Mexican military forces captured 10 members of a Sinaloa cartel faction tied to Aureliano Guzman Loera, known as “El Guano” and brother of drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, in a U.S.-aided operation, the Defense Ministry announced Thursday.
The arrests occurred in Tamazula, a mountainous area on the border of Durango and Sinaloa states, where Aureliano Guzman exercises significant influence. Among those detained were Guzman’s closest associates, including his right-hand man, chief bodyguard, and his key financial and logistical aides, according to a military statement.
The operation yielded multiple weapons, ammunition, and explosive devices. Mexican marines, supported by helicopters, conducted the raid. A previous December operation targeted the same region in an effort to capture Aureliano Guzman.
The raid was conducted with intelligence assistance from the United States. The U.S. Department of State has offered a $5 million reward for information leading to Aureliano Guzman’s arrest and conviction.
Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman is serving a life sentence in the United States, where two of his sons also face trial. His faction within the Sinaloa cartel remains in conflict with factions loyal to Ismael Zambada, the cartel’s co-founder, who is also awaiting trial in the U.S.
The operation comes amid heightened tensions between Mexico and the United States related to anti-narcotics efforts. A recent incident involved the deaths of two CIA agents and two Mexican officials in a car crash following a raid on a clandestine drug laboratory. The Mexican government criticized the involvement of U.S. agents operating on Mexican soil without federal authorization.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has consistently rejected U.S. military aid, limiting cooperation mostly to intelligence sharing while opposing foreign agents’ direct operational involvement. She is reportedly considering sanctions against the northern state of Chihuahua for permitting CIA participation in anti-drug operations.
State prosecutor Cesar Jauregui described the targeted drug lab as one of the largest chemical drug production sites uncovered in Mexico. Recent months have seen multiple drug lab dismantlings across Mexico, including a February naval seizure in Durango that neutralized more than 5,000 pounds of methamphetamine.
Why it matters
The capture of key associates of Aureliano Guzman Loera represents a significant blow to leadership within one of the Sinaloa cartel’s factions, potentially affecting its criminal operations. The collaboration between Mexican forces and U.S. intelligence reflects ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking despite diplomatic friction. However, the death of U.S. agents during related operations underscores the risk and complexity of bilateral anti-narcotics cooperation in Mexico.
Background
The Sinaloa cartel remains one of the most powerful drug trafficking organizations in Mexico and globally. Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman’s arrest and sentencing in the U.S. removed its historic leader but triggered violent power struggles within the cartel. His brother Aureliano Guzman Loera, known as “El Guano,” leads one faction amid infighting over control with Ismael Zambada’s faction. The Mexican government’s cautious stance on foreign involvement in counter-narcotics operations reflects sovereignty concerns and political sensitivities around U.S.-Mexico security collaboration.
Read more World News stories on Goka World News.