“Char” for Borderland Beat
This article was translated and reposted from LUZ NOTICIAS
WRITTEN BY: ESTHELA GARCIA
AUGUST 30, 2024
Sinaloa’s Public Security Secretariat denied the arrest of Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, leader of Los Chapitos, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, in an operation by the National Defense Secretariat (SEDENA).
Clashes, groups of armed civilian “sicarios” in the streets and burning vehicles were the consequence of a “normal” operation by federal forces.
The Sinaloa Public Security Secretariat denied the arrest of Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, leader of “Los Chapitos”, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, in an operation by the National Defense Secretariat (SEDENA).
In an exclusive interview for Luz Noticias, Gerardo Mérida Sánchez stated that the violent events that took place on Thursday afternoon, August 29, with confrontations, groups of armed civilian “hired killers” in the streets and burning of vehicles, were the result of a “normal” operation by federal forces.
“I cannot confirm it, neither to you nor to the Sinaloa society. It is a note that yes, at some point it was mentioned, and it was mentioned by a national media, even from the central part of the state they have been asking us if we have knowledge of this event.
“The authorities are deployed here, in Sinaloa, as in the ninth zone, National Guard, those of us who are permanent as State Police, Municipal Police, we have no knowledge of any event of that magnitude,” he clarified.
The war zone in Limón de los Ramos
He detailed that the violence was triggered after an aggression against military personnel in the area of Peñasco and Paredones, which resulted in a follow-up to the aggressors, who tried to block the arrival of reinforcements by setting fire to vehicles in the community of El Limón de los Ramos.
“There was an aggression against military personnel in the area of Peñasco and Paredones. The aggressors tried to block the advance of our forces by setting fire to vehicles in El Limón de los Ramos. Fortunately, we were able to control the situation with the support of the State Police, SEDENA and the National Guard,” stated Merida.
In spite of the intense violence registered on Thursday, August 29, the authorities assure that there have been no casualties of military personnel, but neither have there been any arrests, and that the operation was part of routine actions.
In view of the alarm generated by the events, Merida Sanchez called on the population to remain calm and trust official information.
“I ask the people of Sinaloa to remain calm and to adhere to the reliable information we are providing. The security forces are working hard to guarantee security in the city,” he stressed.
With security forces deployed throughout the city of Culiacán and rural areas, authorities reiterate that the situation is under control and that there is no reason for alarm.