MEXICAN president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has admitted he personally ordered the release of one of El Chapo's sons.

Mr Lopez Obrador said he instructed security forces to release the drug lord to save hundreds of lives after cartel gunmen defeated Mexican army forces.

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Infamous drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman's son Ovidio was captured in October - only for the 30-year-old to be let go hours later after a brutal gun battle.

His capture lead to hundreds of heavily armed cartel gang members flooding into the city of Culiacan, in the state of Sinaloa.

The fighters put up flaming roadblocks, burned vehicles and opened fire in a long siege which was mostly broadcast on television.

At least 14 people were killed in the confrontation which ended with the criminals overwhelming security forces and the release of El Chapo's son.

The bloody incident caused much embarassment for the Mexican government, and sparked fears it showed El Chapo's infamous Sinaloa cartel now ruled the streets.

Mr Lopez Obrador admitted for the first time on Friday that he is the one who gave the order to release Ovidio.

He said: "So as not to put the population at risk I ordered that this operation be stopped and that this alleged criminal be released.

"If we hadn't suspended [the operation] more than 200 innocent people would have lost their lives."

Mexico is still gripped by criminal gangs, despite efforts by the security forces to launch a crackdown and the extradition of El Chapo to the US in 2017.

The bloodshed was a blow in Mexicos war on drugs - and came during the countrys deadliest year since it began recording homicide statistics more than 20 years ago.

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After the operation, Mr Lopez Obrador revealed Donald Trump had contacted him to offer to help crackdown on the cartel.

He said however he declined as he attempts to lead a Mexican fightback against the criminals who continue to run riot in large swathes of the nation.

"We will not allow any foreign government to interfere in matters that only correspond to the Mexican authorities," he said.

"That is to respect, to assert our sovereignty. This does not mean that there is no cooperation, there is cooperation.

"But we decide if that cooperation can help as long as our sovereignty is respected."

More than 35,000 people were murdered in Mexico in 2019 as the government fails to rein in the explosive violence.

Ovidio and his brother Joaqun Guzmn Lpez are charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana in the US.

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At its peak El Chapos cartel controlled almost the entire Pacific coast of Mexico and trafficked more than 150 tons of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana to America.

Prosecutors believe the drug baron made around $12.7billion from the drug syndicate - and he lived a life of luxury with private planes, luxury homes and gold-plated guns.

Ovidio, Joaquin and their brothers Ivan and Jesus, are known as the known as "Los Chapitos" and are believed to be leading members of the Sinaloa cartel.

The police officer who arrested Ovidio was killed just one month after he was released by two gunmen who unloaded 155 bullets at him.

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El Chapo's sons have reportedly been attempting to exploit the coronavirus pandemic to secure power in Mexico.

Mexico's economy is taking a big hit during the crisis, so the cartels are moving in to gain support by targeting those worst hit by the virus.

And with police and military forces now tied up trying to deal with the pandemic, criminals have rrom to operate.

Reportedly the Sinaloa cartel were also running an illegal alcohol trade after a dry law was instituted by the Mexican state during the pandemic - once again cashing in.

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Mexican president admits he ordered release of El Chapos son as cartel gang defeated army forces - The Sun