CULIACÁN, Mexico—Even Jesús Malverde, the patron saint of drug traffickers, has fallen victim to the vicious turf war ripping apart Mexico’s biggest producer and smuggler of fentanyl.

Since the Sinaloa cartel’s two main factions turned on each other five months ago, a chill has descended on this city of gated communities, luxury malls and illicit drug labs. Few pilgrims now dare to venture out to the shrine of the mustachioed Malverde, a legendary early 20th century bandit credited with miraculous powers. On a recent day, not a single person had spent the $1 it costs to buy a candle to place before his image in thanks for a successful drug run across the border to the U.S.

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