Mexico City (EFE)
Questioned about the announcement by the US Department of Justice of the charges against leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, including four sons of Joaquín “el Chapo” Guzmán, for trafficking fentanyl and other drugs, the president assured that the DEA initiated investigation in Mexico without informing the Government.
“Yes, surely. That is the problem, ”she expressed in her daily press conference.
Although Washington pointed out last Friday to the Sinaloa Cartel of leading “the largest and most prolific fentanyl trafficking operation in the world,” López Obrador reiterated that this drug is not produced in the country.
“That is their vision of them, we respect it. We have argued, first, that fentanyl is not produced in Mexico, that it is imported from Asia and that it arrives in Mexico, that it arrives in the US and arrives in Canada, from Asia, ”she settled.
Mexico’s cooperation with the US amid criticism
However, he affirmed that they are going to cooperate with the United States authorities “out of friendship, out of cooperation”, although he again criticized that the causes are not being addressed in that country because “fentanyl will disappear, but other drugs may emerge.”
For this reason, he said, “there is nothing more than watching what is happening in Sinaloa or Mexico, but also what is happening there (in the United States), the cartels that are there.”
Likewise, he said that they will continue to cooperate with the United States Government, but he emphasized that the first thing that must be guaranteed is the public safety of Mexico.
“To put it more clearly: what we want is for no one to lose their lives in Mexico, for no one to be kidnapped, for there to be no extortion, no robberies, no femicides, that is the first thing, that is our fundamental responsibility and , in the background, help, cooperate with the Government of the United States,” he said.
He pointed out that it is important to confront the problem of drug use in the United States, especially regarding the use of fentanyl that is causing the loss of life of many Americans, but he clarified that this will only be a matter of cooperation.
“Cooperation yes, submission no. Because Mexico is a free, independent, and sovereign country, fortunately the United States government is understanding this more and more, especially President (Joe) Biden, who has acted with great respect,” he said.
Last Friday, the United States Department of Justice announced charges in three federal districts for Guzmán’s children, also known as “Chapitos.”
He accused them of allegedly using cargo planes, private aircraft, submarines and other vessels, buses or rail cars to transport drugs and chemical precursors.