Manager Maria Fernanda Arocha, as well as México Evalúa Director of Security Programs Armando Vargas. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions during a live Q&A. Register today to secure your spot.
Moderator
Daniel Herrera Kelly
Associate Analysis Manager, ACLED
Speakers
Sandra Pellegrini
Senior Analyst for Latin America & the Caribbean, ACLED
Armando Vargas
Director of Security Programs, México Evalúa
Maria Fernanda Arocha
Central America, and the Caribbean Research Manager, ACLED
