Mexican police patrol in a street of Culiacán, state of Sinaloa, Mexico, on October 17, 2019, after heavily armed gunmen in four-by-four trucks fought an intense battle with Mexican security forces.
Rashide Frias / AFP / Getty
On Thursday, Mexican forces briefly apprehended drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman’s son Ovidio Guzman in Culiacán. He’s wanted in the United States on drug trafficking charges.But Mexican security forces were quickly overwhelmed by cartel soldiers, who attacked with heavy weapons and set up road blockades, using burning vehicles.To prevent more casualties, Guzman was returned to the cartel soldiers. But in doing so, the government conveyed a message that it was no longer in control, one expert said.Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.The Mexican city of Culiacán descended into chaos on Thursday, after security forces briefly captured drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman’s son Ovidio Guzman.—Stephen Woodman (@Stephentwoodman) October 18, 2019After apprehending him, the Mexican armed forces were quickly overwhelmed by a larger number of cartel gunman, who attacked with machine guns, snipers, and impeded the security forces by using burning vehicles to block roads.To prevent any further casualties, they released Guzman.The heavy gunfight took place in broad daylight. The skies over Culiacán filled with black smoke. It was described as a war zone.Here’s what it was like.
On Thursday, a Mexican security force of about 30 was patrolling Culiacán, a known stronghold for one of Guzman’s cartel syndicates, 770 miles northwest of Mexico City, when they were shot at from a house.
Mexican police patrol in a street of Culiacan, state of Sinaloa, Mexico, on October 17, 2019, after heavily armed gunmen in four-by-four trucks fought an intense battle with Mexican security forces.
Rashide Frias / AFP / Getty
Sources: AP, Reuters, Fox News
Security fought back and entered the house. Inside, they apprehended Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman’s son, 28-year-old Ovidio Guzman, along with three others. Although he’s not the most well-known son, the younger Guzman is wanted in the US on drug trafficking charges.
Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman is escorted by soldiers during a presentation at the hangar belonging to the office of the Attorney General in Mexico City, Mexico January 8, 2016.
Reuters
Sources: AP, Fox News
Things escalated from there. The house was surrounded by cartel soldiers, who out-numbered the Mexican security forces.
View of bullet ridden and crashed vehicles in a street of Culiacan, state of Sinaloa, Mexico, on October 17, 2019, after heavily armed gunmen in four-by-four trucks fought an intense battle with Mexican security forces.
Rashide Frias / AFP / Getty
Source: AP
Heavy gunfire came from both sides, and went on for hours.
View of the bullet ridden window of a vehicle in a street of Culiacan, state of Sinaloa, Mexico, on October 17, 2019
Rashide Frias / AFP / Getty
Source: Fox News
The streets of the Mexican city quickly resembled a war zone. During the chaotic afternoon and evening, prisoners managed to escape from the local prison. Video showed at least 20 prisoners making a run for it, according to Reuters.
Vehicles burn in a street of Culiacan, state of Sinaloa, Mexico, on October 17, 2019.
STR / AFP / Getty
Sources: Fox News, Reuters
The cartel soldiers also set up blockades.
Unidentified gunmen block a street in Culiacan, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019.
Augusto Zurita / AP
And set cars and buses alight. It’s a common tactic to make it harder for the security forces to maneuver during skirmishes.
A burning bus, set alight by cartel gunmen to block a road, is pictured during clashes with federal forces following the detention of Ovidio Guzman, son of drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, in Culiacan, Sinaloa state, Mexico October 17, 2019.
Jesus Bustamante / Reuters
Source: Fox News
Black smoke covered Culiacán’s skies.
Smoke from burning cars rises due in Culiacan, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019.
Hector Parra / AP
Reuters reported that so far, two people had been confirmed dead, and 21 injured, according to Cristobal Castaneda, head of security in Sinaloa.
Ammunition shells lay on a pool of blood in a street of Culiacan, capital of jailed kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman’s home state of Sinaloa, on October 17, 2019.
Rashide Frias / AFP / Getty
Source: Reuters
The Mexican security forces were forced to hand Guzman back to the cartel soldiers. Security Minister Alfonso Duranzo told Reuters that they had done so to save people’s lives.
Alfonso Durazo security minister.
Henry Romero / Reuters
Source: Reuters
Violence has plagued Sinaloa this year. Earlier this week, more than a dozen police were killed in a massacre in Western Mexico, and a day later the army retaliated killing 14 suspected criminals.
A bullet ridden vehicle remains in a street of Culiacan, state of Sinaloa, Mexico, on October 17, 2019.
Rashide Frias / AFP / Getty
Source: Reuters
And Falko Ernst, a senior analyst for International Crisis Group in Mexico, said releasing Guzman set a “dangerous precedent” and sent a message that the government wasn’t in control.
A car’s rearview window is pierced with bullet holes amid a gunfight in Culiacan, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019.
Hector Parra / AP
Source: Reuters
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