NarcoWatch - 30 January 2026
Over the past week, Mexican authorities executed several high-impact operations, capturing key leaders from the Sinaloa Cartel's La Chapiza and La Mayiza factions, as well as a regional commander for La Familia Michoacana [3, 4, 5]. Inter-cartel violence reached extreme levels, with the Cártel de Santa Rosa de Lima (CSRL) perpetrating a mass killing of alleged Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) members in Guanajuato, and a gruesome public execution in Culiacán signaled escalating infighting within Sinaloa Cartel factions [1, 2]. Meanwhile, the Mexican government's policy of extraditing high-level operatives to the U.S. is now facing legal challenges from cartel members' families, who allege violations of due process [6].
Significant Incidents and Articles of Interest
CSRL Massacre in Salamanca – Salamanca, Guanajuato: The Cártel de Santa Rosa de Lima (CSRL) is the primary suspect in a mass shooting at a soccer field in the Loma de Flores community on January 25, which left 11 people dead. Investigations revealed that at least five of the victims were employees of a private security company linked to the rival CJNG. Authorities identified CSRL sicario chief Moisés Soto Bermúdez and his superior, Mario Eleazar Lara Belman (“El Negro”), as the alleged coordinators of the attack, which is viewed as a direct retaliation in the ongoing territorial war for control of the Irapuato-Salamanca-Celaya corridor [2, 9].
Brutal Execution Signals Sinaloa Cartel Infighting – Culiacán, Sinaloa: On January 26, the body of Jesús Armando "VL" ("El Indio de La Tola"), a key operator for the "Los Calabazas" criminal group, was discovered in the Tres Ríos commercial sector. The victim's face had been flayed and placed inside a pumpkin—a macabre reference to his organization's name. Three narcomantas left at the scene directly threatened the group's leader, Alonso Antonio "LL" ("El Churras Calabazas"), and listed other members, suggesting a deep internal conflict within factions unofficially linked to Aureliano "El Guano" Guzmán and Los Chapitos [1].
Capture of "La Mayiza" Synthetic Drug Trafficker – Culiacán, Sinaloa: In a joint operation, the Mexican Navy (SEMAR) and the SSPC arrested Israel Vizcarra Beltran (“El Palillo”), a key operative for the "La Mayiza" faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, led by Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada. His brother and second-in-command, Alexis Arnoldo, was also apprehended. "El Palillo" is accused of running a large-scale synthetic drug production and distribution network with a logistical reach spanning Sinaloa, Sonora, Nuevo León, Hidalgo, Puebla, and the State of Mexico. Authorities seized approximately one kilogram of synthetic drugs, firearms, and communications equipment [4, 10].
Capture of "La Chapiza" Leader in Baja California Sur – Comondú, Baja California Sur: On January 27, federal and state forces captured Christian Iván (“El Cholo 40”), a leader for the "La Chapiza" faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. He was the state's top priority target and is blamed for a surge in violence that resulted in over 131 homicides in Comondú and Loreto during 2025. His arrest is the result of a long-term intelligence operation following a major shootout in August 2025 and is expected to significantly reduce violence in the region [5].
Capture of "Los Salazar" Cell Leader in Sonora – Sonora, Mexico: Mexican Navy commandos and state investigators apprehended Jesus Ivan Arce Verdugo ("El Chino"), a cell leader for Los Salazar, a group associated with the "Chapitos" faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. "El Chino" is the alleged mastermind of a December 2023 massacre at a 15th birthday party in Cajeme that killed eight people and wounded 26. He was also wanted for multiple homicides and attempted homicides committed between 2024 and 2025 [11].
Capture of La Familia Michoacana Plaza Boss – Amecameca, State of Mexico: A joint operation between prosecutors from Mexico City and the State of Mexico resulted in the capture of Juan ("El Seven"), identified as a violent plaza boss for La Familia Michoacana. His criminal operations spanned the State of Mexico, Mexico City, and Morelos. He was arrested on an outstanding warrant for attempted homicide and is considered a key generator of violence in central Mexico [3].
CJNG Operatives Arrested for Human and Drug Trafficking in U.S. – Columbus, Georgia: A multi-month federal investigation led to the arrests of Raul Reyes-Nepomuceno, 53, and Brandon Reyes-Escano, 23, on January 22. The two men, identified as having ties to CJNG, face charges of human trafficking for sexual servitude, methamphetamine trafficking, pimping, and keeping a place of prostitution. Searches of two residences uncovered meth, firearms, and evidence of a prostitution operation, including ledgers and numerous condoms [8].
Colombian Forces Strike Gulf Clan Leadership – Magdalena, Colombia: Colombian security forces killed five members of the Gulf Clan and captured two others in a joint operation. Among the deceased was Wilson Dario Ruiz Velez, alias "Moises," a regional leader responsible for the group's expansion in the Caribbean region. The operation occurred just before a planned meeting between Colombian President Gustavo Petro and U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss counter-narcotics efforts and follows the Trump administration's designation of the Gulf Clan as a foreign terrorist organization [7].
DTO Activity and Tactics
DTOs: Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), Cártel de Santa Rosa de Lima (CSRL), Sinaloa Cartel (La Mayiza, La Chapiza, Los Calabazas, Los Salazar factions), La Familia Michoacana, Gulf Clan.
New or Adapted Tactics:
Enhanced Firepower (CJNG): Recent images show CJNG sicarios equipped with backpack-fed ammunition systems for what appear to be FN M249 light machine guns. These systems, capable of holding approximately 1,000 rounds, represent a significant upgrade in sustained firepower for cartel ground forces [12].
Psychological Warfare (Sinaloa Faction): The public execution of "El Indio de La Tola" in Culiacán involved extreme mutilation and symbolic staging (placing the victim's flayed face in a pumpkin) designed to send a graphic and terrifying message to the rival "Los Calabazas" organization [1].
Human Trafficking Operations (CJNG): The arrest of two CJNG-affiliated operatives in Georgia for running a prostitution ring alongside a meth trafficking operation underscores the group's established presence in human trafficking for sexual servitude within the United States [8].
Geographic Trends:
Central Mexico Battlegrounds: The Irapuato-Salamanca-Celaya triangle in Guanajuato remains a fiercely contested zone between CSRL and CJNG, characterized by high-casualty attacks [2, 9]. La Familia Michoacana maintains a strong operational presence across the State of Mexico, Mexico City, and Morelos [3].
Sinaloa Cartel Strongholds: Culiacán continues to be an epicenter of intra-cartel conflict and a primary target for federal operations against both La Mayiza and Los Chapitos factions [1, 4]. La Chapiza is also driving high levels of violence in Comondú and Loreto, Baja California Sur [5].
National Logistics Network (La Mayiza): The cell run by the recently captured "El Palillo" demonstrates La Mayiza's sophisticated distribution network for synthetic drugs, connecting its production hub in Sinaloa to markets across Sonora, Nuevo León, Hidalgo, Puebla, and the State of Mexico [4, 10].
Targeting Trends:
Inter-Cartel Warfare: CSRL's attack in Guanajuato was a direct strike against individuals working for a security firm linked to CJNG, representing a deliberate targeting of a rival's operational and logistical personnel [2, 9].
Intra-Cartel Purges: The public execution and naming of "Los Calabazas" members on narcomantas in Culiacán is a clear example of one Sinaloa Cartel faction actively seeking to annihilate a smaller, rival internal group to consolidate power [1].
Extradition Policy: The Sheinbaum administration continues to use extradition as a tool against DTOs, having sent 92 alleged members of the Sinaloa, Beltran Leyva, Jalisco, Noreste, and Zetas cartels to the U.S. This policy itself is now being targeted through legal challenges by cartel family members [6].
Indicators to Watch
Increased public displays of extreme violence in Sinaloa, particularly Culiacán, as a potential sign of escalating conflict between "La Mayiza" and "La Chapiza" factions or their subgroups.
Potential for retaliatory attacks by CJNG in Guanajuato following the CSRL-led massacre in Salamanca.
The outcome of the criminal complaint against Mexico's Security Minister, which could set a precedent affecting the speed and legality of future extraditions to the U.S.
Power vacuums and succession struggles within the Sinaloa Cartel and La Familia Michoacana cells affected by the recent arrests of "El Palillo," "El Cholo 40," and "El Seven."
Broader adoption of high-capacity, military-grade weaponry like backpack-fed machine guns by cartels, potentially altering the dynamics of confrontations with security forces.
Monitoring of U.S.-based DTO activity for further evidence of diversification into crimes beyond drug trafficking, such as human trafficking and sexual servitude.
