The internal confrontation of the Sinaloa Cartel, between “Los Chapitos” and “La Mayiza”, has reached the state of Durango, where Ismael Zambada Sicairos, alias “El Mayito Flaco”, is allegedly hiding under the protection of the criminal cell Los Cabrera Sarabia.
On January 25, alleged members of “Los Chapitos” reportedly dropped some flyers from a small plane in several mountain towns in Durango, accusing officials, former officials, police commanders and businessmen of collaborating with “El Mayito Flaco”.
The pamphlets, distributed in municipalities in the mountain area, included photographs and names of at least 29 people, who are accused of serving the son of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Los Cabrera Sarabia, his operational arm in the “Golden Triangle” (Durango, Sinaloa and Chihuahua).
Among those named are:
Esteban Villegas, governor of Durango.
Sonia Yadira de la Garza, prosecutor of Durango.
Oscar Galvan, secretary of State Public Security.
Leonel Gardea “El 46”, commander of the State Police.
Ivan Fernandez Gonzalez, director of the Police.
Ernesto Sanchez Ortiz, director of Operations of the State Police of Durango.
Jose Tadeo Arrollo, director of Operations of Cisen.
Jorge Herrera Caldera, former governor.
Antonio Rosso Holguin, secretary and father-in-law of the current governor.
Marisol Rosso
Fernando Ruiz Medina, president of the Governing Board of the Congress of Durango.
Leonardo Lura Arias, contractor
General Isaac Bravo Lopez, commander of ZDP Gomez Palacio.
General Manuel Bravo Alonso, National Guard.
General Pedro Hernandez, commander of the Special Command of La Laguna.
Salvador Perez Esparza, advisor to the Congress of Durango.
José Ramón Enríquez, senator.
Gina Campuzano, senator.
Cynthia Mont, local deputy.
Víctor Hugo Hernández Moncada, director of State Communications.
Carlos Herrera Ale, businessman.
Toño Ochoa, mayor of Durango.
Marco Antonio Contreras, director of Municipal Security of Durango.
Lety Herrera Ale, mayor of Gómez Palacio.
Ernesto Herrera Reza, chemist and owner of Autoservicio Gómez Palacio.
César Ruiz
Miriam Arreola, deputy of Canatlán.
Noel Brandon Jiménez, president of Canatlán.
Armando Copián Duarte, administrative leader of C4ITM Durango.
The pamphlets accuse those involved of facilitating criminal activities such as drug trafficking, extortion and protecting organized crime leaders, specifically pointing to the brothers Alejandro Cabrera Sarabia (“El 02”), José Luis Cabrera Sarabia (“El 02 bis”) and Ramón Peña Pérez (“El 22”), who operate in support of “El Mayito Flaco.”
So far, the authorities have not commented on these flyers, which have circulated through social networks.
On the morning of Sunday, January 26, an image of the pamphlet appeared printed on narco-banners that were seen along with a message for the head of the Executive in three points of Mazatlán, Sinaloa; however, these were quickly removed.
The appearance of flyers is not an isolated event in this criminal war. Since October 2024, the distribution of pamphlets has been used as part of a strategy of propaganda and public denunciations.
On October 22, 2024, “La Mayiza” dropped flyers from a small plane in municipalities of Sinaloa such as Culiacán, Guasave and Mazatlán; in them, they accused members of the state government of serving as front men for “Los Chapitos” and asked the population to report abuses and acts of corruption.
Then, on January 9, 2025, similar flyers were distributed again in Sinaloa, but this time they included names of artists and content creators, such as Peso Pluma and Markitos Toys, who were accused of laundering money in favor of the sons of Joaquín Guzmán Loera.
According to journalist Anabel Hernández in her Narcosistema podcast, “El Mayito Flaco” moved to Durango after the escalation of the conflict with “Los Chapitos”, due to the risk of capture or attack in Sinaloa.
The Cabrera Sarabia brothers would have guaranteed his protection in the state, thus consolidating a strategic alliance to strengthen their position against their adversaries.
“He had to move drastically to the state of Durango, where he is surely under the protection of the Cabrera Sarabia brothers. (…) His stability was at risk,” Hernández said.
The mountainous region of Durango, due to its location and difficult access, is considered a key bastion for drug trafficking. There, criminal groups have established drug trafficking routes and operating points.
Source: infobae
