The Huertos del and Pedregal estate, located on the outskirts of Culiacán, has become the epicenter of the security and political crisis currently rocking Sinaloa. According to reports from eluniversal.com.mx, the property was the setting in July 2024 where Joaquín Guzmán López, a member of the 'Los Chapitos' faction, allegedly kidnapped cartel leader Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada to deliver him to the United States government.
According to a letter released by Zambada himself in August of that year, the cartel leader was summoned to the ranch by his godson for a meeting with acting Governor Rubén Rocha Moya and legislator Héctor Melesio Cuéllar Ojeda. The meeting was intended to mediate a political dispute over the control of the Autonomous University of Sinaloa (UAS).
The incident at the estate triggered a violent fracture between the 'Los Chapitos' and 'La Mayiza' factions of the Sinaloa Cartel. This split has plunged the state into a cycle of killings, clashes, and growing instability.
Insecurity and Federal Control in the Area
Currently, the Attorney General's Office (FGR) holds the property under investigation file FED/FEILC/FEILC-SIN/0000053/2024. An on-site report by eluniversal.com.mx confirmed that the area is being monitored by a National Guard camp, with approximately 50 officers deployed to prevent the warring factions from reclaiming control of the property.
The estate, which features luxury elements such as quarry stone, wrought-iron gates, and a tennis court, has been abandoned since the events of 2024. While the estate remains uninhabited, violence in Culiacán has intensified, with more than 30 murders recently recorded across the state.
The political landscape has also been destabilized by allegations from the U.S. Department of Justice against Rocha Moya and nine other Sinaloan politicians, including Senator Enrique Inzunza, regarding alleged links to drug trafficking.
Following these accusations, Rocha Moya requested a leave of absence from the governorship and has disappeared from the public eye under the protection of a federal security detail. Amidst this tension, violence in the Sinaloan capital has escalated, including explosive attacks on businesses and casinos, such as the recent attack on the Tropicana establishment.
In response to the crisis, citizens and business owners have organized protests, such as the 'Carnita Asada for Peace.' Chef and activist Miguel Tanimaya, a participant in the event, expressed his concern regarding the region's stability.
“We are happy because this cookout is a call to all citizens in Culiacán and Sinaloa. Harder times are coming because these changes—the departure of the government—weaken governance; that is what is happening,” Tanimaya stated in an interview with the Mexican news outlet.
