Mexico City, Mexico – Mexico City, a metropolis of over 9 million people, has emerged as an unexpected battleground for the Sinaloa Cartel (CDS), with several high-profile members being assassinated or targeted in recent months. Despite its extensive surveillance infrastructure, the capital has become a perilous sanctuary for cartel operatives fleeing an intensifying internal conflict.
The Capital as a Cartel Refuge
Since April 2025, journalist Anabel Hernández revealed in her podcast, ‘Narcosistema,’ that numerous Sinaloa Cartel members and their families relocated to Mexico City. This move was a direct response to the brutal internal war that erupted in Sinaloa between the factions of ‘Los Chapitos’ (sons of Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán) and ‘Los Mayos’ (loyal to Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada).
This internecine conflict began nearly two months after the kidnapping and subsequent release of Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, allegedly orchestrated by Joaquín Guzmán’s son. This betrayal fueled the rivalry, leading to over 2,000 deaths in Sinaloa since the war’s inception in September 2024. Consequently, Mexico City, known for its anonymity and urban sprawl, became a perceived safe haven for those caught in the crossfire.
Key Assassinations and Attacks in CDMX
‘El Panu,’ Los Chapitos’ Security Chief, Killed in Zona Rosa
Óscar Noé Medina González, widely known as ‘El Panu,’ the chief of security for ‘Los Chapitos,’ was assassinated on December 21, 2025, in a restaurant in Mexico City’s Zona Rosa, Cuauhtémoc borough. The attack occurred around 9:00 p.m. when an assailant, wearing a cap and face mask, entered the establishment and fired at least 12 shots at Medina González.
‘El Panu’ gained notoriety alongside Ovidio Guzmán López during the ‘Culiacanazo’ in October 2019, an event marked by narco-blockades, shootouts, and the release of prisoners from the Aguaruto prison by cartel sicarios to prevent Guzmán’s arrest. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had offered a $4 million reward for information leading to ‘El Panu’s’ capture, identifying him as the last security chief for ‘Los Chapitos.’
‘El Cabo 30,’ Alleged CDS Operator, Shot in Tlalpan
Rodolfo López Arellano, alias ‘El Cabo 30’ or ‘El Solecito,’ an alleged operator for the Sinaloa Cartel, was killed on April 2, 2025, in San Miguel Topilejo, Tlalpan borough. He sustained eight gunshot wounds after being intercepted by an armed group. Initially identified as an operator for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and part of the ‘Los Cabos’ faction, Semanario Zeta reported in September 2023 that he had switched allegiances.
According to journalist Antonio Nieto, ‘El Cabo 30’ commanded a group of hitmen and human traffickers engaged in a territorial battle in southern Tijuana against CJNG cells.
‘El 8,’ Alleged Caborca Cartel Leader, Assassinated in Polanco
On the night of September 12, 2024, an armed attack in Polanco Sección III, Miguel Hidalgo borough, resulted in the death of a man shot as he exited an armored vehicle. Journalist Antonio Nieto later identified the victim as Manuel Beltrán Quintero, alias ‘El 8,’ an alleged leader of the Caborca Cartel and nephew of Rafael Caro Quintero, ‘El Narco de Narcos,’ a founder of the criminal organization.
Beltrán Quintero had been arrested in 2014 by federal authorities for drug-related offenses. He was also the brother of Raúl Beltrán Quintero, alias ‘El 9’ or ‘El Wico,’ initially identified as a Sinaloa Cartel operator before joining the Caborca Cartel.
Ovidio Guzmán’s Failed Assassination Attempt
In October 2021, Ovidio Guzmán López, alias ‘El Ratón,’ sought refuge in Mexico City following the 2019 ‘Culiacanazo.’ Despite being a wanted man, ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán’s son moved freely in exclusive areas such as Roma, Condesa, Nápoles, and Santa Fe.
A Defense report, cited by journalist David Fuentes, indicated that a group of hitmen, allegedly hired by ‘El Mayo’ and Caro Quintero and led by the now-detained Pablo Edwin Huerta, alias ‘El Flaquito,’ tracked Guzmán. On October 28, they located him in a store near Parque Delta, intending to execute him. However, they aborted the mission due to the potential for civilian casualties.
Two days later, the hired assailants were apprehended by elements of the Secretariat of National Defense at a residence on Dakota Street in the Nápoles neighborhood, thwarting the assassination plot.
These incidents underscore the pervasive reach of cartel violence, even in the heart of Mexico’s capital, as internal power struggles continue to destabilize criminal organizations.
Source: https://www.infobae.com/mexico/2025/12/24/los-asesinatos-de-narcos-del-cartel-de-sinaloa-en-cdmx-la-ciudad-que-se-ha-convertido-en-su-guarida/
