A large-scale operation aimed at capturing Ovidio Guzmán López, a son of Joaquín Guzmán, the once-notorious leader of the Sinaloa cartel, resulted in a significant number of casualties and arrests, according to a statement from the Mexican Defense Ministry. The ministry’s briefing indicated that at least 29 people were killed during the confrontation, a figure that underscores the intensity of the clash between security forces and criminal elements in the region. The minister responsible for national defense announced these numbers during a press conference, outlining the toll of the operation and the wider implications for public safety in the area. [Citation: Mexican Defense Ministry press briefing]
Authorities reported that 19 criminals died in the exchange, adding that ten soldiers who were operating on the front lines were killed in the line of duty. The losses among security personnel emphasize the danger faced by forces undertaking high-risk missions against organized crime networks. In addition to the fatalities, 35 soldiers sustained injuries and were receiving medical treatment at designated military facilities. [Citation: Official security briefings and corroborating reports]
Following the engagement, security forces detained 21 suspects and recovered a large cache of weapons, including several large-caliber firearms. The seizure of these arms is viewed as a significant disruption to the operational capabilities of those involved in illicit activities tied to the Guzmán network, and it reflects the broader objective of curbing strategic reserves used in drug trafficking and related violent crime. [Citation: Ministry of Defense statements and follow-up summaries]
Media updates from the same period indicated that representatives of Mexican authorities transported Ovidio Guzmán López to a highly secure facility in Mexico City, specifically the Altiplano High Security Prison. The reports suggested that the operation precipitated broader instability in the city of Culiacán, with street clashes and instances of traffic disruption reported in some areas as a consequence of security actions and public reactions. These developments highlighted the volatile environment surrounding high-profile criminal cases and the challenges faced by law enforcement in maintaining order during and after such operations. [Citation: Radio and police source accounts]
Reports also noted that Guzmán López remained the subject of an extradition request from the United States, where charges include conspiracy to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. The international dimension of the case underscores ongoing legal processes that connect Mexican authorities with U.S. federal prosecutors, and it reflects the long-standing cooperation between two nations in combatting cross-border narcotics trafficking. [Citation: U.S. federal indictment and extradition proceedings]