Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has pointed the finger at the U.S. government for the ongoing cartel violence in the state of Sinaloa, claiming that their actions have sparked a devastating turf war. The president’s comments came in response to a reporter’s question about the U.S. government’s role in the conflict.
Lopez Obrador alleged that the U.S. authorities’ decision to arrest Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a top leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, has led to the current wave of violence. He suggested that the U.S. government had made a deal with the Chapitos faction, a rival group within the cartel, to facilitate Zambada’s capture.
The president questioned the U.S. Department of Justice’s decision to change the detention status of Ovidio Guzman, a member of the Chapitos faction, at the same time that his brother was helping to capture Zambada. Lopez Obrador claimed that this move was a turning point in the conflict, leading to the current violence.
“We are facing this situation in Sinaloa because of their decision,” Lopez Obrador said. “We didn’t have this level of violence in Sinaloa before.”
The conflict in Sinaloa began to escalate on July 25, when the Chapitos faction captured Zambada during a meeting with top politicians. Zambada was then handed over to U.S. authorities in El Paso, Texas. Since his arrest, the two factions have been engaged in a fierce turf war, resulting in dozens of murders and numerous abductions.
While the Mexican government has officially confirmed 48 fatalities, unofficial reports suggest that the true number of deaths is much higher. The violence has brought the region to a standstill, with residents living in fear of the warring cartels.
