Drug lord Ovidio Guzmán-López has been captured by security forces in an overnight raid in the outskirts of Culiacan, the capital of Mexican state of Sinaloa.

Guzman-Lopez, who leads a faction of his father’s Sinaloa Cartel, was immediately moved out of town and is now in a U.S. prison.

Mexican Secretary of Defence Luis Cresencio Sandoval revealed that the six-month surveillance operation to capture Mr Guzmán-López had the support of U.S. officials. 

The arrest of Mr Guzmán-López alias “The Mouse” has caused an uproar in Culiacán, leading to loss of life and properties.

Armed men set up roadblocks in a bid to prevent Mr Guzman from being taken out of the city as attacks were being launched also at the airport, which caused travel delays for other passengers.

The BBC reported that three security forces members have died in gun battle with gang members while two airplanes were torched as they prepare for takeoff.

Formerly run by Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, who was found guilty of drug trafficking and money laundering in 2019, the Sinaloa Cartel is one of the largest drug-trafficking organisations in the world.