On 05 January 2023, Mexican Security forces initiated a military operation in Culiacan, Sinaloa, in an effort to capture Ovidio Guzman Lopez, one of the leaders of the 'Los Chapitos' faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. Lopez is also the son of Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman. Lopez is also said to be responsible, in conjunction with his brothers, for manufacturing and smuggling the deadly drug fentanyl into the United States. It should also be noted that this operation took places only days before US President, Joe Biden was scheduled to arrive in Mexico.
On the day of the operation, a large convoy of gunmen belonging to the drug organization was spotted while mobilizing to Culiacan where a military helicopter used heavy fire against an unspecified target during the night hours. Rumors initially circulated that Ovidio Guzman Lopez might have been killed, but he was actually taken into custody. Soon after the operation began, alleged Sinaloa cartel members reportedly took over Culiacan International Airport with the aim to prevent the transfer of detainees, while trucks were seized and set on fire in order to block the main roads across the city.
After almost 24 hours after the arrest of Ovidio Guzman Lopez, Sinaloa cartel members supposedly retreated, but not before severe acts of violence affected the cities of Culiacan, Los Mochis, and Guasave, in the state of Sinaloa. According to local media reports, the airports reopened after all flight operations were suspended due to the presence of gunmen who had threatened the safety of both passengers and workers.
The armed confrontation between Sinaloa Cartel hitmen and Mexico's Security Forces resulted in the death of 29, among them 10 soldiers, as well as the injury of several others.
Purportedly, after retreating, the Sinaloa cartel sent a 72-hour ultimatum to Mexico’s President Obrador and the federal agents, demanding the liberation of Ovidio Guzman and threatening of further attacks on shopping centers, petrol stations and governmental buildings if their request is not met. Although the 72 hour deadline has expired without major incident, TRAC cannot rule out reprisal attacks in the near future.
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