An exchange of fire near the capital of the Mexican state of Sinaloa has claimed the lives of at least 18 people, who the authorities suspect were members of gangs, the Mexican Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday.

The conflict unfolded yesterday Monday about 11 kilometers from Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa state, when more than 30 gunmen opened fire on soldiers, according to a press release from the ministry

Some of the thugs escaped after soldiers returned fire, according to the same source.

Seven vehicles, nearly 30 weapons – including machine guns -, ammunition, bulletproof vests and helmets were seized.

At the same time, a local drug cartel leader was arrested,

Edwin Antonio “N.” described as a local faction leader of the Sinaloa cartel, which pledges allegiance to its notorious co-founder Ismael “El Mayo” Sabada.

Violence has escalated in the western state of Sinaloa since late July, when Sabada was arrested by US authorities after he was flown to the US near the city of El Paso, Texas, in September.

“Mayo,” 76, a veteran of illegal and organized crime, accuses one of the sons of cartel co-founder Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman of betraying him, kidnapping him and turning him over to US authorities.

The conflict between cartel members who pledge allegiance to Mayo on the one hand and to Chapo’s sons on the other, the so-called “chapitos” has claimed the lives of at least 200 people, while more than 300 others are missing, according to the numbers of local authorities. Since the end of 2006, when the so-called “war on drugs” began in Mexico, by decision of the president at the time Felipe Calderon (2006-2012), more than 450,000 people have lost their lives, while another 100,000 have disappear, according to official data.