Ovidio Guzmán López: who is the son of “El Chapo” arrested and accused of leading the Sinaloa cartel

It is not an alien situation for the residents of Culiacán, capital of the state of Sinaloa, in northern Mexico. This Thursday morning they woke up to a wave of violence in their streets, with roadblocks and shootouts between security forces and members of organized crime, while the authorities captured Ovidio Guzmán López, son of “El Chapo.”

The operation, reported by local media and by the Reuters news agency, occurs almost four years after the man, who is considered one of the leaders of the sinaloa cartelwas detained in the same place, only to be released hours later due to the violent response faced by the Mexican Armed Forces, which plunged the city into chaos.

SIGHT: Airlines close operations due to violence in Sinaloa after capo capture

That 24-hour event of violence that occurred in 2019 is remembered as “the Culiacanazo”.

This Thursday, burned cars and trucks were also reported around Culiacán, and even an armed forces plane was shot. The authorities did a call to the population so that they do not leave their houses.

Videos are circulating of alleged members of the Sinaloa Cartel who fire at military planes that arrive at the Culiacán airport to support the Armed Forces to contain the reactions to the arrest of Ovidio Guzmán, “El Ratón”. pic.twitter.com/ryOm2mtEs2

— Oscar Balmen (@oscarbalmen) January 5, 2023

Videos on social networks show how, armed to the teeth, with bulletproof vests and high-caliber weapons, members of the criminal group dominated the streets of the city in response to the military operation.

The Mexican government has so far not publicly confirmed Guzmán’s detention. In his press conference this Thursday, the president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador He acknowledged the existence of an operation but did not offer further details.

Ovidio Guzmán Lopez, who is nicknamed “El Ratón” or “El Nuevo Ratón”, is considered a dangerous criminal, who has been accused of drug trafficking by the US authorities.

Ovidio Guzmán López, is known by his alias “El Ratón”. (US STATE DEPT.)

He doesn’t like luxuries

“El Ratón” is one of four children from “El Chapo’s” relationship with his second wife, Griselda López Pérez.

It is estimated that “El Chapo”, who is serving a prison sentence in a high-security prison in the US, has at least 10 children from his various marriages.

In 2018, Ovidio -who is now 32 years old- was charged by the United States Department of Justice with conspiracy to distribute drugs to be imported into the US, along with his brother Joaquín Guzmán López.

Mexican soldiers patrol the streets of Culiacán this January 5th. (Photo: Getty Images)

According to prosecutors, from April 2008 to April 2018, the two conspired to distribute cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine from Mexico to the United States.

According to the Mexican network Televisa, Ovidio is the brother of Joaquín, Griselda and Édgar Guzmán, who was allegedly killed by members of the Beltrán Leyva cartel.

It is also known that he was born in Badiguarato, Sinaloa, the land of “El Chapo”. Mexican media reports that he describes himself as a man who is not particularly interested in luxuries or sports cars.

#LAST MINUTE. Ovidio Guzmán “El Ratón” was arrested in Culiacán, Sinaloa. There is talk of 50 drug blockades in the streets of the place. The arrest occurs 4 years after he was released on AMLO’s orders. It happens on the eve of Biden’s visit to Mexico. Coincidence? pic.twitter.com/QZn5PC3Qkn

– Antonio Aguirre (@TonyAguirre10) January 5, 2023

On the other hand, he would be interested in horses and fine roosters.

Ray Donovan, the DEA special agent who led the 22-agency effort that led to the capture of “El Chapo” Guzmán, told CNN in February that the Sinaloa cartel still supplies the vast majority of drug markets. americans.

“In fact, the sons of ‘El Chapo’ have now risen to the ranks of the Sinaloa cartel and they have taken over the entire Chapo organization,” he said.

Source: Elcomercio