The arrest of Ovidio Guzman, a drug trafficking figure, sparked several shootings that led to the closure of schools and government offices.
One of the sons of drug trafficker El Chapo, Ovidio Guzman, was arrested by Mexican authorities on Thursday (January 5), citing authorities, according to Portal. The arrest came after a night of violence that ravaged the city of Culiacan, Sinaloa state.
His arrest sparked multiple shootings in the cities of Los Mochis and Guasave on Thursday, the US Embassy in Mexico said on Twitter. “Shots were reported in several locations including Culiacan, Los Mochis and Guasave. (…) The governor of Sinaloa advises the public to seek shelter on the spot. We remind American citizens that (the American authorities) advise against traveling to the province of Sinaloa,” it said.
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Ovidio Guzman, one of the sons of currently imprisoned drug trafficker El Chapo, is one of the figures in the local drug trade. Briefly arrested by Mexican authorities in 2019, he was released to avoid violent reprisals from his gang, the Sinaloa Cartel.
Scenes of Chaos in Culiacan
His arrest comes days before a summit that will be attended by American leaders Joe Biden, Canadian Justin Trudeau and Mexican Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador on Monday and Tuesday in Mexico City. Earlier, the United States offered a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Ovidio Guzman. A spike in overdose deaths from synthetic opioids like fentanyl in the United States had forced Mexico to step up pressure on the cartels responsible for manufacturing and shipping the drug.
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In Culiacan, where shooting broke out on Thursday, the airport was closed. A plane was reportedly shot at on the runway, footage posted on social media shows. The local government is asking residents not to leave their homes. Schools and administrations were closed. According to reports, roadblocks were set up in the streets.
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