El Chapo's son, an alleged major trafficker of fentanyl and other drugs, was arrested by Mexican authorities in an armed overnight raid: report
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- Ovidio Guzmán was arrested in an overnight raid on Thursday, according to The AP.
- The DOJ previously charged Guzmán with trafficking cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana.
- Guzmán was also detained by Mexican authorities in 2019 but quickly released on the same day.
Ovidio Guzmán, son of the notorious Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzmán Loera, was arrested by Mexican security forces during an overnight raid on Thursday in Culiacán in northwestern Mexico, The Associated Press reported.
Mexico's Defense Secretary Luis Cresencio Sandoval made the announcement of Guzmán's arrest in a press conference hosted later that day.
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Guzmán is believed to be a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel, the same criminal organization that was led by his father, according to the Department of State.
In 2019, the Justice Department charged Guzmán and his brother with trafficking cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana into the US.
Former DEA chief Mike Vigil also said that Guzmán's cartel activities included fentanyl production, The AP reported.
"This is a significant blow to the Sinaloa cartel and major victory for the rule of law. It will not, however, impede the flow of drugs into the US. Hopefully, Mexico will extradite him to the US," Vigil said on Thursday.
Guzmán was previously detained in October 2019 by authorities but was quickly released the same day after armed cartel members led a violent assault against Mexican security forces in Culiacán. The city is believed to be the main operating location for the cartel.
Guzmán's arrest also comes days before President Joe Biden's visit to the US-Mexico border on Sunday during the North American Leaders' Summit. It will be his first visit to the border since he took office.