Quila, Sinaloa—On January 18, 2025, Mexican federal forces arrested Juan Carlos Félix Gastélum, better known as “El Chavo Félix,” in Quila, Sinaloa. A second-generation narco, Chavo Félix grew up in the shadow of the Sinaloa Cartel, following in the footsteps of his father, Juan Francisco Félix Ojeda, alias “Panchón Félix.” As the son-in-law of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, his capture is a devastating blow to the Mayiza faction. More than just a relative, Chavo Félix was a key operator, commanding smuggling routes and defending critical territories against the rival Chapiza faction. His arrest marks not only a tactical loss but also a symbolic strike at a dynasty on the brink of collapse.
The arrest of Juan Carlos “El Chavo” Félix Gastélum is more than just another victory for law enforcement; it’s a catastrophic blow to the Mayiza faction’s grip on power. Chavo wasn’t just a trusted operator—he was a symbol of Mayo Zambada’s enduring legacy. His removal from the battlefield exposes the faction’s growing fragility as it faces unrelenting pressure from the Chapiza. With whispers of betrayal from within Mayo’s inner circle and an increasingly visible lack of unity, Chavo’s arrest may be the spark that triggers a full-scale collapse of the Mayiza faction.
The Chapiza faction wasted no time in exploiting the Mayiza faction’s vulnerabilities after Chavo Félix’s arrest. In a profanity-laced audio message directed at Comanche, a Mayiza faction commander, the Chapiza taunted their rivals, mocking their perceived weakness and challenging them to an open confrontation. This audio serves as a clear example of the psychological warfare the Chapiza uses to demoralize their enemies while showcasing their growing confidence on the battlefield.
You gang of faggots have finally seen how things really are. Where’s that support that you guys claimed to have had? According to you so many people would fight for you guys. So, where’s it at now? How much gunfire did you lose for that sloppy ass, how many of your gunmen perished in that fire?
Make sure that pussy ass faggot Comanche gets this message. This goes for that coward Comanche and his brother. Come to the capital. Apparently you’ve been winning for months out here and we have yet to see those results.
You guys are nowhere to be seen out here. You’re having to mess with YouTubers because you know very well that you can’t overcome us. And that shit is set in stone. Look here Comanche. Come on out for that armed confrontation. Bring 10, 15, or 20 of your armored fighting vehicles.
Make sure that’s what you come at us with. Don’t be cowardly about it either. Bring your war tanks and the support that you have. If you’re ready for this to go down then let’s do it right now. Man the fuck up and deploy this way. Let’s meet head on. What do you think? You faggots should already know that we don’t retreat.
I’d really like to see you come through here. The teams of Juan and Jose Avéndaño are at the entrance of the battlefield. Those groups are enough of a force to ensure that you won’t get past them. Either way come this way so that we can fucking destroy you.
It’s up to you Comanche. Are you once and for all ready for this? At this point it’s up to you if you’re down for this challenge or if you’re just a fucking coward about it. So, man the fuck up you pigs. We’re gonna be waiting for you Long live the Chapiza mob.
Mica’s Analysis
Mayito Flaco has proven himself incapable of leading this war, and his failures are laid bare for all to see. Inherited power is not earned power, and Mayito only stepped into this role by default, after his brothers—Mayo’s original choices to run the organization—were taken down by the U.S. government. Instead of following his father’s carefully calculated approach, Mayito Flaco, the “toy soldier,” has recklessly steered the Maza faction into chaos, ignoring Mayo’s explicit orders to avoid war.
The Chapiza, emboldened by their growing dominance, has capitalized on Mayito’s incompetence. Their taunting audio message isn’t just a show of force; it’s a direct response to Mayito’s inability to protect his people or project strength. Mayito’s arrogance and short-sightedness have turned a once-unified faction into a fractured empire, and his father’s allies, like Alejandro Cabrera Sarabia and El Ruso, appear increasingly disillusioned. While they haven’t publicly broken away, it’s clear they have little interest in sinking with Mayito’s failing ship.
The arrest is more than a tactical loss—it’s the embodiment of a leadership in freefall. The Chapiza’s confidence grows with each misstep Mayito takes, and the Mayiza faction is quickly losing what little ground it has left.
Chavo Félix’s arrest is a crack in the armor of a once-dominant dynasty brought about by Mayito Flaco’s reckless leadership. While the Mayiza faction will try to downplay the significance of this loss, the cracks are too deep to ignore. Mayito Flaco’s only success has been online, where his hollow bravado masks his failures in the real war. The Chapiza’s rise is no longer a question of “if” but “when,” and with every misstep from Mayito, it becomes clear that the collapse of the Mayiza faction is not just likely—it’s inevitable.
Thank you to Sol Prendido for the translation and transcription.
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9 Comments
and that’s the beginning of the end the Chapitos have won the war.
CJNG taking over.
CJNG’s dominance is inevitable, but only as long as Mencho remains alive to steer the ship.
Mica’s analysis 💯💯💯💯👏🏽
RIP Gilbertona
Thank you!
Imagine being demoralized by what that clown said over the radio. My god people are so made of crystal these days. None of this bloodshed would have happened if Joaquin Guzman didn’t have little Mexican man syndrome. Fucking midgets always needing to prove something.
This war is driven entirely by egos—none of these guys are struggling for cash, and there are more than enough addicts to keep the money flowing.
Maza??? Where did you get that from Mica? What does that mean? Just curious….Back to the topic at hand…We’ll see what happens. A few weeks back MF was getting the best of the Chapitos. I thought Chapitos were probably done. Now it’s the opposite. It looks like MF is getting the short end of the stick now. We’ll see if he could strategize ond turn it around and over come it or atleast stabilize it or if this is MF’s swan song.
Thank you for pointing that out; it was a typo on my end. It’s difficult to judge who’s winning on a daily basis in this conflict. At the start, I asked: what does victory look like for each side? For Mayito Flaco (MF), the goal is to wipe out the Chapitos and take over their territory. For the Chapitos, it’s about holding onto what they already control.
So, is MF any closer to wiping out the Chapitos? Does he have a clear path to victory? Have the Chapitos lost Culiacán? These are the benchmarks I use to assess the progress of the war. It’s important not to get caught up in the noise or messaging around it—I stay focused on the bigger picture.