Mexico City (Web Desk/ Agencies): A wave of violence that erupted between warring drug gangs in Mexico's northwestern state of Sinaloa, has claimed at least 192 lives.
The was stated on Wednesday by the State Public Security Council, a local civilian-led watchdog.
The council, which consist of of Sinaloan society members including academics, business representatives, and non-profits, stated that since the violence started on September 9, there have been reported around 200 killings and 226 disappearances.
Amidst the armed battle between the main factions of the Sinaloa Cartel, around 200 families have escaped the bloodshed, 180 companies have closed, and 2,000 jobs have been destroyed.
Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, a renowned drug lord and co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, was arrested on July 25. This led to a dramatic change in the power dynamics of the cartel, which was formed by Zambada and Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, who is currently serving a life sentence in a US jail.
As US officials detained 70-year-old Zambada in El Paso, Texas, El Chapo's sons and successors, known as The Chapitos, the second-largest force inside the cartel, launched a bloody power grab and started a vicious battle in their hometown of Sinaloa.
In response to the Chapitos and Zambada's supporters organizing their armed forces, Sinaloa Governor Ruben Rocha Moya declared last week that 590 National Guard personnel had entered the state to provide security.