"What I can tell you is that there was an agreement, and due to this agreement — details of which we still do not know, including what it consisted of and under what conditions it was made — it has produced a confrontation for us in Sinaloa, which is happening now, and which I expect will be settled soon, as we are taking action," Lopez Obrador told a press conference broadcast by his administration.
Last week, Sinaloa authorities canceled all festive events for Mexico's Independence Day due to deadly clashes between cartels and law enforcement. Local media reported fighting erupted between two factions of the local cartel - Los Chapitos, led by the children of drug lord El Chapo, and followers of the recently detained Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada.
A significant military presence, including around 2,200 personnel, has been deployed in Sinaloa to maintain order amid the violent clashes that killed more than 30 people.
Joaquin El Chapo Guzman's son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, was arrested in July and has pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges, while the co-founder of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, Zambada, faces multiple charges, including drug trafficking and money laundering.
El Chapo is serving a life sentence for drug offenses, and his other son, Ovidio, was extradited to the US in September 2023, with two of his brothers still at large.