A brutal wave of cartel violence in Mexico’s Sinaloa state has left 20 people dead, including four decapitated bodies hung from a bridge, as rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel battle for control of Culiacán.

Authorities reported that on Monday, four decapitated bodies were found hanging from a freeway bridge at the edge of Culiacán, with their heads placed in a plastic bag nearby. On the same road, officials discovered a van containing 16 more gunshot-ridden male corpses, one of them also decapitated. A message allegedly from one cartel group was left with the bodies, though its content was not disclosed.

The violence is part of a fierce conflict between Los Chapitos—linked to Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s sons—and a rival group known as La Mayiza. The war erupted in September 2024, reportedly triggered by a high-profile kidnapping involving El Chapo’s son and a rival leader handed over to U.S. authorities.

Fear and Chaos in the Streets

Once considered a controlled stronghold of the Sinaloa Cartel, Culiacán now witnesses daily gun battles, bodies on streets, and entire neighborhoods under de facto cartel rule. Businesses and schools shutter during flare-ups, and young men on motorcycles patrol avenues, masking their faces as intimidation escalates.

The killings have intensified fear across the city, which is often described by residents as being gripped by lawlessness.

Government Scrambles for Response

Feliciano Castro, spokesperson for the Sinaloa government, condemned the killings and said authorities were reviewing their approach to organized crime. “Military and police forces are working together to reestablish total peace in Sinaloa,” he said.

However, many locals believe the government has lost control entirely. Despite joint efforts between federal and local forces, violence continues to spiral, drawing comparisons to past cartel battles that paralyzed regions.

Cartel Succession Turns Violent

The latest bloodshed reflects the breakdown of internal cartel order after the detention of top leaders and the fracturing of command. The once-dominant Sinaloa Cartel is now riven by internal competition. Culiacán, a longtime seat of power for the cartel, has descended into chaos amid competing ambitions and retaliatory killings.

Separately, violence also flared in southeast Mexico, where a Catholic priest was critically wounded in Villahermosa, Tabasco, underscoring the nationwide nature of the criminal threat.