Sheinbaum warns of ‘war’ in Sinaloa if cartel violence is met with ‘firepower’

Responding to the high levels of violence in Sinaloa with “firepower” would unleash a “war” in the northern state, President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday.

Her comment came as the Sinaloa cartel’s “Los Mayos” and “Los Chapitos” factions are engaged in a fierce battle in Culiacán and surrounding areas, with the former group seeking revenge for the alleged kidnapping of cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García, who was arrested in the United States in late July.

In defending her position on the violence in Sinaloa, Sheinbaum pointed to the militarized “war” against drug cartels that was launched during Felipe Calderón’s presidency from 2006 to 2012. (Prensa Claudia Sheinbaum/Cuartoscuro)

El Mayo claims he was kidnapped by Joaquín Guzmán López, one of the sons of convicted drug trafficker Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera, and forced onto a plane that delivered him into the hands of US law enforcement authorities.

Since Zambada’s arrest, there have been dozens of killings by drug cartels in Sinaloa, including more than 30 between September 9 and 16.

Sheinbaum said at a news conference Tuesday that authorities are working to restore peace in Sinaloa, but he stressed that fighting fire with fire is not the right strategy.

“If we were to intervene with firepower, it would cause a war, as has happened in the past and has not gotten us anywhere,” she said.

Sheinbaum, who takes office on October 1, specifically referenced the 2006-2012 presidency of Felipe Calderón, who launched a militarized “war” against drug cartels shortly after being sworn in.

“Calderón said, ‘There will be collateral damage,’” the president-elect said.

“That is why (the current government) is taking measures to protect citizens.”

Since Zambada’s arrest, there have been dozens of drug cartel killings in Sinaloa, 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 violent confrontations with criminals whenever possible. He drew widespread criticism in 2022 when he said his government was keeping an eye on criminals by avoiding armed confrontations.

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

By avoiding confrontations, he continued, “we take care of the members of the armed forces … but we also take care of the members of the gangs – they are people too.”

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

She said she is not advocating “waiting for the (opposing) groups to stop fighting,” but rather “protecting the people” of Sinaloa.

The Mexican military’s top commander in Sinaloa said Monday that restoring order in the state “does not depend on us” and will only happen if rival Sinaloa cartel factions stop fighting each other.

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

Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya ordered 370 police and military officers to patrol the school zones of Culiacán, Elota, Cosalá and San Ignacio. They will remain there during school hours.

Sheinbaum told reporters that her administration’s security strategy will focus on addressing the root causes of the violence, strengthening the National Guard and using intelligence and other investigative capabilities to prevent and solve crimes.

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

“But if there is a confrontation, you have to be careful, not cause greater violence and act responsibly,” Sheinbaum stressed.

López Obrador’s government has adopted a so-called “hugs, not bullets” security strategy, prioritizing tackling the root causes of crime through social and welfare programs over confronting criminals with violence.

Murders reached record highs during the current six-year administration, but numbers have fallen slightly in recent years.

AMLO: Protection of civilians comes first

During his morning press conference on Tuesday, President López Obrador was asked about Commander Francisco Jesús Leana Ojeda’s statement that restoring order in Sinaloa depends on “Los Mayos” and “Los Chapitos” and not on the military.

“I would just like to say that we are attentive to what is happening in Sinaloa and that we are basically pursuing two things: first, protecting the population, protecting civilians,” he said.

“The people of Sinaloa must be able to trust that we are there and that we will be there as long as necessary to protect them and care for them,” López Obrador said.

“And the second thing, which is also part of that first task, is to avoid confrontations between the (opposing) groups, to prevent them from fighting and losing lives. That’s basically what we do,” he said.

With reports from Milenio, SPR Informa and AFP

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