During an operation carried out in Culiacán, involving elements of the Secretariat of National Defense and the National Guard, an escape tunnel was discovered in a house in the Tierra Blanca neighborhood. This tunnel is believed to have been used by Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar, alias “El Chapito,” leader of a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, to evade capture.
The news was reported by the newspaper Adiscusión, which published images of the discovery. During the operation, several alleged members of the cartel were detained, including José Ángel “El Gücerito” and Kevin Alonso “El 200.” Additionally, a house located on Eustaquio Buelna Avenue was secured, where weapons, vehicles, and other illicit items were found.
The two-story property, with a glass balcony and a black gate, was searched on Sunday, February 23, by agents from the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime (FEMDO) and personnel from the Secretariat of National Defense. It has been speculated that Iván Archivaldo, who is said to have been injured during the operation, may have used the tunnel to escape.
However, Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, requested to wait until Tuesday, when the biweekly security report is released, to know the official confirmation or denial regarding the existence of the tunnel and the escape of “El Chapito.”
The tunnel, believed to have been used by “El Chapito” to evade capture, recalls the historical escapes of his father, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, who also utilized these underground passages to escape from authorities. "On these matters, it is always better for the Security Cabinet to provide information. So, if you wish, on Tuesday, they can inform you in detail (...)," replied Sheinbaum.
The operation continues under investigation, with federal authorities working on collecting evidence and identifying more members of the criminal organization.
