Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has partially blamed the United States for the recent surge of violence in Sinaloa, which has left dozens dead over the past two weeks. The region has seen a wave of killings, with bodies frequently discovered on streets and highways. López Obrador suggested that the U.S. played a role in provoking violence between rival factions of the Sinaloa drug cartel following the arrests of two prominent cartel leaders.

During a press conference on Thursday, López Obrador pointed to the U.S. arrest of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, and Joaquín Guzmán López, the son of infamous drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. The two were arrested on July 25 near El Paso, Texas, after landing on a small plane. Zambada later claimed that he had been “ambushed” and “kidnapped” by Guzmán López, who then handed him over to U.S. authorities.

Zambada’s statement, released through his attorney, described being assaulted, hooded, handcuffed, and forced onto a plane bound for the U.S. López Obrador alleged that the U.S. Department of Justice had made “agreements” with organized crime groups that facilitated Zambada’s arrest. He even referred to the operation as a kidnapping. However, U.S. officials have denied involvement in the arrest, with U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar stating that the operation was entirely orchestrated by rival cartel factions.

The violence in Sinaloa escalated in the weeks following the arrests, as clashes between rival factions—those loyal to Zambada and those allied with the sons of “El Chapo”—began to erupt. The violence has resulted in the deaths of at least 49 people since September 9, according to official reports. Victims have been found with gunshot wounds on highways and in various locations across Sinaloa, leading to widespread fear and unrest in the state.

The situation became so dire that Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya was forced to suspend Independence Day celebrations and cancel classes at all levels for two days. López Obrador acknowledged the increased violence but denied that the situation was out of control. He emphasized that Mexican authorities are taking special measures, including deploying elements of the Armed Forces, to restore order. The president also confirmed that two soldiers had died during the violent clashes last week.

While the Mexican government is addressing the violence, López Obrador’s comments highlight the ongoing tension between Mexico and the U.S. over cartel operations and cross-border cooperation. As violence continues to grip Sinaloa, questions remain about the long-term impact of cartel infighting and international involvement.