El Chapo Explained: Understanding His Role in Mexico's Latest Outbreak of Violence

Seven years after a Brooklyn jury sentenced Joaquín Guzmán, better known as El Chapo, to life imprisonment in a US supermax facility, the criminal empire he once led continues to shape daily life in parts of Mexico and not peacefully.

While Guzmán remains in solitary confinement in Colorado, violence linked to his legacy has intensified on the streets of Sinaloa. The power vacuum created by his extradition has fractured the criminal landscape, triggering a turf war that has placed growing pressure on the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum.

A legacy that did not end with conviction

Guzmán's story has long loomed large in Mexico's collective memory. Born in the rural hamlet of La Tuna, he rose from extreme poverty to command a vast drug-trafficking network that moved cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine across international markets, generating billions of dollars, as per CNN.

His conviction in 2019 was widely seen as a turning point a moment when one of the world's most notorious cartel leaders had finally been removed from power. Instead, security analysts say, it marked the beginning of a new and more volatile phase.

'The United States has the individual,' said a Mexico City-based security analyst who requested anonymity for safety reasons. 'But Mexico is still dealing with the structure he left behind. Removing the leader did not dismantle the organisation it accelerated internal conflict.'

A new phase of cartel violence

That conflict has increasingly involved the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), a rival group that has sought to exploit divisions within the Sinaloa Cartel. The group's expansion has been marked by extreme violence and public intimidation.

In recent weeks, clashes have intensified following targeted military operations ordered by the Sheinbaum administration. In response, cartel gunmen have staged so-called "narco-blockades", hijacking vehicles and setting them on fire to disrupt transport and paralyse cities, including Guadalajara. The tactic is widely viewed as a direct challenge to state authority.

The role of "Los Chapitos"

According to reports regarding El Chapo, much of the current instability is driven by a generational shift within the Sinaloa Cartel. Guzmán's sons collectively known as Los Chapitos have sought to retain control of their father's territory while facing opposition from both internal factions and external rivals.

Unlike previous cartel leadership, which often relied on bribery and quiet influence, this younger generation has been associated with more overt and confrontational violence. As a result, parts of western Mexico have increasingly resembled conflict zones rather than contested criminal markets.

For residents of Culiacán, the name El Chapo is no longer just associated with courtrooms in New York. It is reflected in daily disruptions, burned-out vehicles, and the presence of heavily armed security forces on city streets.