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Saturday, October 19, 2019

Ovidio Guzman: Weapons used by Sinaloa Cartel sicarios in Culiacán, Mexico

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat TY Doc from ARES




Yesterday, Mexican law enforcement units, supported by elements of the Mexican military, arrested Ovidio Guzmán López, son of Joaquín “Chapo” Guzmán Loera, during an operation in Colonia Tres Ríos, Culiacán. It remains unclear how targeted this operation was. According to government officials, a patrol came under fire from a house during routine operations and detained Mr. Guzmán López after securing the building. 

In response to this arrest, dozens of sicarios (‘hitmen’; sometimes translated as ‘soldiers’) of the Sinaloa cartel unleashed chaos in the streets of Culiacán, the capital of the Mexican state of Sinaloa. Over more than four hours, they set up at least 19 blockades in the streets by seizing large buses and trucks, and setting fire to them. Armed criminals fanned out across much of the city. In effect, they managed to lay siege to the central area near the Humaya and Tamazula rivers. Reinforcements from both government (military, federal and state police, and Guardia Nacional) and cartel units streamed towards the area, but were hampered by roadblocks.



After a series of intense shootouts resulting in casualties on both sides, government  forces released Mr. Guzmán López. Reports of kidnapped Mexican soldiers and police and military family members spread via WhatsApp channels monitored by ARES, followed by voice messages stating that the “patrón” was finally being released. During the operation at least six sicarios were killed. It seems that a prison heist was also staged, facilitating the escape of more than 40 criminals. According to government statements, at least 14 different shoot-outs took place, and a small unit of Mexican soldiers appears to have been captured and later released.

Sicarios were equipped with a mix of small arms. These include a range of both AK (primarily 7.62 × 39 mm; at least one 5.56 × 45 mm example was observed) and AR-15 (5.56 × 45 mm) platform rifles, as well as FN Herstal Minimi / M249 SAW belt-fed machine guns (5.56 × 45 mm), and handguns including Beretta and Glock models. Many of the AK rifles had features consistent with Romanian origin. At least one M72-series shoulder-fired rocket launcher and two unidentified revolvers were also observed. Following the woundings and capture of police and military members, it is possible cartel forces have acquired additional firepower. Videos purported to show at least two captured weapons: an AR-type rifle and a short-barrelled FX-05 Xihucóatl.

Body armour and load-bearing equipment were used by many cartel members, including examples marked ‘Marina’ (Marines) or ‘Policía Estatal’ (State Police). Even ballistic helmets were seen in use. Modern optics, including AimPoint types and the distinctive Vism ECO 4×34 model were seen. Other firearms accessories were also observed, including laser aiming modules; aftermarket furniture such as fore-ends, stocks, vertical grips; and white lights. Many sicarios were observed carrying small UHF radios. The cartel operated primarily from white-coloured vehicles, with some sources indicated that as many as 50 vehicles may have been stolen to facilitate the cartel response.

Despite this range of personal weaponry and equipment, the cartel’s firepower superiority inside the city was achieve due to light weapons, and especially the employment of technicals: civilian pick-up trucks used to carry heavy machine guns. At least four different technicals were used during the incident, with one being disabled by government forces. It’s noteworthy that the disabled technical is the one with a gunner cupola on it, which negates a clear advantage that these technicals exploit: being able to pass visually as civilian vehicles until they manoeuvre to firing positions, and later merge again into traffic. Several more technicals were observed moving toward the affected area during and following the most intense periods of fighting.


.50 BMG  (12.7 × 99 mm) calibre heavy machine guns have historically been used by cartels to disable armoured vehicles, belonging to both police and military units, and those belonging to other cartels and criminal groups. Weapon chambered for this calibre are also much more effective against targets in cover, especially in an urban environment, than small arms fire.  These are also the primary reasons for the acquisition and use of .50 BMG anti-materiel rifles. In Culiacán, several M2-type heavy machine guns were observed fitted to the technicals described above. In addition, at least one Barrett M82-series anti-material rifle was employed. One .30 calibre M1919 machine gun was also seen.
Access to light weapons and the platforms to deploy them provided a significant advantage. Range, accuracy, and anti-armour capability can provide a tremendous advantage in an urban area, especially where government forces were restricted in their ability to reinforce units in the besieged area. Numbers and violence of action, supported by capabilities traditionally associated with non-state actors in areas of open conflict,  gave the upper hand to the Sinaloa cartel.
Editor’s Note: Readers should be aware that an unusually large number of false posts have been associated with the incident in Culiacán. These include images and video from movies, TV shows, and various other incidents in Mexico and elsewhere around the world, presented as being from this incident. Numerous sources have also presented images of police personnel, including plainclothes personnel, as sicarios. The material presented herein has been subjected to an abbreviated verification process, in order to keep this article timely. Readers are advised accordingly. ARES is currently preparing more detailed analyses for our clients.  At the time of publication, sporadic clashes are continuing. New information may not be reflected in this article.



With thanks to confidential sources in Mexico, @abraxasspa and @on_point_skillz. All images sourced from Mexican social media via the ARES CONMAT Database. Header image from MbS News.


Ciro Gómez Leyva: A couple of hours ago 230 special forces soldiers belonging to the Mexican army arrived in Culiacán. They’ve come to reinforce the security functions after the very violent, the fearsome day of yesterday. In which Olivio Guzmán López, the son of El Chapo was detained and then freed.

44 comments:

  1. Baby killer cartel, don't you take over, don't even think about Sinaloa.

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  2. Sometimes the corrido writes it’s self.

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  3. Animo Sicarios

    "Traemos tostón
    RPG tumba avión
    Granadas de fragmentación
    Parque ilimitado
    Balas expansivas, ya saben
    M60 una Glock
    Cuerno con tubo
    Rifle de huevos
    Parque ilimitado
    Balas expansivas, ya saben"

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    1. I say let the American armed forces go into Sinaloa Mexico to kill the CDS.is easy for them to kill babies and innocent children..let the marines get some action.

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    2. Valen pura verga alv

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    3. Chapo is in prison. He will never be free.

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  4. That's one of many differences between the US and Mexico. In the US, any fool tooling around in a technical with a Browning Ma Deuce heavy machinegun or a SAW will have the crown of his skull lifted by a SWAT sniper.

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    1. Two guys with an AK mowed down a bunch of cops in LA. One guy with an AR 15 killed a bunch of innocent party goers in Vegas.... Sure

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    2. 1:28 many innocents have been cannnoed by retired Seal Trainees now doing private security contracting all over Mexico and the world, it is a pitty they know little about some decent work, they also love their silicon, meth, and steroids, to add more to their shame, facking bunch of drug addicts like Duterte, but to some they are heros, sure...unlike Mongols MC member wrestler and governor Jesse Ventura who is a real decent person, and a former US Navy Seal for real.

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    3. for 1:28, if you are talking about the North Hollywood shootout with LAPD let me remind you the only dead guys where the 2 criminals, so its them who got mowed down because not a single cop was killed, and the guy killing innocent, well youre talking about a guy shooting down unarmed people, not a guy who got in a shootout with cops.

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    4. Or if you're black, Latino, poor, a whistle blower, ect ect. No thanks. I'll take Mexico any dat

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    5. @9:34. Don't even try to sugarcoat things or make a case for equivalency. The rule of law in Mexico got punked big-time. Plus a massive jail-break. The developed world is sniggering at Mexico. Alone among the three nations of North America, Mexico always boxes below its weight class.

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    6. 10:07...That is amongst the craziest and most tangential comments I've ever read on this site...

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    7. 934 your story is part fake, no cops died in the bank robbery shoot out, only the two bad azzes died. Furthermore the mother of
      one of them sued the LAPD , for killing his son.

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  5. That homie laying on his stomach let lose with that 50 caliber...

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  6. Sounds like a set up from the US to cross border terror fighting or a drone strike....no doubt he is not just in the crosshairs but not being electronically followed....Joke on dumbass cartels....US implemented their AI infilteration........

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    1. The US does not want this to send or to intervene. There is too much money involved and too many politics at play here. Chaos anywhere but in the US is good for business. Weapons going out, walls being built, more laws going into effect to put invest in border patrol and homeland security, scare tactics to get people to vote for you..etcetera. it's like 9/11 when all the rules changed. If the US and Mexico really wanted it, they would kill every cartel member in Mexico. But it ain't good for biz

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    2. Lol a set up by the US, the brothers have been on the list of wanted criminals since March lol l.

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  7. Good Article...Los Guzman are Legendary...like it or not...

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  8. After seeing what happened in Culiacan I will say this, El Mencho will never be taken alive. The government will never risk going to get get him in the mountains or in his home base. CJNG has already shot down a military helicopter. This is the blueprint for any future fifedom wars in Mexico where the government attempts to arrest the Jefe. Mexico is a narco stat, 2nd world not 3rd but it is a shame that the government has shown the world who is in charge and it is not the District Federal. El Chapo rots away in Admax Florence with no human contact and nothing has changed. Pawns in a game of chess unless you are a Rothschild and even they have committed suicide and have drug problems.

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    1. The Mexico government won’t, but when Uncle Sams wants your ass your grass bro. Ask Chapo, Ask Arturo, ask Alfredo, Ask z40, etc.. when they want you that bad your done. That operation in Culiacan wasn’t even Mexico’s marines. There about the only ones that know what they are doing. It’s crazy to see but the menores only just put more heat and attention to themselves. They come from a long line of having rabbits in the hat but even their dad el Chapito ran out of magic.

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    2. Most police officers are nerds the cartels won’t match up against actual military personnel.. the rats are hiding now that the army has been deployed

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    3. 3:33 unless you are looking for a blood bath, you will have to agree AMLO decided not to start a civil war in Culiacan, specially after "somebody just up and decided to act" on their own to make an arrest and got stuck to the shit and had to be rescued by real army and Federales under AMLO say so.
      Private bounty hunters will not sink Mexico in a civil war just because the US says so by arresting capos without warrants and even the address or name on them, this is not done even in Ukrainia these days, you know?
      CIRCO gomez Leyva is a corrupt Chayotero who has been kicked out of his job and now seeks chayote by showing leg on the street like jorge Ramos and Carlos Loret de Moolah and juaquin "the extorter" Lopez Doriga and Carlos Marin and the brother of Margara Zavala de Calderon and his girlfriend heir of PROCESO, all of them are trying to steal the basilica de Guadalupe to make it their temple to Chayote.
      --Please find better sources than marathon seekers of CHAYOTE sick of AMLO giving them none.

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  9. Is funny how the US is asking mexico ti arrest criminals but at the same time is selling military grade weapons to those criminals.

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    1. Sorry to inform you, the US is not sending weapons it's people,that buy them and smuggle them to MEXICO.

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    2. Most of the big ass weapons, military grade, are coming from mexicos southern border....you know the border with countries that just had civil wars, and also the same countries that are plagued with corruption and crime...therefore it's nothing to sell the old weapons from the wars years ago

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    3. 6:24 I'm pretty sure the US knows that but still sells

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    4. 6:24 Operation Fast And Furious
      Enough said

      - El Guanatos

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    5. @ 6:24 you're wrong buddy it's actually the U.S. doing this because it's US govt officials getting busted selling weapons.. military personnel and alphabet boys.

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  10. It's standard weaponry these days wait until they get their hands on Miniguns

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    1. They probably already have them

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  11. You are an idiot. The Mexican government, regardless of who is president, is fully capable of arresting and charging these capos at ANY time they want. The majority of all the chaos is show. They have to make it seem as if they are trying to apprehend them. It’s a know fact that numerous individuals within the government knows exactly where the capos are “hiding”. It’s a matter of the capos and their “deal” with these different sections of government to end, for them to be arrested. Yes, rival cartels can have indeed have there own deal with the government. Look at Mencho not getting that much heat from the government even after attacking police in Michoacán and Guerrero. He has turned parts of these countries in literal war zones, going after El abuelo, EL Pez, La Freza Etc. but they still choose to go after El marro...sounds interesting right? And after what happened in Culician we can clearly see they are still in bed with CDS. When the government decides they really want people like Mencho, Mayo, RCQ and Los chapitos it will only be a matter of weeks, at most months until they are done. These amateur Sicarios can only do so much against trained military, even if it’s Mexican military.

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  12. It seems like these guys are so rooted into the fabric of society in Sinaloa that all of this can only end in more bloodshed.
    I love going to visit my family but it’s always a weird feeling being their. The mafia their is the government. There’s nothing much to cheerlead about, just wait for the next shoe to drop and hope for the best.

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  13. @3:33 I agree with 90% of your post. I think Mexico is a 3rd world nation because of the extreme poverty aND violence of all kinds, not just narco-cartels based. Mexico is an oligarchy and only pretends that it is a modern Democracy. Stand back and look at Mexico from a historic and high vantage point. What do you see?
    Ask Mexicans which way their civilization is headed into the 21st Century..Up or down? Beyond narco corridos, telenovelas, violent movies, addicting drugs, and child sicarios... Is Mexico materially involved originating or promoting progress for humankind? As things stand now, Mexico is about par with the tribal Muslim nations that also pretend at being civilized 1st world nation.
    God, I hope you prove me wrong in your response.
    Mexico-Watcher

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  14. Culiacan is a protected fortress. The sicarios proved this by blocking all routes into the city. They probably have been practicing these moves since the drug business began back in the 60s

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    1. Im pretty sure they showed them while driving around in a prius

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  15. Congratulations Guzmans, u beat the President. Never seen a Cartel win

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  16. Too bad they captured his apa that would have been the day


    -just saying

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  17. The USA is coming a show of weakness from MX

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  18. 1 Black Hawk helicopter with a minigun could have solved the whole day. But then again whos in there pocket? Don Mayo must have aproved such an operation of cartEl resources.. This day will humiliate AMLO

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    1. Damn it’s like you predicted culicanazo 2.0

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  19. Excellent reporting...as usual...you are the voice of an honest and free Mexico....

    ReplyDelete

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