**Primary Article:**
**SEDENA Detains ‘El Piyi’, Top Hitman for ‘Los Chapitos’ in Culiacán**
Elements of the Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional (SEDENA) successfully detained a man known as “El Piyi” on September 19, 2024, in the northwest region of Culiacán de Rosales, Sinaloa. “El Piyi” is alleged to be one of the principal hitmen and head of security for the group known as “Los Chapitos,” which includes Iván Archivaldo and Jesús Alfredo Guzmán Salazar (alias “El Chapito” and “El Alfredillo”), as well as Joaquín and Ovidio Guzmán López (alias “El Ratón”). These individuals are the sons of the notorious Sinaloan drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera.
The arrest was part of a military operation and involved “El Piyi” and six of his associates. The apprehension took place in the Santa Fe sector, northwest of Sinaloa’s capital. Authorities allege that “El Piyi” has been a generator of significant violence in the region, particularly against the hitmen associated with Ismael Zambada Sicairos, also known as “El Mayito Flaco.”
“El Piyi” is also connected to recent ambushes on law enforcement, which stem from ongoing conflicts between organized crime groups. Additionally, he had close ties with Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, alias “Nini,” a former chief hitman for “Los Chapitos.” Pérez Salas was detained on November 22, 2023, during a federal operation and was subsequently extradited to the United States on May 25, 2024, to face multiple charges.
**Secondary Article:**
**Increased Tension in Culiacán Following Major Arrests**
The arrest of “El Piyi” follows a series of operations targeted at dismantling the leadership of organized crime in Culiacán. On September 2, 2024, Mexican military forces detained Diego Gastélum, also known as “El Pariente,” another high-ranking member of the same cartel. These arrests are part of a broader strategy to destabilize the operational capacities of “Los Chapitos.”
The region has seen a rise in violent confrontations as rival factions vie for control following the power vacuum left by these significant detentions. Local residents have expressed increased concern over safety, urging state officials to implement more robust security measures. The government has pledged to continue efforts in curbing cartel violence and restoring peace to the affected communities.
Moreover, U.S. authorities have lauded Mexico’s recent actions as a pivotal step towards combating transnational drug trafficking operations, emphasizing the importance of continued bilateral cooperation to bring key criminal figures to justice.