Mexican President Blames US for Upsurge in Cartel Violence in Sinaloa

Uptick in violence comes after the US captured cartel boss Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada in July.

Forensic investigators work at the site of a body lying in the street in Culiacan, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on Sept. 19, 2024. Eduardo Verdugo/AP

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has blamed the United States for an upsurge in violence between cartel factions in the state of Sinaloa, which has left at least 30 people dead.

Two factions of the powerful Sinaloa cartel have attacked each other in the state capital of Culiacan recently, with teams of gunmen—or sicarios—firing at each other and at the security forces.