Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, Mexico City’s head of government, firmly denied any ties between the administration of former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador and organized crime. Speaking at Palacio Nacional, she addressed persistent accusations from opposition parties, emphasizing that neither López Obrador’s government nor her own administration have engaged in criminal pacts.

Sheinbaum stressed that their approach differs from previous governments by strictly adhering to the law and focusing on thorough investigations and arrests. “We do not establish criminal agreements with anyone—neither common criminals, organized crime groups, nor white-collar offenders, as was common in the past,” she said. She also referenced statements from former U.S. ambassador Ken Salazar, who reportedly found no evidence linking the AMLO government to criminal protection.

The conversation took a specific turn when Sheinbaum addressed the controversy surrounding the aircraft used to transport Ismael “Mayo” Zambada, leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, to the United States. She highlighted conflicting narratives between Salazar’s account and the official explanation that the plane’s presence at a public fair was part of an FBI operation. “There is a contradiction that we clarified last week and that requires further investigation, which the Attorney General’s office is currently pursuing,” she noted.

Zambada was apprehended on July 25, 2024, at a private airport in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, near El Paso, Texas. His capture followed a reported betrayal and kidnapping orchestrated by Joaquín Guzmán López, son of the infamous Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.

This ongoing scrutiny of government ties to organized crime underscores the importance of transparent investigations and accountability. Meanwhile, Mexico continues to explore innovative public transportation projects like the Puebla cablebús, which promise to improve urban mobility and social inclusion—offering a hopeful contrast to the challenges posed by criminal networks.