The Mexican Army and the National Guard seized almost three million bullets of various calibers, six 0.5 caliber rifles, more than 150 revolvers and automatic rifles, dozens of grenades and 12 bulletproof vests, among other drugs, magazines and tactical equipment. The insured was made available to the competent authorities.
By Parker Asmann
Mexico, March 9 (Insightcrime).- A historic confiscation of large caliber weapons and ammunitionrecently made by the Mexican authorities in a northern border state, exposes the true firepower of one faction of the Sinaloa cartel in their attempt to consolidate their control.
On March 1 and 2, the Mexican Army and the National Guard raided four houses in the municipality of Navojoasouth of the state of Sonoraon border between the United States and Mexico. Intelligence gathered by authorities indicated that the properties were actually safe houses for the storage of weapons and narcotics, according to a release Secretary of Defense official.
Inside, agents discovered an armory. The seized items included nearly three million bullets of various calibers, six 0.5 caliber rifles, more than 150 revolvers and automatic rifles, dozens of grenades and 12 bulletproof vests, among other drugs, magazines and tactical equipment.
Authorities reported that the drugs and weapons belonged to “Los Salazar”, a local group with operations in Sonora and connected to “Los Chapitos”, a separate faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, commanded by the sons of former prison capo Joaquín Guzmán Loera. , alias “El Chapo”.
#Release. The Mexican Army, the National Guard and the Attorney General’s Office carry out historic seizures of cartridges and chargers, in addition to four buildings, weapons, tactical equipment, drugs and vehicles in a joint operation.https://t.co/Ne9h35Ryha pic.twitter.com/aUXBJXBEoD
— @SEDENAmx (@SEDENAmx) March 4, 2022
The roots of “Los Salazar” date back to the 1990s, when Adán Salazar Zamorano, alias “Don Adán,” founded the group in Chihuahua. He went on to work for the Sinaloa Cartel in Sonora before his arrest in 2011, but the group maintains a strong presence there alongside “Los Chapitos,” especially in Navojoa, near the border with Sinaloa, south of the state.
INSIGHT CRIME ANALYSIS
The magnitude of the recent confiscation of weapons made by the Mexican security forces is a clear example of the power of “Los Salazar” and by extension of “Los Chapitos”, in their attempt to make it clear who has control of the Sinaloa Cartel in absence of “El Chapo”.
There is no doubt that the authorities confiscated more weapons in this single operation, than what was seized by the Mexican Army throughout 2021 in the entire state of Sonora, which amounted to just 122 weapons, mostly rifles, according to official data. compiled by the Stop US Arms to Mexico project, which seeks to reduce the illegal arms trafficking to the Latin American country.
Furthermore, it is very likely that “Los Salazar” did not have all their arsenal stored in those four houses, which indicates that the firepower of the factions that operate under the command of “Los Chapitos” is much greater. These weapons not only allow these groups to protect their criminal activities, but also strengthen their position in the midst of the current power struggle.
Currently there are several criminal groups responsible for the violence in Sonora, including the so-called Caborca Cartel, linked to the well-known drug trafficker Rafael Caro Quintero, as well as the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). But in the Sinaloa Cartel, the tensions between “Los Chapitos” and Ismael Zambada García, alias “El Mayo”, have led to regular displays of violence.
Just last month, a group of armed men apparently loyal to “Los Chapitos” spread terror in the municipality of Caborca, near the US-Mexico border. The hours-long attack left two dead and at least five hostages, according to local government representatives, several of whom were later found alive.
But while “Los Chapitos” continue their skirmishes in the states of Sonora —which registered a record for homicides in 2021— and Baja California, the US authorities have included them among their priority military objectives. Late last year, the State Department announced that, in addition to several federal drug charges, the North American government is offering up to $20 million for help leading to his capture.
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