Cartel shootout leaves 18 dead in Mexico

At least 18 suspected gang members were killed in a shootout near the capital of Mexico’s Sinaloa state, with a local drug cartel leader arrested, the Mexican Defence Ministry announced on Tuesday.

The clash occurred on Monday about 11 kilometres from Culiacan, Sinaloa’s capital, when more than 30 armed men opened fire on soldiers, according to a ministry press release.

Some attackers fled after soldiers returned fire.

The arrested individual was identified as Edwin Antonio “N”, described as a local leader of a Sinaloa cartel faction loyal to notorious co-founder Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.

Authorities seized seven vehicles, nearly 30 weapons – including machine guns – ammunition, bulletproof vests and helmets.

Violence has escalated in the Pacific coastal state of Sinaloa since late July, when Zambada, 76, was arrested by U.S. authorities after being flown to El Paso, Texas.

The veteran crime boss accuses one of “El Chapo” Guzman’s sons of betraying him and facilitating his capture.

The conflict between Mayo loyalists and Chapo’s sons, known as “Chapitos”, has claimed at least 200 lives, with over 300 people missing, according to local authorities.

Since Mexico’s “war on drugs” began in late 2006 under then-President Felipe Calderon, more than 450,000 people have died and 100,000 have disappeared, according to official figures.