The violence recorded this Thursday at various points in Sinaloa after the arrest of Ovidio Guzmán, one of Joaquín’s sons "el chapo" Guzmán most wanted by the US, caused airlines to suspend their operations in the city of Culiacán and other areas of that state.
“For the safety of all passengers, the airport will be closed from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., if you have any questions about your flight, contact your airline, avoid going to the airport,” the Culiacán airport warned on its Twitter account. of a million inhabitants.
Meanwhile, the Mazatlán airport (500,000 inhabitants), also in Sinaloa, reported that it would close “for the safety of all passengers” starting at 09:30 local time (15:30 GMT) and will reopen until 20:00 (02:00 GMT on Friday). .
These closures are derived from the violent acts that have occurred in state airports, as several videos circulating on social networks show that armed groups went to the facilities and began shooting attacks to presumably prevent Ovidio from being transferred to Mexico City. .
The local newspaper Los Noticieristas broadcast a video in which people are seen running inside the airport; while another user recorded images where shots are allegedly heard directed at an Army aircraft that was trying to land at the Culiacán airport.
AIRLINES CANCEL OPERATIONS
The company Volaris reported that “derived from the closures of the Culiacán, Mazatlán and Los Mochis airports, our flights to and from those destinations have been cancelled.”
While Aeroméxico reported that due to the events that occurred in Sinaloa, the operations scheduled for this Thursday to and from Culiacán, Los Mochis and Mazatlán were cancelled.
For its part, VivaAerobus also specified that due to the situation of violence in various parts of the city, for the safety of all its users and the personnel involved in the operation of its flights, the terminal in Culiacán had closed.
“We remember that although it was the Culiacán Airport that suspended activities, this has effects on flights to other destinations due to the routes and connections that the affected aircraft cover daily.” he detailed her.
Likewise, the Mexico City International Airport (AICM) also reported that due to the closure of airports in Sinaloa, there may be cancellations or delays of flights with said entity, for which it asked users to be aware of their airlines for possible itinerary changes.
This Thursday, Mexican authorities captured Ovidio Guzmán, one of the leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, which generated blockades on different roads in Culiacán, as well as clashes in different parts of the city, as well as vehicles set on fire and reports of vehicle looting. civilians, starting around 04:30 local time (10:30 GMT), bringing the city to a standstill.
Ovidio Guzmán López, “El Ratón”, together with his brother Joaquín Guzmán López, is charged in the United States on charges of criminal association related to illicit drugs.
According to US authorities, the brothers conspired to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana in the United States from Mexico and other parts of the world from 2008 to 2018.