Day 714: International Crisis Group Report — Sinaloa Cartel Now Fragmented Into Four Factions, 20+ Active Cells

The International Crisis Group published "La guerra de los herederos en Sinaloa" on July 7, 2026, assessing that the Sinaloa Cartel has fragmented into four distinct factions with more than 20 active subordinate cells nearly two years after El Mayo Zambada's July 25, 2024 capture. The report identifies: (1) La Mayiza, loyal to the Zambada family and led by Ismael "Mayito Flaco" Zambada Sicairos, controlling central Sinaloa including Culiacán, Navolato, Mocorito, Villa Juárez and Concordia-adjacent zones and described as the relative territorial winner; (2) Los Chapitos, led by Iván Archivaldo and Jesús Alfredo Guzmán Salazar, concentrated in southern Sinaloa (Concordia, Rosario, Escuinapa, part of Mazatlán) and described as retreating but still present; (3) a faction led by Fausto Isidro "El Chapo Isidro" Meza Flores, controlling northern municipalities (Guasave, Sinaloa de Leyva, Ahome, El Fuerte) with a fentanyl-production focus and comparatively lower homicide rates; and (4) a faction led by Aureliano "El Guano" Guzmán Loera, El Chapo's brother, without clearly defined territory and relying on shifting alliances. The report names 20+ subordinate cells including Los Ninis, Los Canobbio, the Martínez Larios network, Ranas/40/Amigos, El Duende, Los Mata Salas, Artistas Asesinos and Los Rugrats, and notes Sinaloa accounted for over half of Mexico's federal fentanyl lab seizures from 2021–2024.