Culiacán, Sinaloa – On the night of Sunday, February 8, 2026, Sergio Rodolfo Cázares Zambada, identified as the nephew of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García, a co-founder and key figure in the Sinaloa Cartel, was killed during an armed attack.
The 41-year-old victim was found dead inside a vehicle (reported in some accounts as a pickup truck or van) abandoned near the Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa (UAS), specifically in the area around the Faculty of Agronomy or along the Culiacán-Eldorado road in Campo el Sol. Authorities confirmed his identity and noted he resided in the Las Quintas neighborhood.
The incident appears to stem from an armed assault, with reports indicating the body showed signs of gunshot wounds. The killing has not yet been officially attributed to a specific motive or group, but given the victim’s family ties to one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations, it raises concerns about ongoing internal rivalries, factional disputes within the Sinaloa Cartel, or external threats amid the group’s instability following recent arrests and leadership hanges.
This event adds to a pattern of violence targeting relatives of high-profile cartel figures, highlighting the persistent risks in Sinaloa amid narco conflicts. Investigations by local authorities are ongoing, with no arrests reported as of February 10, 2026.