Children brace for gun battles after arrest of El Chapo’s son
MEXICO’S Sinaloa cartel is arming children with rifles to fight the security forces, after its leader Ovidio Guzman was arrested on Thursday.
In Culiacán, a city in the north west of the country, cartel members have set cars and trucks ablaze at several intersections in the city, creating at least 19 roadblocks in response to the capture the son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzman.
Schools, public buildings and many private businesses have been shut. An additional 1,000 military personnel were due to arrive in the region yesterday to bolster security.
Mr Guzman is accused of being one of the leaders of the Sinaloa cartel, which is responsible for sending thousands of kilos of fentanyl and other drugs into America as well as committing violent crimes in Mexico. He is likely to be extradited and could end up in an American jail, like his father.
As the Sinaloa cartel gears up for a revenge fight against Mexican security forces, a video shows two young boys with rifles sharing the front passenger seat of a car, while an older male appears to be coordinating with other gang members via radio. Other videos show armoured trucks mounted with machine guns being used to create roadblocks.
Ten soldiers and 19 suspected gang members died in the massive operation to arrest the Cartel leader known as “El Raton”, the Mexican government said yesterday, with a shootout damaging three planes at an airport.
A colonel who commanded an infantry battalion was among the dead. His team came under attack after the arrest was carried out. Another 35 soldiers sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to hospital, while 21 gunmen were arrested.
Luis Sandoval, the defence secretary, said a passenger plane at Culiacan airport, as well as two Mexican Air Forcell aircraft, were hit.
Mr Guzman is being held at Altiplano maximum security prison.