Fuel Prices Will Not Rise/Arms Trafficking in Sonora

Rehabilitation of the Chapultepec Forest. Mexico City’s Major Claudia Sheinbaum announced that of the MX$10 billion (US$477.49 million) budget for the rehabilitation of Chapultepec Forest, the government has already spent MX$3.8 billion (US$181.44 million). “This project includes the environmental rehabilitation of all the forests, sanitation, reforestation and water rescue of streams, particularly in the third and fourth sections of Chapultepec. In addition, to adding 88 hectares of new forest.”

In 2018, the Chapultepec Forest was made up of three sections. The first with had an extension of 245 ha, the second with 168 ha and the third with 243 ha. In 2019, a fourth section with an extension of 88ha was integrated. Previously, the fourth section was owned by SEDENA and before President Andrés Manuel López Obrador took office, the government sought to privatize the land and turn it into the new Santa Fe. Years later, López Obrador said that his government has saved Mexican citizens since leaving the land in the hands of the private sector would have caused serious environmental problems in Mexico City.

AMLO assures fuel prices will not rise. López Obrador promised that fuel prices will not be affected by the increase in crude oil price derived from the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. “Unlike other countries, we can keep fuel prices low. Fortunately, we produce oil, so these exports have led to a surplus. This surplus allows us to apply a subsidy so that the price of fuel does not increase.”

Experts say prices of gasoline and gas in all countries will be affected by the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. On Monday, Brent oil traded at US$139 per barrel - highest price since 2008. In addition, rising hydrocarbon prices are expected to outpace global inflation and interest rates. For Mexico, this would lead to an increase in the price of imports from the US. In 2021, the country imported an average of 460Mb/d. Despite the government's efforts to keep fuel prices down, experts say these will continue to rise every day. According to INEGI data, in February the price of fuel rose 8.49 percent, which is higher than the 7.28 percent annual inflation during the same period.

Most of the weapons seized in Sonora come from the US. Defense Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval said that most of the weapons seized on March 4 in Navojoa, Sonora, came from the US. López Obrador stressed that one of the priorities of his government is to improve security throughout the country, mainly in states where there is much violence such as Sonora.  “We continue to work to guarantee the peace and tranquility of the people in Sonora. We have had great support from Governor Alfonso Durazo. The recent actions carried out by the army and authorities demonstrate the need to continue improving security in Sonora. In addition, this reflects how big the arms trafficking problem is.”

Last week, the Mexican army and authorities in Sonora seized an arsenal of weapons belonging to the criminal group Los Salazar, linked to the Sinaloa Cartel. During the raids, 150 long and 38 short weapons were seized, 129 of them came from the US. In addition, more than 3 million cartridges were taken.  of which 75 percent came from Russia and 25 percent from the US.  Due to the increase in arms trafficking, the Mexican government has sued major American gun companies for failing to regulate their sale and use. According to Mexican authorities, the lack of regulation facilitates arms trafficking to Mexico, increasing violence throughout the country. For their part, US companies have said that US law protects them and it is the responsibility of the Mexican government to ensure the safety of its citizens.

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