Seventy-four percent of criminal groups’ weapons come from the U.S., President Sheinbaum recalled.

On Friday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that U.S. arms manufacturers and dealers would be “accomplices” to terrorism.

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“Seventy-four percent of criminal groups’ weapons come from the United States. So, what is the position of manufacturers and distributors under the decree? Maybe… they could be accomplices. That is one of the issues we are reviewing,” she said.

Sheinbaum stated that her administration would expand the lawsuit Mexico has filed against the U.S. arms industry if the designation as terrorists of five Mexican cartels is confirmed.

According to The New York Times, the U.S. State Department will designate the Sinaloa Cartel, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, the Northeast Cartel, the Michoacan Family, and United, as terrorist organizations.

“Mexico has an international lawsuit against U.S. arms manufacturers and distributors. If they were to designate organized crime groups as terrorists, we would have to expand the lawsuit in the United States,” the Mexican leader said.

Previously, U.S. President Trump said that Mexico “is governed by the cartels,” whom he accuses of causing the deaths of up to 300,000 citizens per year. His National Security Advisor, Michael Waltz, claims that these criminal groups control 30% of Mexican territory.

Sheinbaum has stated that this designation “does not help” in the fight against organized crime in Mexico, where three-quarters of weapons come from the United States, according to an official report from the U.S. Department of Justice published in January.

“What we will never accept is interference and interventionism. We will always defend our sovereignty,” she said, noting that her administration will strengthen regulations to respond to any arms sales by foreigners.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

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