Before the elections in Mexico on Sunday, 34 candidates were murdered. Hundreds of others have given up. Drug cartels’ violence is omnipresent, even on the border with the USA. Our reporter was on both sides there.
The town once had 2,500 inhabitants, just a year ago. It lived from border trade with the USA and day tourism. The Americans came here and spent their money on cheap medicine, tacos and tequila. The Mexicans went over to Arizona and worked on the ranches and drank beer in the bar.
Life was relatively peaceful in Sasabe, Sonora State.
Then, in the fall of 2023, the gang war began, as in so many parts of Mexico. The Sinaloa cartel, which dominated Sasabe, was attacked by renegade “Chapitos”, followers of the imprisoned drug lord “El Chapo” Guzman. There were wild shootouts, deaths on both sides, and deaths among the locals too. The residents moved away.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
