Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador did not rule out the possibility of U.S. forces entering México to arrest drug traffickers Joaquín Guzmán López, son of Chapo Guzmán, and Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada.
“The intrusion of U.S. Armed Forces is not ruled out, but there is no evidence,” the president stated during his morning press conference.
The Mexican leader questioned the detention of both drug traffickers, who were arrested on Thursday in El Paso, Texas, after disembarking from a plane that left México without the Mexican government knowing.
López Obrador also pointed out that although there were negotiations between the U.S. government and Guzmán López for the drug lord to surrender in that country, México was not informed about these alleged agreements.
“No, there are no reports,” he stressed.
However, he indicated that “there is also the precedent, as the U.S. government said, that they were making agreements with Guzmán.”
“That is what they have been saying for some time, even mentioning agreements from two or three years ago, and they say it was a few weeks ago. But there is also the version that they had been negotiating with him for a long time,” López Obrador said.
He also expressed dissatisfaction with the information provided by US authorities to Mexico regarding the two arrests.
“No (I am not satisfied). There is still a lot missing. We need to know where they came from (…) because at first, the Mexican Migration Service sent the flight plan from Hermosillo, a small plane to New México, but then it was mentioned that they did not leave from there and there is no reliable information,” he stressed.
He did not rule out meeting with President Joe Biden to discuss the case.
“Yes (I would seek out Biden). However, I think he will give us all the information; we trust that. What is happening, I guess, is that they are consulting, but they also expected us to resolve this situation. I think we are clear when we manifest that we want all the information available,” he said.
Despite his complaints, he pointed out that his government maintains cooperation with the United States in the fight against drug trafficking.
“We have always fought against drug trafficking, but we make sure that it is done by our decision, not as it used to be when U.S. agencies were in charge of this matter in México. The Mérida Initiative no longer exists, but we cooperate because it is a humanitarian issue,” he highlighted.
Finally, given the risk of violence in Sinaloa, where the cartel led by Chapo’s sons is based, he called for avoiding confrontation and promoting peace.
“Those involved in these illegal activities know that confrontation will not solve anything, that they are putting other people’s lives at risk, and that there is no need for the suffering of families. Violence is not the answer; I trust there will be no confrontation,” he said.
San Miguel Times
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