Among other Mexican cartels, the Zetas and the Sinaloa Cartel are now fighting over territories in Central America.

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At the time, officials described him as a key figure in the Sinaloa cartel.

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The Sinaloa cartel commits unspeakable violence in Mexico and for years banked at HSBC.

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Patricia Gonzalez Rodriguez, who has denied the charges, asserted that her brother had been kidnapped by members of the Sinaloa cartel.

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Mexican prosecutors accuse Mr Salas of being the man tasked with guarding Joaquin Guzman, the fugitive leader of the Sinaloa cartel.

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It is unclear if the informant who tipped the police off in February and the Sinaloa Cartel informant are the same person.

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But since about 2008, the rival Sinaloa Cartel has been challenging the Juarez Cartel, including for control of Puerto Palomas, the records said.

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Earlier this month, an alleged senior figure in the Sinaloa cartel, Ovidio Limon Sanchez, was arrested in what authorities said was a major blow to the gang.

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But their control over this territory is now said to be facing a challenge from their former allies, the Gulf Cartel, in an alliance with the Sinaloa cartel led by Joaquin Guzman, Mexico's most wanted man.

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