Arrest of drug leaders 'direct strike' against cartels - US Ambassador to Mexico

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said on Friday that the arrests of Mexican drug kingpin Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada and a son of his former partner, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, were a "direct strike" in efforts to combat transnational crime groups.

"The arrest of Ismael Zambada García "El Mayo" and Joaquin Guzman Lopez is a direct strike in our efforts to dismantle the transnational criminal organizations that foment the poison of synthetic drugs that kill so many of our people and cause so much violence in our communities," the ambassador said in a statement.

He added that the U.S. would continue its "collaborative efforts" with Mexico on issues including fentanyl, arms trafficking, and human smugglers.

(Reporting by Anthony Esposito; Editing by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez)