The Mexican Ministry of National Defense (Sedena) deployed an additional 1,000 Mexican Army troops to Sinaloa on Tuesday to reinforce security operations in the state, as part of the National Public Security Strategy and amidst persistent violence associated with disputes between organized crime groups.
According to a statement released by Sedena, the troops will be tasked with conducting patrols, ground reconnaissance, and deterrent actions in priority areas, adhering to the National Law on the Use of Force and respecting human rights.
This deployment is in addition to those carried out by the federal government since the capture of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada in July 2024.
Following the drug lord’s arrest, Sedena initially mobilized 400 soldiers to Culiacán to contain the first clashes. Subsequently, in August and September of 2024, two additional contingents of 600 soldiers each were deployed in response to the escalating violence.
Throughout 2025, the military presence in the state continued to be reinforced. At the beginning of August, approximately 1,500 more troops were added, and by the middle of that year, official and media estimates placed the cumulative number of military personnel deployed in Sinaloa at over 10,000.
More recently, on January 29, 2026, the Ministry of National Defense (Sedena) reported the deployment of another 1,600 Army personnel, including 90 members of Special Forces, who were distributed between Culiacán and Mazatlán to carry out prevention, patrol, and deterrence operations.
Data from the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System showed that between January and May, intentional homicides decreased by 20.4%, dropping from 559 investigations in 2025 to 445 in the same period this year.
Likewise, total theft fell by 21.8%, while vehicle theft saw a 69.3% reduction, with 893 reports compared to 2,910 the previous year.
However, kidnapping showed the opposite trend. Six cases were recorded, compared to two in the same period of 2025.
Source: eleconomista
