Mexico's most-wanted drug lord, Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman Shootout between rival drug gangs in Sinaloa

Shootout between rival drug gangs in Sinaloa, Mexico, leaves trail of war behind. Shootout between alleged rival drug gangs set vehicles ablaze and damage houses as they battle for turf.Two groups of alleged drug traffickers were involved in a shootout at dawn in the northern city of Culiacan in the state of Sinaloa on Monday (July 14) where they set ablaze three vehicles and damaged four houses, according to authorities.There were no reports of injuries, deaths or arrests and the state attorney general's office said it was too early to report how many weapons or if drugs had been seized.As Federal Sinaloa Deputy, Daniel Amador Gaxiola stated, "We are living through the most difficult stages of modern history, if you can call it that. We regret what is happening in Sinaloa and people live in fear and uncertainty. However we have to recognize efforts being carried out by the government are trying to create results. Unfortunately, it's a problem that is out of our reach, of many forces of our society."A house which was used as a refuge by alleged drug traffickers was attacked with a spray of bullets and molotov bombs. The occupants fired back but then managed to escape when the house was set on fire together with two SUV vehicles which were parked inside.Another vehicle exploded and was burnt down. Authorities found three gas tanks in the rear seats. This event comes a after gunmen killed eight youths and a police Chief, and took dozens of restaurant patrons hostage for hours, in two attacks in the drug gang-ridden state of Sinaloa.Drug gang killings and shootouts in Mexico have soared to unprecedented levels.Some 1,700 people have died so far this year, as an army-led crackdown intensifies turf wars between rival gangs, whose hitmen are increasingly taking their battles public with daylight shootouts in busy streets.
Sinaloa state in northwestern Mexico is one of the areas most affected by drug violence and is home to Mexico's most-wanted drug lord, Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman.