Mexico- Mexican city erupts in violence, Airports shutdown, residents ordered to stay indoors after drug cartel leader's arrest, 5/1/23

[Curiosa20]

Ovidio Guzmán, “El Ratón”. Dude had it coming, and finally got caughT, and hopefully will be extradited soon, to pay for all the pain and tragedies he had caused. Hope things calm down in the next hours. What a nightmare for the people in Culiacan

Posts are sticking- hope this isn’t a double.
IMHO things in Culiacán may calm down but only relatively and the control of the border area now in major dispute is quite extensive.
And about paying for pain and tragedies, it’s hard to tell how that may work out.
For example:

Drug lord 'La Barbie' is not currently in federal custody, Bureau of Prisons says | CNN

Mexican-American drug trafficker Edgar Valdez Villareal, alias "La Barbie," is "not currently in federal custody" in the United States, the Federal Bureau of Prisons told CNN.

www.cnn.com

 

[Snoods]

Posts are sticking- hope this isn’t a double.
IMHO things in Culiacán may calm down but only relatively and the control of the border area now in major dispute is quite extensive.
And about paying for pain and tragedies, it’s hard to tell how that may work out.
For example:

Drug lord 'La Barbie' is not currently in federal custody, Bureau of Prisons says | CNN

Mexican-American drug trafficker Edgar Valdez Villareal, alias "La Barbie," is "not currently in federal custody" in the United States, the Federal Bureau of Prisons told CNN.

www.cnn.com

I‘m curious, what do you mean about the control of the border now in major dispute?

 

[Lexiintoronto]

From @Visgrad24 (video at link):
“Cartel members entering a hospital in
Culiacán today to kidnap doctors and nurses who will be forced to serve as medics for wounded cartel members.”

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ETA: Visegrad24 is a reputable news organization, but this video is FROM FIVE YEARS AGO! Not today in Culiacan. Sorry for the misinformation.
True source of video:

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[Lexiintoronto]

That’s fake news. The video with the Cartel entering the hospital is five years old and was in Guatemala. Can’t trust anyone to provide truth these days, for real.

Thank you, you’re right. Visegrad24 is normally reliable. I corrected my following post with the true source of the video.

 

[Curiosa20]

That’s fake news. The video with the Cartel entering the hospital is five years old and was in Guatemala. Can’t trust anyone to provide truth these days, for real.

I’ve checked many sources and see that the original was posted by a cheesy online source registered in Honduras, accrediting the news to a respected source in Mexico which did not in fact publish that report.
It does happen frequently, though, just not there in Culiacan so far as reported today.
Thanks for catching that! It’s so common I didn’t even look at the original video.

 

[Curiosa20]

I‘m curious, what do you mean about the control of the border now in major dispute?

Authorities have long identified the major TCO’s area of control in the border region. Although there are only 2-3 that dominate, and mostly 2, those being CDS- Cartel de Sinaloa and CNGJ- Cartel Jalisco- there are many fiefdoms, cells within cells, and competing factions not only between rivals but also within their midst. MOO
There have been high profile arrests in both CDS and CNGJ lately, very key players besides today’s arrest. So all that will set off greater disputes for control along and theoughout the border. MOO
Here’s a map that shows area of domination and presence. Scroll down-

El mapa del narcotráfico en México: 12 cárteles en guerra por el territorio

Son los hallazgos del estudio 'México: Organizaciones del Crimen Organizado y el Narcotráfico', elaborado por el Servicio de Investigación del Congreso de Estados Unidos.

aristeguinoticias.com

 

[Curiosa20]

Long but insightful narrative research story focused in CDS- Cartel de Sinaloa with minor references to Cartel de Jalisco that indicate perceived differences in operating methods

The Sinaloa Cartel's Strategy for Power

Analyze the methods and strategies used by the Sinaloa Cartel to maintain its power.

www.brookings.edu

 

[whiterhino]

Answering my own question as to why the U.S and Mexico government is going so hard after this family:

There is an upcoming summit in Mexico City.

Top U.S. and Canada officials to attend Mexico summit

A host of top cabinet officials from the United States and Canada will take part in a North American Leaders' Summit in Mexico City next week, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Thursday.

www.reuters.com

"Biden and Lopez Obrador would meet for private talks on Monday afternoon, after which high level meetings would take place between Mexican and U.S. officials, Ebrard told a news conference alongside the Mexican president."

El Chapo’s Son Is Captured by Mexican Authorities for 2nd Time (Published 2023)

The arrest of Ovidio Guzmán López was a victory for the Mexican government. He had been briefly detained in 2019, but was released after cartel gunmen overpowered law enforcement.

www.nytimes.com

"But the episode became a national humiliation for the López Obrador administration and cast doubt on the government’s ability to take on cartels in the areas of the country where they have the most power.

Mr. Guzmán López and his brother, Joaquín Guzmán López, were charged in February 2019 by federal prosecutors for “knowingly, intentionally, and willfully” distributing cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana for import into the United States.

Those charges were made public just one day after the elder Mr. Guzmán was convicted after a three-month trial in Brooklyn that revealed the inner workings of the Sinaloa cartel and how it sent tons of drugs into the United States."

Stupid question but why was Guzman being tried in Brooklyn?

As the article also states, Ovidio is one of many. While his arrest will have negative consequences it will likely have no impact on the cartel as a whole not to mention it barely makes a dent in the "industry" over all. JMHO.

All this does is disrupt the lives of locals and negatively impacts tourism. Shutting down main infrastructure, closing schools etc. Again, MOO.

Not worth risking public safety IMHO.

 

[dotr]

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/violence-paralyzes-western-mexican-city-of-culiacan/2023/01/05/6d1dac16-8d0e-11ed-b86a-2e3a77336b8e_story.html

''Thursday’s high-profile capture comes just days before López Obrador will host U.S. President Joe Biden for bilateral talks followed by their North American Leaders’ Summit with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Drug trafficking, along with immigration, is expected to be a top talking point.''

“This is a significant blow to the Sinaloa cartel and major victory for the rule of law. It will not, however, impede the flow of drugs into the U.S. Hopefully, Mexico will extradite him to the U.S.,” Mike Vigil, the DEA’s former Chief of International Operations, said Thursday.
Vigil said that Ovidio Guzmán was involved in all of the cartel’s activities, especially the production of fentanyl. A 2018 federal indictment in Washington, D.C., accused the younger Guzmán of conspiring to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana in the United States.

The CDC said last July that more than 107,000 Americans had died from a drug overdose during the year ending January 2022, most of them involving opioids including illegally made fentanyl.''

 

[tarabull]

Mexico arrests a son of 'El Chapo' ahead of Biden, Trudeau visit

Mexican security forces captured Ovidio Guzman, an alleged drug trafficker wanted by the U.S. and one of the sons of former Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

www.ctvnews.ca

 

[Kormak]

Answering my own question as to why the U.S and Mexico government is going so hard after this family:

There is an upcoming summit in Mexico City.

Top U.S. and Canada officials to attend Mexico summit

A host of top cabinet officials from the United States and Canada will take part in a North American Leaders' Summit in Mexico City next week, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Thursday.

www.reuters.com

"Biden and Lopez Obrador would meet for private talks on Monday afternoon, after which high level meetings would take place between Mexican and U.S. officials, Ebrard told a news conference alongside the Mexican president."

El Chapo’s Son Is Captured by Mexican Authorities for 2nd Time (Published 2023)

The arrest of Ovidio Guzmán López was a victory for the Mexican government. He had been briefly detained in 2019, but was released after cartel gunmen overpowered law enforcement.

www.nytimes.com

"But the episode became a national humiliation for the López Obrador administration and cast doubt on the government’s ability to take on cartels in the areas of the country where they have the most power.

Mr. Guzmán López and his brother, Joaquín Guzmán López, were charged in February 2019 by federal prosecutors for “knowingly, intentionally, and willfully” distributing cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana for import into the United States.

Those charges were made public just one day after the elder Mr. Guzmán was convicted after a three-month trial in Brooklyn that revealed the inner workings of the Sinaloa cartel and how it sent tons of drugs into the United States."

Stupid question but why was Guzman being tried in Brooklyn?

As the article also states, Ovidio is one of many. While his arrest will have negative consequences it will likely have no impact on the cartel as a whole not to mention it barely makes a dent in the "industry" over all. JMHO. Meanwhile, so much of US power are put to do stuff like gun control(even though some positive moves lately in AL and few other states, heard that carrying became much easier there, probably taxes gonna go up with all the guns for sale becoming more popular there.

All this does is disrupt the lives of locals and negatively impacts tourism. Shutting down main infrastructure, closing schools etc. Again, MOO.

Not worth risking public safety IMHO.

Yep, the only people suffering are going to be civilians either way. Cartel is like a hydra, cutting off 1 head won't change literally anything.

 

[whiterhino]

Long but insightful narrative research story focused in CDS- Cartel de Sinaloa with minor references to Cartel de Jalisco that indicate perceived differences in operating methods

The Sinaloa Cartel's Strategy for Power

Analyze the methods and strategies used by the Sinaloa Cartel to maintain its power.

www.brookings.edu

I actually enjoyed reading that article! Informative, thank you.

 

[whiterhino]

Yep, the only people suffering are going to be civilians either way. Cartel is like a hydra, cutting off 1 head won't change literally anything.

If anything, it just changes the structure and chain of command within the cartel.

Not to mention the shift in power between cartels which often results in even more violence and bloodshed.

At least this is my understanding based off documentaries and no IRL experience. MOO.

 

[Charlot123]

u cut one head off another grows. taking down guzman just empowers new gen jalisco. on we go.

In Russia of the 90-es, similar criminal "outfits" were periodically organizing "gunplays". As the result, local cemeteries visibly rejuvenated. Many of local bosses got eliminated, while others morphed into "civilized" businessmen. What I want to say, healthy competition might do a better job than police. On the other hand, cartels don't exist without protection from politicians, so maybe Guzman didn't wet someone's beak well, or rivals did it better?

Just wish peaceful civilians not to get hurt.

 

[Charlot123]

Long but insightful narrative research story focused in CDS- Cartel de Sinaloa with minor references to Cartel de Jalisco that indicate perceived differences in operating methods

The Sinaloa Cartel's Strategy for Power

Analyze the methods and strategies used by the Sinaloa Cartel to maintain its power.

www.brookings.edu

Very interesting. The fate of Sinaloa Cartel after El Chapo's arrest bears resembles the split of Alexander the Great's empire after he died. ))

 

[dotr]

'We threw ourselves to the floor': Mexican passenger plane caught in cartel crossfire

"That's an attack plane, Dad," said one of David Tellez's young children as they spotted Mexican military aircraft touching down alongside their Aeromexico passenger plane early on Thursday.

www.reuters.com

''MEXICO CITY, Jan 5 (Reuters) - "That's an attack plane, Dad," said one of David Tellez's young children as they spotted Mexican military aircraft touching down alongside their Aeromexico passenger plane early on Thursday.

Then the gunfire began.

"As we were accelerating for take-off, we heard gunshots very close to the plane, and that's when we all threw ourselves to the floor," Tellez said after the incident in the northern city of Culiacan.''


''A video circulating on social media, appearing to capture the same incident, showed passengers crouching low below their seats as a child cried.

A flight attendant said the engine had been hit, triggering a leak. The crew directed passengers to disembark, moving them to a windowless waiting room in the airport.

It is not clear who was shooting at whom.

Tellez's family plans to board another flight on Friday, but until then, is staying put.

"We prefer to stay at the airport until it's safe to leave," he said. "The city is worse. There is a lot of shooting and confusion."

 

[whiterhino]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/mexico-violence-guzman-arrest-1.6705649

"Durán-Martínez said there are sectors of the population that support the Sinaloa cartel, "because they have received social support from them and that became more blatant in the past few years, like giving food or giving groceries to people or giving money or sponsoring parties."

"Whether that will lead to the dismantlement of the Sinaloa cartel or of criminal organizations in Sinaloa, I think the answer is no."

2 Mexican airports reopen amid unrest, but Canadians still advised to take caution - National | Globalnews.ca

The airports in Culiacan and Mazatlan restarted operations Friday morning and a third remained closed as unrest continues in Sinaloa state following the arrest of a cartel leader.

globalnews.ca

"An attempt to arrest Ovidio Guzman also led to violence three years ago. An aborted operation to capture him in October 2019 set off violence in Culiacan that ultimately led Lopez Obrador to order the military to let him go.

The Mexican president said there were no immediate plans to extradite Ovidio to the United States, where his father is in a maximum-security prison after being extradited in 2017 and found guilty in a New York court.

“The elements (of the case) have to be presented and the judges in Mexico decide,” the president said. “It is a process…It is not just the request.” No U.S. forces had assisted in Ovidio’s capture, Lopez Obrador said.

An enhanced security presence will now remain in place in Sinaloa to protect the public, with an additional 1,000 military personnel traveling to the region today, Sandoval said."

Explainer | Here’s what led to violence erupting in Mexico’s Sinaloa state — and how Canadians there are faring

At least 29 people dead in Mexico cartel stronghold areas following arrest of El Chapo’s son, Ovidio Guzmán

www.thestar.com

“We didn’t feel safe to go back out after we came back. And I don’t think anyone really did either because the hotel was packed,” she said.

She said there was a sense of panic and uncertainty, and that the airline she had flown with, Sunwing, had been helpful in providing updates.

“But as far as the Canadian government, I haven’t heard much, and there’s a lot of families here with a lot of little kids. So someone should be updating us,” she said.

IMHO looks like a Gov show of force in time for the summit. Perhaps the wheels weren't given enough grease or not as much as others have offered? They're peeling an onion.

 

[dotr]

Unrelated, afaik..

Subway train collision in Mexico City kills 1, injures 16

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Two subway trains collided Saturday in Mexico City, killing at least one person and injuring 16, authorities announced.

www.thestar.com

''MEXICO CITY (AP) — Two subway trains collided Saturday in Mexico City, killing at least one person and injuring 16, authorities announced.

Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said on her Twitter account that the accident happened on Line 3 of the capital’s Metro system, without specifying the cause of the incident.

Sheinbaum said one person was killed and 16 were taken to hospitals for injuries.''

 

[Lexiintoronto]

Answering my own question as to why the U.S and Mexico government is going so hard after this family:

There is an upcoming summit in Mexico City.

Top U.S. and Canada officials to attend Mexico summit

A host of top cabinet officials from the United States and Canada will take part in a North American Leaders' Summit in Mexico City next week, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Thursday.

www.reuters.com

"Biden and Lopez Obrador would meet for private talks on Monday afternoon, after which high level meetings would take place between Mexican and U.S. officials, Ebrard told a news conference alongside the Mexican president."

El Chapo’s Son Is Captured by Mexican Authorities for 2nd Time (Published 2023)

The arrest of Ovidio Guzmán López was a victory for the Mexican government. He had been briefly detained in 2019, but was released after cartel gunmen overpowered law enforcement.

www.nytimes.com

"But the episode became a national humiliation for the López Obrador administration and cast doubt on the government’s ability to take on cartels in the areas of the country where they have the most power.

Mr. Guzmán López and his brother, Joaquín Guzmán López, were charged in February 2019 by federal prosecutors for “knowingly, intentionally, and willfully” distributing cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana for import into the United States.

Those charges were made public just one day after the elder Mr. Guzmán was convicted after a three-month trial in Brooklyn that revealed the inner workings of the Sinaloa cartel and how it sent tons of drugs into the United States."

Stupid question but why was Guzman being tried in Brooklyn?

As the article also states, Ovidio is one of many. While his arrest will have negative consequences it will likely have no impact on the cartel as a whole not to mention it barely makes a dent in the "industry" over all. JMHO.

All this does is disrupt the lives of locals and negatively impacts tourism. Shutting down main infrastructure, closing schools etc. Again, MOO.

Not worth risking public safety IMHO.

It’s a paywalled article, but this quote answers your question about why El Chapo was tried in Brooklyn:

“Why Brooklyn: El Chapo was indicted in New York in 2009 on charges stemming from a series of drug-related contract killings in Queens in 1993. The seat of the federal court district that includes Queens is in Brooklyn. Welcome: After multiple escapes, El Chapo was finally extradited from Mexico in 2017.”

N.Y. Today: Why El Chapo Ended Up in a Brooklyn Court (Published 2019)

At a trial that drew the curious and the macabre, the Mexican drug lord was handed a verdict of guilty.

www.nytimes.com

 

[whiterhino]

AFAIK The Mexican Government doesn't have to extradite Guzman. From what I understand, this arrest stems from a warrant issued by U.S gov back in 2019.

More articles:

El Chapo's Son ‘El Bebe’ Is the Weakest Link in the Sinaloa Cartel

Ovidio Guzmán, who was arrested Jan. 5, is one of the four “Chapitos” now in charge of a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel.

www.vice.com

"But Ovidio, 32, who is known by the nicknames “El Bebé,” which means “the Baby,” as well as “El Ratón,” or “the Mouse,” could be the weakest link to the world’s most powerful cartel, despite his cinematic capture. Security experts as well as sources in Sinaloa say that his brothers, especially Iván Archivaldo, have much more influence, and that his detention will likely make little dent in the cartel’s operations.

“He’s important because family is the driving force behind the Sinaloa Cartel. Bloodlines are important,” said Alejandro Hope, a security expert based in Mexico City. “But was he the most important member of his cartel? I don’t think so. Will this change the structure of the cartel? I’m skeptical. Does this have a significant effect on drug flows? Most likely not.”

Mexico City judge halts extradition of El Chapo’s son

Ovidio Guzmán-López was arrested in Northern Mexico early Thursday morning after a wild night of violence that left at least 30 dead, according to local media.

www.nydailynews.com

"After his arrest, Mexico’s Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard confirmed U.S. authorities had issued an arrest warrant for El Ratón in September 2019 but said he couldn’t immediately turn Guzmán over to the U.S. until “the legal process is carried out.”

On Friday, a federal judge suspended “the acts consisting of deportation, expulsion, extradition and their execution,” Mexican newspaper La Prensa reported.

Later, during a hearing at the Altiplano maximum security federal prison where Guzmán is currently being held, another judge ordered him to stay in 60 days of preventive detention, allowing U.S. authorities to finalize the extradition process."

JMHO If the past is any indication there is a good chance something like a subway crash could coincide with an escape. If the son is like the father, the people will want to see him set free. Especially if the rivals are known to be more forceful and violent. This does nothing but ensure more violence further down the road. MOO.