Mexican President AMLO Says U.S. is Partly to Blame for Cartel Violence in Sinaloa

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) said the U.S. is partly to blame for the ongoing cartel-related violence in Sinaloa, where dozens of people have been killed following the capture of top drug lord Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada.

Speaking at his daily press conference, AMLO was asked if the U.S. government was "jointly responsible" for the current situation. "Yes, of course... for having carried out this operation," he answered, again claiming the U.S. played a role in the taking of Zambada without Mexico's knowledge.

"It was totally illegal, and agents from the Department of Justice were waiting for Mr. Mayo," AMLO said, adding: "If we are now facing instability and clashes in Sinaloa, it is because they made that decision."

The Sinaloa cartel co-founder has claimed he was ambushed by a former ally, Joaquín Guzmán López, son of "El Chapo" Guzmán and taken to the U.S., where he also turned himself in to American authorities.

Mexican prosecutors in fact pressed charges against Joaquín Guzmán López in late August for the apparent kidnapping of El Mayo. The country's criminal code defines what he allegedly did as treason, considering it is defined as a crime committed by "those who illegally abduct a person in Mexico in order to hand them over to authorities of another country."

Authorities from the country also said that therecent developments regarding the fate of top cartel leaders are a result of a deal with U.S. authorities. Concretely, they are suggesting that Joaquín Guzmán López turned himself in and managed to hand over Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada to American authorities in exchange for getting his brother Ovidio transferred out of prison.

In the meantime, violence continues to rage on in Sinaloa, where over 30 people have been killed since September 9, when a faction of the eponymous cartel led by the sons of "El Chapo" seemingly declared war on the one now controlled by the son of "El Mayo."

Local media and specialized journalists are reporting of bodies being left on the streets as apparent messages to the opposing faction. Five bodies were recently found near a water park on the outskirts of Culiacán. All were positioned against a wall, adorned with large sombreros on their heads and smaller ones on their bodies.

Though the exact meaning is often unclear, specialized journalist Ioan Grillo explained, the sombreros could be a reference to the "Mayiza," a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel loyal to Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada.

It remains uncertain whether the victims were Mayiza or if the killers left the hats as a taunt. This ambiguity is common in the escalating cartel war, he added. Days earlier, a severed head was discovered in a pizza box on a Culiacán street, possibly referencing the Chapitos, who are nicknamed "Chapiza" (a play on the word pizza).

The fighting has led to an increase in murders, kidnappings, and fear among residents. Businesses and schools in the city, which has a population of one million, remained closed for a week after the violence erupted, marking an unprecedented level of disruption in a region long accustomed to cartel-related unrest. The economic impact has been significant, with many residents unable to work, adding to the growing anxiety.

On Thursday, a military operation took place in the city, aimed at help restore calm. Most schools were open but, according to The Associated Press, parents were still not sending their children to classes. Despite soldiers patrolling the streets, many are still in hiding in fear for their lives.