Sinaloa Citizens Alarmed as Military Flew White Flag Over City Plagued by Drug Wars

OCTOBER 12, 2024 — Residents of Culiacán, Sinaloa were left unsettled on Friday when a Navy helicopter was spotted flying a white flag over the city, sparking widespread speculation. Enfoque Noticias reports that the sight of the flag, in a city recently plagued by drug-related violence, quickly led to rumors of a possible surrender, with a video of the fly-by going viral.

Culiacán, a key battleground in Mexico’s ongoing drug wars, has seen escalating violence since the arrest of notorious drug lord Ishmael “El Mayo” Zambada on July 25, according to adn40. Following his arrest, Zambada’s faction has been locked in a bloody conflict with the followers of rival drug lord Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar, known as “Los Chapitos” and the son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. The violence has resulted in 60 homicides in just the first ten days of October, as reported by infobae.

While some locals believed the white flag was a sign of surrender amid the ongoing conflict, the Secretariat of National Defense quickly dismissed these rumors. According to Vanguardia Veracruz, officials clarified that the flag had no significance related to the drug wars, explaining that it was part of a rehearsal for a ceremony set to take place on Saturday, October 12. The white flag was a temporary placeholder for the Mexican flag, which will be flown during the opening of the Mexican Pacific League at the Estadio Tomateros baseball stadium.

Image: Reforma

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