“There was courage”, “we are grateful”: the messages from the US to the capture of Ovidio Guzmán

The government of United States recognized the intelligence work of the Armed forces of Mexico that led to the recapture of Ovidio Guzmán “El Ratón”, one of the most wanted drug traffickers by the president’s administration Joe Biden.

Brian Nichols, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs in the United States, referred to the capture of Ovidio Guzmánson of arrested drug trafficker Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, during an operation carried out in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico.

During a speech at an event related to President Joe Biden’s visit to Mexico, the US official congratulated the government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) for the operation that facilitated the capture of Ovidio Guzmán.

“The security challenges we face together they are not insignificant (…) the actions of the Mexican law enforcement show that there was significant courage to carry out this operationNichols noted.

In addition, the undersecretary added that the cooperation between Mexico and the United States to address the threat of drug trafficking is “deep and broad,” arguing that both countries work under a security agreement.

“That agreement gives us a path forward to address these challenges”held.

In this context, Nichols emphasized that the meeting between Biden and AMLO will serve to address the issue of fentanyl, which, according to him, has become the largest illegal export from Mexico to the United States and is considered “the main cause of death for Americans.” between the ages of 18 and 49.

For his part, the spokesman for the White House Security Council, John Kirbypointed out at a press conference that the fall of “Ratón”, son of Joaquín “Chapo” Guzmán, leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, is a significant step to stop the production and smuggling of fentanyl by the government of the president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

“We are certainly grateful for it. […] This is not an insignificant achievement on the part of the Mexican authorities.”

Kirby even announced that the capture of Ovidio Guzmán and his possible extradition It will be one of the topics that Biden will play with AMLO next week in Mexico City, when the X takes place North American Leaders Summitwhich will also be the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau.

but also the illegal immigration It will be one of the priorities on the meeting agenda.

Joe Biden will land the January the 8th at the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) during your visit to Mexico, but before that you plan to visit your country’s border with Mexico during an upcoming trip that is currently being organized.

The arrest of the young capo occurred during the early hours of this January 5 in the area of ​​Jesús María, in the vicinity of the city of Culiacán, in Sinaloa, in an operation in which nearly a thousand elements of the Army, the Guard National and state police.

However, during the work there were violent episodes such as shootings, roadblocks, vehicle fires and even shots against an Aeroméxico plane at the city’s airport.

But the balance was not white. According to the Secretary of National Defense (Sedena), the operation left 29 dead: 10 are from the military and 19 from the Sinaloa Cartel group. In addition, 35 soldiers injured by firearms were recorded.

After his capture, the Mexican Armed Forces transferred Chapo’s son to Mexico City and made him available to the Specialized Prosecutor for Organized Crime (FEMDO). Hours later, aboard a military helicopter, he was admitted tohe Federal Center for Social Readaptation Number 1 “El Altiplano”, located in Almoloya de Juárez, State of Mexico.

However, on January 6, a federal judge froze his extradition to the US.

As of this Friday, the United States government will have a period of 60 days to present the formal extradition request and provide elements against the drug trafficker, since a Washington DC court accused him of drug trafficking and issued an international arrest warrant. .

According to the US, Ovidio occupies a high-ranking position in the Sinaloa cartel and is considered responsible for overseeing more than a dozen methamphetamine laboratories in Sinaloa.

In fact, the US Department of State offered up to five million dollars for any clue or information that would lead to the arrest of “the Mouse”.

KEEP READING: