'The Ghost,' Head of Security and Right-Hand Man of 'El Chapo' Guzmán, Recaptured in Culiacán

A man that served as Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán's head of security was arrested in Culiacán by members of the Mexican armed forces along with two other cartel members.

According to authorities, the clash between the Mexican army and members of the criminal group known as "Los Chapitos" took place on November 3 near the city of Costa Rica, which is part of the municipality of Culiacán, Sinaloa's capital. Mexico's Attorney General Office said soldiers encountered two full-size SUV's full of hitmen and engaged in a shootout that led to three arrests.

Among those detained by Mexico's armed forces was Marcelino Ticante Castro, also known as "El Fantasma (The Ghost)," who served as "El Chapo" Guzmán's head of security before he wass first arrested back in 2013.

Ticante Castro was accused of partaking in the Sinaloa cartel's illicit drug trafficking business as well as facing charges related to the unlawful possession of firearms exclusive for the Army. "El Fantasma" was convicted to 11 years and eight months behind bars, but in March he requested parole and was able to leave 102 days before his sentence ended.

Despite his links to the Sinaloa cartel and having served as "El Chapo's" right-hand man, Mexico's Attorney General Office did not challenge the decision made by District Judge Diana Montserrat Partida Arámbulo and "El Fantasma" was set free on July 2 of this year.

Who is Marcelino Ticante Castro, a.k.a "El Fantasma"?

Ticante Castro started working with the Sinaloa cartel decades ago. With time, he was promoted within the ranks of the criminal organization due to his loyalty to "El Chapo" and his abilities to secure operations.

As a head of security for one of the co-founders of the Sinaloa cartel, "El Fantasma" was responsible for protecting "El Chapo" during all his activities. He was in charge of organizing the logistics every time the drug lord had was on the move, as well as supervising a group of bodyguards and implementing strategies to avoid his capture.

Rumors of his death

It was believed that "El Fantasma" had died in 2012 after a clash between gang members resulted in the death of four people. Two of the bodies found were burnt inside an SUV, and authorities also found firearms and ammunition.

Residents of Oso Viejo, in Quilá, Culiacán, confirmed to authorities that the gang members had brought down a helicopter during the clash that left only one survivor. A man later identified as Jonathan Salas Avilés was transferred to a local hospital.

According to authorities, Avilés had "lended" his alias to Ticante Castro, who was believed to be the original "El Fantasma."

Second arrest

So far, authorities have not confirmed if "El Fantasma" was recaptured when he was in possession of narcotics or firearms, as it was the case during his 2013 arrest.

During the confrontation, Mexican authorities seized firearms and an armored vehicle that was used by "Los Chapitos." Although no official information has been released yet, the clash left several individuals injured in what was another violent clash in Sinaloa.

In October, Sinaloa's Attorney General Zulema Sánchez Kondo revealed that, since the turf wars between "Los Chapitos" and "La Mayiza" erupted in Sept. 9, there have been 326 murders reported in Sinaloa.

Out of those, four of them belonged to the Mexican armed forces that have been deployed to combat the surge of violence in northern Mexico.