Mexico’s Secretary of Defense, Luis Cresencio Sandoval, said Thursday that the arrest of Ovidio Guzmán, alias ‘El Ratón’, was a «resounding blow» to the top leadership of the Pacific Cartel.
The son of the former leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, drug trafficker Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán, was arrested in the early hours of January 5 by members of the Mexican Army and the National Guard, in coordination with the Mexican National Intelligence Center, as well as other judicial authorities, Sandoval said at a press conference.
«The military personnel carried out ground reconnaissance in the northwest of Culiacán and arrested Ovidio N. The arrest was the result of six months of work, reconnaissance and surveillance in the area of influence of this criminal group, where it was known that he was carrying out his illicit activities,» he said.
In this sense, he explained that the military identified several armored vans, after which «an inter-institutional security operative scheme» was established, with a perimeter fence around the suspicious vehicles.
Subsequently, they called for the members to get out of the vehicles and proceed to a police identification. The military were subjected to «armed aggression». «A defense plan was established,» he stressed.
«After controlling the direct aggression, Ovidio N was identified (…) Moments after the arrest, member cells of his criminal group carried out 19 blockades and armed aggressions in different parts of the city of Culiacán, including the airport and military air base 10,» he has recounted.
Sandoval has also highlighted that at least four highway points were blocked, such as the access to Los Mochis. «The detainee was transferred from the point of detention to Mexico City in Mexican Air Force aircraft,» he added.
Finally, he has indicated that the detainee has been placed at the disposal of the authorities to determine «his legal situation». «These activities were carried out in strict compliance with the rule of law and with full respect for human rights».
The Mexican Secretary of Defense was referring to the closure of Culiacan International Airport, which had to be closed from 8:30 a.m. (local time) until 10 p.m. due to the security situation in the area. Aeromexico reported that one of its planes was shot at the airport.
The Army has mobilized its troops in Sinaloa due to the unrest in the city. The Secretary of Public Security of the State of Sinaloa, Cristóbal Castañeda, has reported the burning of vehicles and the blocking of highways.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
