This archive report was first published on 18 October 2019.
On October 17, 2019, a dramatic scene unfolded in Culiacan, Mexico, as violence erupted in the capital of Sinaloa state. The chaos was sparked by the release of Ovidio Guzmán López, a son of notorious drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman.
According to reports, the military had taken Ovidio into custody earlier in the day, but he was later released after a fierce gun battle raged for hours. The streets of Culiacan were blocked by burning vehicles, and authorities issued an advisory urging residents to remain calm and stay indoors.
Mexican security forces were deployed to the area, and state officials warned people to avoid the area. The situation was further complicated by the presence of heavily armed gunmen, who had 'a greater force' than the authorities.
Alfonso Durazo, the Mexican security secretary, explained that 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 found Ovidio Guzman inside the house, but ultimately decided to suspend the operation due to the overwhelming force of the cartel members.
Jose Luis González Meza, a lawyer for 'El Chapo's' family, confirmed that Ovidio was alive and free, but provided no further details about the events that transpired.
It's worth noting that Ovidio Guzmán was indicted in 2018 by a grand jury in Washington for alleged trafficking of cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana, along with a fourth brother.
As the situation in Culiacan continued to unfold, videos published on social media showed a scene resembling a war zone, with gunmen firing machine guns and sniper rifles, and vehicles burning in the streets.
Cristóbal Castañeda, the Sinaloa public safety director, reported that there were people wounded, but did not provide a casualty figure, and did not rule out the possibility of deaths.
It's clear that the release of Ovidio Guzmán López has sparked a violent response from the cartel, and the situation in Culiacan remains volatile.
