# Sinaloa Cartel internal power struggle

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/sinaloa-cartel-internal-power-struggle
> Updated: 2026-08-06T21:31:02.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

In July 2026, the Sinaloa Cartel began recruiting young people from Mexican rehabilitation centers, a move seen as an effort to replenish its ranks amid an ongoing leadership contest.

By early August 2026, the internal conflict between the Los Chapitos faction (the sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán) and the rival group led by Ismael Zambada Sicairos (La Mayiza) had spilled into the public sphere. The cartel distributed flyers over Culiacán naming local social‑media influencers, musicians and public figures as alleged front men or money‑launderers for Los Chapitos. Several of those named were murdered, and others fled or curtailed their online activity. The episode illustrates how the cartel is employing both recruitment of vulnerable youth and intimidation of high‑profile civilians to assert dominance in its internal war.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-06: Sinaloa Cartel Targets Social Media Influencers Amid Internal War

Sinaloa Cartel factions Los Chapitos and La Mayiza have targeted local influencers with flyers, leading to murders and forcing creators to hide or leave Culiacán.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sinaloa-cartel-targets-social-media-influencers-amid-internal-war

### 2026-07-10: Sinaloa Cartel Recruiting Youth in Mexican Rehabilitation Centers

The International Crisis Group reports the Sinaloa cartel is recruiting adolescents in Mexican rehab centers, making them 40% of homicide victims and half of missing persons, amid weak regulation and social aid

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sinaloa-cartel-recruiting-youth-in-mexican-rehabilitation-centers

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Cite as: Sinaloa Cartel internal power struggle. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/sinaloa-cartel-internal-power-struggle