Deadly turf war for control of El Chapo's empire erupts in Mexico

[TomSea]

Deadly turf war for control of El Chapo's empire erupts in Mexico
 Paul Imison, Special for USA TODAY Published 11:19 a.m. ET March 3, 2017 |

MEXICO CITY— Gangland-style murders are a daily event in Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa state, where businesses close early, schools suspend classes and residents must take precautions to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.

The extradition of Mexican drug kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán to the United States in January was supposed to curb the violent drug wars raging south of the border. Instead, rival factions of Guzmán’s organization have ignited a new deadly turf war for control of the drug lord’s rudderless empire.

“It is a nightmare, but one we have lived many times before,” said Rosita Méndez, a mother of two young children who lives in Culiacán.

Mexican Defense Secretary Salvador Cienfuegos acknowledged at a recent news conference here that Guzmán’s criminal organization “is fighting an internal struggle for control of the organization due to the absence of its leader.

Continued: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/03/03/deadly-turf-war-control-el-chapos-empire-erupts-mexico/98542186/