The Sights And Sounds Coming Out Of Mexico, As The Sinaloa Cartel Declares War On Culiacan Over The Arrest Of El Chapo's Son, Are Bonkers

El Pais - In the battle to capture the drug lord on Friday, January 6, more than 29 people died – including 10 soldiers – and 35 were wounded.

The town of Jesús María – with a population of barely 5,000 – went to sleep last Thursday night with total normality. But at around 4am, many neighbors jumped out of bed due to the loud noises that could be heard from outside. The Army and the National Guard had launched the operation to capture Guzmán. They had been planning this for six months.

In 2019, the authorities managed to capture the leader of Los Chapitos – a brutal faction of the Sinaloa Cartel – but were forced to release him after dozens of his henchmen threatened to massacre civilian residents of a military neighborhood. In the first days of 2023, extra precautions were taken to ensure that such a failure wouldn’t happen again.

In the battle to capture the drug lord on Friday, January 6, more than 29 people died – including 10 soldiers – and 35 were wounded.

The town of Jesús María – with a population of barely 5,000 – went to sleep last Thursday night with total normality. But at around 4am, many neighbors jumped out of bed due to the loud noises that could be heard from outside. The Army and the National Guard had launched the operation to capture Guzmán. They had been planning this for six months.

In 2019, the authorities managed to capture the leader of Los Chapitos – a brutal faction of the Sinaloa Cartel – but were forced to release him after dozens of his henchmen threatened to massacre civilian residents of a military neighborhood. In the first days of 2023, extra precautions were taken to ensure that such a failure wouldn’t happen again.

Ladies-man/crime afficianado Jeff Nadu glossed over this story last week, but since then, things have escalated to say the least.

We're talking an all-out war being perpetrated on a sovereign nation by a drug cartel. 

Complete with anti-aircraft artillery being fired at passenger jets (see the video at the top) for no reason other than terrorism.

Is this Ukraine? No, it's semi-urban Culiacanazo, Mexico.

We're talking rocket propel grenades being launched at government and civilian buildings for no reason other than terrorism. (See below)

We're talking about the cartel "kidnapping doctors and nurses from a local hospital to prevent the injured from obtaining medical attention."

They lined up pickup trucks with .50 cal turret guns mounted in the backs and opened fire on the prison that housed many of their fellow sinaloa cartel members (pieces of shit) for hours.

On Friday, they moved Ovidio from a prison to a government building and had to use so many decoys for fear of having envoys blown up, ambushed, or shot down out of the air it was ridiculous.

There's legit guerilla warfare going on in neighborhoods.

Look at some of the vehicles and equipment the cartel has. If I told you they were the national military you wouldn't doubt it would you?

Their 2022 highlight reel is really something.

They have armed children engaged in the battle.

They're setting up roadblocks and ambushes all over-

And they are making threatening demands to escalate the violence and destruction if the government doesn't comply with their demands to release El Chapo's son.

The fact this broke out last week, escalated as quickly as it did, and is as close to our border as it is should be kind of cause for concern, no?

After 10 hours of confrontation – when Guzmán had already been airlifted to Mexico City – the army blocked access to Jesús María as searches were conducted. No one was allowed to leave – all electricity, water and telecommunications were cut off. Residents lived under these conditions until Sunday, when the government finally sent a convoy to attend to them.

The Red Cross set up tents, distributing water, food, blankets and medical aid. Forensic teams began removing dead bodies from the streets. Soldiers also carefully collected unexploded grenades from the drug lord’s ranch and began moving the destroyed vehicles.

By Sunday afternoon, the Guzmán ranch was emptied out and under guard. Despite the silence, however, Jesús María was still relatively deserted. Nobody wanted to be caught outside at night.

This is a legit war zone. Equal parts sad and crazy.