THE son of notorious drug lord El Chapo ESCAPED cops after his arrest triggered an all-out cartel war in Mexico.
Ovidio Guzman Lopez, 28, was freed after cops were outgunned by cartel gunmen in a bloody firefight that left bodies lying in the street and cars burning in Culiacan.
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Up to 50 inmates from the local prison also broke out, fleeing onto the surrounding streets, as gunmen took on the security forces.
Bloody gun battles raged for hours on the streets of Culiacán, which is theSinaloa cartel’s stronghold, afternews ofOvidio Guzmanbeing taken-in spread.
Heavily-armed cartel gunmen swarmed onto the streets, battling police and soldiers in broad daylight.
Several vehicles were torched or riddled with bullets and a petrol station was left burning.
Some were in trucks, with one vehicle reported to have had a. 50 – caliber machine gun bolted onto it.
‘PROTECT CITIZENS’
In a desperate bid to “protect citizens” Mexican security forces released Ovidio Guzman from a house hours after the arrest, according to Reuters.
Security Minister Alfonso Durazo said: “The decision was taken to retreat from the house, without Guzman, to try to avoid more violence in the area and preserve the lives of our personnel and recover calm in the city.”
His arrest came months after his dad, Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman, was sentenced to life imprisonment for drug trafficking and conspiracy.
Prior to the release, dramatic footage showed the army and Mexico’s newly formed national guard take-in Ovidio Guzman at around 3. 30 pm local time.
What we know so far:
- El Chapo’s son was arrested at 3. 30 pm Thursday in Culiacán, Mexico
- Forces apprehended Ovidio Guzman Lopez, 28, after being fired at from a nearby house
- Mass chaos erupted as news of his arrest spread throughout the city – a Sinaloa cartel stronghold
- After hours of gunfire, a prison break and violent clashes, Ovidio Guzman was released
- Mexican authorities say the decision was to ‘protect citizens’
It happened after a patrol of 30 soldiers were attacked by individuals inside a home in the Tres Rios neighborhood, theNew York Timesreported.
After Mexican military took control of the home after they discovered Ovidio Guzman was among four men detained.
But shortly after the cartel struck back, determined to find one of their leaders.
Gunmen are said to have surrounded the house, starting an hour-long gun battle with the gunmen eventually overpowering the patrol.
The decision was made to release Ovidio Guzman and withdraw as a way to protect lives and restore calm to the city.
Local reports claimed that gunmen blocked-off entrances to certain parts of the city with burning vehicles during their searches.
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THE HUNT FOR GUZMAN
Warnings were spread on social media urging people to stay indoors.
A statement read “remain calm” and advised “not to go out on the streets”.
Civilians were said to be fleeing for their lives, hiding in supermarket aisles and suburban streets,Los Angeles Timesreported.
‘PRETTY SPOOKED’
In one shocking clip, a daughter asked her father: “Why are they shooting bullets?”
To which he replied:“I don’t know, my love. Get down. ”
The arrest would have been seen as a triumph for Mexican authorities.
Jan-Albert Hootsen, who was in Culiacán, witnessedsmoke on the horizon and stated that people were ” pretty spooked “.
DRUG KINGPIN Who is El Chapo?
THE crime boss is one of the most notorious drug lords in history
Joaquin Archivaldo Guzman Loera was known by multiple nicknames, but his most famous was “El Chapo” meaning “shorty” in English.
He ran the Sinaloa Cartel, a criminal organization named after the Mexican Pacific coast.
El Chapo became the country top drug lord in 2003 after the arrest of his rival Osiel Cardenas of the Gulf Cartel.
He was considered the “most powerful drug trafficker in the world” by the US Department of the Treasury.
Guzman was believed to be a “principal leader” of an organization “responsible for importing and distributing more than a million kilograms of cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine and heroin in the US.”
He also earned the nickname “El Rapido” for for how quickly he transported drugs from Mexico to America for the Colombian cartels
Ovidio Guzman allegedly took over the cartel with his brother IvanArchivaldo Guzman Salazar after their father was extradited in 2017
The sons, who are known locally as “Los Chapitos”, were previously believed to have been in a battle with one of the cofounders of the cartel.
Ismel “El Mayo” Zambada reportedly wanted them removed from the organization.
Jose Luis Gonazles Meza, a lawyer for El Chapo’s family, said that “Ovidio is alive and free” but had no more details about what had happened.
Guzman’s current whereabouts are not known.
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CARTEL WAR
Ovidio Guzman is one of four children from the drug lord’s second marriage, theGuardianreported, and among at least 10 kids in total.
In February, he and elder brother Joaquin Guzman Lopez were named in an indictment by the US Department of Justice.
The charges related to alleged cocaine trafficking.
‘MAJOR HUMILIATION’
Mexico has seen the highest number of killings in more than 20 Years.
The battle for control of the drug trade has turned parts of the country into some of the deadliest places on earth.
The government has targeted top leaders during their battle to tackle the now 13 – year war on drugs.
But buckling under the cartel’s pressure will now be seen as a major humiliation for President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
This didn’t even happen when they got Chapo himself. Does this mean the Sinaloa cartel is * more powerful * now?
Nick Miroff, of the Washington Post
One reporter,Nick Miroff,wrote: “This didn’t even happen when they got Chapo himself. ***********
“Does this mean the Sinaloa cartel is ‘more powerful’ now?”
El Chapo was found guilty of trafficking masses of cocaine, heroine and marijuana while running the Sinaloa Cartel in a US court.
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The 62 – Year- old was transferred to a supermax, super-maximum security, prison in Florence, Colorado.
Having escaped from prison twice before, he will now spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Falko Ernst, senior analyst for the International Crisis Group in Mexico, said the release of Ovidio Guzman set “a dangerous precedent” and sent a message that the state itself, including the army, could be blackmailed and was not in control .
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50 inmates have escaped from a prison near Culiacán, Mexico, where gunmen are fighting security forces
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