JALISCO – On the morning of October 17, 2019, the Mexican state tried to arrest a Sinaloa Cartel boss and lost. Soldiers cornered Ovidio Guzmán — son of El Chapo — in the city of Culiacán, cradle of Mexico’s most powerful cartel. Within hours, thousands of gunmen in military-grade body armour and AK-47s flooded the streets. Buses and cars were seized and torched to block every route in and out. Family members of soldiers were taken hostage in their own homes. Barrett .50-calibre rifles were trained on government buildings. The Mexican Army, facing a city on fire, released Ovidio and retreated. President López Obrador called it a humanitarian decision. His critics said the cartel had shown it could bring the Mexican state to its knees.
VACATION TO VIOLENCE: What was meant to be a dream getaway in Puerto Vallarta is now a nightmare for hundreds of tourists.
After Mexico reportedly took out a major cartel leader, the city sees unprecedented violence — burning cars, ransacked stores, and blocked exits.
Witnesses… pic.twitter.com/U8eoKmuuYZ
— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 23, 2026
