Cars caught fire as a son of notorious drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was arrested in Mexico, leaving 29 dead, according to the government.
Defense Secretary Luis Cresencio Sandoval said Friday that the fatalities included 10 military personnel and 19 “lawbreakers”. Ovidio Guzman was arrested in northern Mexico on Thursday after members of Guzman’s cartel exchanged fire with security forces.
Burning cars
Criminals blocked buses and trucks in the street and set fire to vehicles in the town of Culiacan, television broadcasts showed on Thursday. Numerous shots were heard.
Armed troops attacked the airport and a barracks, among other things, said Defense Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval.
US embassy warns
In light of the clashes, Governor Ruben Rocha Moya called on people in the northwestern state of Sinaloa to stay in their homes. Schools, public buildings and Culiacan Airport are closed. The U.S. Embassy in Mexico advised against travel to Sinaloa.
Soldiers had previously arrested Ovidio Guzman, the Mexican government said. “This is a serious blow to the leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel,” Sandoval said. After his father’s arrest, Guzman took over part of the cartel and was one of the main dealers of the drug fentanyl in the Latin American country. Together with his brothers, he repeatedly confronted other groups within the cartel.
He was arrested once before in 2019, but was later released on orders from President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to stop fierce fighting between criminals and security forces. According to US officials, he runs a number of methamphetamine production laboratories, producing between 1.5 and 2.5 tons of the drug per month. He also allegedly ordered the murder of informants, rivals and a singer who refused to sing at his wedding.
Powerful drug dealer
His father “El Chapo” was one of the most powerful drug dealers in the world. The former head of the Sinaloa cartel smuggled tons of cocaine and heroin into the US and made billions from it. He is also believed to have been responsible for up to 3,000 murders. He escaped from maximum security prisons in Mexico twice. After his final arrest, he was extradited to the United States and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Ovidio Guzman was taken to Mexico City and handed over to the Organized Crime Prosecutor. The US State Department has placed a $5 million bounty on his head. A Washington court charged him with drug smuggling in 2018. However, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard has now said that Guzman will not be extradited to the United States immediately in any case.
Next week, Mexican President Lopez Obrador, US President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will meet in Mexico City for the North American Summit. One of the topics at the meeting in the Mexican capital will also be the common security policy.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
