Between November 6 and 8, 2026, federal and state forces carried out coordinated security operations across several municipalities in Sinaloa, resulting in multiple arrests, weapons seizures, and the dismantling of an underground cryptocurrency mining operation in Culiacán, Debate reported.
The multi-agency sweep spanned Culiacán, Concordia, Escuinapa, Mazatlán, and Rosario. Participating forces included the Mexican Army, the Secretariat of the Navy, the National Guard, and state police corporations.
Clandestine Crypto Mining in Culiacán
One of the most notable discoveries occurred in Culiacán, where military and state police units located a clandestine facility equipped with 130 specialized devices dedicated to cryptocurrency mining. Debate reported that the site operated via an illegal connection to the electrical grid, supported by high-capacity transformers and a closed-circuit video surveillance system.
Nxnoticias.com added that the setup included a main electrical transformer, two pedestal-type transformers, and four standalone security cameras. Authorities have not yet identified who operated the facility or determined how long it had been active.
Federal officials noted that while digital currency mining is not illegal on its face, investigators are reviewing the site for electricity theft and potential automated money laundering by organized crime.
Nxnoticias.com noted that the federal security cabinet did not report any immediate arrests at the Culiacán crypto farm, nor did the report specify the exact volume of stolen power consumed or whether the Comisión Federal de Electricidad had filed a formal complaint. This operation mirrors a recent federal raid in Tlaola, Puebla, where authorities seized boxes of crypto-mining equipment and arrested one person.
Weapons, Drugs, and Meth Labs Seized
Beyond the digital infrastructure, military and naval personnel dismantled a methamphetamine lab in the rural town of Baila, Culiacán. The Army seized liters and kilograms of chemical precursors, three mixers, and two LP gas tanks, causing an estimated 34 million pesos in economic damage to organized crime, according to Debate.
Additional sweeps in Mazatán’s Salvador Allende and Casa Redonda colonies, alongside operations in Cacalotán, Rosario, added several more arrests of minors and adults alike, alongside seizures of methamphetamine doses, radios, and vehicles.
Security Forces Detain 3,000 in Sinaloa
Security deployments in Sinaloa aim to contain a violent confrontation between rival criminal factions that has persisted for over two years. Official figures cited by Debate indicate that security forces have detained nearly 3,000 individuals across the state between October 2024 and October 2026.
On November 9, 2026, Secretary of Security and Protection Ciudadana Omar García Harfuch traveled to Mazatán alongside the heads of Defense and the Navy to announce a 900-million-peso federal investment package for regional security. The initiative includes the delivery of 200 local patrol vehicles—including 90 pick-ups, 50 motorcycles, and 30 Black Mamba armored units—alongside tactical drones and a new federal C4 highway command center.
