By The Opinion
Sep 10, 2024, 12:59 PM EDT
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador admitted on Tuesday that the violent day on Monday in Sinaloa, after clashes between civilian groups that left one soldier dead and another wounded, may be related to the arrest of Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada.
“Yes, it is very possible that it is linked to that, but even Mr. Zambada himself wrote that violence was not convenient, or something like that.”, said the Mexican president during his morning press conference.
The Mexican leader was referring to the violent events that took place early Monday morning in the La Campiña neighborhood of Culiacán, capital of the northern Mexican state of Sinaloa, where alleged civilians clashed with each other with weapons and created tension in the city.
Some videos circulating on social media showed vans on different roads and abandoned vehicles.
In some of the recordings, the sound of gunshots can be heard.the passage of military vehicles, as well as an ambulance where the wounded were presumably traveling.
They also show how armed individuals had set up checkpoints on different roads in the region.
In one of the recordings, you can see how a passenger truck is stopped, then two armed men get on and ask where they are going. After they say they are going to Culiacán, they are warned “don’t get off because there is a lot of chaos.”
Following the riots, according to information from the state government, members of the Mexican Army arrived at the scene, but were attacked with firearms.
“Unfortunately, two soldiers who are going to help prevent confrontation and protect innocent people were injured. Unfortunately, a sergeant has passed away. We send our condolences to his family. (The soldier) died in the line of duty. One person was injured,” López Obrador said on Tuesday.
He also said that after the attacks, they arrested organized crime figures, although he did not specify how many, and “a lot of weapons.”
“Tell the citizens of Sinaloa and Culiacán that we are watching, that we are acting and that there are sufficient elements to maintain peace. and calm and until now fortunately things are calming down,” he said.
The events occurred almost a month and a half after the capture in the United States of Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, and Joaquín Guzmán López, son of Joaquín ‘el Chapo’ Guzmán.
Zambada caused controversy on August 10 by publishing a letter from prison in the United States in which he stated that on the day of his capture, July 25, he was going to meet with Héctor Cuén, former rector of the Autonomous University of Sinaloa (UAS), who was murdered that day, and Rubén Rocha Moya, governor of Sinaloa from the ruling National Regeneration Movement (Morena).
With information from EFE.
Continue reading:
• Shootings in Culiacan would have been ordered by the son of “El Mayo” against Los Chapitos
• “El Mayo” Zambada had a mobile operating room where “El Chapo” was on the verge of death.
• Identity of gunman who allegedly subdued “El Mayo” Zambada to send him to the U.S. revealed