Sinaloa Cartel
Raid in El Álamo, Sinaloa kills 11 cartel suspects; Harfuch explains release of Mónica Zambada Niebla
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Federal forces raided properties linked to the Sinaloa Cartel's 'La Mayiza' cell in El Álamo, Sinaloa, on March 19, 2026, killing 11 presumed criminals, seizing weapons and vehicles, and arresting one suspect. Mónica Zambada Niebla, daughter of cartel leader 'El Mayo' Zambada, was briefly detained with a minor and released due to no judicial warrants in Mexico or the U.S., despite prior OFAC sanctions. Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch detailed the operation and release during President Claudia Sheinbaum's briefing on March 20.
During his Brooklyn trial, love letters from Joaquín Guzmán Loera, 'El Chapo', to partners in Mexican prisons were revealed. The texts express affection for Zulema Hernández and Lucero Sánchez, contrasting his criminal image. To Emma Coronel, they contained operational instructions.
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Jalisco authorities transferred Mario Lindoro Elenes and Mario Alfredo Lindoro Navidad, father-in-law and brother-in-law of Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar, from Puente Grande prison to a higher-security federal facility. The move involved 14 other high-profile inmates linked to organized crime. This action follows recent security incidents in state prisons.
Pedro Inzunza Noriega, alias 'El Señor de la Silla' or 'El Sagitario', was arrested on December 31, 2025, in Culiacán, Sinaloa, along with three others. The kingpin, second-in-command to Fausto Isidro Meza Flores's cell, 'El Chapo Isidro', faces U.S. charges for narcoterrorism and massive fentanyl trafficking. The arrest marks a major blow to the Sinaloa Cartel amid a December of several losses.
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In late December 2025, Iván Archivaldo Guzmán, leader of Los Chapitos, faced several blows: the murder of close collaborators and arrests of family members. These events include the killing of Oscar Medina 'El Panu' in Mexico City and the capture of his father-in-law and brother-in-law in Jalisco.
The US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on the Hysa family and their companies for laundering money for the Sinaloa Cartel. This joint action with Mexico and FinCEN aims to isolate illicit financial operations in casinos and restaurants. The group operates with the cartel's consent in key Mexican territories.