Gunfights have damaged out within the capital of Mexico’s Sinaloa state after safety forces captured one in all Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman’s sons, who is needed by the US on drug trafficking costs.
Defence Secretary Luis Cresencio Sandoval stated Army and National Guard personnel captured 32-year-old Ovidio Guzman in a pre-dawn operation in Culiacan.
Three years in the past, an try to arrest Ovidio led to humiliation for the federal government when President Andrew Manuel Lopez Obrador ordered the navy to let him go after gunmen shot up the town with high-powered weapons.
This time native and state officers in Sinaloa warned residents to remain inside, suspended native authorities actions and closed faculties, whereas the Mexican navy closed Culiacan’s airport amid gunfire.
Mexican airline Aeromexico stated one in all its planes had been hit by gunfire forward of a scheduled flight to Mexico City, although nobody was damage.
Passenger movies posted on-line confirmed individuals cowering on the ground of the airplane as capturing might be heard within the background.
David Tellez, a passenger who captured video of individuals crouching on the airplane after listening to gunshots, was travelling along with his spouse and three kids after visiting his in-laws.
Mr Tellez, whose daughter will be heard crying within the video he captured, informed Sky News: “While on the plane ready to take off I saw planes from the army land and then five seconds before take-off I heard gunshots and everybody got to the ground and the pilot returned the plane to the terminal.
“Then I discovered the airplane had been shot. We are scared to go away the airport as a result of the town is on fireplace and lots of roads are blocked so we plan to sleep right here.”
Mr Tellez stated when he was checking in he was informed by airport employees to take shelter in a rest room however then they have been informed it was okay to fly.
Other clips seem to indicate heavy preventing throughout the town because the sky was lit up by helicopter gunfire.
Ovidio’s seize comes forward of Mr Lopez Obrador internet hosting a North American leaders’ summit in Mexico City subsequent week, through which US President Joe Biden is predicted to need to talk about drug trafficking.
“This is a significant blow to the Sinaloa cartel and major victory for the rule of law,” stated Mike Vigil, the DEA’s former chief of worldwide operations.
“It will not, however, impede the flow of drugs into the US. Hopefully, Mexico will extradite him to the US.”
Six months of surveillance in cartel territory
Ovidio’s seize was the results of six months of reconnaissance and surveillance in cartel territory, Mr Sandoval stated.
National Guard troops noticed SUVs, some with home made armour, and instantly coordinated with the military as they established a fringe across the suspicious autos and compelled the occupants out with a view to search them.
The safety forces then got here below fireplace however have been in a position to achieve management of the state of affairs and determine Ovidio amongst these current and in possession of firearms, Mr Sandoval stated.
Cartel members arrange 19 roadblocks overlaying all level of entry to the town of Culiacan, together with Culiacan’s airport and out of doors the native military base.
A frontrunner of ‘the juniors’ faction
Mr Sandoval stated Ovidio was a frontrunner of a Sinaloa faction he known as “los menores” or “the juniors”, who’re also referred to as “los Chapitos” or “the little Chapos”.
The different “little Chapos” are two of his brothers, Ivan Archivaldo Guzman and Jesus Alfredo Guzman, who’re believed to have been operating cartel operations with Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.
Mr Vigil stated the Chapitos have been taking larger management of the cartel as a result of Zambada was sick and remoted within the mountains.
“The Chapitos know that if El Mayo dies, (the cartel) is going to break apart if they don’t have control,” he stated.
“It’s going to be very important that the US requests Ovidio’s extradition quickly and that Mexico does it.”
US supplied $5m reward
A 2018 federal indictment in Washington DC accused Ovidio of conspiring to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine and hashish within the US.
The US has supplied a $5m (£4m) reward for info resulting in the arrest or conviction of Ovidio, who has change into a key determine within the cartel since his father’s arrest.
It is unclear whether or not Ovidio might be extradited to the US like his father, who’s serving a life sentence at Colorado’s Supermax jail.
Source: information.sky.com”