José “El Chaballo” Isabel, a notorious leader of the Sinaloa Cartel in Manzanillo, Mexico, was killed in a shootout with police after a violent incident at a local cockfight. The incident occurred on December 15 when Isabel and her associates attacked a secret cockfighting arena in the Las Parotas neighborhood of Manzanillo, resulting in the death of two people and injuries to several others. As they attempted to escape, Mexican National Police caught up with them, leading to a shootout that killed Isabel and one of her companions, according to Spanish-language news outlets. shavingsInformed.
Isabel was already wanted on murder charges before this incident. Colima state, where Manzanillo is located, has a high murder rate, recording 623 murders between January and October 2024, equivalent to 105 murders per 100,000 inhabitants, significantly higher than the national average in Mexico.
Prosecutors in Colima have not released details about the victims other than identifying them as Isabel.
sinaloa cartel
The Sinaloa Cartel is a powerful and notorious Mexican drug cartel that has significant influence on the global illegal drug trade. Founded in the 1980s, it is one of the oldest and largest drug trafficking organizations in Mexico. The cartel is primarily involved in the production, transportation and distribution of illicit drugs, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana. They have a strong presence in Mexico and have expanded their operations to other countries including the United States, Central America, and South America.
The Sinaloa Cartel has been linked to violence, corruption and money laundering. They are known to use intimidation, bribery, and violence to maintain control over their territories and operations.
The cartel has several notable leaders, including Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán, who was arrested in 2016 and is currently serving a life sentence in a US prison. Other prominent leaders include Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Juan José “El Azul” Esparragoza.
The death of a plaza boss like ‘El Chabello’ could lead to a change in local power dynamics within the cartel, potentially resulting in more violence as rivals compete for his position.
