The Mexican government has been forced to release El Chapo’s son to put an end to the cartel onslaught in Culiacan, Mexico.
Ovidio Guzman Lopez, one of the sons of Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was arrested Thursday, October 17, in the capital of Mexico’s Sinaloa state.
His arrest led to an intense gunfight between masked gunmen and Mexican security forces, with heavy weapons and burning vehicles blocking roads. Videos published on social media showed a scene resembling a war zone. The masked men were seen riding in the back of trucks firing mounted machine guns as vehicles burned. People could be seen running for cover as machine gun fire rattled around them.
As the gunfire raged, Mexican authorities were forced to release Ovidio, 28, to put an end to the violence.
There are also reports that Ovidio had to be released because at least six soldiers were being held by gunmen.
Mexican security secretary Alfonso Durazo said 30 members of the National Guard and army were patrolling in Culiacan when they were fired on from a house. They repelled the attack and apprehended Ovidio Guzman Lopez inside the house. The house was then surrounded by heavily armed gunmen who had “a greater force” and authorities decided to suspend the operation, Durazo said.
Security forces released Ovidio Guzman to protect lives, Durazo said, Reuters reported.
Ovidio Guzman is wanted in the U.S. on drug trafficking charges. He was indicted in 2018 by a grand jury in Washington, along with a fourth brother, for the alleged trafficking of cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana.
