Mexican army attacked, roads blocked in Sinaloa drug cartel stronghold | Crime News

New violence after arrests in the US of drug lords Joaquin Guzman Lopez and Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada.

Mexican soldiers were attacked and roads blocked during an outbreak of violence in the northern state of Sinaloa, home to one of the country’s most powerful drug cartels.

The Sinaloa State Security Secretariat on Thursday confirmed the attacks around the state capital Culiacan, the stronghold of jailed drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and his sons.

Armed men attacked a military patrol in the Penasco neighborhood on the outskirts of the city, while roadblocks were set up in the nearby Limon de Los Ramos neighborhood, the Secretariat reported on X.

Governor Ruben Rocha said the attackers set fire to two vehicles “with the aim of blocking the authorities.” He did not give a motive.

Local media showed video footage and photos of the burning vehicles, a common tactic used to prevent police or military units from reaching a certain area.

There were fears of more widespread violence in Sinaloa following the recent arrests of major Sinaloa drug lords.

In July, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a son of El Chapo, kidnapped Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada – a senior drug lord from a rival faction of the cartel – and forced him onto a plane and flew north.

The younger Guzman is said to have told Zambada they were going to look at real estate in the north of the country, but instead he flew him to the United States.

Guzman Lopez apparently planned to turn himself in and took the elder Zambada with him for unknown reasons. Both were being held in El Paso, Texas.

Mexican authorities suspect that Zambada’s kidnapping is linked to the arrest of Ovidio Guzman, another son of El Chapo, who was captured in January 2023 and subsequently extradited to the US.

Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office on Thursday called on U.S. authorities to “urgently” clarify the legal status and whereabouts of Ovidio Guzman.

A statement said he was released from U.S. prison on July 23, two days before the arrests of his brother and Zambada.

U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said on July 26 that Ovidio Guzman remains in U.S. custody, without providing details about his whereabouts.

Experts, including former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent Mike Vigil, suspect that Guzman turned Lopez Zambada in exchange for benefits for himself and his brother Ovidio.

Zambada appeared in a wheelchair in Texas court this month and pleaded not guilty to charges of drug trafficking, money laundering and conspiracy to commit murder.

Guzman Lopez was transferred to Chicago, where he denied drug trafficking charges. He is currently serving a life sentence.

Only one of El Chapo’s sons accused of cartel ties remains at large: Ivan Archivaldo.

The US has offered a $10 million reward for information leading to his capture.