20 Killed in Sinaloa Cartel Violence Surge; Decapitated Bodies Found Hanging in Culiacán

Last Updated Jul - 01 - 2025, 04:52 PM | Source : Fela News

A brutal wave of cartel violence in Mexico's Sinaloa state left 20 dead, including four decapitated bodies hanging from a bridge in Culiacán. Authorities vow to

20 Killed in Sinaloa Cartel Violence Surge

Four decapitated bodies were discovered hanging from a bridge in Culiacán, the capital of Mexico’s western Sinaloa state, on Monday, marking a dramatic escalation in cartel violence that claimed 20 lives in less than 24 hours, according to authorities. The killings are tied to an ongoing internal conflict within the Sinaloa Cartel, where two rival factions—Los Chapitos and La Mayiza—are fighting for dominance.

Culiacán has become a hotspot for brutal violence, with bodies often found in public areas, homes riddled with bullets, businesses shutting down, and schools frequently closed during violent flare-ups. Masked men on motorcycles are a regular sight as they patrol major streets, asserting cartel control.

On Monday, state prosecutors reported that four headless bodies were hanging from a freeway bridge on the outskirts of the city, with their heads found in a nearby plastic bag. Just down the same road, authorities found a van carrying 16 more men who had been fatally shot—one also decapitated. A note believed to be from one of the cartel groups was left with the bodies, but officials did not disclose its contents.

Sinaloa government spokesperson Feliciano Castro denounced the killings, saying the situation demands a reassessment of the state’s current approach to fighting organized crime. “Military and police forces are coordinating efforts to restore full peace in Sinaloa,” he said. However, many residents believe the authorities have lost control.

The surge in violence began in September of last year, following the dramatic abduction of a cartel leader by a son of infamous drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. The kidnapped leader was reportedly handed over to U.S. officials via private jet, igniting a bloody turf war between rival groups. The conflict has since turned everyday life in Culiacán into a battlefield, disrupting what was once a relatively stable cartel stronghold.

In a separate incident on Monday in southeastern Mexico, a Catholic priest was shot outside his home in Villahermosa, Tabasco. The Tabasco Diocese reported that Rev. Héctor Alejandro Pérez was en route to visit a sick person when he was attacked. He sustained severe internal injuries and heavy blood loss, and his condition remains critical.