Mexico: 140 Missing After Violent Arrest of El Chapo's Son
The arrest of Ovidio Guzman, son of El Chapo, has thrown a Mexican city into carnage. Members of the Sinaloa Cartel have continued their rampage in retaliation to the drug lord's arrest, and reports indicate that over 100 people have already disappeared.
The disappearances were reported in the city of Jesus Maria, Sinaloa, according to Fox News. Protests have erupted outside of a government palace in the city, and they claimed that 140 people have already disappeared since the drug lord's arrest.
The arrest operation for one of Mexico's most notorious drug lords resulted in an intense firefight between the cartel and government forces. This led to the deaths of 29 people, including 10 military personnel and 19 suspected Sinaloa Cartel members. The notorious drug gang blockaded roads and burned vehicles, as well as attacked an airport in an effort to free their capo.
However, Ovidio Guzman, one of El Chapo's sons, was already airlifted to Mexico City.
While the Mexican government claims that no civilian was killed in the melee, dozens of people, mostly young men and women between 12 and 35 years old, are now missing.
Mexico Citizens Deem Ovidio Guzman Arrest a Success
Despite the protests and increased military presence, however, a majority of Mexicans seem to think that Ovidio Guzman's arrest was a success, according to Mexico News Daily.
Mexican Newspaper El País and radio station W Radio conducted the poll, and around 67% of the respondents said that they believed the operation was a success. They also said that the arrest of the Sinaloa Cartel boss also benefited the Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador administration.
READ MORE: El Chapo Sons Throw a Narco Christmas Party
However, those from Culiacan said otherwise. While 67% represented the entirety of Mexico, the results from Culiacan may have brought down the overall as only 51% thought it was a success. Culiacan was where Ovidio Guzman was captured, and this was also where Sinaloa Cartel members launched their assault to free their boss.
When asked if they felt safer now that one of the members of Los Chapitos has been arrested on a national level, 42% said they felt safer. However, 29% said that there was no change in the security perception. The results in Culiacan are also different, as only 17% said they felt safer, while 47% felt less safe.
Mexicans also seem to trust Lopez Obrador more after the operation, with 60% of the people polled saying that they trust him more. Again, the results are different in Culiacan, where the fighting took place, as only 51% favored the president.
El Chapo Son Arrest Also a Win for the United States
The arrest of the notorious Sinaloa Cartel leader was also a big win for the United States and its ongoing battle against fentanyl, as Ovidio Guzman headed the cartel's fentanyl division, per ABC-7 News.
Illinois has been one of the hardest hit states by the Sinaloa Cartel in terms of fentanyl smuggling and overdose deaths. Chicago's former DEA agent in charge has stated that "full press" is already underway for all of the members of Los Chapitos, who each have a bounty worth $5 million.
READ MORE: Ovidio Guzman Arrested as Sinaloa Cartel Members Attack
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Rick Martin
WATCH: El Chapo son arrest followed by ongoing street warfare in Mexico - ABC 7 Chicago