Drug lord El Chapo's son apprehended in Mexico, clashes erupt
Mexican Cartel turns Mexican streets into a bloodbath after the government apprehends drug lord Ovidio Guzman Lopez, son of "El Chapo."
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A vehicle inside the Attorney General's Office for Special Investigations on Organized Crime, following the detention of Mexican drug lord Ovidio Guzman, son of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, in Mexico City, Mexico January 5, 2023. (Reuters)
Ovidio Guzman Lopez, the son of convicted drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, was detained in Culiacan and then transferred to Mexico City, Mexican Defense Secretary Luis Cresencio Sandoval Gonzalez stated on Thursday.
Later, Ruben Rocha Moya, the governor of the Mexican state of Sinaloa, announced that one person was killed and 27 others had been injured in gunfights with Sinaloa Cartel members in the city of Culiacan that had escalated following the capture of drug lord Guzman Lopez.
"At this moment, we can say that the events are over. Roads have been closed in Culiacan, Los Mochis and Esquinapa; we are already clearing the streets... 27 people suffered gunshot wounds in the clashes, a National Guard soldier was killed, at least three civilians were wounded," the governor told the Formula broadcaster.
According to local officials, members of the cartel kidnapped or torched over 250 vehicles. At least 18 streets had been blocked by security forces, and three airports had halted all operations. According to local media which cited an airport source, the cartel fired large-caliber weapons at a couple of helicopters and another Mexican Air Force transport aircraft, causing the latter to explode into flames after landing due to engine damage.
Cristobal Castaneda, Sinaloa's public security secretary, claimed earlier in the day that seven police officers and numerous military men had been hurt, but no one had died. He went on to say that Mexico's security forces had foiled an attack on a nearby jail together with the attempted escape of several convicts.
Respecto al Penal en Culiacán, informar que la seguridad se encuentra reforzada con apoyo de @SEDENAmx y @GN_MEXICO_ ,además de la Policía Estatal. No se han registrado evasiones ni desmanes en su interior, solo quema de basura.
— Seguridad Pública Sinaloa (@sspsinaloa1) January 5, 2023
Se mantienen los trabajos y despliegues operativos.
The streets of Culiacan continue to be a battlefield between cartel members and law enforcement. Castaneda posted on his own Twitter asking people to be vigilant on the streets of Mexico given the ongoing situation.
Por favor les pedimos que no salgan a las calles, vemos vehículos circulando en la ciudad, camionetas con polarizados muy oscuros y son civiles, tampoco circulen en unidades de redilas o doble rodado, NO salgan, se sigue con los patrullamientos. @C4iSinaloa @sspsinaloa1 #911
— Cristóbal Castañeda (@Mtro_CCastaneda) January 5, 2023
Guzman Lopez will face trial in Mexico
According to Sandoval Gonzalez "From the scene of the arrest, the detainee was taken to Mexico City by a Mexican Air Force aircraft,... transferred to the premises of the Attorney General's Office for Special Investigations on Organized Crime (FEMDO) for further transfer to the federal prosecutor's office and clarification of his legal situation."
While the US has requested that Mexico extradite Guzman Lopez to the US to be tried and convicted, Mexican Foreign Affairs Secretary Marcelo Ebrard announced on Thursday that the extradition has been ruled out at this time.
Ebrard further said, "We cannot extradite him... or, in these circumstances, proceed with his deportation today or tomorrow or the day after, it is impossible, we must comply with the formalities that the law imposes on us."
According to Ebrard, the son of "El Chapo" must first answer for crimes under criminal cases currently underway in Mexico.
It is worth noting that the Sinaloa Cartel's youth wing is led by Guzman Lopez, who also engages in criminal activity in numerous states across Mexico, as stated by the Mexican Defense Ministry. He is the son of "El Chapo," the former cartel lord who is serving a life sentence in the United States.
