Ovidio Guzman, the son of infamous drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzman, was arrested in northern Mexico on Thursday, authorities have confirmed.

Guzman had been captured by federal police once before in 2019, but he was freed mere hours later over fears his incarceration would lead to more violence. Although President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador at the time voiced support for the decision, it was considered an embarrassing setback in Mexico's fight against the cartels.

A firefight broke out between members of the Sinaloa cartel and Mexican security services throughout parts of the city of Culiacan on Thursday. Culiacan residents were told not leave their homes as police set up street blockades.

Three members of the security forces were killed in clashes, the Sinaloa state government said later on Thursday.

Obrador said a federal police operation had been taking place in the state, but added that he could not give further details for the time being.

Videos posted on social media showed chaotic scenes at an airport in Culiacan, around buildings and on the streets. Later, the Culiacan airport tweeted that it would be closed until at least 10 p.m. local time (0400 GMT). A passenger plane was hit but gunfire, but the airline reported that no one was harmed.

Mexico's Civil Aviation Agency said in a statement that an air force plane in Culiacan was also fired upon. 

The agency added that the airports in Los Mochis and Mazatlan were also ordered closed for security reasons.

Authorities told reporters that the operation was still active late on Thursday morning, as security services tried to "contain the reaction" of the Guzman family.

Family business

Guzman, 32, is thought to have been involved in his father's drug trafficking operation since he was a teenager. Authorities believe he has played an even more direct role since El Chapo was arrested in 2016.

Once considered the most powerful drug trafficker in the world, El Chapo was extradited to the United States, where he is serving a life sentence on charges related to running the Sinaloa cartel.

The United States had offered a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Ovidio.

Obrador took office in 2018 promising to approach the cartels differently after the drug war tactics of his predecessors failed to significantly curb trafficking. However, four years into his six year term, drug-related violence remains highly prevalent in parts of Mexico.

es/aw (EFE, Reuters)