When the Sinaloa cartel leader Jorge Humberto Figueroa, alias “El Perris,” fell in a bloody clash with Mexican police, it marked a turning point in the violent power struggle among rival drug factions.
At a Glance
- El Perris was killed in a confrontation with Mexican army troops.
- The Sinaloa cartel is torn by deadly infighting, with around 1,200 deaths since September.
- The U.S. DEA put a $1 million bounty on Figueroa for drug trafficking and money laundering.
- The Chapitos, El Chapo’s sons, lead a faction using extreme methods against rivals.
The End of El Perris
Jorge Humberto Figueroa, known as “El Perris,” met his end in a ferocious confrontation with Mexican police forces. Considered a high-value target, Figueroa carried a $1 million bounty offered by the U.S. DEA for his significant role in fentanyl trafficking and money laundering. His death strikes a notable blow to the Sinaloa cartel, yet history shows that cutting off one head of the hydra tends to provoke chaos and infighting rather than stability.
El Perris’s allegiance lay with the Chapitos, the sons of infamous drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. This faction is notorious for using severe intimidation tactics, including feeding rivals to tigers, as documented by the U.S. Justice Department in 2023. The death of such a key player could further destabilize an already volatile union.
Turmoil Within the Cartel
The internal strife within the Sinaloa cartel has been relentless, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals since September. El Perris played a crucial role in many of these deadly encounters, including the infamous 2019 Culiacan clash to free Ovidio Guzman, El Chapo’s son. This upheaval forced the Mexican government to temporarily release Guzman to avert further bloodshed, showcasing the intricate and unstable power dynamics in play.
The Chapitos, caught in a power struggle with factions loyal to Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, face a precarious future. As authorities continue to press down, peace seems a distant prospect for Sinaloa. “El Perris” himself was identified as a central figure orchestrating violent actions against Mexican authorities, pointing to how entwined leadership and violence remain.
Wider Implications and Consequences
With Ovidio Guzman now serving life in a Colorado supermax prison following his extradition to the U.S., the vacuum left offers a dangerous opportunity for other ambitious figures to rise. It’s a vicious cycle: one leader down, yet another inevitably rises to take their place.
Despite the risks and chaos, Mexican authorities, under the strategies outlined by Secretary of State Omar Garcia Harfuch, continue their campaign for stability. Whether these efforts bring about lasting peace or simply reshape the current turmoil into new forms remains unknown. Each move against drug cartels reflects the broader struggle for order amidst a complicated web of criminal enterprises.
