Intense clashes between a drug-lover in Sinaloa: the arrest of the son of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán
Mexican authorities have arrested Ovidio Guzmán, son of notorious drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán, a source from the federal government of Mexico told CNN, in a dramatic operation in the northern state of Sinaloa on Thursday that led to clashes around the city of Culiacán.
The state of Sinaloa is home to the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the world’s most powerful narcotics trafficking organizations. He was sentenced to life in prison in 2020 after being the leader of the group.
He was previously arrested by federal authorities in October 2019, but was released on the orders of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to avoid further bloodshed.
Social media videos appear to show trucks on fire and intense shooting near the airport, which was closed for most of the day due to the violence. CNN has not yet verified these videos.
The secretary of public security for the state of Sinaloa asked the public not to leave the city as vehicles were being looted and blockades were taking place in different parts of the city.
The state’s education secretary also announced that school and administrative activities had been suspended in Culiacán and urged those who are in a risk area to take refuge in a safe place.
The arrest happens before the leaders of the US and Canada go to Mexico City to attend a summit.
Capturing Guzmán could be a way for López Obrador to show the US that he is “in control of the armed forces and Mexico’s security situation,” Gladys McCormick, a associate professor at Syracuse University who focuses on Mexico-U.S. relations, told CNN in an email.
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Law enforcement investigations show that the Guzmn and Joaqun Guzmn-Lpez did inherit a lot of money from their father.
They invested large amounts of cash into buying marijuana and cocaine in Mexico. They also began purchasing large amounts of ephedrine from Argentina and arranged for the smuggling of the product into Mexico as they began to experiment with methamphetamine production,” the State Department said.
A few years ago, Joaqun “El Chapo” Mclaughlin’s conviction gave prosecutors more tools to fight the drug trade in Mexico.
Garcia Luna served as both the head of Mexico’s FBI and then in the president’s cabinet as secretary of Public Security. During his tenure, he met with U.S. officials and spoke at Washington think-tanks about fighting the “war on drugs.”
NPR reported that the Mexican government was fighting a war against other traffickers and favored the Sinaloa drug gang.
Former drug-traffickers in U.S. custody have testified in colorful detail about the lawman on the take, about handing over $3m in cash a meeting at a Guadalajara car-wash, and Garcia Luna’s alleged role in helping Guzman narrowly escape arrest.
The star witness of the day was El Rey – The King. Zambada Garcia told jurors about packing duffle bags holding millions in cash which he watched Garcia Luna collect from one of the Sinaloa cartel’s lawyers.
He explained how paying government officials about 1.5 million dollars per month allowed his men to integrate completely into Mexican law enforcement agencies and even wear government uniforms when raiding rival gangs.
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Most of the evidence used in the prosecution’s case is coming from convicted narcotraffickers who have been given great reductions in their prison sentences in exchange for their cooperation.
There is a trial unfolding at a time when the biggest Mexican gangs have grown in power and wealth.
Gang violence has erupted in Mexico in the last few years. They created an explosion of drug deaths in the US by selling drugs that are illegal in other countries.
Four years ago the U.S. attempted to prosecute the retired Defense Minister of Mexico, who was a high ranking Mexican official.
Facing intense pressure from the government of President Manuel Lopez Obrador, the U.S. DOJ filed court documents unsealed in November 2020 stating that “foreign policy considerations outweigh the government’s interest in pursuing the prosecution of the defendant.”
It’s a lot of work. You don’t see results in a year or three years,” says Regina LaBelle, who served as acting director in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy during the first year of the Biden administration.
She says they aren’t going to throw up their hands and say it’s impossible. “Just asking Mexico to enforce more, to do more seizures in country obviously isn’t going to do it.”
As a consequence, drug policy experts say the cartels are free to operate fentanyl and methamphetamine drug labs inside Mexico with near-total impunity.
The Mexican cartels, the fentanyl crisis and border security are all being attacked by Republicans because they argue that the Biden administration could do more to stop traffickers.
“Last year, drug overdose deaths hit a record high – fueled by fentanyl,” wrote House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week on Twitter. “Securing our southern border would help address this crisis and save lives.”
Republicans were jeers and catcalls, but have not offered a plan of their own for targeting the heroin traffickers that experts say might cause a decrease in the supply reaching American streets.
The synthetic opiate can be made more cheaply than other drugs. It’s so powerful, it can be smuggled profitably even in tiny quantities that are nearly impossible to detect.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2023/02/14/1156093005/head-mexico-fbi-trial-cartel-bribes
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“My belief is there’s absolutely no way to stop it,” says Rep. Trone, who voiced skepticism about the willingness of Mexican officials to target cartels.