Ovidio Guzmán ,son of one of the most wanted drug Lords in history, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán ,has been arrested by mexican authorities according to a source from the Federal Government of Mexico. He was arrested in the middle of a dramatic operation in the northern state of Sinaloa which led to clashes around the city of Culiacán
He is described as “a high-ranking” member of the Sinaloa Cartel .Recently, in October 2019 , he was arrested by the federal authorities but was released on the orders of President Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador to avoid further bloodshed between the police and members of the Sinaloa Cartel who were demanding his release.
Chaos broke out in the city on Thursday which led to local officials pleading with citizens to stay at home because of the clashes between the police and Cartel members in various parts of Culiacán .
The violence that was caused by his arrest also led to closure of the airport .The closure was forced by the Gang members who were roaming around with trucks while conducting an intense shooting around the airport.
Some people even crouched for cover in an Aeromexico plane which was hit by a bullet while grounded in Culiacán.
As the arrest was announced, Sinaloa Secretary of Public Security, Cristóbal Castañeda said that vehicles were being looted and blockades were taking place in different parts of the city as he asked the citizens not to leave the city.
The Education Secretary of the state also announced that school and administrative activities had been suspended in Culiacán and he also urged those who were in a risky or dangerous area to seek refuge in a safe place .
The State of Sinaloa in Mexico is home to the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the world’s most powerful narcotics trafficking organisation. “El Chapo” was the leader of the Cartel before he was sentenced to life in prison in the year 2020.
The state department which was offering a $5 Million reward for information leading to Guzmán’s arrest said that Guzman and his brother had inherited a great deal of narcotics following the death of another brother ,Edgar Guzmán López.
The brothers began investing huge amounts of the cash into the purchasing of Marijuana in Mexico and cocaine in Colombia. They also began purchasing huge chunks of ephedrine from Argentina and arranged for the smuggling of the product in Mexico as the process commenced with methamphetamine production.
It is also said by the State Department that the brothers also oversee the ongoing of their operations in 11 methamphetamine labs in the state of Sinaloa.
Their father “El Chapo” Guzmán was convicted in the United States in 2019 of 10 counts , Including engaging in a criminal enterprise, drug trafficking and firearm charges . He was sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years and was also ordered to pay $12.6 Billion dollars in forfeiture.
By Denzel S. Ondijo
