2023 Sinaloa unrest
On 5 January 2023, Ovidio Guzmán López, the son of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán and high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel, was arrested by authorities in the Jesús María district of Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico.
Following the arrest, the U.S. Consulate in Hermosillo shared that it had received reports of gunfire, roadblocks, and fires throughout the cities of Culiacán, Los Mochis, and Guasave. The Consulate reiterated the United States Department of State's highest level of travel advisory cautioning against travel to Sinaloa.[1] Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya called for the public to shelter in place.[2]
Unrest led to the closure of Culiacán International Airport as two planes at the airport, one a passenger one belonging to Aeromexico and another one a military one, took gunfire. Shootouts were also reported on the runway.[3][4] Aeroméxico diverted planes away from other Sinaloa regional airports as well.[5] Attacks on two trucks on Highway 15 in neighboring Sonora prompted Aeroméxico to also cancel flights from Ciudad Obregón International Airport.[6]
Looting was reported in parts of Culiacán, and numerous businesses and banks announced temporary closures across the state.[7] Journalists in the area reported multiple carjackings and demands for car keys.[4]
Ten soldiers and 19 gang members were killed during the unrest.[8][9][10] Among the victims there were an infantry colonel and his four escorts who were ambushed and killed by cartel members in Escuinapa, Sinaloa.[11]
References
- ^ "Alert: Reports of Violence in Sinaloa". U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Mexico. 5 January 2023. Archived from the original on 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
- ^ "Ovidio Guzmán-López: Deadly riots grip Mexican state after arrest of El Chapo's son". BBC News. 5 January 2023.
- ^ "Mexican airline Aeromexico says a plane was hit by gunfire, no reported injuries". NBC News. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
- ^ a b Ferri, Pablo (2023-01-06). "Shootouts, burned-out cars and closed airports: Los Chapitos terrorize Culiacán after Ovidio Guzmán arrest". EL PAÍS English Edition. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
- ^ Plaza, Fidel Gutierrez,Mitchell McCluskey,Tara John,Elizabeth (5 January 2023). "Mexican authorities arrest son of notorious drug lord 'El Chapo'". CNN. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Aeropuerto y autobuses de Sonora suspenden operaciones por disturbios tras captura de Ovidio Guzmán". El Universal. 5 January 2023.
- ^ "IDEOS. Saquean comercios tras detención de Ovidio Guzmán". El Universal. 5 January 2023.
- ^ "Ovidio Guzmán-López: Twenty-nine killed during arrest of El Chapo's son". the Guardian. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
- ^ "Al menos dos policías muertos tras captura de Ovidio Guzmán". Aristegui Noticias. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
- ^ "Reportan un muerto y 18 lesionados tras enfrentamientos en Sinaloa por detención de Ovidio Guzmán". El Universal. 5 January 2023.
- ^ "Matan a coronel en emboscada tras detención de Ovidio Guzmán; reportan otros 4 muertos". El Universal. 5 January 2023.