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Sheinbaum warns of 'war' in Sinaloa if cartel violence is met with 'firearms'

President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday that responding to high levels of violence in Sinaloa with “guns to the ground” would spark a “war” in the northern state.

The statement came as the “Los Mayos” and “Los Chapitos” factions of the Sinaloa Cartel are engaged in fierce fighting in Culiacán and the surrounding area. The former group is seeking revenge for the alleged kidnapping of cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García, who was captured in the United States in late July.

In defending his position on the violence in Sinaloa, Sheinbaum referred to the militarization "war" about the drug cartel that began during Felipe Calderón's 2006-2012 presidency.
In defending his position on the violence in Sinaloa, Sheinbaum pointed to the military’s “war” on drug cartels that began during Felipe Calderón’s 2006-2012 presidency. (Prensa Claudia Sheinbaum/Cuartoscuro)

El Mayo claims he was kidnapped by Joaquin Guzman Lopez, one of the sons of convicted drug trafficker Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman Loera, and forced onto a plane that handed him over to U.S. law enforcement authorities.

There have been dozens of cartel killings in Sinaloa since Zambada's arrest, including more than 30 between September 9 and 16.

At a press conference Tuesday, Sheinbaum said authorities were working to restore peace in Sinaloa, but stressed that fighting fire with fire was not the right strategy.

“Going in with guns blazing will lead to war, as it has in the past and will get us nowhere,” he said.

Sheinbaum, who will take office on October 1, specifically referred to the 2006-2012 presidency of Felipe Calderón, who launched a military “war” on drug cartels shortly after he took office.

“Calderón said: 'There will be collateral damage,'” the president-elect said.

“That is why [the current government] act to protect citizens.”

There have been dozens of cartel killings in Sinaloa since Zambada's arrest, including more than 30 between September 9 and 16.
There have been dozens of cartel killings in Sinaloa since Zambada's arrest, including more than 30 between September 9 and 16. (José Betanzos/Cuartoscuro)

During his administration, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has ordered security forces, including the military, to avoid confrontations with criminals whenever possible. He drew widespread criticism in 2022 when he said his government was protecting criminals by avoiding armed confrontations.

“Before they killed them in a moment of emotion and finished off the wounded,” López Obrador said in May 2022, referring to killings carried out by the armed forces during Calderón’s presidency.

By avoiding confrontation, he continued, “we protect members of the armed forces … but we also protect members of the gangs — they are human beings. [too]”.”

Sheinbaum said he wants “peace and tranquility” in Sinaloa, and “obviously to fight crime,” but not by “creating more confrontations that lead to more deaths.”

He said he did not advocate “waiting [opposing] group to stop the fighting,” but instead supports “protecting the population” of Sinaloa.

The Mexican Army's top commander in Sinaloa said Monday that restoring order in the state “does not depend on us” and will only happen when rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel stop fighting each other.

Governor Rubén Rocha Moya assured the public that Sinaloa has the necessary military support to keep civilians safe.
Governor Rubén Rocha Moya assured the public that Sinaloa has the military support needed to keep civilians safe. (José Betanzos/Cuartoscuro)

Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya ordered 370 police and military agents to patrol school zones in Culiacán, Elota, Cosalá and San Ignacio, where they will remain during school hours.

Sheinbaum told reporters that his administration's security strategy would focus on addressing the root causes of violence, strengthening the National Guard, and leveraging intelligence and other investigative capacities to prevent and solve crimes.

“When we come to power, a series of new laws and reforms will be introduced that will enable us to have a national intelligence and investigation system,” he said.

“But when confrontations occur, one must be careful, not cause more violence, and act responsibly,” Sheinbaum stressed.

López Obrador’s government has employed a so-called “hugs, not bullets” security strategy that prioritizes addressing the root causes of crime through social and welfare programs rather than confronting criminals with violence.

Killings reached a record high during the six years of the current administration, but the number has declined slightly in recent years.

AMLO: Protecting citizens comes first

At his morning press conference on Tuesday, President López Obrador was asked about Commander Francisco Jesús Leana Ojeda’s statement that restoring order in Sinaloa depended on “Los Mayos” and “Los Chapitos” rather than the army.

“I just want to say that we are paying attention to what is happening in Sinaloa and we basically want two things: First, protect the population, protect the citizens,” he said.

“The people of Sinaloa must be assured that we are there and we will continue to be there for as long as it takes to protect and take care of them,” López Obrador said.

“And the second thing, which is also part of the first task, is to avoid confrontation between [opposing] groups, to stop them from fighting and losing their lives. That's basically what we did,” he said.

With reports from Milenio, SPR Informa and AFP

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