El Chapo's Son Ovidio Guzman Lopez of Sinaloa Cartel Breaks Silence for First Time Since Arrest
Ovidio Guzman Lopez, the son of Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, has broken his silence for the first time since his arrest that caused deaths and damages in a community in Mexico's Sinaloa state.
According to Milenio, Ovidio, through his relatives, apologized to the people of Jesus Maria in Culiacan, Sinaloa, for the damage and terror brought about by his arrest and the chaos that happened afterward.
His relatives told the outlet that El Chapo's son said he was "sorry" and wanted this message to be passed or spread throughout the rural community as there is still fear because of what happened.
Many residents reportedly remained traumatized by the ordeal. A resident told the outlet that they still dream about the same thing, which includes bullets, the military, and the helicopter.
"My children are more traumatized, they don't even want to go to school. Just a week ago they started going because they don't want to leave here," the resident said. Some residents also expressed dismay over the state government because the support promised to them has yet to arrive.
"I have not received any support from anyone, much less from the government," another resident of Jesus Maria told Milenio. Another resident added: "It is easier for Ovidio to come back and help us for the government to help us, to cover my damages because I don't think the government will come to cover them."
A month after the operation to capture El Chapo's son occurred, the Borderland Beat reported that the streets of Jesus Maria were still empty, and spent shellings could still be found near the house of Ovidio.
The report noted that there is also a military presence in the town, with a checkpoint installed at the entrance. The army also deployed food distribution services, medical services, haircuts, and maintenance to the community's four schools.
The Arrest of El Chapo's Son, Ovidio Guzman Lopez
Military troops arrested Ovidio Guzman Lopez at his home in the Jesus Maria community last January 5. During the violent operation to capture him, at least 29 people were killed.
Mexican police noted that 10 soldiers and 19 individuals suspected to be Sinaloa Cartel members were killed during and after the arrest of El Chapo's son. Aside from the deaths, BBC reported that 35 military personnel were injured and 21 gunmen were arrested.
Immediately after Ovidio was apprehended, Sinaloa Cartel gunmen set up roadblocks, set fire to vehicles, and clashed with authorities. They also shot at commercial planes in what appeared to be an attempt to stop officers from taking their boss elsewhere.
The gunfight reportedly lasted for more than 10 hours. After his arrest, Ovidio was reportedly taken to the Altiplano maximum security prison in Mexico City. Mexico's Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard recently revealed that anti-aircraft guns were found inside Ovidio's bedroom, along with other high-power weapons.
Ebrard said they found 47 weapons inside Ovidio's bedroom alone, including some very high-power weapons and anti-aircraft guns. He noted that these types of weapons cannot be sold in any store, adding that they were still finding out who sold them to El Chapo's son.
Ebrard said most of the weapons confiscated inside Ovidio Guzman Lopez's house were traced back to the same gun manufacturers in the United States sued by the government of Mexico last year.
Ebrard noted that most weapons that come into Mexico from the U.S. border concentrate in 10 counties. These counties were Harris, Dallas, El Paso, Bexar, and Orange in Texas; Maricopa and Pima in Arizona; Hampden in Massachusetts; Hartford in Connecticut; and Los Angeles in California.
El Chapo's Sons: Los Chapitos of Sinaloa Cartel
The four sons of El Chapo, known as Los Chapitos, had reportedly assumed leadership roles in the Sinaloa Cartel after their father was arrested and extradited to the U.S. Ovidio Guzman Lopez, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar are collectively known as Los Chapitos.
Under their leadership, the Sinaloa Cartel has continued to be one of Mexico's most powerful drug cartels. The U.S. State Department has offered $5 million rewards for any information that could help federal agents arrest El Chapo's four sons.
The State Department said the Los Chapitos are high-ranking members of the Sinaloa Cartel and are each subject to a federal indictment for their involvement in the illegal drug trade.
Their father's former right-hand man, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, was reportedly the Los Chapitos' internal enemy number one. El Chapo's sons have also been at odds with their uncle, Aureliano "El Guano" Guzman. El Chapo's brother is also a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Ovidio, born in 1990, is the youngest of four brothers on the State Department list. As young as 18, he reportedly took over the drug business in 2008 when his older brother, Edgar Guzman Lopez, was assassinated in a Culiacan supermarket.
READ MORE: El Chapo Son Ovidio Guzman Lopez's Arrest Sparks Ongoing Street Warfare in Mexico's Sinaloa State
This article is owned by Latin Post
Written by: Mary Webber
WATCH: Ovidio Guzman Lopez, Son of 'El Chapo,' Arrested in Mexican Military Operation - From CBS 8 San Diego
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