The War That Won’t End
The war for Sinaloa continues to deepen after ten months. New muscle—armed, armored, and sent in force—has arrived in Cosalá and San Ignacio. But this isn’t just another convoy rolling in. This is a strategic push for Mayito Flaco—according to a source familiar with the deployment, funded by last names that don’t whisper—they echo: Arzate and Cabrera.
A Mayiza-Backed Movement Takes Shape
It wasn’t meant for the public to know. This week, reinforcements landed in Sinaloa with intent. They did not arrive disguised. No, they came branded—with armor, weapons, numbers, and fresh legs. And they came sponsored. Arzates and Cabreras aren’t sending prayers. They’re sending battalions.
Cosalá received its load first—troops and vehicles distributed across 04s, 93s, and 94s (CTE Scorpions crews—armed wing of the Cabrera family). But the real focus was San Ignacio. Another cell split off and moved in. Their mission has been all too familiar: take the plaza from René 00 of Los Chapitos—Chapiza’s anchor in the zone.
Operators weren’t scattered. They were seeded—into San Juan, San Ignacio, Los Humayes—like landmines waiting to bloom. Terrain with memory. Terrain where men have tried, failed, and left pieces behind.
The Backing Behind the Push
These names mean more than payroll. They mean permanence. This is a quiet, coordinated movement—trusted operators (or those simply willing to participate) sent with purpose into terrain that matters.
It’s a direct challenge to René 00. And if you’re moving on 00, you better mean it.
Rosario Becomes the Second Front
Just when the dust started to settle, it kicked up again—this time in El Rosario. More fighters dispatched, this time with Gabito of Los Chapitos in their sights. Another plaza. Another front. A message that’s starting to sound like an echo. Not scattered chaos—synchronized escalation, or so they say.
From the outside, it looks like momentum. But inside, it might be something else entirely. If this feels all too familiar, that’s because it is.
Beneath the Surface
It appears to be a new offensive on paper. But look closer, and the cracks show.
Because how many times has San Ignacio been “next”? How many times has Cosalá been “cleared”? We keep hearing about reinforcements, about structure, about crews being deployed—but for what? Territory that never actually changed hands?
Two hundred men doesn’t mean two hundred believers. These groups have already operated in this same terrain under Mayiza’s banner. Switched out, replaced, rerouted. And if they’ve been here before, that begs the obvious question: why are they back?
You don’t send fresh fighters into familiar terrain unless something slipped.
And let’s talk Cosalá. For months, it’s been positioned as a launchpad. A safe zone. But the reality feels more like a revolving door. Reinforcements go in. So do supplies. But no one sticks. No one plants a flag. So either the plan keeps changing—or the plan isn’t working.
Then there’s the silence from Chapiza’s side. This has been their strategy as they fight Mayiza and the government. 00 hasn’t blinked. San Ignacio hasn’t collapsed. And if Mayiza had made real progress, someone would’ve filmed it by now—and not just a 30-second clip driving around.
What this feels like isn’t momentum. It’s rotation. Another cycle dressed up as strategy. Another body to zip up before the next wave rolls in.
The names backing this carry weight. But the terrain still answers to whoever bleeds last. And right now, that part’s undecided.
No End in Sight
San Ignacio was never meant to fall. But this isn’t the same war as last year. It’s no longer just Mayiza vs. Chapiza. Now it’s the full weight of Mayito Flaco, with help from the government, closing in on the center.
René 00 still holds the ground. Mayito Flaco still sends the bodies—keeps the morgues busy. And the line between victory and illusion keeps getting blurrier.
But one thing is certain: thousands are already dead, and a win for either side isn’t anywhere in sight.
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19 Comments
Another hit!
Welcome back Mica.
Thank you, it’s great to be back. Also, thanks to my Cartel Insider partner, Sol.
Keep reporting!! I live in Arizona. Who are the cartels that run our neighborhood? The governor, Katie Hobbs, alledegily, is on the Cartels payroll.. thoughts?
I can’t speak to specific neighborhoods, but yes—Arizona is a major corridor. Sinaloa has historically controlled the smuggling routes through Sonora into Arizona, especially via Nogales and San Luis Río Colorado. Right now, Los Chapitos and their allies hold the strongest grip.
Most U.S. distribution cells aren’t branded—you won’t see a flag. They’re subcontractors: moving product, washing money, and blending in. But if you know what to look for, the network is there.
In 2022, I looked into the claim that Katie Hobbs was on the cartel payroll—a narrative pushed hard by Kari Lake. There was no smoking gun. Just noise with no verified evidence.
I have sources in Sinaloa and Durango who specialize in arms trafficking, and they all say the same thing:
The guns come from Arizona.
Thanks for supporting Cartel Insider!
Mica Treviño
This is like the 12 month mayo porristas say they’re winning the war this month and the war is still undecided. Only thing we’ve seen is chapulines from the Chapiza begin to regret their decision and mayo factions pour men from all over their plazas just to stay contesting the war. Something they never thought was going to be needed.
Those are good points. While I was off the grid, a journalist asked me about the 00 arrest. This journalist had already written about how losing 00 impacts IAG. The reporter sent it to me before he learned it was all bullshit and took it down.
This proves your point about the constant propaganda that a side is winning. The bullshit produced is so thick that seasoned reporters take it on face value. In my opinion, Milenio is the worst.
Thanks for reading Cartel Insider.
Mica Treviño
Cosala I have a friend who breeds and sells exotic animals so you can imagine the types he meets.
They have been passing around a number to call to report someone suspicious with a reward. Since he owns a fair bit of land the Chapitos have taken over a corner of his property and he’s too scared to go check what they are doing there.
He’s scared he’s going to be kidnapped, killed or arrested. This war is taking over everyone’s lives. It’s a fucking mess
Thank you for this message.
I feel deeply for your friend—on multiple levels. First, the sheer lack of justice in Mexico. Who do you even call for help? I honestly don’t know what I’d do in his position.
I could probably find out who it is, but I don’t think that information would bring him any peace. And how certain is he that it’s Los Chapitos?
If his land is big enough, my personal advice would be to ignore it. Sometimes distance is the only protection we have.
He knows who it is. He’s dealt with double cero. It was his people that showed up and told him he needs to contribute as they were being invaded and he would be in danger if the ratas came in. They told him he’s not allowed to that side of his property
To be completely honest, I haven’t dealt with a case like this before—or spoken to someone in this exact situation. I’ve interviewed a few Americans who signed over their property in Vallarta, but this is different, and I find it genuinely fascinating.
A lot of times, I come across things that don’t make it into a story—but they still help me understand the bigger picture. This feels like one of those moments.
Maybe your friend will share all the details one day. Because there will come a time when everything shifts, and he’ll feel whole again.
If you—or your friend—ever feel like sharing more, even just off the record, I’d be very appreciative. My email is mica.cartelinsider@gmail.com.
I’m visiting him later this year so I’ll be able to see more for myself and will be willing to relay what I see. I will talk to him about getting in touch with you as I know he has a lot of stories going back to El Onenado and the whole Torres family plus many others.
He hates dealing with the Narcos but the amount they pay is the reason he deals with them as it gives him the money to live his dream. Even though stories like Nini, Oviedo and Ivan feeding people to their big cats weighs heavy on him
Narcos and their big cats. A few years ago, I made a trip to Jalisco hunting for El Sapo/090. I know, not the brightest idea—but that’s who I am.
Long story short: I bribed a zoo employee and walked away with the information.
Yes you’re right not the brightest idea but you seem to have a passion and drive that makes you take those risks. You’ve definitely got the journalistic skills that’s no doubt.
And you got the answers you wanted from the zoo.
If you ever head to Cosala you can go visit my friends cats.
He’s got everything you can possibly imagine even a friggin Bear. An absolute crazy amount of snakes and spiders
Yes you’re right not the brightest idea but you seem to have a passion and drive that makes you take those risks. You’ve definitely got the journalistic skills that’s no doubt.
And you got the answers you wanted from the zoo.
If you ever head to Cosala you can go visit my friends cats.
He’s got everything you can possibly imagine even a friggin Bear. An absolute crazy amount of snakes and spiders
Yes, I will take you up on that offer, when the time comes.
I have several projects lined up with a production company to film my interviews on camera in the capital. They were going to provide a cameraman who could also translate. But under the current circumstances, Iván Archivaldo Guzmán won’t extend an invitation.
As an American journalist traveling as their guest, my safety matters to them. The FBI, who reached out after learning about the trip, echoed that same concern.
But I don’t sit still while waiting. It stresses me out when my goals aren’t moving forward. So I set a sub-goal: to do these interviews on my own, without a translator or cameraman. If I can’t personally vouch for someone, it only complicates things—and I won’t risk that.
Not being fluent in Spanish has already cost me opportunities to be interviewed by Mexican media. That’s why I’m now working with a Spanish tutor three days a week.
Forgive the long explanation—but every now and then, I like to remind readers of the dedication and personal commitment behind Cartel Insider and the original content I bring to you in my style.
una tragedia lo del pueblo de sinaloa
What corrido is paying in the video that says “here you know what’s up”
Changuito Me Apodaron · Grupo Feroz
It’s a catchy song.
Might be the last attempt for the MF’s, important matters are being talked about this weekend in Culiacan and changes are about to start taking place