Mexico's President Appeals to Drug Cartels Amidst Recent Arrests

In an unprecedented move, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has publicly urged drug cartels to refrain from internal conflicts following the recent arrests of prominent drug lords Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López. During a press briefing, López Obrador expressed his hope that those involved in drug trafficking would recognize the futility of violence, emphasizing the suffering it causes to families and communities. He stated, “Those who are engaged in these illegal activities know they resolve nothing with confrontations.” The president's appeal comes as the Sinaloa cartel faces ongoing internal strife, particularly between factions loyal to Zambada and those aligned with the sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. In response to potential escalations, the Mexican army has deployed an additional 200 elite soldiers to Sinaloa, although there were no immediate reports of increased violence following the arrests. Zambada and Guzmán López were detained last Thursday after arriving in Texas on a private plane, marking a significant blow to the cartel's operations. The arrests have sparked controversy, with Zambada's lawyer alleging that his client was forcibly kidnapped by Guzmán López, claiming he was bound and placed in a bag before being taken onto the plane. Meanwhile, President López Obrador has stated that the circumstances surrounding Zambada's flight are under investigation, with Mexican prosecutors looking into the kidnapping claims. The situation remains tense as the government navigates the complexities of cartel dynamics and public safety.