Mexican authorities capture two top Sinaloa Cartel operatives in Culiacán

Just hours aft the United States added the Sinaloa Cartel to its database of overseas violent organizations, Mexican authorities arrested 2 cardinal leaders of the transgression pack that has been warring a bloody factional warfare since September.

José Ángel Canobbio, aka “El Güerito,” and Kevin Alonso Gil Acosta, known arsenic “El 200,” were arrested successful the Sinaloa authorities superior of Culiacán aft extended operations carried retired by national authorities.

Kevin Alonso Gil Acosta, known arsenic “el 200,” was main of information for the person of the Chapitos faction. (Sedena)

Both men person been described arsenic high-ranking members of the cartel and cardinal associates of Iván Archivaldo Guzmán, the person of the “Los Chapitos” faction.

Gil Acosta was described by national authorities arsenic 1 of the apical information chiefs for Iván Archivaldo Guzmán, the alleged person of the Chapitos and lad of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. His apprehension was announced by the Mexican authorities connected Thursday.

His responsibilities reportedly included the execution of information measures wrong the faction, arsenic good arsenic high-profile tasks directed by Guzmán himself. Security Minister Omar García Harfuch said successful a societal media post that “El 200” besides coordinated the acquisition of weapons and ammunition for “Los Chapitos.”

“He is linked to homicides, extortions and attacks connected the authorities, arsenic good arsenic generating unit successful the state,” García Harfuch added.

En un operativo conjunto el Ejército Mexicano, Guardia Nacional, Fuerza Aérea @SEDENAmx , fue detenido en Culiacán, Sinaloa Kevin Alonso “N” (a) “200”.
El “200” epoch responsable de la seguridad del líder de esta organización transgression y coordinaba la compra de armas y municiones… pic.twitter.com/xv6JEGIltK

— Omar H Garcia Harfuch (@OHarfuch) February 20, 2025

Canobbio has been identified arsenic the cartel’s fiscal relation with adjacent connections to important cause trafficking operations. Allegations nexus Canobbio to respective convulsive incidents — including assaults connected subject installations — and necktie him to different organized transgression activities crossed the region.

In a abstracted societal media post, García Harfuch said Canobbio “was successful complaint of readying routes for the organisation of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine internationally” and that determination is an outstanding warrant for cause trafficking and organisation successful the United States.

His apprehension was announced by the Mexican authorities connected Wednesday.

Both suspects were recovered with military-grade weapons and tactical cogwheel astatine the clip of their arrest, according to authorities property releases.

Internecine warfare passes five-month mark

Infighting wrong the Sinaloa Cartel broke retired connected Sept. 9 aft rival cause lords Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Iván’s half-brother Joaquín Guzmán López were apprehended successful the United States aft flying determination successful a tiny level connected July 25.

The Associated Press described the violence, and the tactics, arsenic unprecedented, adjacent for residents of Culiacán who person “long been accustomed to a time oregon 2 of unit erstwhile successful a while.”

The apprehension of these alleged cartel leaders demonstrates the intensified instrumentality enforcement efforts against cause trafficking being conducted since President Claudia Sheinbaum took bureau connected Oct. 1.

Zambada (left) alleged that rival faction person Joaquín Guzmán López (right), kidnapped and turned him into United States instrumentality enforcement agents. (Archive)

The caller strategy appears to beryllium targeting the bid operation of the “Los Chapitos” faction of the cartel. The dual apprehension was effected utilizing tactics involving some crushed troops and aerial support. Authorities utilized helicopters and armored vehicles, portion targeting areas known for pack activity.

In anticipation of a cartel effect and owed to the moving weapon battles that took spot the past fewer days, section authorities announced that nationalist schools and universities successful the Culiacán country would beryllium holding virtual classes for the clip being.

Eight civilians were wounded by stray bullets successful the past fewer days, according to the paper El Universal.

These latest arrests travel soon aft 2 different main figures successful the Sinaloa Cartel were arrested.

Humberto Rivera, a person of cartel operations successful the Cd. Juárez area, was arrested past week successful the bluish authorities of Chihuahua. The 51-year-old Rivera — a precedence people of the FBI — was flown connected Sunday to Mexico City wherever helium present awaits extradition proceedings, according to the El Paso Times newspaper.

On Monday, officials successful the Dominican Republic, with enactment from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Marshals, arrested Efraín Sánchez Cabanillas, alias “Bala.” Sánchez is wanted successful the U.S. for conspiring to administer fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamines.

The Sinaloa Cartel besides suffered further disruptions past week. García Harfuch reported connected Feb. 14 that naval quality activities helped national authorities find and neutralize respective clandestine labs utilized to manufacture synthetic drugs successful Sinaloa.

With reports from El Universal, Milenio, El País, Latin Times, BBC and El Paso Times