Eleven killed in Mexican military raid on suspected cartel leader

Mexican authorities have announced that 11 people were killed during a raid that resulted in the capture of Omar Oswaldo Torres, leader of the Los Mayos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. The Mexican Navy stated that the raid took place in Culiacan, Sinaloa state, and that its personnel were attacked at the site before returning fire. According to the navy, 11 “assailants” were killed, but their identities have not been released.

High-powered weapons and tactical equipment were seized during the operation. A woman identified as Torres’s daughter was present during the raid but was released due to a lack of connection to criminal activities. Omar Oswaldo Torres is known by the nickname “El Patas” and is the leader of the Los Mayos faction, which has been involved in a conflict with another faction, Los Chapitos.

The Mexican government has participated in several law enforcement operations recently, including one with Ecuador and Colombia that resulted in the arrest of Angel Esteban Aguilar, leader of the Los Lobos crime group. A separate military operation in Jalisco state last month led to the death of Nemesio Oseguera, also known as “El Mencho”, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

The raid comes amid efforts by governments across Latin America to address crime and drug trafficking. The Mexican government has called on the US to stem the flow of illicit weapons into Mexico. In a recent statement, US President Donald Trump expressed his intention to eradicate cartels in Mexico, stating that they are “taking over their country” and must be “knocked out”.

Source: Al Jazeera