Sinaloa cartel warfare drives surge in violence against women

Women and girls in the Mexican state of Sinaloa are increasingly becoming targets of violence amid an ongoing conflict between two factions of the Sinaloa Cartel. The instability has contributed to a surge in gender-based violence, with 105 women murdered in the state last year—the highest figure in 14 years—and 299 women reported missing.

The case of Cecilia Berrelleza, who disappeared in Mazatlán in July 2025, highlights the harrowing nature of the crisis. Her sister, Nadia Berrelleza, has spent months searching for clues, including analyzing digital evidence such as videos and images. Investigators noted that some images sent to the family, depicting a woman held at gunpoint, were generated by artificial intelligence.

The ongoing cartel warfare has blurred the lines between domestic violence, gender-based violence, and cartel reprisals. In Sinaloa, 73 of last year's murders were investigated as femicides.