Mexico: Airport closed, flights canceled and chaos in Culiacan after Chapo Guzman’s son arrest

The city of Culiacán was thrown into chaos following the arrest of Ovidio Guzmán, son of Joaquín «El Chapo» Guzmán and head of the Sinaloa Cartel, captured today after an operation by Mexican security forces in the state capital.

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Authorities urged the population to remain safe in their homes after suspending work in government offices. Similarly, the Federal International Airport of Culiacán will remain closed until at least 22:00 local time due to fierce armed clashes occurring in the vicinity of the air terminal.

Sources report that at least one Aeromexico plane was hit by a bullet, forcing the operation of the Embraer 190 connecting to Mexico City on flight AM165 to be aborted. The company announced that it will suspend flights to and from Culiacán on the date.

#AeroméxicoInforma tras los hechos ocurridos en Culiacán. pic.twitter.com/CVkhkn77h8

— Aeroméxico (@Aeromexico) January 5, 2023

OMA, operator of the Culiacan airport, confirmed that operations will remain suspended until at least 22:00 this Thursday.

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Culiacan International Airport had 36 flights scheduled to arrive today, of which 20 have been cancelled so far. There were also the same number of departures, 22 of which have been cancelled.

Ovidio Guzmán: What he is being charged accused of

Ovidio Guzmán López is the son of Guzmán and his second wife, Griselda López. He is believed to play a key role in the Sinaloa cartel, according to the US Treasury Department.

The US State Department announced in 2021 that it is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information that could lead to the arrest and/or conviction of four of Guzmán’s sons: Ovidio Guzmán López, Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar, Jesús Alfredo Guzmán Salazar and Joaquín Guzmán López.

«All four are high-ranking members of the Sinaloa Cartel and each is subject to a federal indictment for their involvement in illicit drug trafficking,» the State Department said at the time.

Authorities allege that for 10 years (2008-2018) the brothers conspired to distribute cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine from Mexico and elsewhere to be imported into the United States. Guzmán López is known as «El Ratón» or «Ratón Nuevo.»

In 2019, the Mexican government captured and then released Ovidio Guzman Lopez: troops temporarily detained Ovidio Guzman Lopez during the operation in the city of Culiacan. His followers then initiated an outbreak of violence in the city to force the authorities’ hand.

Initially, the government intended to capture and transfer him, but as the battle dragged on, he was released and the operation was suspended to save lives, said the country’s defense secretary and security minister at the time.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador acknowledged the next day that the operation was suspended «to protect people’s lives».