29 killed during arrest of drug cartel leader in Mexico
2023.01.07 12:43
29 killed during arrest of drug cartel leader in Mexico
Budrigannews.com – Defense Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval said on Friday that a wave of violence surrounding the arrest of Mexican drug cartel boss Ovidio Guzman in the northern state of Sinaloa resulted in the deaths of 19 suspected members of gangs and 10 military personnel.
The minister stated that the early morning capture of Guzman, the 32-year-old son of kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, by Mexican security forces sparked hours of unrest and shootouts with gang members.
Sandoval went on to say that Guzman was taken by helicopter from the house where he was caught and flown to Mexico City before being taken to a federal prison with maximum security.
The arrest prompted the powerful Sinaloa Cartel, which was once led by El Chapo himself, to go on a rampage, torching vehicles, preventing traffic, and battling security forces in and around Culiacan, Sinaloa’s capital.
Sandoval said at a news conference that 21 more people were arrested during the operations on Thursday, and that there were no reports of civilian deaths.
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador stated that there were no immediate plans to extradite Ovidio to the United States. Ovidio’s father was extradited in 2017 and found guilty in a New York court. He is currently incarcerated in a maximum security prison.
The president stated, “The elements (of the case) must be presented, and the judges in Mexico must decide.” It’s more than just a request; it’s a process.” Lopez Obrador stated that no American forces had been involved in Ovidio’s capture.
According to Sandoval, an additional 1,000 military personnel will be traveling to Sinaloa today to maintain an increased security presence and safeguard the public.
Thursday, shots rang out around the runway, and passengers on an Aeromexico passenger flight at Culiacan airport huddled low below their seats.
David Tellez, a passenger, stated, “As we were accelerating for take-off, we heard gunshots very close to the plane, and that’s when we all threw ourselves to the floor.” Aeromexico claimed that no one was hurt when one of its planes was hit by gunfire at Culiacan.
After being closed due to the violence, the airport was scheduled to reopen later on Friday.
In 2019, Lopez Obrador’s government was humiliated after an unsuccessful attempt to arrest Ovidio. Ovidio was briefly detained by security forces at the time, which sparked a violent reaction from cartel acolytes and forced authorities to release him quickly to avoid further retaliation from his cronies.
His most recent capture comes before U.S. President Joe Biden attends a summit of North American leaders next week in Mexico City. Security cooperation is expected to be discussed.
Guzman has been wanted by the United States for years.
A $5 million reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction was announced by the State Department in 2021.
In the United States, Guzman, who goes by the name “The Mouse,” has been charged with conspiring to bring cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana into the country. According to the State Department, he was in charge of methamphetamine labs in Sinaloa that produced “3,000 to 5,000 pounds” of the drug each month.
Information provided by the State Department also indicated that he had ordered multiple murders, including the one of a well-known Mexican singer who had refused to perform at his wedding.
Pressure to apprehend Guzman has increased as a result of rising shipments of the synthetic opioid fentanyl into the United States, where it has contributed to a record number of overdose deaths.
The majority of the fentanyl in the United States is thought to be produced by the Sinaloa Cartel and one other gang, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration of the United States.
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