From investigative journalists in Mexico connecting the dots.

Rival cartel narco routes, stash houses etc were being swept up in Government operations against the cartels but the Sinaloa cartel suffered very little from these operations while their rivals took a hammering.

The Mexican Government and the Sinaloa cartel seem to have an "understanding" - official or otherwise.


Factions in the Gulf cartel ratted out narco routes and stash houses when they were warring with each other.
That information came from turncoats and police sources.