--- title: Mexico's Drug War: The Battle for Culiacán - Photo Essays - TIME description: Murder proliferates in the home of Mexico's $25 billion drug-trafficking industry Photographs by Anthony Suau for TIME canonical: https://time.com/archive/7076712/mexicos-drug-war-the-battle-for-culiacan/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2008-07-28T04:00:00.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T10:46:02.099Z article:section: World og:title: Mexico's Drug War: The Battle for Culiacán og:description: Murder proliferates in the home of Mexico's $25 billion drug-trafficking industry Photographs by Anthony Suau for TIME og:url: https://time.com/archive/7076712/mexicos-drug-war-the-battle-for-culiacan/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: TIME og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Mexico's Drug War: The Battle for Culiacán twitter:description: Murder proliferates in the home of Mexico's $25 billion drug-trafficking industry Photographs by Anthony Suau for TIME twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [World](/section/world/) * [LightBox](/tag/time-section-lightbox/) # Mexico's Drug War: The Battle for Culiacán by [TIME](/author/time/) Jul 28, 2008 4:00 AM CUT by [TIME](/author/time/) Jul 28, 2008 4:00 AM CUT Murder proliferates in the home of Mexico’s $25 billion drug-trafficking industryPhotographs by Anthony Suau for TIME ### Full Blown War  Over 2000 drug-related murders have been recorded in Mexico this year, vastly outpacing previous years. Many of the most grisly have gone down in the desert city of Culiacán, where dozens of armed state policemen, along with the Mexican military, have been deployed in a Federal effort to contain the problem. Over 2000 drug-related murders have been recorded in Mexico this year, vastly outpacing previous years. Many of the most grisly have gone down in the desert city of Culiacán, where dozens of armed state policemen, along with the Mexican military, have be ### Heavy Artillery  After a particularly violent shoot-out in May, Mexican President Felipe Calderón sent 2,000 additional troops into Sinaloa. They have rattled the narcos, impeding some trafficking routes and increasing weapons seizures, but that has only prompted the drug cartels to sow more mayhem. After a particularly violent shoot-out in May, Mexican President Felipe Calderón sent 2,000 additional troops into Sinaloa. They have rattled the narcos, impeding some trafficking routes and increasing weapons seizures, but that has only prompted the dru ### Search  The federal police have set up roadblocks to hinder the cartel's activity. The federal police have set up roadblocks to hinder the cartel's activity. ### Raid  Police surround a house after receiving a tip that there were drugs on site. Police surround a house after receiving a tip that there were drugs on site. ### Aftermath  Bullet holes pierce a wall at the scene of a shootout where seven federal policemen were killed in a botched raid. One narco was killed, but the rest of the gang escaped. Photographs by Anthony Suau for TIME ### Escalation  The murders are notable for their brazen and excessive nature. Two police officers and a female civilian were killed in this rush-hour shootout on the city's main street. The murders are notable for their brazen and excessive nature. Two police officers and a female civilian were killed in this rush-hour shootout on the city's main street. ### Stain on the Community  Over three hundred rounds were fired during the incident. Over three hundred rounds were fired during the incident. ### Requiem  Family and friends attend the funeral of one of the murdered officers. Family and friends attend the funeral of one of the murdered officers. ### Endless Procession  "These days (narcos) think nothing of killing us for no reason other than marking their territory," says one commander who quit the force after seeing his fellow cops murdered and concluding that police reform was hopeless. "These days (narcos) think nothing of killing us for no reason other than marking their territory," says one commander who quit the force after seeing his fellow cops murdered and concluding that police reform was hopeless. ### Not Long Empty  Humaya Cemetery contains many graves dedicated to narco gangsters. Humaya Cemetery contains many graves dedicated to narco gangsters. ### By the Sword  The gravesites at the cemetery are often adorned with elaborate tributes to the men who died. The young man who is memorialized in this poster was 16 years old. The gravesites at the cemetery are often adorned with elaborate tributes to the men who died. The young man who is memorialized in this poster was 16 years old. ### Nocturnes ### Moving Out  Dozens of armed State policeman, along with the Mexican military, gear up for a show of force. 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