The son of a notorious drug lord has been captured in the northwestern city of Culiacán, leading to an eruption of violence throughout the city.
Ovidio Guzmán López, a son of imprisoned Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán, has been captured and transported to Mexico City to be charged, according to officials.
His detention set off a wave of violence Thursday, with armed assailants stealing and burning vehicles and blocking major streets.
State security head Cristobal Castañeda warned people to stay inside in a social media video, Thursday morning.
Schools have been closed, government workers told to stay home and both the Culiacán and Mazatlán airports have been shut down. The U.S. Embassy has issued a security alert, and Sonoran officials announced they are upping security at the border with Sinaloa.
This is the second time Ovidio Guzman has been arrested. Three years ago, security forces were forced to release him amid the violent retaliation for his capture.
Later Thursday morning, federal security and military leaders held a press conference to confirm Guzman's detention and assure Mexican citizens that they are working to tamp down on the ensuing violence.
"We didn't come to win a war," said Mexican Security Secretary Rosa Icela Rodriguez. "We came to build peace."
